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New Zealand: Forestry

Emissions Trading Scheme needs deep reform - commissioner

Fri 11 Jul 2025

The government’s attempt to limit forestry conversions on rural land is unlikely to lead to meaningful change, according to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Bill to limit farm-to-forest conversions passes first reading

27 Jun 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | The government's bill aiming to limit farm-to-forestry conversions in the Emissions Trading Scheme passed its first reading in Parliament this week, however concerns were raised over rushing it through under urgency, with less than two weeks allowed for public submissions.

Dr Elizabeth Heeg

Forestry the missing piece in Fieldays climate change discussions

19 Jun 2025

By Elizabeth Heeg | OPINION: Fieldays was packed with climate change announcements from the government last week, but none about the sector with arguably the most important role: Forestry.

Forestry consents and relaxed rules in erosion zones sow seeds of future disaster

13 Jun 2025

OPINION: The government’s move to restrict exotic forestry on our best food-growing soils will push even more forestry investment onto high erosion risk land on the East Coast, with the worst land becoming the only land left for the most intensive and destructive land use, writes Manu Caddie

James Treadwell, president of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry

Foresters baulk at restrictions, land ballots

11 Jun 2025

By Liz Kivi | Forestry groups say that new legislation will introduce further uncertainty for planting plans and poses a threat to climate targets.

More in New Zealand: Forestry
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Legislation introduced to restrict farm-to-forest conversions

10 Jun 2025

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has today introduced a bill to Parliament that he says will put a stop to large-scale farm-to-forestry conversions.

Fed Farmers launches campaign against carbon forestry

6 Jun 2025

By Liz Kivi | Federated Farmers has launched what they are calling the ‘Save Our Sheep’ campaign, blaming carbon forestry for declining sheep numbers and calling on the government to urgently review the Emissions Trading Scheme.

A Gisborne beach covered in wood debris after Cyclone Gabrielle.

Environmentalists see forestry changes as dangerous step for Tairāwhiti

3 Jun 2025

By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Tairāwhiti environmentalists have called changes for commercial forestry under proposed Resource Management Act reforms “a slap in the face” and a return to weaker forestry regulations.

Council delays forestry plan as national rules remain unclear

21 May 2025

Tairāwhiti’s forestry reforms are facing fresh delays, with Gisborne District Council now tying its plan changes to national direction that remains uncertain.

Farming lobby attacks ‘loopholes’ in carbon forestry limits

7 May 2025

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is urging the government to close what it says are loopholes in new guidance around limits on carbon forestry.

Govt on track to ban farm-to-forest conversions - McClay

2 May 2025

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has confirmed that restrictions on full farm-to-forest conversions on LUC 1-6 farmland will be in place this year.

Commissioner calls for urgent reform of carbon forestry in ETS

10 Apr 2025

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment is calling on the Government to remove forestry from the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, warning that the country’s flagship climate policy is entrenching risky land use decisions and undermining long-term emissions reductions.

'Don't tinker with the ETS': forestry groups

10 Apr 2025

Foresters have hit back against the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s call to remove forestry from the Emissions Trading Scheme, saying the move would threaten New Zealand’s climate goals.

Slash under the Mangatokerau Bridge on Paroa Road

East Coast advocates join calls to take forestry out of the ETS

10 Apr 2025

Sustainable land-use advocates in Tairāwhiti are demanding immediate government action on the Environment Commissioner's recommendation to phase forestry out of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Experts back scepticism about carbon forestry

10 Apr 2025

Experts from around the country agree that the Environment Commissioner's 'Alt-F Reset' report is "incredibly timely" as the world faces unprecedented climate change.

Govt plan for forestry on Crown land raises questions for the Emissions Trading Scheme

4 Apr 2025

By Liz Kivi | The government’s latest plan for carbon forestry includes a large chunk of planting on Crown land, with 155,000 hectares of exotic forestry projected to enter the Emissions Trading Scheme by 2042.

Govt releases detail on ETS forestry restrictions

28 Mar 2025

The government has released more detail on new restrictions for farm conversions to exotic forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which foresters say will prevent another planting boom.

