A Queenstown business has come up with an enterprising way to reuse trees which are treated as a national pest.
Wilding Pines threaten New Zealand's native forests and hill country, costing $11 million dollars a year to remove them.
However, the Coronet Peak Ski Area in Queenstown has come up with a novel way to make use of the trees.
This year they decided sell them as Christmas trees, with all the profits going to a local community charity.
"It's been a win, a big win in so many ways," Coronet Peak Ski Area manager Nigel Kerr told 1 NEWS.
One of those charities to benefit is Happiness House, who provides struggling local families with food, clothing and community support.
"People think that Queenstown's like this really amazing place you know, and it is, but there's a lot of people in the community that just need a little bit more of a help," Happiness House manager Karen Stuart said.
The once maligned tree is now helping to provide some Christmas cheer.
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