WaiNot Natives
Nursery

Professional NZ Native Plants for reliable project outcomes

Locally grown, consistently graded NZ Natives for faster planting, stronger survival and reduced plastic waste.

Talk to us today about your project. Request a Quote

We grow hardy, locally–proven NZ Native Plants in sustainable Ellebags.

Why choose WaiNot Natives:

Consistent plant grading
Reliable supply planning
Locally grown for our conditions

For Contractors, Developers, Councils and Lifestyle Projects

We supply:

Rotorua
Taupo
Waikato
Bay of Plenty

Ellebag Advantages

Faster PlantingUp to 30% faster. Plant Ellebag straight in the ground - no decanting

Healthier Root Systems Air pruned roots = stronger roots. No spiralling or rootbound issues.

Reduced WasteDegradable Ellebags. No plastic waste to deal with, plant straight in the ground

Stronger Survival RatesHealthier Roots + Less disturbance = Plants grow faster & thrive sooner.

Ellebag, native plants. reduce labour costs, faster planting

Lower Labour CostsFewer staff needed. No decanting plants. Packed in returnable corflute forestry boxes

Explore our Native Plant range

Flaxes

Trees

Grasses & Tussocks

Other Native Plants

Enquire about plant supply

Behind the Nursery

From Seed to Site - built for project success

Trays of seedlingsOur NZ native seedlings are raised in reusable trays before being transferred into Ellebags. We grow approximately 35 different species

Potting upSeedlings are transferred into degradable Ellebags in our purpose-built potting shed, allowing production to continue in all weather.

Root structure Ellebags promote strong, healthy root development by allowing air-pruning, preventing root circling, and encouraging dense, fibrous root systems for faster establishment after planting

Sustainable packagingPlants are graded and packed in recyclable boxes for ease of planting, and returned for reuse. NO plastics in the field.

Plant Pass Certified Nursery

Plant Pass certification demonstrates that our nursery meets recognised standards for plant health, biosecurity practices and traceability.
Meets council, contractor, and environmental project requirements.
Supports safe, sustainable planting outcomes across New Zealand.

Find out more

Testimonials

Working with WaiNot Native Nursery has been a game-changer for contractors like us, great communication, easy and super helpful to deal with.

We have been consistently impressed by the quality of their plants, which are always healthy and well-suited to our local environment. Their innovative use of the Ellebags promotes healthy root growth, ensuring transplant success and ultimately leading to thriving plants.

The ease of use when working with the Ellebag has meant we save time in our planting process and never need to worry anymore about disposing of plastic trays/pots/bags anymore.

We highly recommend contacting WaiNot Native Nursery for any large or small native planting projects you may have.

Alistair Hardy, Director

Over the past three years, I've planted 40,000 native trees and shrubs using plastic pots and bags, which were heavy, fragile, and produced waste. These methods also added 25% to plant costs due to high transport expenses, and removing the plants took time. Plastic disposal was another issue. In the last 15 months, the ELLEPOT system has improved our process. Used by WaiNot Native Nursery in Rotorua, it reduces freight costs by allowing more plants in a degradable box, ready for planting without handling. Its eco-friendly pots lower labour and environmental impact. We plant with a spade or a battery drill and auger, speeding up the process and cutting costs. Plants grow better and need less maintenance; some shrubs don't need care later. Fertiliser tablets boost growth without extra work. This system allows efficient planting, better plant survival, and cost savings.

Yellowview Trust

Partnering with WaiNot Native Nursery has transformed our planting operations.
The Ellebag system makes planting faster and easier, with minimal root disturbance and no soil loss — resulting in healthier, more resilient plants.
We’ve cut labour time, reduced plastic waste, and improved overall efficiency, all while meeting our sustainability goals.
WaiNot’s Ellebag-grown natives deliver real results for restoration projects across Aotearoa.

Aotearoa Restoration

WaiNot Native Nursery have supplied more than 3000 plants for two planting projects we have undertaken over the past three years on our lifestyle block. The first was to revegetate a stream bank, and in Autumn 2025 we planted two steep areas unsuitable for grazing. Another key consideration was the environmental sustainability of the WaiNot Native Nursery Ellebag planting method. The plants supplied were of the best quality and so very easy to plant in their degradable sleeves. No pots to contend with being a huge factor in reducing the planting time by at least half.

It has been a pleasure to do business with Steve and Steph who have shared their knowledge freely.

We highly recommend WaiNot Native Nursery for any native planting project.

Dave and Nicola

Get in touch

Phone: 0272916064 (Steph)
Phone: 0274751612 (Steve)
Email: info@wainotnativenursery.co.nz

Opening times

We're open by appointment.
Please phone.

Address

715 Waikite Valley Road, RD1, Rotorua

WaiNot Natives Nursery