Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

FORESTRY
Our vision
Given the right mix of involvement, funding and vision, the government has the ability to
drive the transformation of forestry from an industry predominantly reliant on foreign
investment, overseas ownership and the export of commodities, to a world leading optimal
land use, carbon farming, high-end processing, employment-generating super star.
The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), New Zealand‟s global „clean green‟ brand, the ability
of trees to withstand a range of climatic conditions, growing global markets for sustainably
managed forest products, and the necessity to optimise the country‟s resources, all mean
that the time has come to redefine the role of the government in promoting economic growth
and development in this very important sector of the New Zealand economy.
The timing is right for forestry to come out of the shadow of agriculture and play a very
important part in the sustainable economic development of the nation, as well as contribute
to the „clean green‟ image that is a large part of the country‟s competitive advantage and
which New Zealand uses to promote itself globally.
Increasing the forest estate
Forestry and forest products possess the potential to become one of this country‟s largest
export earners as well as being a possible saviour for many parts of rural New Zealand hit by
the downturn in traditional sheep farming.
Labour will commission a review of the nation‟s land stock with the aim of
understanding the total area of „marginal land‟. We will then evaluate the possibility
of purchasing and/or joint venturing large tracts of marginal land in key strategic
areas with the medium-to-long term intention of (re)planting in order to:
Create employment in key rural areas
Plant to mitigate NZ‟s carbon liabilities
Create a resource base large enough to encourage the investment in worldclass
manufacturing facilities in key regions.
The stock take of New Zealand‟s land resource will consider what is potentially suitable for:
The growing of commercial forestry; including:
- land use change from current marginal production to planting
- planting of land currently not in commercial production
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