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Create your own Greendot
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Volunteer Planting Days
Find out how you can get involved
Professional Restoration Services
Find out about our Field Team
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Greendot Planting Projects
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Our mission

Let’s increase Canterbury’s biodiversity

Te Ara Kākāriki Greenway Canterbury Trust is a charitable trust with the goal of increasing biodiversity in Waitaha Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our mission is to create a ‘greenway’ – a corridor of native biodiversity Greendots between the Waimakiriri and Rakaia rivers, linking the mountains to the sea, Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere and Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula.

Having greendot plantings spread across the region will increase biodiversity and the area and variety of habitat available for indigenous wildlife.

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Our events enable the community to contribute to improving our environment.

CREATE A GREENDOT

We help and support landowners to start their own native planting on their property.

KIDS DISCOVERY PLANTOUTS

We are educating Selwyn tamariki about biodiversity through hands-on learning.

RESTORATION SERVICES

Our team are now available to help with your native restoration projects.

What people say

“I like planting native plants because it helps the environment and I love to see new birds and insects come in. I like Kids Discovery Plantout days because my whole school gets involved with helping the environment grow.”
NoahSpringfield School Student
Noah
“I always enjoy Te Ara Kākāriki planting events. I can help the environment, learn about biodiversity, and meet lots of people. The whole experience is awesome, and the food is yummy too! ”
RiraVolunteer
Rira
“Our greendot is my happy place. It was a great day when all the volunteers joined us in the initial planting. It's been a very satisfying experience for the whole family and we look forward to gradually increasing it. I like to imagine how it will look in the future when our grandchildren bring their children to enjoy it.”
JaneLandowner
Jane
“The students found it a valuable and rewarding experience. The organisation was exceptional, and as an Enviroschool it provided a wonderful opportunity for our ākonga to take our learning from school and make connections with our local community.”
Chris Prebbleton School teacher
Chris
"We are proud to support Te Ara Kākāriki with their native planting projects across the Selwyn District by providing funding, and with the awarding of the Diana Isaac Cup acknowledging landowners' contributions to biodiversity."
Isaac Conservation Wildlife TrustFunder
Isaac Conservation Wildlife Trust

Establishing successful Greendots

BeforeAfter
Find out more about Greendots

Meet our team

Today, Te Ara Kākāriki consists of seven volunteer trustees who meet every six weeks to make decisions, with recommendations from our coordinators. Each of the trustees work with on specific areas, such as plantout days, funding, media, or Kids Discovery Plantout days. Our part time employees include coordinators to oversee every day running of the trust as well as planning and running the Greendot and Kids Discovery Plantout Programmes. Three ecologists are also contracted, providing ongoing guidance, education and restoration planning services.

Find out more about our team

News

2026 Greendot Plantouts

Kate Gittins August 2, 2026

2026 Volunteer Plantout Days Join us this spring as we continue planting our Te Ara Kakariki Greendot pathway! Our sign up links are now LIVE.

Te Ara Kākāriki – Greenway Canterbury Trust

Creating a corridor of native biodiversity greendots between the Waimakiriri and Rakaia rivers, linking the mountains to the sea, Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere and Banks Peninsula