Celebrity chef helps to plant rata for namesake restaurant

On Friday 11 October, celebrity chef Josh Emett from Queenstown’s Rātā restaurant joined Project Crimson and local volunteers to plant 200 native trees, including southern rātās, on the Kelvin Heights Peninsula in Queenstown.

The Project Crimson Trust is a conservation charity with over 20 years experience in community restoration projects, specifically focused on the protection and renewal of pohutukawa and rātā. Rātā restaurant partnered with Project Crimson in 2012 and through their fundraising efforts will help Project Crimson to plant native trees in the Queenstown region.

Project Crimson Communications Manager Melanie Seyfort says “We are thrilled to have Rātā on board with us as a fundraising partner, the synergy couldn’t be better! This year’s planting is the first of what we hope will be an ongoing restoration project in the Queenstown area, in partnership with Rātā.”

Josh Emett says “Rātā’s focus has always been to create a uniquely southern restaurant and dining experience. To be able to partner with Project Crimson and actually plant southern rātās with the local community is exactly what we had set out to do through this partnership. I’m behind Project Crimson’s work 100% and looking forward to returning next year for further planting in the area.”

Background
The Project Crimson Trust is a leading conservation organisation in New Zealand, established in 1990. Project Crimson have made impressive progress re-establishing pohutukawa and rātā nationwide by planting trees, coordinating and supporting a wide range of maintenance activities, scientific research, possum control programmes and public education.
For more information visit www.projectcrimson.org.nz

Rātā is an award winning restaurant, owned and operated by internationally recognized Michelin starred chef Josh Emett and highly regarded local restaurateur Fleur Caulton.

Rātā takes inspiration from the southern landscape and everything that epitomizes New Zealand. Passionate about creating a restaurant that encompasses that hard to find ‘real’ restaurant experience, Rātā is a relaxed eating-house with a neighbourhood feel, great service and delicious food.
For more information visit www.ratadining.co.nz

ENDS

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