UPDATEs
29 August 2024
The Government has repealed legislation that required log traders and forestry advisers to be registered. Registration as a log trader or forestry adviser is no longer required.
Read more about the legislation and repeal of the system
7 September 2023
The summary of submissions from the consultation is now available.
6 July 2023
Final policy decisions have been made for all operating requirements consulted on.
Continuing professional development and industry agreements
On 3 April 2023, Cabinet made final policy decisions on regulations for operating requirements for registered log traders and forestry advisers, under the Forests Act 1949 (Act). Regulations will make it an obligation for registered forestry advisers to undertake continuing professional development (CPD). CPD requirements will come into effect on 1 July 2024.
Cabinet also decided not to identify any applicable industry agreement in regulations, at this stage. Identifying applicable industry agreements, to make them legally binding, is not necessary or desirable for the purpose of Part 2A of the Act.
Practice standards
We have decided legally binding rules for practice standards are not required to contribute to the development, and improve the long-term sustainability, of the forestry and wood-processing sector at this time.
Existing industry guides and standards will be relied upon to set expectations of practice by log traders and forestry advisers. It is reasonable for a log trader or forestry adviser to follow industry standards and guides unless there is a good reason not to.
This decision acknowledges the extensive work of the industry to create best practice guides, and to update practice when knowledge evolves (for example, in response to changing climate patterns).
Exemptions
Registration is not needed if there is an exemption for the class of log trader activities or forestry adviser services someone provides. Policy decisions have been made that create some classes of exemptions, outlined below.
