MotorSport New Zealand partners with Trees That Count

MotorSport New Zealand will accelerate its sustainability goals through a new partnership with Trees That Count, a leading environmental organisation dedicated to native tree planting and carbon offset initiatives. This collaboration marks a significant step forward for the motorsport community’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

The partnership between MotorSport New Zealand and Trees That Count is a key initiative under the organisation’s Sustainability Fund. Established in 2021, the Sustainability Fund aims to promote sustainable practices within the motorsport industry and help offset the sport’s carbon emissions.

Notably, the Sustainability Fund initiative received international recognition by being named a finalist in the prestigious FIA President’s Awards in 2023. This acknowledgment underscores the commitment of MotorSport New Zealand to championing sustainable practices and mitigating the impact of motorsport on the environment.

Rally Otago, one of New Zealand’s premier motorsport events, was the first to leverage the Sustainability Fund to offset its carbon emissions.

By partnering with Trees That Count, MotorSport New Zealand will grow off the success Rally Otago has enjoyed by actively supporting the planting of native trees within the regions where contributing events take place.

“We are excited about our collaboration with Trees That Count,” said MotorSport New Zealand CEO Elton Goonan.

“This partnership reinforces our commitment to sustainability. The Sustainability Fund has proven to be a catalyst for change within the sport, and we are proud to have events like Rally Otago leading the way in utilising this initiative.”

Currently, event organisers can choose how they contribute to the fund, either fully or partially offsetting their emissions and how they charge competitors for this. Plans are being investigated to enable contributions at an individual level across all events so competitors can choose to offset their carbon emissions when entering events, similar to schemes currently run by airlines.