Northland iwi pledge land for forestry
ANOTHER SMALL STEP IN THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO PLANT one billion trees over ten years has been marked with a pledge of land for forestry by a Far North iwi.
Te Uru Rākau (the newly created Forestry New Zealand) and Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust have signed a joint venture to plant and manage about 3,600 hectares of pine trees in Northland.
“This marks the first joint venture negotiated under the One Billion Trees programme with Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust and Te Uru Rākau committed to working together on this commercial venture,” says Forestry Minister, Shane Jones.
“This will be a boost to the local economy and will provide employment opportunities and better social outcomes for the whole region.
“We’ll plant 500,000 pine trees this year, with a further 2 million planted over the next three years.
“In addition, up to 465 hectares of Mānuka will be planted on Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust land. At the end of two years a substantial commercial Mānuka plantation will be in place with an apiculture business developed to help the Trust diversify its land use.
“This will provide essential work experience for young people, helping them to build a strong foundation for a forestry career. Over two years, up to forty people will participate in the training programme, developing the skills and qualifications they need to succeed.
‘’It ticks all the biodiversity boxes. The pines will be planted well away from the waterways. The creeks will enjoy wide Mānuka riparian plantings.’’
“We’ll invest $1.9 million in the Mānuka planting initiative, with the potential that the training programme developed could also be used in other regions nationwide.
“This initiative supports the Trust’s plans to establish and grow future opportunities for higher skilled and better paid jobs in Northland. It will help create economic resilience in the region and improve the quality of their land for future generations.
“The One Billion Trees programme is more than an investment in trees. It’s about providing an important investment in our people, our regional communities, and our environment.”
Training people to work in forests of the future is also a vital part of the government’s planting ambitions, according to Mr Jones.
“I want to see training programmes that invest in our rangatahi – young people, and the young at heart – that roll out across the regions to build the capacity and capability within New Zealand’s forestry sector,” he says.
“It’s important that we build an increasingly skilled, safe and higher paid forestry workforce, including a Māori workforce, that is able to capitalise on the opportunities the One Billion Trees planting programme will create.
“We must re-build the forestry workforce across the whole supply chain, including investing in the highly skilled as well as technology and innovation. This will ensure we can increase the value of our forestry industry and our forestry products.”
Meanwhile, Te Uru Rākau is working with another Northland iwi, Ngāti Rēhia, towards an agreement that will see the Crown establish a commercial forest on iwi land, as well as partner a project to save Kauri trees from the deadly dieback disease.
“Te Uru Rākau and Ngāti Rēhia are committed to work towards a commercial forestry rights agreement following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the parties,” says Forestry Minister, Shane Jones.
“Through the Provincial Growth Fund, we’ll also invest $288,000 to explore the establishment of a Kauri sanctuary – free from Kauri dieback – on about 45 hectares of sheltered Ngāti Rehia land.”
The initial steps of the possible agreement will consider planting pine on 150 hectares of Ngāti Rēhia land near Kerikeri.
“An investment of this type would mean Ngāti Rēhia could receive income for the lease of the land and benefit from New Zealand Unit carbon credits that will be generated over the lifetime of the forest,” says Mr Jones
“As for a potential Kauri sanctuary, this would be one of the first studies of its kind to explore whether Kauri, or other native species, could be successfully established in Northland and remain disease free.
“The project would provide the opportunity for research and control of Kauri dieback in a contained plantation environment, while offering locals training and education opportunities in establishing and managing indigenous forests.
NZL