Creating better opportunities through support and sponsorship
Our commitment to our community goes beyond our day-to-day forestry operations. As one of the region’s largest employers, we actively support initiatives that strengthen wellbeing, celebrate local identity, and enhance the natural environment. We partner with a wide range of organisations to help create meaningful and lasting benefits for the people who live, work, and play here.
These include working with CNI Iwi Holdings, Rotorua Lakes Council, the Rotorua Trails Trust and local businesses to support recreational access to Whakarewarewa Forest, sponsoring the Wingspan Trust, funding regeneration and ecological projects, community health initiatives and local sports clubs and schools.
With the Whakarewarewa Forest on our doorstep, sporting and recreational activities play a special part in keeping our community healthy and vibrant.
It spans 3,500 hectares and is a haven for mountain biking enthusiasts, trail runners, and horse riders.
The trails traverse areas of native bush, stands of pine, redwoods, and other introduced commercial species. With over 200 kilometres of tracks and trails there are countless adventures to be had.
Catering to a diverse range of enthusiasts, these trails attract a huge range of riders and runners across all age groups, from novices to seasoned competitors. Mountain biking is a core attraction for international and domestic visitors, and we recognise the importance of these trails to our community and the local economy.
When most people think of Whakarewarewa Forest, they picture adrenaline-pumping mountain bike trails and Instagram-worthy vistas. Our article Where timber meets trail explores the intricate dance between recreation and commercial forestry that makes this place so unique.
Rotorua Trails Trust
We're working together to develop a network of great multi-user trails. The Rotorua Trails Trust (RTT) is integral to the success of mountain biking in Rotorua, providing and maintaining year-round mountain biking, horse riding, running, and walking opportunities in New Zealand’s largest trail network.
The Trust works closely with the various landowners, iwi, the Department of Conservation, Rotorua Lakes Council and Kaingaroa Tipu as forest managers to improve the trail network.
Rotorua Trails Trust
Department of Conservation
The Department of Conservation (DOC) manages and protects conservation areas within the Whakarewarewa Forest, alongside the mountain bike and recreational trails.
Department of Conservation
Rotorua Mountain Bike Club
The Rotorua Mountain Bike Club’s vision is to improve the mountain biking experience in Rotorua. The club wants people of all backgrounds and demographics to be able to jump on a bike and explore the forest.
Rotorua Mountain Bike Club
Wingspan
The Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust is New Zealand’s leading conservation, education, and research organisation for birds of prey. Based in Rotorua, its core focus is to protect the threatened kārearea (New Zealand falcon). As a major sponsor, our vision is to support the Trust to ensure future generations can continue to see kārearea throughout the Kaingaroa Forest Estate.
In 2023, the Trust opened a new centre located on Ngati Whakaue land on Paradise Valley Road. This is part of a three-stage development, with aviaries, a flight observation space and visitor centre already in place. We highly recommend a visit to experience the Wingspan story and view the live Flight of the Falcon show.
Recreational Management Group
Rotorua Lakes Council along with mana whenua Tūhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngā hapu e toru o Ngāti Whakaue, CNI Iwi Land Management Ltd and Kaingaroa Tipu make up the Recreational Management Group.
We work collectively to ensure the hundreds of locals and manuhiri who visit Whakarewarewa Forest every day enjoy all it has to offer.
