Auckland mayor Phil Goff says it has taken a huge community effort to reach his million trees milestone – including a special contribution from those behind bars.

The mayor was at Tōtara Park in Manurewa on Friday planting the millionth tree, meaning the programme is well ahead of the schedule set when he came into office.

He says it was helped by the Department of Corrections, which turned the business of growing seedlings into a work and training opportunity for inmates.

"I've been through the prisons up at Pāremoremo and Wiri South and the guys doing the work really love it because they say 'hey, we're doing something worthwhile, we are putting something back into the community and we are learning things. That's been great but all the kids, the schoolkids, the service clubs, some of the community groups out there, everybody has taken to it with enthusiasm, so fantastic achievement today. We'll hit the millionth tree," Mr Goff says.

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