Cystic Fibrosis Christmas Tree festival lands at Wellington Airport
A forest of 65 Christmas trees has sprouted at Wellington Airport, transforming the terminal in support of families living with cystic fibrosis (CF) in Wellington.
Generous businesses, community groups, and individuals are sponsoring trees as part of the annual Cystic Fibrosis Christmas Tree Festival which raises vital funds for the CFNZ Wellington Branch.
CF is the most common life-threatening genetic condition affecting Kiwis, with more than 600 people living with CF in New Zealand. It often means a life-long and demanding daily regime of lung clearance and medication, regular medical check-ups, hospitalisations, and in some cases, lung transplantation.
Life with CF can be especially tough on families at Christmas with extra treatment and unplanned hospital stays.
Funds raised by the Christmas Tree Festival help Cystic Fibrosis NZ (CFNZ) provide practical, emotional, and physical support to the CF community through:
- A team of social workers that visit and support families in their homes and medical settings.
- Wrap-around support for parents with a newborn baby.
- Keeping families together during hospitalisations by providing support with parking, meals, and travel.
- Helping with essential expenses to ease financial pressure like groceries, additional prescriptions, and power bills.
- Empowering people with CF to manage their condition through the Breath4CF physical exercise grants to support lung health.
- Providing mental health support through counselling to help with resilience and emotional wellbeing.
- Delivering extra comfort and care when it’s needed to families going through transplants and to those who need support with end-of-life care.
Simone Brown, Executive Lead at Cystic Fibrosis NZ says:
“While many people and businesses are winding down, ready for a restful holiday break, life with cystic fibrosis doesn’t rest – it doesn’t stop over the silly season. For some, family gatherings and festivities pose extra risks, with additional precautions needed.
“In its 11th year, we’re incredibly grateful to Wellington Airport and every sponsor who makes the Wellington Christmas Tree Festival possible. The magic of the trees, the shimmer of baubles, and the joy this festival brings mean more than beautifully curated displays – they represent hope and support for an incredible community.
“The festival not only shines twinkling lights on our community, but it also helps raise vital funds – funds that provide practical and emotional support when families need it most. From keeping loved ones together during unplanned hospital admissions to easing financial pressures, the generosity and support of sponsors and travellers from near and far continue to make a real difference.
“Our work never stops, and our community’s needs are as diverse as ever. We are there through it all, and we’re proud that Wellington Airport continues to stand with us year after year.”
Jo Maxwell, Manager Brand and Sponsorship at Wellington Airport says:
“This year we have a record number of trees in the terminal, thanks to our generous sponsors and volunteers.
“This is a cause close to our heart at the airport and one we’ve proudly supported for 11 years now.
“As well supporting an important cause, it also creates a fantastic Christmas atmosphere in the terminal that our travellers love.”
Wellington Airport is once again providing a $10,000 advertising package for the first placed tree as judged by a local artist. The public can also vote at the airport for the ‘People’s Choice’ category with the winner receiving a $5,000 advertising package.
Every vote cast goes in the draw to win a $500 shopping spree, and kids can win a $250 prize pack by designing their own tree.
For more information on the festival visit www.wellingtonairport.co.nz/christmas
About Cystic Fibrosis NZ
Cystic Fibrosis NZ (CFNZ) was established in 1968 by a group of parents responding to an unmet need when their babies were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Over 55 years later, CFNZ stands as a strong for-purpose organisation working proudly with a mission to be the continuous thread in the lives of people with CF, walking beside them and their families, providing wrap-around support whenever and wherever it is needed to enable quality of life.
As the only national organisation supporting over 600 people with CF and their families, we are committed to improving lives through care, unwavering support, and
advocacy. Our vision is that people with CF are thriving and living healthy lives. We are committed to ensuring that individualised and meaningful support is available
at every part of their CF journey.
About cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, lifelong, and life-shortening genetic condition that affects more than 570 people in New Zealand, it’s for whole of life, and there is no cure.
In New Zealand, CF is identified through the heel prick test undertaken on newborn babies and confirmed through sweat chloride and gene testing.
CF causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus which means it is a multisystem condition with significant morbidity and mortality. CF damages the lungs, liver, digestive system, reproductive systems, sinuses, can cause CF related diabetes, weakened bone density, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.
People with CF endure a life-long, demanding, and time-consuming daily regime of lung clearance and medication together with regular medical check-ups and, over time, increasingly frequent hospital admissions.
It takes courage to live with and survive with CF, it can be isolating, painful, and frightening, leading to poor quality of life, as they face the potential for declining health, increased complications, major medical interventions, and premature death.
1 in 25 of us in New Zealand, carry the gene that causes cystic fibrosis, often without knowing.
For further information please visit: www.cfnz.org.nz
2025 Christmas tree sponsors
- 3 Wise Men
- AECOM New Zealand Limited
- Air Chathams
- Air New Zealand
- Amadeus
- Annie Newell Lowe & Co
- Argus Fire Protection
- Assetlink Services NZ limited
- Banking Ombudsman Scheme
- Beca
- Bell Gully Lawyers
- Buddle Findlay
- Catalyst Group
- Colliers
- Cystic Fibrosis
- DEFEND Limited
- Fiji Airways
- First Principles Constructors Limited
- Fonterra
- GOfuel
- Good Bitches Baking
- Grimshaw Architects NZ
- Hutt and City Taxis Limited
- Jetstar
- LagardereAWPL
- Mana Coach Services
- Mana Lions Club + Mary Potter Hospice
- Marsden
- Maude
- McConnell Dowell
- MediaWorks
- Mitchell Daysh Ltd
- Mojo Coffee
- Morrison
- Naturepac
- Naylor Love Wellington
- NZ Blood
- NZ Post
- Originair
- Park Road & WingNut Films
- PODtential
- pots by Aimée
- Qantas
- Queen Margaret College
- Rydges Wellington Airport
- Sams Art House
- Scots College
- Shoe Clinic
- Signbiz
- Simply New Zealand (The Gift Company)
- Sounds Air
- Subway Wellington Airport
- SWP
- TDZ Projects
- The Hits
- Three Quarter Society
- TJ Group
- Urbanlink Wellington
- Wellington Airport
- Wellington Indian Association
- Wellington Phoenix
- Welsh Dragon Bar
- WT
- XFrame New Zealand
- Octa Project Management
