Air New Zealand's Green team volunteer for Conservation Week

Volunteers from Air New Zealand’s Green Team are rolling up their sleeves for conservation by helping with restoration projects across the country this weekend.

Air New Zealand recently launched a partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to help enhance New Zealand’s biodiversity and promote the domestic and international tourism potential of New Zealand’s nine great walking tracks.

The airline’s Green Team consists of 3,500 Air New Zealand staff who have an interest in being more environmentally aware at work, at home and in the community.

This weekend they’ll be putting their commitment into action with groups of up to 40 travelling to Motutapu Island in Auckland, the Rimutaka hills in Wellington and to Ōtamahua/Quail Island in Christchurch to take part in activities such as planting, weed control, fence and track maintenance, and rubbish removal.

Air New Zealand Deputy Chief Executive Norm Thompson says “Our Green Team members take part in a range of environmental activities throughout the year, but this is a particularly good opportunity to bring our new partnership relationship with DOC to life during Conservation Week.”

Members of the Motutapu Restoration Trust, Rimutaka Forest Park Trust, and Ōtamahua/Quail Island Restoration Trust will work with the volunteers and share their knowledge of the history and ecology of these areas.

All New Zealanders are encouraged to get involved in the more than 100 Conservation Week events on offer across the country this week. Details can be found at conservationweek.org.nz.

Background information

Love your parks’ is the theme for Conservation Week this year.

Conservation Week is about raising awareness of conservation’s benefits, and encouraging involvement in conservation activities. It aims to give New Zealanders easy and accessible ways to contribute to and participate in conservation.

The theme ‘Love your parks’ was chosen this year because 2012 is the 60th anniversary of the National Parks Act, and 125 years since Te Heuheu Tukino IV gifted the peaks of Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe (the first national park) to the people of New Zealand.

Looking after our special places, plants and animals is the responsibility of all New Zealanders—together we can make New Zealand the greatest living space on Earth. Conservation Week is about getting involved in events that contribute to this vision, and showing New Zealand that you love it.

Visit conservationweek.org.nz for more information.