The project, called Interwoven, involves using native harakeke, or flax, to make guards to protect newly planted natives from rabbits and the elements, doing away with the need to use plastic guards.
Interwoven was piloted earlier this year with local schools and polytech students who were taught to weave harakeke guards.
These have since been successfully installed at two planting sites in Wānaka.
A $20,000 donation from the Warbirds Over Wānaka Community Trust is helping launch the project.
Airshow general manager Ed Taylor said in a statement this week the airshow was always looking at ways to reduce its carbon footprint.
"We have a number of initiatives already in place in terms of how we can improve our environmental sustainability and being part of the Interwoven project is another great way to help us achieve that.
"There are the obvious practical benefits of the harakeke guards replacing plastic, but it’s also about education and community engagement which makes this partnership with Te Kākano so worthwhile," he said.
Te Kākano Trust manager Loran Verpillot said she hoped the project would grow and its impact extend beyond Wanaka to inspire similar initiatives in other parts of the country.
By weaving together threads of tikanga Māori, innovation and sustainability, the Interwoven project also offered a great opportunity for the community to connect with nature, she said.
— APL
