Join us for a free, family-friendly day of fun at EarthDiverse's Annual Matariki Multicultural Tree Planting Day. Lunch provided!

EarthDiverse, the Waikato Interfaith Council, Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park and Te Kaararo Nature Precinct, the Waikato Multicultural Council, the Hamilton City Council, the Bahá’í Community (and other partners) are co-organising a Community-wide tree planting event to take place in Hamilton on Saturday 14 June 2025, 10:00am-3:00pm.  (This year’s event will take place Rain or Shine). Please use the Baverstock Rd entrance gate, up the hill past the corner of Baverstock and Rotokauri Rd instead of the entrance across from the Zoo. If you use the entrance across from the Zoo you won’t find us as we’ll be on the side of the Park!

Bring a spade or shovel, gumboots, appropriate outdoor weather gear (e.g. hat, rain gear, sunglasses), some gardening gloves, water and a big smile. If you don’t want to dig there are other ways to help out (like bringing a small food donation, or helping with setting out and serving a light lunch). A light lunch will be served (courtesy of EarthDiverse, Kaivolution, Go Eco, Waikato Interfaith Council, the Bahá’í Community, Ahmaddiyya Muslim Community, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Trust, and others). Any ready to eat food donations (e.g. bread, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, baked goods, UHT milk, tea bags, instant coffee, juice, etc.) will be much appreciated. Please bring your own plates, cutlery or mugs in order to minimise waste. As we aim to plant over 4500 saplings, 100 people would mean planting about 45 saplings each, 200 people about 23 each, 300 people about 15 saplings each, so the more the merrier! Come for either for the morning or afternoon sapling planting sessions, have some lunch on us, or stay for both sessions!

This event is free, family-friendly and fun! Open to all. Mark this date in your diaries now. Come and help offset your carbon usage!

Organisers:

• 9:00-10:00am: set up marquees, booths, tables, food, etc.

Schedule:

• 9:45-10:00am: arrive and find parking on Baverstock Rd.

• 10:00-10:20am: Intro, welcome, instructions and health & safety briefing at entry point on Baverstock Rd.

• 10:20-12:30pm: plant saplings in Waiwhakareke reserve

• 12:30-1:30pm: shared free buffet lunch; mingling and networking

• 1:30-2:45pm: second afternoon planting for those who wish to do more, or come later in the afternoon

NOTE:  Please do not use the car park across from the Zoo entrance on Brymer Rd. Instead, please park along the Baverstock Road gate on Baverstock Road. Helpers will be there to guide you. You can park on either side of the street. Once parked, enter the Park via the Baverstock Road Gate. Marquees and tables for organising groups can be set up there. We will gather here, just inside the Baverstock Rd gate for our 10:30am orientation, then we will walk to the tree planting area. The light lunch will be served near the Baverstock gate.