920 native plants grown by Orewa College students as part of their Trees for Survival Trust programme have been stolen.
Community programme staff and students say they are disgusted by the theft.
The plants were to be planted by the students on Monday to help improve the stream water quality and stabilise land at a local farm.
The theft occurred at West Coast Road, Ahuroa where the plants were being kept in a paddock by the roadside until the planting day.
The plants were 40-50cm high and stored in milk crates.