TreeFund: Growing trees in partnership

TreeFund: Growing trees in partnership

A partnership between the Auckland Regional Council and Honda New Zealand to restore biodiversity has seen native trees popping up around Auckland. With close to half a million trees funded by the TreeFund nationally, Thursday 24 June will see a further 2000 native trees planted at Duder Regional Park at an official annual TreeFund event.

Honda New Zealand and the Auckland Regional Council (ARC) joined forces in 2005 when Honda's TreeFund charity came on board to sponsor the council's Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF). The EIF gives community groups, schools, iwi and individuals the technical expertise of the ARC and financial grants to restore and enhance the region's native ecology. Many of the projects involve the planting of native trees and since 2005 the TreeFund has sponsored 354 EIF grants worth $630,000.

TreeFund funds the planting of thirteen native trees for every new car sold and has funded the planting of more than 420,000 trees nationwide since its inception in April 2004.
"The environmental partnership between the ARC and Honda New Zealand is extremely important. Native plantings - like those funded by the Honda TreeFund - provide natural corridors for birds and insects, prevent erosion and improve air and water quality. Trees counter some of the biggest environmental threats the region faces," says Councillor Dianne Glenn, Chair of ARC's Environmental Management Committee and Senior Panel Member of the EIF.
Honda New Zealand's Managing Director Graeme Seymour adds, "Our commitment to the environment runs to the very heart of Honda's culture and philosophy. The Treefund is our way of contributing to improving bio diversity, water quality and other local environmental concerns within NZ rather than simply offsetting the green house gases that our products emit in daily use by our customers."

The launch of the new Honda Insight to the New Zealand market in 2010 marks the realisation of another environmental achievement for the Company. "Honda is committed to developing technological solutions to reduce the impact that our mobility products have on the global environment.

"The new Honda Insight can achieve 4.4 litres per 100 kms or 101 grams of CO2 per km. This car can make a real difference in reducing CO2 and other outputs. It has been designed to be accessible to the broader market and will be available to the New Zealand market at a very everyday price."

Bringing new products to New Zealand like the Insight and initiatives like the Treefund are ways Honda New Zealand is making sure we extend this commitment to impact our local environment as well," says Seymour.

Other examples of TreeFund include:

* CUE (Cultivating Understanding and Enlightenment) Haven have received Honda TreeFunding since 2008 to turn a 59 acre farm on the eastern coastline of the South Kaipara harbour into a New Zealand native forest, creating a haven for plant and bird life and a place for future generations to enjoy. * South Auckland's Drury Primary School received Honda TreeFunding to convert an existing playground into an eco-friendly discovery wilderness environment. The children are now able to experience designing, planning, planting and maintenance of a natural environment firsthand.

* Great Barrier Island's Ngatiwai O Aotea, Kawa Marae Trust received Honda TreeFunding to restore the foreshore and prevent erosion.

ENDS

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