More than 676 hectares of forest established, over 13,000 invasive pests removed and another $2.5 million committed to conservation — Meridian Energy is expanding its Forever Forests programme, with a stronger focus on native biodiversity and potential partnerships with tangata whenua.
The renewable energy company has announced the next phase of its forest restoration initiative, Forever Forests 2.0, building on a $16 million programme launched in 2019.
The initiative has supported the establishment and protection of permanent forests across Aotearoa, helping to offset Meridian’s operational emissions while restoring ecosystems and improving habitats for native species.
The 676 hectares established under the programme represent an area equivalent to approximately 800 rugby fields.
Native Forests Take Centre Stage
The next phase will place greater emphasis on establishing native forests from the outset.
Under the original programme, exotic tree species were used initially to accelerate carbon absorption, with the intention of progressively replacing them with native vegetation.
Forever Forests 2.0 will shift towards native forest establishment earlier in the restoration process, with biodiversity outcomes becoming a stronger priority.
The programme will also investigate opportunities to expand existing forests, establish new planting areas and undertake additional pest control.
Meridian Chief Executive Mike Roan says the company intends to build on the lessons learned during the first phase, with the aim of delivering lasting environmental benefits.
Opportunities for Tangata Whenua Partnerships
A significant feature of the new programme is the potential for greater collaboration with tangata whenua.
Meridian says it will investigate further partnership opportunities alongside restoration projects on company-owned land.
For Māori, native forest restoration is closely connected to the health of whenua, protection of indigenous biodiversity and the principle of kaitiakitanga.
Restoring native vegetation can contribute to healthier ecosystems, improved habitats and the long-term protection of natural environments.
Partnerships with iwi and hapū could also provide opportunities to incorporate local environmental knowledge and cultural priorities into restoration planning.
However, Meridian has not yet announced specific new tangata whenua partnerships or confirmed where these projects will be located.
Drones and New Technology Support Restoration
The Forever Forests programme has also trialled innovative methods of establishing native vegetation.
These include drone seeding and drill seeding techniques designed to support forest regeneration.
Such approaches could provide additional options for restoring landscapes where conventional planting methods are difficult or expensive.
Meridian says the next phase will explore further native seeding projects and opportunities to extend restoration across larger areas.
More Than 13,000 Invasive Pests Removed
Alongside planting and forest establishment, pest control has been an important component of the programme.
Meridian reports that more than 13,000 invasive pests have been removed since the initiative began.
Controlling introduced pests can help protect native vegetation and wildlife, particularly in areas where invasive species threaten biodiversity and forest regeneration.
The company intends to continue pest removal as it expands the programme.
Carbon Storage and Long-Term Environmental Benefits
Forever Forests also forms part of Meridian’s approach to managing its operational carbon emissions.
The programme supports permanent forests registered under the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme.
According to Meridian, the initiative is forecast to generate more than 62,000 New Zealand Units before 2030 and more than 15,000 units annually from 2030 onwards.
These are forecasts rather than carbon units already delivered.
While carbon storage remains part of the programme, the company says the next phase will place greater emphasis on wider biodiversity benefits.
$2.5 Million Committed for the Next Stage
Meridian has allocated $2.5 million during the 2027 financial year to establish Forever Forests 2.0.
Planning is already underway to identify potential sites, planting areas and additional biodiversity opportunities.
The investment will support the next stage of a programme designed to combine forest restoration, pest control and long-term environmental protection.
With hundreds of hectares of forest already established and thousands of invasive pests removed, Meridian’s latest investment signals a stronger focus on native ecosystems — and the potential for greater tangata whenua involvement in restoring and protecting the whenua.
#MeridianEnergy #ForeverForests #ForeverForests2 #NativeForests #Conservation #Biodiversity #Kaitiakitanga #TangataWhenua #WhenuaMāori #IwiPartnerships #Hapū #NativeTreePlanting #PestControl #ForestRestoration #ClimateAction #CarbonStorage #EmissionsTradingScheme #EnvironmentalProtection #RenewableEnergy #Aotearoa #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews
