An East Coast hapu Ngati Rangi has just completed a joint project with the Department of Conservation to plant 1000 pohutukawa trees near Ruatoria.
The trees have been planted on a coastal hill overlooking the marae at Reporua.
The community initiative began three years ago and is a joint effort by landowners, a Maori Trust, the Department of Conservation and Project Crimson.
Project Crimson is a national conservation trust which for 20 years has been supporting communities save and rejuvenate populations of pohutukawa.
DoC ranger Graeme Atkins says the trees will not only protect the land and enhance the landscape but will encourage native bird life back into the Ruatoria area.
