Lighting design company David Trubridge is a leading sponsor and the trust was granted $150,000 from the Department of Conservation for 2015 to the end of the year.
The regional council is a project partner and also lead agency for the Cape to City predator-control biodiversity project, which will see more than 30,000 native plants established across a catchment area that has the Maraetotara River at its heart - between Hastings, Cape Kidnappers, Waimarama and Kahuranaki.
Finding new avenues for funding was an ongoing challenge for the trust and Mr Turley said they saw Million Metres as a new, fresh and fashionable way of funding.
With Million Metres Streams Project on board a $25,000 funding goal has been launched with a closing date at the end of May.
The project will involve 4500 native plants and trees ecosourced from Hawke's Bay being planted along 1000m of the riverbanks between Okahu Station and Tuahu Farm.
Million Metres communications advisor Andy Kenworthy said planting acted as a barrier to pollution and provides shade enhancing the quality of water and bird life.
"We want to encourage the community to act as a guardian of their waterways and support the robust project."
Since day one the trust have vastly improved the Maraetotara River area and Mr Turley encouraged the community to get behind the project.
Fifty per cent of the 43km river length has already been cleared, planted and fenced and the trust planted 4500 trees annually, increasing to 9500 in 2015, and 16,000 in 2016.
The trust through the project also hoped to create a birds corridor as a connector for Te Mata Park, Havelock North, Haumoana and Napier.
"After a tough first decade we now have excellent momentum and a solid foundation. There has already been an increase in bird life which was one of our visions, it is great."
People can buy a metre of planting for $25 until May 22.
To donate to the project visit millionmetres.org.nz and go on to the 2018 Maraetōtara River Planting or visit maraetotaratreetrust.co.nz/donate.