Carbon credit deal to provide windfall for Maori landowners

21 Mar 2025

By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting | An isolated Maori Land Trust in the central North Island has sealed a groundbreaking carbon credit deal, securing millions for its 4000 owners and tens of thousands of beneficiaries.

Govt calls for tenders to improve remote sensing for carbon storage

18 Mar 2025

The government has issued a request for proposals to help it improve how carbon stored in forests can be measured by remote-sensing.

Govt publishes draft land-use classification framework

7 Mar 2025

The government has developed a draft land-use classification framework, which distinguishes carbon forestry from indigenous and exotic forestry plantations.

Invasive pines triple seed supply to spread across Aotearoa

21 Feb 2025

Lodgepole pines, a major weed in Aotearoa, have three times more seeds here than in their native North America, according to new research.

Foresters drop legal action over ETS fees

4 Feb 2025

Forestry minister Todd McClay has welcomed the sector's decision to drop legal action to fight new Emissions Trading Scheme fees.

Govt to partner with private sector planting trees on Crown land

6 Dec 2024

Cabinet has agreed to look at public-private partnerships to plant trees on low value Crown land, in a move the government says will support New Zealand’s climate change targets and create more jobs.

Changes to limit ETS forestry will have 'dire consequences' - foresters

5 Dec 2024

Foresters say that new rules limiting farm to forestry conversions under the Emissions Trading Scheme are set to have dire consequences for forest growers as well as for the country’s ability to meet climate targets.

Environmental group slams new forestry regulations

5 Dec 2024

An environmental group advocating for sustainable land use in Tairāwhiti has lashed out at the government’s announcement it will restrict forestry to marginal land.

Gisborne councillors fear loss of control over forestry rules

2 Dec 2024

By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Gisborne district councillors fear a proposed nationwide environmental standard will prevent the council from creating and enforcing rules to safeguard Tairāwhiti's “unique terrain”.

New carbon market rules could lock out forestry

19 Nov 2024

By Liz Kivi | New carbon market rules negotiated at the United Nations climate summit could have negative consequences for carbon forestry in New Zealand, experts are warning.

Constraints on forestry set to slash unit supply

8 Nov 2024

COMMENT: Carbon unit supply from forestry looks set to be limited by multiple factors - and by 2040 NZUs from new forestry are likely to fulfill only a fraction of demand, writes Ollie Batelier-Belton.

Government consulting on ETS charges for forestry

23 Oct 2024

The government is proposing setting an annual per hectare charge for forestry in the ETS at $14.90 - about half the price set by the previous government, but still a significant increase on what foresters formerly paid.

Gisborne cross-sector group established to guide landowners of highly erodible land

7 Oct 2024

By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | As the Government looks to take control of national forestry regulations from councils, questions linger on what it will mean for Gisborne.

OIO approves sale of West Coast forestry harvesting rights

3 Oct 2024

The Overseas Investment Office has approved Ngāi Tahu Forestry’s plan to sell harvesting rights to its 26,700ha forestry estate on the West Coast.

Environmental group challenges forestry claims

13 Sep 2024

By Zita Campbell, Local Democracy Reporter | Environmentalists are rejecting claims by a forestry umbrella group that Gisborne District Council does not have the expertise to support and regulate the industry.

Councils to lose ability to make tougher local rules for forestry

6 Sep 2024

Foresters have welcomed the government’s announcement that it will roll back councils’ ability to introduce their own tougher rules for forestry, but the move is likely to be controversial with some local authorities.

Foresters say govt planting forecasts are wrong

18 Jul 2024

Foresters say the government's planting forecasts in its new climate plan are wrong, with the actual planted areas likely to be about half the government’s projections in 2024, according to the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.

Scion report on short rotation forestry met with scepticism

27 May 2024

A new report from Scion that says short rotation forestry holds the key to lowering fossil fuel use has been criticised by sustainable land use campaigners as well as an oil industry expert.

Concern over job losses at Scion

17 May 2024

Foresters are “deeply apprehensive” over potential redundancies of scientists at Scion, with a proposed 30 jobs losses - about 10% the forestry crown research institute’s workforce.

New forestry fees unfairly impact Māori

4 Apr 2024

By Liz Kivi | Recently implemented fees for forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme are having a disproportionate impact on Māori, and the government didn’t consult adequately on the changes, according to the National Māori Forestry Association.

