http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.tfsnz.org.nz en-us Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:07:49 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/164406/wow-moments/ The students who planted them may have moved on to new schools, but Trees for Survival facilitators have the immense satisfaction of seeing 1000’s of native plants growing up! Monitoring growth is particularly rewarding 3+ years after planting days, when plants become established, start flowering, setting seed, providing food and creating habitat and making a difference to the landscape.  Facilitators share these ‘wow’ moments with landowners and take photos to record the growth and t... Fri, 08 May 2026 17:49:22 +1200 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post164406 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/164405/where-are-the-plants/ A year after a landowner hosts a school for the first time, Trees for Survival facilitators are often met with slightly concerned faces when they visit.  Why? Because for the first time landowner, locating the 1-year-old plants can sometimes be a challenge and may initially give the impression of low survival.  Despite this concern, the survival rate of plants at Trees for Survival sites averages an impressive 85% (approx.) While we would all love to see towering trees after a year, th... Fri, 08 May 2026 17:47:54 +1200 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post164405 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/164404/site-potential/ Trees for Survival facilitators are out and about meeting landowners and assessing potential planting sites. Where some may see a bare paddock or hillside, TfS facilitators see potential for an excellent day’s planting and future forest.  As well as the potential of the planting site, facilitators are also checking that the school bus will make it up the drive and the students can access the site safely.  Some landowners will host a single planting day with other landowners hosting a... Fri, 08 May 2026 17:45:52 +1200 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post164404 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/160945/growing-here/ TfS are excited to welcome 7 schools to the Trees for Survival programme in 2026. The TfS team has looked carefully at the many schools who have applied and then at where existing facilitators have capacity and resources and funding were available. With support from partners, this year, new schools will join existing clusters of TfS schools in Auckland, Waikato, Christchur... Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:49:08 +1300 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post160945 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/157436/how-many-plants/ Final planting day reports are in from the Trees for Survival 2025 planting season and it has been a huge year! Students, teachers, parents, landowners, TfS Facilitators and many willing supporters can be proud of contributing to the planting of 171,708 native plants this season! TfS want to thank everybody involved, it is an inspiring journey to be on together. ... Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:47:28 +1300 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post157436 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/157435/what-teachers-say/ “Our team, learners and whānau have loved being involved with Trees for Survival again this year. Such a wonderful initiative and great to get our kids involved in supporting sustainable projects. We look forward to what's ahead in 2026” - TfS Teacher 2025. The success of the Trees for Survival programme is dependent on many factors, climate, technology, and most importantly, people. Teachers play a vital role connecting their students with the TfS programme - from the fun of potting-on to ... Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:46:37 +1300 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post157435 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/157434/taranaki-2025/ With the 2025 planting season nearly over, it’s time to celebrate what has been achieved over the past 4 months in Taranaki. Twelve schools across the region planted a grand total of 8,320 native trees, shrubs and grasses. This winter, Kaimana School, Green School and St Joseph’s Ōpunake held their very first Trees for Survival planting days. The students experienced a range of conditions from brisk southerly winds, steep but scenic hillsides, to boggy “loose-your-crocs” mud!  It i... Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:44:35 +1300 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post157434 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/152493/first-tree-planted/ It’s official … Trees for Survival’s mission to plant One Million Native Plants by 2030 is underway! August 18th saw students from Bucklands Beach Intermediate join TfS Business Development Manager Sally Clegg, and one of Rotary Pakuranga’s TfS programme founders Dennis Waller, to plant the very first tree of our next Million native plants. The tree … a Manuka found it’s forever home at the Papatoetoe Pony Club. In all, students planted an impressive1290 native trees, shrubs and gras... Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:11:12 +1200 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post152493 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/152492/environment-network-manawatu/ This year, Trees for Survival are excited to be establishing a new regional cluster of schools in the Manawatū. As TfS establish a network of local schools, landowners and corporate partners in the region, they wish to acknowledge the support of Environment Network Manawatū who will deliver the Trees for Survival programme.   This year, 5 schools in Palmerston North, will have an irrigated shadehouse installed, in preparation of receiving their first delivery of eco sourced native pl... Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:09:50 +1200 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post152492 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/post/152491/feedback/ Feedback…….With every planting day report, Trees for Survival provide an opportunity for landowners, schools and partners to give feedback. Feedback is a great indicator of the programme’s success and the positive impact it has on the wider community. The following comments are a beautiful example of this….Thanks for coordinating such a wonderful planting day at our property today. To witness their enthusiasm after you explained in detail how their involvement assists with ground and str... Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:08:10 +1200 http://www.tfsnz.org.nz/blog/#post152491