Two businesses have joined forces with the Queenstown Lakes District Council to support the "Paper4trees" initiative in the region, which educates children about recycling and gives them a chance to exchange their recycling for native trees.
The council and Ziptrek Ecotours are joint sponsors of the Lakes District programme, delivered by Wanaka Wastebusters, to 16 schools and pre-schools across the district.
It has already resulted 760cu m of recycling being saved from a trip to the landfill in exchange for 380 native trees planted in the community.
Ziptrek Ecotours saw the Paper4Trees programme as the perfect fit with its philosophies, having planted more than 2500 native trees on Bob's Peak since opening.
Sales and marketing manager Nicky Busst said the company aimed to counteract the introduced Douglas firs which provided the support for its tree houses, built in the canopy which connects the ziplines.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be sponsoring Paper4trees.
"As a 100% sustainable company, we're always looking for initiatives that are aligned to our eco-principles, as well as the chance to give something back to our amazing community, so this was a perfect fit."
Wanaka Wastebusters' education for sustainability facilitator Simon Williams said the schools and preschools he worked with had embraced the Paper4trees scheme.
"Kids just love planting trees. Understanding of the long-term environmental benefits becomes more sophisticated as children get older, but even our youngest preschoolers love the hands-on experience of planting a tree in the earth."
Paper4trees programme manager Cayley Manson said the two companies and the council deserved "a massive thank you" for supporting the initiative.
"It's great to see local businesses so passionate about the environment, from the way they operate to their commitment to the local community.
"We're thrilled to have support from businesses that have the same values and respect for the environment as we do."