Half of Tairāwhiti at risk of erosion - new data

28 Mar 2024

An estimated 182 million tonnes of eroded soil entered New Zealand's rivers in 2022, according to new research.

Foresters welcome ETS costs review

1 Mar 2024

The New Zealand Forest Owners Association says the review of Emissions Trading Scheme fees is a relief for foresters facing excessive costs, but experts say forestry still faces an uncertain future under the scheme.

Government announces review of forestry ETS costs

29 Feb 2024

Forestry minister Todd McClay has announced an independent review into the forestry component of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) register.

Forestry company loses sustainability certification

19 Feb 2024

Forestry company Ernslaw One’s Forest Stewardship Council certification has been suspended over damage from its forestry operations in Tolaga Bay in 2018.

Environment Commissioner suggests forestry levy to tackle wilding pines

24 Oct 2023

The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has suggested a levy on forestry companies to fund efforts to combat wilding pines.

Foresters take legal action against new ETS fees

10 Oct 2023

Foresters have filed a judicial review aiming to stop the government’s new fee system for forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme, which they say will increase costs by several thousand percent.

Govt releases Cabinet papers on ETS forestry charges

5 Oct 2023

The government has proactively released cabinet papers on controversial new charges for forestry in the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Foresters say new rules will lead to less planting

4 Oct 2023

A group that petitioned for a Ministerial inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti has welcomed new rules for exotic tree planting, however foresters say that the regulations will lead to less forest planting and could compromise climate change targets.

Govt defends new charges for forestry in ETS

3 Oct 2023

The government is defending new charges in the Emissions Trading Scheme, which foresters say will discourage planting, and some say could be open to legal challenges.

Foresters say new ETS charges will discourage planting

22 Sep 2023

Foresters say that new charges for forestry in the ETS will penalise sustainable forestry and disincentivise planting when it is most needed.

Sealord investing $10 million in Māori-led carbon forestry offsetting

4 Sep 2023

Fishing giant Sealord is investing $10 million over the next ten years in a carbon offsetting programme that it says will develop underutilised Te Arawa land in the Rotorua region into permanent forest.

Foresters welcome ETS reset

27 Jul 2023

Foresters have welcomed the government’s reset of Emissions Trading Scheme auction settings, saying it should incentivise forestry and wood processing investors for the embattled industry.

Post-1989 forest ETS registrations skyrocket

3 Jun 2022

Applications to register post-1989 forest grew by more than 400% from 296 in the last quarter of 2021 to 1304 in the first quarter of 2022.

Politics
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Riwaka Sandy Bay Road during recent flooding

'Back-to-basics' approach for councils ignores climate risk

Fri 11 Jul 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | While ACT is standing local government candidates to oppose councils' attempts to manage emissions and ministers are calling for local authorities to 'get back to basics' - or even suggesting scrapping regional councils altogether - one expert says this narrative is putting communities at risk in the face of climate change.

Energy
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Fast, sustained phase-out of fossil fuels: best-performing countries in coal and transport sectors

Thu 10 Jul 2025

By Robert McLachlan | It’s true that climate change is getting worse – it will continue to get worse until emissions fall to near zero. But is action on phasing out fossil fuels really stalling?

Agriculture
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Clear-sighted view to trade-offs crucial to reimagining our relationship with the land

Mon 7 Jul 2025

By Nick Swallow | COMMENT: New Zealand could see a 70% drop in the value of dairy land if we pursue our emissions targets for agriculture, according to a new report.

Carbon emissions
More Carbon emissions >

Mangroves' overlooked climate role

30 Jun 2025

By Shannon Morris-Williams | New Zealand’s mangrove forests are pulling tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere each year, yet their climate benefits remain unrecognised in national emissions reporting.

Transport
More Transport >

How flying can be a climate solution

16 Jun 2025

By Paul Callister and Robert McLachlan - Planetary Ecology | How can aviation contribute to tackling climate change when no practicable technology-based solutions are on the horizon?

Business
More Business >

NZ Post drops science-based climate target

Tue 8 Jul 2025

By Liz Kivi | NZ Post has dropped its science-based emissions reduction target of 42% by 2030 with no plans to replace it.

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