Update – 13 June 2022
Have your say – Public consultation
Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is seeking feedback on the draft code of ethics for registered forestry advisers. The consultation will be open from 13 June 2022 to 11 July 2022. The code of ethics will be in place by 6 August 2022, when registration for forestry advisers will begin.
Read more about the consultation and how to make a submission
New laws for log traders and forestry advisers
In August 2020, Parliament enacted the Forests (Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Act. Under the Act, log traders and forestry advisers must register to operate from 6 August 2022.
From 6 August 2022, there is a one-year transition period for log traders and forestry advisers to get registered before penalties will apply.
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Public consultation and decisions on registration regulations
Public consultation on the proposed registration system closed on 17 January 2022. Recommendations for final decisions were made to Cabinet. A summary of submissions and analysis was released on 20 June 2022.
Registration for Log Traders and Forestry Advisers – Summary of submissions [PDF, 12 MB]
Find out more about the consultation
On 14 March 2022, Cabinet made final policy decisions on the first set of regulations for registration for log traders and forestry advisers. This first set of regulations covers
- who is entitled to be registered and how they will be assessed
- information to be submitted with applications to register
- record keeping and reporting obligations, and
- processes for resolving complaints and disputes.
Summary of Cabinet decisions on regulations for log traders and forestry advisers [PDF, 125 KB]
Final policy decisions on regulations for log traders and forestry advisers – Cabinet paper [PDF, 550 KB]
What is a log trader?
Under the Act, a log trader is a person who:
- buys logs grown in New Zealand. Logs can be trees already harvested or trees to be harvested at an agreed time; or
- exports logs grown in New Zealand; or
- processes logs they have grown themselves, or
- acts as an agent for another person doing any of those things.
A log trader can also be a company that transfers ownership of logs grown in New Zealand to or from a related company. The logs can be trees already harvested, or trees to be harvested at an agreed time.
Check the legislation below for the full definition of a log trader:
What is a forestry adviser?
Under the Act, a forestry adviser is someone who provides any of the following services to a client:
- Acting on behalf of another person in relation to their sale or purchase of timber or other forest produce,
- making inspections or preparing reports in connection with another forestry adviser service,
Providing advice relating to:
- establishment, management, or protection of a forest
- management or protection of forest land, including future forest land
- appraisal, harvesting, selling, or use of timber or other forest produce
- appraisal of a forest, forest land, or other forestry sector assets
- applying the emissions trading scheme (ETS) to forestry activities
- the beneficial effects of forests
A forestry adviser must register when they provide any of these services to a client.
A person will not need to register in the new system when forestry advice is incidental to and not the main part of their business. There are other situations when registration is not required.
Check the legislation below for the definition of a forestry adviser:
Benefits of the registration system
The registration system will include a public register for anyone to access.
The system will assure anyone dealing with registered log traders and forest advisers that they meet the forestry practice standards, and they are receiving expert and impartial advice from forest advisers with the right knowledge and experience.
Registered log traders and forestry advisers will need to meet a fit and proper person test to register and may have to provide evidence of their qualifications and experience in the forestry and wood processing sector.
A new complaints process will be set up for dealing with complaints about registered log traders and forestry advisers.
Find out more
Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill – NZ Parliament
Forests (Registration of Log Traders and Forest Advisers) Amendment Act 2020 – NZ Legislation
Who to contact
If you have questions, email TeUruRakau@mpi.govt.nz
