Forestry back on the map

This Government is committed to seeing 1 billion trees planted over the next 10 years.

Putting forestry back on the map will create sustainable jobs in our regions, help restore our natural heritage and ecology, grow the economy, and help meet our ambitious climate change targets. As a region, Northland will directly benefit from the government’s tree planting policy and a flourishing forestry sector.

The Prime Minister, in her Speech from the Throne, said we would re-establish a forest service in regional New Zealand. Now that our tree planting programme is under way, establishing the new forest service is a key focus for me, and I hope to make announcements later in the year.

The planting programme will include a mix of permanent and harvestable forestry, using both exotic and native tree species on private, public and Maori-owned land. Species will include radiata pine, redwood, totara, eucalyptus, 7ouglas fir and ma¯nuka.

Policies are being developed to avoid unintended environmental or economic outcomes, land is being secured, seedlings are being grown, private investment is being stimulated and infrastructure is being developed.

All of this combined will see us go from 55 million trees this year to 70 million in 2019, to 90 million in 2020. From there we will be aiming for 110 million a year over the next seven years of the programme.

Last ¯week I visited Otautahi, and met with various people from the University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry. They told me our tree planting programme will see the industry in need of far more skilled people.

People are the focus for this Government, and within my ministerial portfolios I’m always seeking to maximise the training and development aspects of the decisions we make.

The Provincial Growth Fund, which we launched late last month in Gisborne, will fund work programmes and wraparound services to create career paths for young people. I’ve asked officials to look at how we can encourage and support our people into the forestry industry, helping them secure a future for themselves and families.

We have a strong base to build on, with the commercial forestry sector projected to plant half a billion trees in the next 10 years. We’re already seeing private land owners, government agencies, NGOs, iwi, regional councils, nurseries and the private sector working hard to plant the other half a billion.

Forestry already has a rich history in Northland, and now that there’s a government with a strong forestry agenda there will be more opportunities to be had.

"As a region, Northland will directly benefit from the government’s tree planting policy and a flourishing forestry sector."