Countries around the world usher in the new year in different ways. In the case of New Zealand, it plans to welcome 2021 by urging you to plant a tree in New Zealand – and you don’t have to be there physically to do it.
Tourism New Zealand has partnered with conservation charity Trees That Count in its latest ‘Forest of Hope’ campaign. For NZD10 (about S$9.40), you can purchase and plant a native tree in New Zealand. And when the borders of New Zealand are open again, you can actually visit the tree you have helped to grow and plant in either Northland or Queenstown.
To take part, all you have to do is visit the official website and share your disappointments from 2020 – be it is cancellations, postponements, and missed weddings, graduations, birthdays, and celebrations. Tourism New Zealand will then help turn it into hope by planting a native tree. You can also gift a tree to a friend, or purchase a tree.
Photo © Trees That Count.
Steven Dixon, Regional Trade Marketing Manager, Asia, said, “In New Zealand, the Te Reo Māori values of manaaki and tiaki have become incredibly relevant today. They speak to the importance of having empathy and inspire us to care for people and place.”
“While our borders remain closed to international visitors, we want to extend a little manaaki and encourage a sense of tiaki to those who are in need of some optimism for the new year. With trees as a natural symbol of life and growth, the Forest of Hope is a way for people to say goodbye to this year’s disappointments and plant a seed of hope to look forward to better times ahead in 2021.”For details on the initiative, visit www.newzealand.com/hope, or watch the official video here.
