Green Drinks - Community Action through Native Plants

For 35 years, one organisation has been quietly transforming Ōtautahi - one native plant at a time.

This month's Green Drinks welcomes Steve Bush QSM, who led Trees for Canterbury for over three and a half decades, growing it from a backyard nursery into a thriving commercial and retail native plant nursery that now produces 200,000 plants across 400 species every year, and provides inclusive, hands-on, meaningful employment for over 80 people.

Founded in 1990 by Tim Jenkins with a simple goal — to plant more native trees throughout the city and wider region, Trees for Canterbury has become so much more than a nursery. Everything they do is motivated by three powerful pillars: employment, education, and regeneration.

Steve will take us through the journey of building something extraordinary from humble beginnings, and what it looks like to grow an organisation that genuinely works for people and the environment alike. If you're passionate about native planting, inclusive employment, or simply love a good story of community-driven impact, this is an evening not to miss.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Thursday, June 18th, 2026

🕕 Time: 6:00PM – 8:00PM

📍 Location: Sugarloaf Bar & Eatery, 100 Moorhouse Avenue, Addington, Christchurch 8011

🕕 6:00 – 6:30 PM: Mingling & networking

🗣️ 6:30 – 7:00 PM: Talk & kōrero

🍻 7:00 – 8:00 PM: More mingling

🎉 This is a FREE event!

Green Drinks is a monthly environmental networking evening hosted by Christchurch Envirohub. We meet on the third Thursday of each month to share ideas, connect, and inspire action.