As part of our ongoing commitment to the environment, Chris Jolly Outdoors and Ōpepe Farm Trust present The Cruise to Plant initiative, to leave the world a better place.
Protecting Aotearoa for Future Generations
So that our environment, wildlife and community can thrive, Chris Jolly Outdoors has partnered with Opepe Farm Trust to improve our footprint on the earth we cherish.
Take only memories, leave only footprints and the experience will be preserved for future generations. Chris Jolly Outdoors is working daily to make Lake Taupō a forever destination that your children and children’s children will be able to visit for years to come.
The Cruise To Plant Project
All passengers on Chris Jolly Outdoors scenic cruises will have a dollar from their ticket price go towards the planting project.
Chris Jolly Outdoors is committed to planting trees in an effort to protect and enhance Aotearoa’s natural environment. This is one of the first planting initiatives for Chris Jolly with the future goals being to offset the boat charter service and to become carbon neutral.
The partnership with Ōpepe Farm Trust will help to ensure that the right trees are planted for sustainability. The Trust is passionate about protecting the environment for future generations and has the knowledge and expertise to guide the project. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against climate change and help to preserve our natural environment.
Why Native Trees?
There’s plenty of reasons to plant natives: Once upon a time, up to 80% of NZ was covered in forest… Now it’s down to about 15%. There is just under 2,000 types of plants native to New Zealand. This incredible flora is endemic to New Zealand, meaning this is the only place you can find them growing in the wild.
When replanting, it’s recommended to plant indigenous plants instead of exotic plants strengthen biodiversity. Native flora is culturally significant to our Māori heritage and myth, and a crucial component of Rongoā (traditional Māori medicine) as it uses many native plants to treat medical conditions.
Native trees can also be economically valuable for industries like bee keeping, timber to extracting oils for skincare, as well as an important part of the green New Zealand experience, beloved by tourists and locals alike.
In general, trees play a vital role in our environment by
supporting wildlife
providing shade and shelter
regulating temperature
preventing soil erosion
keeping waterways clear
absorbing carbon dioxide and holding onto the carbon
emitting oxygen back into the air
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
from The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
About Ōpepe Farm Trust
Ōpepe Farm Trust owns and administers approximately 4,800ha of land located on Highway 5, Maunganamu. Through its commercial arm, Ōpepe Farming Ltd, operates two dairy units milking 2,000 cows and a sheep and beef unit carrying approximately 25,000 stock units.
The Ōpepe Farm Trust established its environmental framework Whakarakei Whenua which includes a commitment to identify and regenerate native plantations on its land.
The Ōpepe farm trust has been working hard to promote the planting of native trees in New Zealand. The goal is to help create a more sustainable future for Aotearoa. Chris Jolly Outdoors recognised the nobility of this crucial effort and stepped in to help.
With the help of initiatives like Ōpepe Farm Trust, New Zealand is well on its way to creating a greener, more sustainable future.
The key objectives of Whakarakei Whenua include:
To protect and enhance the whenua in line with our indigenous Māori /Tūwharetoa values
Offset OFT and OFLP environmental footprint; greenhouse gas emissions
Improve biodiversity by creating ecological corridors
Improve water quality, and
Enhance the aesthetics of Ōpepe
The native regeneration project which sits within Ōpepe Farm Trust’s Whakarakei Whenua framework aims to:
Improve the biodiversity on the farms restoring natural habitat for native fauna
Reduce erosion by retiring and planting at risk areas
It is a carbon sink to help off-set on-farm activities that generate CO2 and methane and contribute to its zero-carbon status
To support and sustain the mana and wellbeing of the lands, Marae and people of Ōpepe Farm Trust. It will achieve this by managing and growing sustainable entities that will, in turn, build Ōpepe assets and provide sustenance to Ngā Uri.
— Ōpepe Farm Trust
Sustainability
So that our environment, wildlife and community thrive, Chris Jolly Outdoors partners with local iwi, the Department of Conservation and other eco-conscious organizations to continually improve our footprint on the earth we cherish.
Take only memories, leave only footprints and the experience will be preserved for future generations. Chris Jolly Outdoors is working daily to make Lake Taupō a forever destination, that your children and children’s children will be able to visit for years to come.
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. We respect and care for each and every client, making sure that we act with the highest level of professionalism and integrity in all of our interactions. We always deliver our experiences with smiles, enthusiasm, knowledge, fun and passion.
Nothing is a problem at Chris Jolly Outdoors and we will go above and beyond to exceed expectations every time.
Whakawhanaungatanga – We are family
We are all in this together.
We were founded on family values and strive to continue to nurture a sense of family/whanau in all aspects of our business – providing everyone with a sense of belonging.
We embrace our visitors as family/whanau and invite them to connect with us and our natural environment in a meaningful way that extends well beyond their very first experience.
Your wins are our wins and we celebrate together.
Aroha – We love what we do
We live and breathe our natural environment.
We have a natural taste for the Kiwi outdoors and pride ourselves on our unequalled knowledge, expertise and safety rating in providing experiences of a lifetime in our surrounding environment.
Our passion and love for the outdoors enable us to deliver truly authentic experiences that connect people with place.
Aumangea – We are resilient and innovative
We are proactive and not reactive.
We have a “never give up” mentality and adapt to any obstacles that come our way.
We are agile, always seeking new ways to continuously improve our performance.
Tiaki – Legacy
We are kaitiaki of our moana and awa.
We are the guardians of our environment and community, it is our duty to protect our home for generations to come.
We care for our people and place. Providing pathways for our customers and children/tamariki to connect with the outdoors and share in our collective knowledge on how to preserve our natural treasures/taonga.
We strive to positively contribute to our local economy and community – honouring the legacy on which we are founded, whilst inspiring a new generation of guardians/kaitiaki.
bookings@chrisjolly.co.nz
07 378 0623
Berth 4, Taupo Boat Harbour, 
