Who are we?

Better Trees, Better Results, Better Price

Restoring the right land to Native Trees.

Our message is a simple one. We're growing native trees with a clear purpose.

Restore land to its best use with native trees. This is marginal land not suitable for farming.

Enhance the environment by improving biodiversity and turning rough hillsides/swampy areas in to lush native bush.

Make it easy with advise on plant species and can do a full service including spraying/supplying/planting.

Be cost effective using smart growing techniques, knowledge of what works on farm and a desire to get more trees in the ground means our prices will be more than competitive.

Restore Native is the vision of me, Adam Thompson.

What I want to do to help Restore Native trees to land that is not suited to sustainable farming.

I'm a farm boy who has been planting Native Trees on my own properties since I was 21. The love of trees and birds led me into pest control and setting up the local Predator Free Cambridge group which I am still involved with.

I've run my own Mortgage Broking business for ten years and committed most of my time to that. Now with supportive business partners I've been able to make a lot more time available to pursue the biggest passion in my life, which Restore Native encompasses.

In 2018 we were fortunate enough to purchase a small farm and added to that a year later. The farm is blessed with 30 acres of native bush, some original stand which has never been touched. There is a giant Rimu in this Forest and you'll see that in the centre of our logo as it really guides the direction we are going.

This bush provides us with a large seed bank for growing plants. Along with protecting it we are now extending planting in to other areas of the farm.

The farm is classic rolling hill country farmed with traditional methods. As such there are a lot of wet and steep areas which are not suitable for farming that we are retiring and planting with natives... as many farmers in New Zealand are.

The biggest challenge I've had in 15 years of planting natives was not the desire to plant but the physical ability and funding to plant as many trees as I wanted to. We are going to address those two issues head on and make it easier for other farmers and environmentally minded people to plant trees and restore areas to their natural purpose.

Cheaper trees that are fit for purpose on farms and are easier to plant - Watch this space for more updates on exactly how... and we'd love for you to give our trees a forever home.

Our Team

The Restore Native crew is a team of hardworking, dedicated people with one shared passion — getting more trees in the ground. We’re always on the lookout for new team members who can bring their skills, energy, and enthusiasm to our awesome culture.

Explore opportunities

Adam Thompson - Founder

Adam's love of growing things started as a young boy in his parent's market garden. His family have a history of Farming, Horticulture and Viticulture so growing things is in his blood.

He first started growing natives as a 25 year old and has expanded every year and continues to grow with Restore Native.

As a Cambridge Farmer and with a finance background Adam is motivated to find great, cost effective solutions for native trees on farms.

Hannah Buchanan
Nursery Operations Manager

Hannah joined Restore Native in 2021, swapping the classroom for the great outdoors and never looking back. She looks after everything in the nursery — from collecting and germinating seed through to leading the team and trialling best-practice growing techniques.

She lives right next door with her two kids and we think she is a total keeper - so just for the record she is still on the lookout for the right man (strong shoulders and good chat a must!).

James Ranstead
Site Operations Manager

James joined our team in 2022 is responsible for all of our site work and overseeing our team in the field. He’s also a trained ecologist who's passionate about getting out and making a real practical difference to the environment.

You'll find yourself dealing with James as he plans and prepares planning projects and maintenance and spraying.

James is a keen footballer and spends his weekends playing all over the Waikato.

Pete Bichan
Dispatch/Team Dad

Hailing from the forestry industry, Pete is known for his steady hand — whether it’s dispatch, health and safety, or just good life advice. Around here he’s the unofficial Team Dad — and a bit of a legend.

Despite the jokes about his “nearly a pensioner” status, he’s easily the fittest of us all. Outside of work, you’ll find him caving, volunteering with Search & Rescue or tackling some of New Zealand’s toughest cycling routes.

Sébastian Lemercier
Nursery & Field Operations

Seb is our resident Frenchman who traded hospitality for native restoration. These days he splits his time between the nursery and the field and is well known for his attention to detail and commitment to quality.

He’s also a dad to two teenagers and still enjoys mixing a cocktail or two at our Friday pizza nights!

Josh Mercer
Nursery Operations

Josh is a self-confessed plant-nerd (that's why he and Adam get on so well!) and spent several years in a wholesale nursery just out of Hamilton in the production team.

He now heads up the growing of our baby trees and is responsible for keeping consistency and quality as they are potted out into trays. Outside of work he's a proud Dog Dad to Rio.

Vanessa Van de ven
Field Operations

Vanessa is a dairy farmer on the Hauraki Plains, where she lives with her husband Bart and their two school-aged daughters.

She joined the Restore Native crew in 2022 and has become a senior member of our winter planting team, consistently bringing dedication and care to every project and delivering great results for our clients.

Roy Keith Gorr "John"
Nursery & Field Operations

Roy spends summers in agricultural contracting and winters with Restore Native, where he’s an integral part of our planting and dispatch crew, bringing a good old-fashioned working ethic and values. If you see him on site, it'll likely be with his head down, getting stuck in.

Recently, he and his partner welcomed a baby, making him a proud new member of our “Dad Club.”

Emily Corin
Nursery & Field Operations

Emily joined our team in 2023 and is an absolute hive of energy and font of plant knowledge.

Out on-site she’s all go, delivering planting projects with pace and enthusiasm while keeping the team in good spirits with her upbeat vibe.

Awesome older sister to Thomas (being a hard worker runs in the family!)

Thomas Corin
Nursery & Field Operations

Thomas joined us in 2024 as our youngest full-time team member, bringing practical skills and engineering experience to the crew. He enjoys the hands-on, wholesome nature of restoration as well as being part of his local Te Miro community.

He’s also recently joined our “Dad Club,” with a new baby at home keeping him busy off-site too.

Tom Brown
Site Foreman

Tom is our awesome Site Foreman and all-round doer. You’ll often find him on-site running planting projects, doing spraying or site prep and keeping everything running smoothly with James and Pete.

Off the clock, he’s a keen mountain biker at Te Miro and Rotorua—and just as handy with a chainsaw. Oh, and he's also famous for one thing you can’t miss: wearing sunnies at all hours, day or night!