24 December 2012
Bayer and Motutapu Restoration Trust announce forest planting partnership
The Motutapu Restoration Trust has today announced a partnership with Bayer, which is contributing $25,000 for forest
restoration to celebrate the company’s 150th birthday in 2013.
In addition to donating to the Trust to support the planting of a block of forest, Bayer will offer its staff an annual
opportunity to volunteer on the island to help with planting and weeding.
“In 2013, Bayer celebrates its 150th birthday and we will be marking that in various ways around the world,” Bayer New
Zealand Ltd Managing Director Patricia Castle said today. “Helping create a home for kiwi and takahe is something our
team in New Zealand would love to support so we’ve chosen to take responsibility for funding the planting and
maintenance of two hectares of forest on Motutapu as our birthday gift to New Zealand.
“As we partner with the trust, we feel we are taking on some of the responsibility for helping it to provide a
flourishing pest-free home for two of New Zealand’s most iconic species, so we don’t want to just donate the money and
walk away. We want to continue to be actively involved, and volunteering allows us to do that.”
“This is a gift that will keep giving over decades to come.”
Motutapu Restoration Trust chair, Christine Fletcher, said today that Bayer’s suggestion that it partner with the trust
to support a forest habitat was warmly welcomed.
“We’re delighted that Bayer is supporting us as we continue our work to create a place where future generations will be
able to experience the natural history of our region.
“In association with the Department of Conservation, the trust and thousands of volunteers have propagated and planted
out nearly half a million trees so far. But there is much more to do. This is a one hundred year project to create a
home for our rare and beautiful native species. It requires money and it requires time. Bayer and its team will help us
with both.”
The Trust is asking other corporates to partner with it to plant and maintain new blocks of forest on Motutapu as it
continues to restore the island to house kiwi and takahe and other rare and endangered species.
ENDS