What makes WaiNot Natives different
Sustainability, Climate Action & Kaitiakitanga
Our environmental impact goes beyond the nursery
Every native plant that leaves WaiNot Native Nursery has a job to do - helping restore waterways, establish wetlands, strengthen native habitats and support revegetation projects across landscapes and communities.
REDUCE & REUSE MATERIALS
88-92% reduction in plastic used
Reducing single-use plastics through degradable Ellebags, reusable trays for growing and returnable corflute packaging.
MEASURE & MANAGE WATER
Using roof-water capture, zoned irrigation and monitoring to target water to plant needs and minimise water wastage.
MEASURE OUR CARBON & IMPROVE EFFICIENCY
9.16T CO2-e baseline
Measuring our carbon footprint and looking for practical ways to reduce emissions, including transport, delivery efficiency and energy efficiency.
PROTECT PLANT HEALTH & BIOSECURITY
Plant Pass audited systems means monitored and measured plant-health information, helping us grow healthy plants. Plant Pass accredited nurseries help protect the environments the plants enter.
SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION
Our native plants go on to support riparian and wetland restoration, healthier waterways, erosion control, biodiversity and revegetation projects across landscapes and communities for many years to come.
Whats next:
Our aim is simple: keep measuring, keep learning and keep improving.
Sustainability is an ongoing process for us.
We regularly review how we grow, use resources and deliver plants.
We look for practical ways to reduce our environmental footprint.
We keep striving to supply a good quality product to do its job out in the environment for many years to come.
Growing natives with a wider purpose
We have looked closely at every stage of our growing and supplying system. Single-use plastic plant pots and trays are no longer part of it. Our nursery trays are retained and reused, and our corflute delivery boxes can be returned for future orders and all are recyclable.
We measure our water use, monitor our operational carbon footprint and continually improve the way our plants are grown, packed and delivered.
We use latest technology to help monitor our plant health and assist with watering and nutrient decisions for plant health and success.
For us, kaitiakitanga means caring for our environment here at the nursery while producing a product that helps establish successful native landscapes well beyond our gate.
WaiNot Native Nursery -
a bit about us
WaiNot Native Nursery is owned and operated by Steve and Steph Carroll in Waikite Valley, near Rotorua.
After dairy farming in the district until 2018, we decided to build a new business around native plants, practical growing systems and our connection to the land.
We use the Ellebag growing system developed by Danish propagation specialists Ellepot A/S. Our own Ellebag machine allows us to produce and fill the degradable bags on site at our Waikite Valley nursery. Most of our native plants are grown in 60mm Ellebags but we can also grow in 80mm and 100mm sizes.
The Ellebag holds the growing media securely, supports healthy root development and helps protect plants during handling and planting. It is planted directly into the ground, reducing plastic waste and making planting quicker and cleaner.
Our goals are simple:
Grow strong, hardy NZ native plants suited to Central North Island conditions.
Use a more sustainable plant-growing and supply system to help make everyone's environmental investment in planting both practical and efficient.
Make quality native plants available for projects of every size—from a single plant to thousands.
Visitors are welcome by appointment to see our plants and the Ellebag system for themselves.
Get in touch to discuss your plant requirements or arrange a nursery visit.
How Ellebag-grown native plants will benefit your project
Strong Establishment
Ellebag system by Ellepot :
Reduced root disturbance
Reduced plant shock
Reduced plant losses
Reduced rootbound plants
Locally hardened plants preparing them for challenging planting sites
Faster, cleaner planting
No plastic pots or bags to remove
Plant the Ellebag directly in the ground.
Plants graded and packed to order.
Corflute boxes assist with carrying to site and watering plants.
Less packaging and waste to collect from the field/site.
More of the planting team can focus on planting.
Environmental Benefits
Plants are supplied in durable corflute boxes designed to be returned and reused for future orders.
This system:
Reduces single-use plastic and packaging waste.
Minimises landfill from planting projects.
Reduces on-site waste handling.
Empty boxes fold flat for easier storage and return
Ellebag system and delivery system - helps contractors and organisations meet their sustainability and environmental targets along with planting natives.
Opening - WaiNot Natives
We're open by appointment.
Please phone.
Get in touch - WaiNot Natives
Phone: 0272916064 (Steph)
Phone: 0274751612 (Steve)
Email: info@wainotnativenursery.co.nz
Address - WaiNot Natives
715 Waikite Valley Road, RD1, Rotorua
