Our Environment 2025: Why New Zealand’s Red Alert Is a Call to Action — and How Tiaki Life Is Responding

In April 2025, New Zealand’s Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ jointly released the Our Environment 2025 report — and the message was clear: Aotearoa’s ecosystems are in trouble.

The report delivers sobering facts. Over 93% of amphibians and 94% of reptiles in New Zealand are now threatened or at risk of extinction. Waterways are increasingly polluted. Native habitats continue to shrink. Climate change, land development, and invasive species are pushing our once-thriving natural world to the brink.

This isn’t just a scientific report — it’s a red alert.

But amidst the warning signs, there is also hope. Because every challenge is also an opportunity for transformation. At Tiaki Life, this report isn’t just data — it’s a motivator. A reminder of why we do what we do.

🌱 What the Report Means for Everyday Life

The Our Environment 2025 report highlights how our everyday choices — from what we buy to how we dispose of waste — ripple outward into rivers, forests, oceans, and air.

For example:

Urban development and land use are causing habitat loss.

Plastic pollution is choking waterways and harming native wildlife.

Carbon emissions are contributing to biodiversity collapse and rising sea levels.

The report doesn't just ask government and industry to act — it challenges all of us to live differently.

🌿 What Tiaki Life Is Doing About It

At Tiaki Life, our name means "to care for" in te reo Māori — and that’s exactly what drives our mission: to protect the environment through thoughtful design and conscious materials.

Here’s how we’re actively responding to the climate and biodiversity crisis:

✅ 1. Biodegradable Products That Break Down Naturally

Our planters are made from rice hulls — an agricultural by-product that would otherwise go to waste. Unlike traditional plastic pots, ours break down naturally over time, leaving no harmful residue.

✅ 2. No Petroleum-Based Plastic. Ever.

We don’t use plastic fillers or synthetic coatings. Every component of our product is designed to minimize long-term environmental impact.

✅ 3. Packaging with Purpose

Our packaging uses recycled, recyclable, or minimal materials — helping reduce landfill waste and overproduction.

✅ 4. Supporting Local & Sustainable Living

We’re proudly based in Christchurch and work with local markets and stockists to promote low-waste, community-centered gardening.

🔁 Small Changes, Big Impact

The climate and biodiversity crises can feel overwhelming. But we believe in the power of small, intentional change.

When you choose a Tiaki Life planter, you’re:

Diverting agricultural waste from landfill

Reducing plastic use in your home and garden

Supporting a brand committed to regeneration — not just sustainability

Together, our everyday actions can protect the environment our children will inherit.

🌏 This Is the Moment to Tiaki

The Our Environment 2025 report doesn’t just document the problem — it urges us to act. At Tiaki Life, we’re proud to be part of the solution. But we’re even more inspired by the growing community of New Zealanders who are choosing to live with care, purpose, and respect for the land.

Let’s keep listening. Let’s keep acting.
Let’s keep growing — with Tiaki.

📖 Learn more: Ministry for the Environment – Our Environment 2025
🌿 Explore our sustainable range: www.tiakilife.com