About 35 people turned up on a showery Saturday morning and planted 1000 trees beside a reservoir dam in less than an hour, Rangitīkei District Council parks assistant Ben Woolston said.
People were "keen as" to get involved in the Matariki Tu Rākau project – planting a native forest around Marton's two dams to honour past and present members of the New Zealand Defence Force. Attendees included several Returned and Services Association members.
Rangitīkei Mayor Andy Watson, Marton RSA president Alan Buckendahl and environmental parks assistant Woolston all made brief speeches. A plaque was unveiled, and will be mounted on a post at the spot.
There were a couple of showers, Woolston said, but nobody got completely soaked and the hot drinks and sausages after the planting went down well.
Money for the plants was provided by Te Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand) and the event was sponsored by Marton New World and Marton Mitre 10.