Forestry Minister Todd McClay appoints forestry facilitator for Gisborne
Forestry Minister Todd McClay says he wants the “fractured” relationship between foresters, iwi, other stakeholder, and Gisborne District Council “reset” by his appointment of a forestry facilitator in Tairāwhiti.
The minister told the council on Monday that former chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Local Government New Zealand’s Regional Sector Group Doug Leeder had been appointed to advise the Government on needed support or intervention.
The appointment followed the council’s announcement of an independent review of its forestry consenting and compliance systems last week.
“Mr Leeder will work with council leadership, members of the council’s Assurance Review panel and other stakeholders on the complexity of consenting and land use change. He will provide advice directly to me as Minister of Forestry, and to other ministers as required,” McClay said.
The industry had raised concerns about the council’s approach to land use change, draft enforcement orders on woody debris management, and the functionality of compliance conditions, he said.
“Industry is telling me it faces decisions it considers unworkable and costly, and growing uncertainty about the future of the sector in the region.
“I am advised this is affecting the willingness of investors to pursue processing ventures, both in Tairāwhiti and elsewhere in the country.”
The facilitator would provide an opportunity for the council and stakeholders to work together in a “constructive” way to support forestry management, the environment and local businesses, McClay said.
“The relationship between foresters, iwi, other stakeholders and the council has become fractured. I want to see the relationship between the council and stakeholders reset, and for all parties to work together in a constructive and structured way to ensure jobs remain in the region.”
The Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group (TFAG), established in 2024 to build confidence between parties and remove woody biomass, will also move into the next stage of its work.
It will support landowners and operators to speed up consenting for historic woody debris, monitor progress and inform land use decisions.
Council chief executive Nedine Thatcher-Swann said the council shared the Government’s objective and would work with the facilitator to make change.
She said the council expected the facilitator’s work to “complement and add value”, rather than “duplicating or cutting across” the region’s independent assurance review and land use transition process.
“Council remains open to change where the evidence shows change is needed. Equally, where requirements are necessary to manage the very real environmental risks facing this region, that needs to be clearly understood.”
The region faced significant environmental and economic challenges, so decisions made by the council, Government, industry and landowners on future land use needed to be robust and practical, she said.
East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick said the decision to appoint a facilitator did not undermine or pre-empt the independent review.
“The independent review can provide an important evidence base, while the facilitator can help ensure there is constructive engagement between central government, council, forestry, landowners, mana whenua and the wider community.”
The facilitator would bring parties together while the review took place to address immediate stakeholder concerns and longer-term land use changes, she said.
“The Government does not believe these issues can simply wait for one process to conclude before work begins on improving relationships and finding practical solutions.”
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop rejected an application from the council to progress its plan for the transition of about 100,000ha of erosion-prone forestry and farming land to reduce damage from weather events.
Local environmentalists called the decision “disappointing” and “hard to understand”.
Kirkpatrick acknowledged community concerns about getting land use change underway, but stressed the responsibility of that decision.
“A balance is required between a financially sustainable responsible forestry sector, good environmental stewardship and an eye on the future land use and future innovation and technology growth.
“For transitional changes, the trees have to be harvested.”
New Zealand Forestry Owners Association chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg welcomed the appointment and hoped the decision would encourage further discussion about land use, debris and environmental management.
“Forestry wants a system that protects the environment while allowing businesses to keep investing and operating responsibly in the region,” Heeg said.
“Tairāwhiti needs to see decision-making that recognises where land use has to change, while allowing forestry to continue on land where it remains appropriate.”
Ngāti Porou Forests chairman Whaimutu Dewes said iwi landowners and communities had a responsibility to look after their whenua.
He said land use decisions would have long-term consequences on the taiao and job opportunities.
Eastland Wood Council chairman Julian Kohn said forestry’s contribution to the economy needed to be considered alongside environmental outcomes.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.