Get ready to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and do your bit to restore nature in Hamilton Kirikiriroa.

Cooler weather means planting season starts soon, with the 2025 calendar set to be bigger than ever. As well as the popular annual Arbor Day, Hamilton residents also have the opportunity to get involved in two Plantathon events and a new Plant and Ride initiative as part of Hamilton City Council’s Nature in the City programme.

Parks and Recreation Unit Director Maria Barrie said the efforts put in to plant native trees during planting season will go a long way to help achieve the city’s long-term vision.

“The Nature in the City Strategy aims to increase Hamilton’s native vegetation cover to 10% by 2050. We only have 25 years left to reach this ambitious goal and can't do it alone – we need as many nature-loving volunteers as possible to help us shape a greener city for future generations.”

This year’s community planting events will kick off with Arbor Day on Thursday 5 June, which will this year be held at a new location, Minogue Park.

With the goal of planting 15,000 native plants on Arbor Day, Hamilton schools, workplaces and residents are invited to come along, pick up a spade, and lend a hand from 10am – 1.30pm.

Hamilton City Councillor Anna Casey-Cox encourages people to get behind the cause.

“We have so many amazing and dedicated volunteers, schools and community groups in our city who weed and plant our gullies and forests all year long. This Arbor Day and planting season is an opportunity to get behind them, tautoko their important work and help nature thrive,” Casey-Cox said.

Special guests from the Kids in Nature programme will be at Arbor Day to educate attendees on introduced predators, bees, and Aotearoa’s native lizards.

Tours around Lake Rotokaeo and the surrounding bush will be available for anyone interested on the day.

Barrie says more native plants will not only enhance the environment and support our native wildlife, but will also benefit those that live and spend time here.

“We know being around nature can be magic for people’s wellbeing. By restoring more nature for people to connect with, we can help improve the wellbeing of Hamiltonians.”

In July, two Saturday planting events will be held at different parks in Hamilton to provide more opportunities for residents to get involved in restoring nature in the city. Plantathon 2025 will take place at:

• Caernarvon Park, Dinsdale on Saturday 5 July, 11am – 1pm
• Tauhara Park, Queenwood on Saturday 12 July, 11am – 1pm.

This will be the second year that Plantathon has been held in Hamilton, following three successful events in 2024 held at Sandford Park, Hillcrest Stadium, and Minogue Park.

This year will also mark the start of a new community planting opportunity Plant and Ride on Saturday 9 August from 11am – 2pm. This unique event will encourage Hamiltonians to get out in the fresh air and cycle, scooter, or stroll along the river path to three different planting sites.

The Saturday events aim to make community planting more accessible for families and working individuals to come along to participate.

Those wanting to find out more about the upcoming planting events and register their interest can do so via Nature in the City’s new volunteering platform at volunteerhamilton.rosterfy.

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