Articles tagged with Forestry Minister
2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards Celebrate Environmental & Farming Success
1 week ago | 136 viewsForestry Minister Todd McClay praised the 2026 Growing Native Forests Champions Awards winners for demonstrating how native planting can complement productive land uses to enhance environmental and economic outcomes. The awards, with 67 entries, showcase diverse efforts from farmers, iwi, communities, and forestry companies in advancing native forestry to support environmental resilience. The six winners include individuals and groups recognized for large-scale restoration, community planting, sustainable farming, and promoting native timber and cultural values.
Tags: Todd McClay Ollie Langridge Ngāti Koata Trust Philip Leith Jenny Leith Kingheim Limited Styx Living Laboratory Trust Waingake Transformation Programme Forestry Minister Growing Native Forests Champions AwardsNZ Pine: New Zealand’s Trusted Brand for Sustainable Premium Timber Exports
1 week ago | 130 viewsThe Government and forestry sector are partnering to create the ‘NZ Pine’ brand, establishing New Zealand as a premium, trusted supplier of sustainably sourced radiata pine wood products. This brand, backed by a government-administered standard, will provide transparency and assurance about product origin and environmental responsibility, enhancing global market confidence. Launching in early 2027, NZ Pine aims to strengthen export earnings and support New Zealand’s goal of doubling export value within ten years.
Tags: NZ Pine New Zealand Todd McClay Forestry Minister Ministry for Primary Industries forestry sector wood processing radiata pine sustainable forestry export earningsRural Resilience Workshops Help Farmers Prepare for Emergencies Across NZ
3 months ago | 487 viewsAgriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced a series of rural resilience workshops starting next week to help farmers and growers prepare for adverse events following recent damaging floods. These practical workshops, held nationwide alongside a rural resilience roadshow on the West Coast, aim to enhance emergency preparedness in rural communities highly exposed to emergencies. Resources such as a farm emergency plan template and preparedness checklist are available on the Good Farm and MPI websites to support farmers.
Tags: Todd McClay Mark Patterson Agriculture and Forestry Minister Rural Communities Minister New Zealand Otago Blenheim Canterbury Ruapehu WaikatoGovernment Commits $28M for Hill Country Erosion Control to Protect Farmland
4 months ago | 710 viewsThe Government is investing nearly $28 million in the Hill Country Erosion Programme (HCEP) to support erosion control projects from 2027 to 2031, aiming to protect productive land and reduce environmental and economic impacts. The programme, established in 2007 and supported by multiple councils and landowners, focuses on treating vulnerable land, creating farm-scale erosion control plans, and building regional capability. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay emphasized the programme’s role in helping farmers prepare for severe weather and safeguarding soil health for future sustainability.
Tags: Todd McClay Hill Country Erosion Programme Agriculture and Forestry Minister Te Uru Rākau New Zealand Forest Service erosion control productive land soil health regional councils farmland protectionForestry ETS Costs Slashed to $10.25/Ha, Boosting NZ Forest Owners
4 months ago | 767 viewsForestry Minister Todd McClay announced a reduction in the Emissions Trading Scheme annual charge for forest owners from $14.90 to $10.25 per hectare, marking a 66% decrease since the National-led Government took office. The changes, resulting from a second operational cost review, also include updated service fees and new targeted fees to better reflect actual administration costs while maintaining service quality. Consultation on these proposals, which aim to support the forestry sector’s role in emissions targets, opens now with updated settings expected to take effect by mid-2026.
Tags: Todd McClay Forestry Minister Emissions Trading Scheme ETS Registry forest owners Labour Government cost reduction New Zealand forestry sectorNew Legislation Protects Farmland from Forest Conversions, Boosting Agriculture Sector
7 months ago | 712 viewsLegislation has been enacted to restrict farm-to-forest conversions on productive farmland, fulfilling a campaign promise by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay. The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme - Forestry Conversion) Amendment Act, effective from October 31, 2025, aims to protect food production, rural communities, and forestry investments. Exotic forests are limited from entering the Emissions Trading Scheme on New Zealand's most productive soils, with exemptions for Māori-owned land and erosion-prone areas, while transitional exemptions are available for qualifying forestry investments made between 2021 and 2024.
Tags: Legislation farmland Agriculture Forestry Minister Todd McClay Climate Change Response Emissions Trading Scheme New Zealand MPINew Zealand's Wood Energy and Biogas Strategy for Sustainable Energy Future
8 months ago | 708 viewsThe Government of New Zealand has shown strong support for the bioenergy sector by releasing the Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan, as well as a Government Statement on Biogas. These initiatives aim to diversify the country's energy mix, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and cut down on emissions by promoting wood energy and biogas as sustainable alternatives. The plans include clear objectives, co-funding opportunities, and regulatory support to accelerate the growth of the bioenergy industry, create new jobs, enhance energy security, and contribute to achieving climate goals.
Tags: Government Wood Energy Strategy Action Plan Biogas New Zealand Energy Security Mr Watts Forestry Minister Todd McClay Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) Renewable EnergyGovernment Increases Financial Support for Nelson Tasman Region's Rural Communities
11 months ago | 2435 viewsThe Government is increasing financial support for rural communities in the Nelson Tasman Region, with an additional $600,000 in funding announced by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay. This brings the total Government contribution to $500,000 to aid farmers, foresters, growers, and rural contractors in recovering from recent severe weather events. The support package includes contributions to the Mayoral Relief Fund, Farmers Adverse Events Trust, Horticulture sector, and coordination efforts to assist affected vineyards, with a focus on providing immediate and meaningful assistance to help rural businesses recover quickly.
Tags: Todd McClay Government rural communities Nelson Tasman Region farmers foresters growers Agriculture and Forestry Minister rural contractors severe weather events