Auckland-based airline Air New Zealand has partnered with the My Native Forest platform, investing in carbon removal credits to be delivered through forest restoration projects.
Under the partnership, Air New Zealand is buying 8000 tonnes of internationally verified carbon credits expected to be delivered by 2030.
The purchase will roll out in three stages, with the first tranche entailing an investment in 500 tonnes in 2028, followed by another tranche for 2500 tonnes in 2029 and wrapping up with the final 5000 tonnes in 2030.
To generate the carbon removal credits, this partnership will back large-scale native forest restoration projects across Aotearoa in New Zealand, including areas in Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, Tairawhiti Gisborne, Waikato, Auckland, and Northland.
Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Kiri Hannifin, commented, “Native forest planting takes time, so it’s important to secure future supply now. As New Zealand’s national carrier, the co-benefits for biodiversity and pest control here at home in Aotearoa make this agreement even more powerful.”
These on-the-ground operations are expected to deliver CO2 removal results, as well as meaningful biodiversity restoration and ecosystem improvements, while also bringing economic opportunities for local communities.
According to My Native Forest co-founder Mitchell McLaughlin, this partnership with Air New Zealand serves to demonstrate how carbon finance can unlock large-scale native forest restoration.
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He commented, “This partnership shows that planting native trees is no longer just a goodwill exercise, it is a genuine, commercially viable choice for landowners. By creating an income stream that recognizes integrity, we can help landowners right here in our own country to restore biodiversity, protect waterways, and build resilience into their land while also delivering high-integrity carbon removals.”
This collaboration falls in line with Air New Zealand’s strategy for reaching net-zero by 2050. As part of its elaborate sustainability plan, the company is currently finalizing a further commitment to purchase internationally verified nature-based credits.
By the end of 2025, Air New Zealand intends to sign a contract with a second carbon removal supplier based in New Zealand.
