Living Legends is managing 17 native tree planting projects throughout New Zealand during Rugby World Cup 2011. Each planting is being run in conjunction with provincial rugby unions and will be dedicated to a regional ‘Rugby Legend’ who has been selected by the union. These Rugby Legends are people who have made a significant contribution to rugby in New Zealand.
Living Legends will plant almost 80,000 trees nationwide in 2011, and is making a five-year investment to plant a total of 150,000 trees by the end of the project in 2015. The plantings all take place on public conservation land, and will encourage New Zealanders and overseas visitors to participate in the events.
Plantings will be held in Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Horowhenua/Kapiti, Wellington, Tasman, Buller/West Coast, Mid Canterbury, Christchurch, Otago and Southland.
Living Legends is a joint venture of Project Crimson, an environmental charity with 20 years experience in community-based native restoration projects and the Tindall Foundation. It is sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Meridian Energy.