Thursday, 14 August 2025 10:10

Federated Farmers slams select committee’s carbon forestry ban recommendations

Written by  Staff Reporters
Federated Farmers forestry spokesman Richard Dawkins. Federated Farmers forestry spokesman Richard Dawkins.

Federated Farmers says a report to Parliament on the subject of a ban on carbon forestry does not go far enough to prevent continued farm to forestry conversions.

Richard Dawkins, Federated Farmers forestry spokesperson, says the report is an "incredibly disappointing result", adding that many farmers will be feeling a sense of betrayal.

"Despite widespread feedback during consultation, and clear cross-party support for action, massive loopholes remain in the Environment Select Committee's recommendations," says Dawkins.

"Their report sends a clear message to rural New Zealand that the march of permanent carbon farms across productive farmland won't be stopping any time soon," he adds.

Dawkins says that one silver lining is that the committee has listened to Federated Farmers' concerns regarding the need to tighten rules around the 'intent to plant' test.

"We made a very strong case that simply purchasing seedlings before 4 December 2024, with no land to plant them on, should not count as a clear intent to plant.

"The committee has recommended the Bill be redrafted to make it crystal clear to carbon foresters that if they had seedlings but no land, they won't be able to enter the ETS."


Read More:


Dawkins says that if the select committee's recommendations are accepted, then any carbon farmers who have been trying to skirt around the rules will need to make other plans.

He is also critical of other aspects of the report, saying recommended changes have missed the mark.

"It's extremely disappointing that what's proposed continues to ban whole-farm conversions only on Land Use Capability (LUC) classes 1-5 land," Dawkins says.

"That might sound good in a press release, but in reality only 12% of farm conversions were happening on that land anyway. Our productive hill country - the engine room of the agricultural industry - is still at risk of becoming a giant pollution-driven carbon farm."

He says two-thirds of sheep and beef farms are on classes 6 and 7 land.

"Those classes of land are still exempt from the 25% carbon credit restrictions, so the vast majority of our sheep and beef farms will still be at risk of full conversion to carbon forestry.

"Once those farms are gone, they're gone for good."

Dawkins says while Federated Farmers has always supported the intent of the law changes, what's proposed won't deliver meaningful change.

"Recommendations on the Bill allow a potential ‘lottery’ system for class 6 land, where 15,000ha of conversions each year will likely still occur on a first-come-first-served basis.

"There are also no restrictions on classes 7 and 8 land - effectively making it open slather. If you’re in the business of carbon forestry, business is going to be booming."

Federated Farmers says that every farm in New Zealand should be subject to the same 25% carbon credit limit, regardless of LUC rating.

"Otherwise, the damage just shifts - it doesn’t stop," Dawkins says.

"Class 6 and 7 hill country is not ‘marginal land’ as it’s often described by foresters. It’s often productive breeding land that underpins New Zealand’s entire red meat sector.

"Sacrificing that land to carbon speculation isn’t just short-sighted, it’s economic self-sabotage that will rip the guts out of rural communities, not to mention the national economy."

More like this

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

Featured

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

AgFirst marks 30 years of agribusiness advice

AgFirst, New Zealand's largest independent agribusiness consultancy, is turning 30 - celebrating three decades of "trusted advice, practical solutions, and innovative thinking".

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Faking it

OPINION: Demand for red meat is booming, while it seems the heyday of plant-based protein is well past its 'best…

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter