Christ Church Ellerslie’s church whānau and wider community came together to rejuvenate the church grounds, planting native species to support birds, insects and other urban wildlife.

The Windsor Park Baptist Earth Team recently welcomed rangatahi for a native tree planting day at Centurion Reserve. Together they planted 207 native plants, learnt practical restoration skills, and prepared to share their knowledge with others during the church's upcoming Matariki Serve Day.

As part of World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge, the Good News Project 2026 gave young people from churches in Auckland and Christchurch a taste of hands-on conservation, discovering how caring for creation is one way to put their faith into action.

After a decade of restoration work in Landsdowne Valley, South West Baptist has begun a fresh six-year planting partnership at Westmorland West – continuing its restoration story with new energy, new partnerships, and a hillside ready for renewal.

On a bright winter’s day, Cashmere Presbyterian Church began caring for a section of Ōhinetahi Bush Reserve on the Port Hills of Ōtautahi Christchurch. Supported by the Summit Road Society and the Student Volunteer Army, the church’s Eco Church team planted native trees and committed to ongoing stewardship — a shared act of faith, community, and environmental care.

What began as simple weeding and clearing has grown into something much deeper. On a warm Sunday morning in Whanganui, youth, families, and neighbours gathered for hands-on restoration—and found themselves building community, nurturing their faith, and practising kaitiakitanga together. Discover how a small gully regeneration project is transforming both the land and the people who care for it.

In October, young adults and youth ministry leaders from across Aotearoa gathered on Kamau Taurua / Quarantine Island for He Māhuri Tōtara, a weekend of reflection, learning, and connection with creation. Guided by mana whenua, we listened to stories held in the land, explored eco-theology, planted trees, and watched toroa soar over the harbour. It was a time alive with wairua — grounding, hopeful, and deeply moving.

Across September and October, Alexandra Corps joined churches across Aotearoa in celebrating the Season of Creation, reflecting on the theme Peace with Creation. The Corps community embraced practical care for the environment — from a Kids Church worm farm project to a community planting day at Eden Gardens — and joined fellow Eco Church, Alexandra, Clyde and Lauder Union Parish for outdoor worship in the gardens. Together, they expressed their ongoing commitment to caring for God’s creation.

During this year’s Season of Creation, All Saints’ Anglican Church in Dunedin demonstrated its ongoing commitment to caring for God’s earth through hands-on community action. Parish members joined with the Student Christian Movement to plant 145 native trees on a South Otago farm, helping regenerate native forest and restore riparian habitats. Later in the month, a smaller group took to Te Awa o Ōwheo (the Leith) for a local river clean-up, reflecting the parish’s deep connection to this waterway and its place in the church’s story. Together, these actions embodied All Saints’ vision of faith expressed through stewardship, community, and hope for creation’s renewal.

The story of Te Ringatini began in 2018 during one of my runs along the river. As I was going through the Donkey Track reserve, I was struck by the stark contrast between the established riparian planting and the invasive tradescantia weeds that were choking the understory. At that moment, amidst the beauty and the brokenness, I felt a divine nudge - a sense that God was calling me to help restore this piece of creation. I felt myself saying “Someone should do something about this” and I felt God respond “You should do something about this”. Yet I felt totally unprepared for the task that I sensed God was calling me into. 

On June 22, 2024, The 40 Hour Challenge Good News Project, brought together A Rocha, Eco Church and World Vision in a collaborative effort to regenerate native bush at Spencer Park in partnership with Christchurch City Council. This event aimed to engage local youth groups and inspire young Christians to take part in practical environmental action, creating a space where participants could hear the Good News and actively be the Good News through environmental restoration.

Christchurch's Urban Forest Plan is a Council-led and community-driven effort to create a greener, more equitable city. By planting, nurturing, protecting, and involving the community, Christchurch is well on its way to becoming a greener city - ensuring all of the benefits of trees are available for us and for generations to come. Churches are encouraged to contribute to a thriving urban forest by planting trees on their properties and engaging their congregations in environmental initiatives.