50,000 native trees planted and counting

Signature Homes is proud to announce a significant achievement in our environmental stewardship efforts, having planted over 50,000 native trees across Aotearoa in partnership with Trees That Count.

This accomplishment places us among New Zealand’s leading contributors to native tree planting, with participation in 94 diverse planting projects nationwide since 2022.

🌳 Native Tree Highlights 🌳

The below projects are just a glimpse into the extensive native tree planting projects that Signature Homes has contributed to as part of our native tree planting commitments since 2022.

Te Wharau Stream Restoration, Canterbury: We have been instrumental in planting 5,000 of the 25,872 trees in this impressive project aimed at protecting the Te Wharau Stream from summit to sea. The restoration spans from the peaks of Banks Peninsula, 919 meters above sea level, to Lyttelton Harbour, focusing on safeguarding and enriching the biodiversity and traditional food gathering areas (mahinga kai/mahika kai) along the stream.

Pakiri Regional Park Wetlands: Our contributions include 1,395 of the 10,051 trees planted to date, helping to rejuvenate this vital wetland area.

 Tututawa Native Forest, Taranaki: We’ve contributed 2,300 of the 22,900 trees planted so far for the Tututawa Native Forest. This initiative, run by the ‘Eight Hundred’ Trust, is located at the edge of the Matemateonga Range in Eastern Taranaki. The project spans two bush blocks within a 1,700-acre property that is home to native Kiwi.  The goal is to transform the land into a thriving sanctuary for Kiwi and other native species, as well as to retire adjacent farmland, enhancing the ecological corridor and water quality.

Why are New Zealand’s native trees so important?

 Across the world, we know the power of trees as carbon-storing powerhouses. But what makes NZ's native trees' ecosystem services so important for humans as well as wildlife? And why should we be thinking of NZ's plants as our most powerful sustainability solution?

 A trunk load of benefits

 Trees are incredible tool for fighting climate change, thanks to their ability to store carbon. But, as a society, we're understanding more and more that we must think beyond carbon when we think about the value of trees and forests.

Carbon-storing is just one of many services trees carry out. In fact, trees are on the job 24/7. Left in their environment, trees and plants play a crucial (unpaid) role, doing something called ‘ecosystem services’. These are the jobs that keep us eating, drinking and breathing.

 Whether they're called 'ecosystem services', 'environmental services' or even 'natural capital'. They all mean the same thing. These services are life-giving and irreplaceable services provided by nature.

 These services maintain our food security, protect us from disasters like floods and fire, maintain and improve water quality and provide nature-based solutions to climate change.

Signature Homes & Trees that Count

As industry leaders, we believe building homes should not harm the environment. We see our natural spaces as taonga - a treasure we are collectively responsible for restoring and preserving for future generations.

Recognising the challenge of measuring carbon emissions in home construction, we engaged a sustainability expert to assess our sector's footprint. This analysis considered factors like material sourcing, transportation, and fuel use.

The findings revealed that building one home produces emissions offset by planting 45 native trees. To minimise our impact, we've partnered with Trees That Count to fund the cultivation and planting of native trees for every home we build - helping offset emissions and contribute to a greener, sustainable future.