Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will, post Kyoto (2012), instigate a policy of off-set planting in recognition
that, due to technology, market demand or other variables, optimal use of land may
change over the course of a forestry rotation (23-35 years).
While we will still require that harvested pre-1990 forests are replanted, the location to be
replanted may be off-set by replanting land deemed more suitable to forestry. The result is
that more marginal land may be planted in forestry as productive land, once under forest
cover, is converted to a more productive land use.
Biofuels
In September, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright,
released a report entitled Some biofuels are better than others. This report addressed the
pros and cons of various biofuels, and the biofuels policy, at a time when climate change is
focusing attention on renewable energy.
Dr Wright concluded that if biofuels are to play a significant role in our energy future then
drop-in biodiesel made from wood looks to be the most practical form. That is because wood
is plentiful and can be made into fuel that can be dropped straight into fuel tanks without
blending.
Labour will commit to working in partnership with key stakeholders to further
investigate the potential for a domestic biofuel industry based on forest products.
The potential is huge and the technology exists, however, the commercialisation implications
re species, processes etc do need to be fully understood.
Employment in forestry
Forestry has the potential to play a significant role in New Zealand‟s economic development.
The Ministry, therefore, has an important role to play in working closely with all industry
training organisations to ensure that educational programmes reflect the diverse roles that
will be needed to ensure the industry reaches its potential.
The Ministry also has a responsibility to ensure that the educational establishments
understand the government‟s vision for forestry, and therefore develop educational
programmes that are relevant.
Labour will work closely with all forestry educational institutions in order to maximise
employment opportunities.
With the settlement of Waitangi claims returning land to Māori, there is huge potential to
work in partnership with Māori to optimise the potential arising from forestry investment.
This includes joint venture / partnership investment in employment (both in the forest and,
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