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Nelson Airport’s Trees of Remembrance campaign launches today, bringing festive colour to the terminal and raising funds for Nelson Tasman Hospice with support from 15 local sponsor businesses.
Now in its third year, the campaign invites businesses to sponsor and decorate Christmas trees that remain on display throughout the Christmas and New Year period. This year’s participation is nearly double last summer’s total.
Sponsors are competing for the “People’s Choice” award and the Overall Winner title for the most impressively decorated tree. World of WearableArt founder Dame Suzie Moncrieff returns as celebrity judge, assessing each tree to select the annual champion. Travellers can vote for their favourite using QR codes displayed in the terminal and enter a prize draw.
The event also features a treasure hunt for children, with entrants able to pick up a form at the terminal, search for special decorations and go in the draw to win a ride in Nelson Airport’s fire truck, Flick.
Nelson Tasman Hospice head of supporter engagement and income development Donna Ching-Tregidga says the partnership highlights the generosity of local businesses.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to Nelson Airport for demonstrating exceptional community leadership through their support of our Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance fundraiser. This partnership, along with the support of the participating businesses, helps ensure that hospice care in our community remains accessible and compassionate for those who need it most.”
Nelson Airport head of corporate services Beth Catley says the airport team is delighted by the strong response.
“The trees bring festive cheer as well as a taste of some of the great local products and services on offer in the region. This campaign is always a big hit with our visitors, especially families who enjoy checking out all the trees, voting for their favourites and searching for the special baubles.”
Beth says the event provides a highly visible showcase for hospice and the sponsoring businesses, with between 2500 and 3000 passengers moving through the terminal each day over summer.
2025 Tree Sponsors
Gold sponsors
- Olive Estate Lifestyle Village
- Nelson Pine Industries
- Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve
- Hamish Fletcher Lawyers
- Atkinson Crehan Law
Silver sponsors
- Scope Group
- Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park
- Richmond Office Products Depot (OPD)
- Digital Diligence Ltd (DDL)
- Sprig + Fern Brewing Company
- Shone & Shirley
- Gibbons Naylor
Bronze sponsors
- Port Nelson
- Nelson Orthodontics
- Originair
The Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance campaign will run until early January 2026.
