Govt Announces Reforms to Simplify Forestry Regulations and Improve Environmental Outcomes

The reforms seek to remove regulatory burdens introduced by the previous government, which McClay said created confusion and unnecessary costs for the industry.

Forestry Minister Todd McClay has announced proposals to reform the resource management system, aimed at providing greater certainty for the forestry sector while helping meet environmental obligations. The reforms seek to remove regulatory burdens introduced by the previous government, which McClay said created confusion and unnecessary costs for the industry.

Currently, councils use multiple National Policy or Environment Standards to regulate commercial forestry, leading to inefficiencies. McClay emphasized the need for a comprehensive and consistent National Environment Standard for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF) to streamline the rules. He highlighted issues such as the requirement for consents on low-risk areas, which should only apply to high-risk land.

The Government intends to modify specific regulations within the NES-CF to equip councils with better tools, enabling them to focus on higher-risk areas and work collaboratively with the sector. This includes the repeal of regulation 6(4A), the modification of 6(1)(A), and improved standards for slash management to clarify rules around low-risk slash.

These reforms aim to reduce costs, enhance environmental outcomes, and support forestry’s role in rebuilding the economy and meeting New Zealand’s climate change obligations. A consultation process will follow to gather input on the proposed changes.