Transforming Khemeia Valley: Our Tree Planting Journey

At My Tree Legacy, our mission is to breathe life back into the land, one rākau (tree) at a time. Khemeia Valley, nestled in the heart of nature, is where our journey begins—a journey driven by love for the ngahere (bush), a desire to combat environmental decline, and a commitment to leaving a thriving legacy for our tamariki (children) and future generations.

Why We Started

Our passion for nature has always been at the core of who we are. Witnessing the global degradation of our planet and our neighbouring forestry block, sparked a fire in us to act. We wanted to do more than just talk about change—we wanted to lead by example. By restoring the whenua (land), we’re showing our tamariki that caring for nature nurtures not only the environment but also our communities and ourselves. When the whenua thrives, we all thrive.

The Khemeia Valley Story

In 2019, we purchased Khemeia Valley, a 425 acre beef grazing and bush block that, for many years, had cattle trampling through the bush and no pest management in place. The only structure here was a character filled, old leaky cabin overrun with spiders and mice. Birdlife was scarce, the land felt neglected and the trees were struggling.

The old cabin & family visiting back in 2019

From 2019 to 2021, we poured our hearts into the whenua. Every weekend, we made the 2.5-hour one way trek from Auckland, camping, sitting around the fire at night, bathing in the chilly river, and dreaming big. Those raw, wild moments fueled our vision. In 2021, we took the leap, moved to Khemeia Valley, and lived in a caravan while building a shed with a kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping quarters.

The years 2022 and 2023 were about laying foundations—maintaining tracks, planning our home, building infrastructure, and planting trees. We also immersed ourselves in the local community, joining committees and forging connections. In 2024, we began constructing our rammed earth home and got stuck into planting native trees and our syntropic food forest system.

During 2025, we moved into our new home, purchased the neighboring 425 acre property, and officially launched My Tree Legacy. The transformation has been profound. The valley now hums with life—kiwi calls echo at night, birdlife flourishes, and the bush is regenerating with vibrant undergrowth. To date, we’ve planted over 20,000 trees across more than 10 hectares, and the results are breathtaking. We still have a long way to go though, and with your support we can continue planting our legacy - and yours!

The place we call "The Bath" - many a chilly wash-down here.