The Luxon government wants to roll back critical rules, which allow councils to introduce tougher rules on forestry, arguing that regulations and standards should be consistent across the country.
Last year, the former Labour government introduced new rules targeting forestry slash and new exotic plantings, tightened farm-to-forestry conversions, and gave communities greater control over planting.
“These changes are about getting the right tree in the right place by seeing fewer pine forests planted on farmland and more on less productive land,” said then-NZ Forestry Minister Peeni Henare.
However, current Forestry Minister Todd McClay said the “unworkable regulatory burden” had created confusion and cost. For instance, foresters could be required to get consent for new plantings in areas with little risk.
“It’s important that forestry rules are nationally consistent and always based on clearly demonstrable evidence,” Minister McClay said, adding that the government would make changes to ensure councils had a “comprehensive fit-for-purpose” toolkit with all the rules in one place.
The rules governing “low-risk slash” would also be clarified, he said:
“These changes will allow the councils to focus on the most at-risk areas and work with the forestry sector to lower costs and deliver better social and environmental outcomes.”
For what it’s worth, the Federated Farmers, NZ’s peak body for farmers, is hoping the government does not fully roll back the council’s ability to introduce tougher forestry rules.
Federated Farmers Forestry spokesperson Toby Williams said getting the balance right was necessary: “We wouldn’t want to see it rolled back to what it was previously where it was just permissive everywhere, but I think what Labour brought in has been too restrictive.”
- Wood Central understands that the proposal will soon go out for consultation.
