Log traders must be registered
If you meet the criteria of a log trader, you will need to register to continue operating. We urge any people operating or planning to operate as a log trader that are not yet registered to apply.
Log traders must be registered. Find out whether you need to register as a log trader.
If you meet the criteria of a log trader, you will need to register to continue operating. We urge any people operating or planning to operate as a log trader that are not yet registered to apply.
This page explains which businesses are log traders, and helps you work out if your business needs to register as a log trader.
If you meet the criteria of a log trader, you must register to operate.
Information on this page is also available in a document you can download.
Guidance: What is a log trader? [PDF, 314 KB]
A log trading business:
The logs can be:
A log trading business is also known as a “person in trade”. Log trading businesses can be:
Employees that work for a business that is registered as a log trader do not need to register as an individual log trader.
The legislation has the full definition of a log trader.
Forests Act 1949, Section 631 – NZ Legislation
To register as a log trader, the log trading business must trade at least 2,000 cubic metres of logs each financial year (1 July to 30 June). This is known as the “threshold volume”.
Businesses that buy, export, or process New Zealand logs (or act as an agent) need to register as log traders.
Find out how to register as a log trader
A log trading business buys New Zealand logs when it enters a contract to buy or sell New Zealand logs. The contract may be made:
They are a log trader from when they agree to buy the logs and for the period the logs are supplied.
If the contract is made before the harvest, the agreed time for harvest should be specifically rather than generally agreed. A specifically agreed time will identify the month, season, or financial quarter and year that harvest will begin. If this agreed time cannot be met, reasons must be provided why.
A log trading business exports New Zealand logs when they take New Zealand logs out of New Zealand to another country. An exporter includes:
A log trading business does not need to register if:
A log trading business processes logs they have grown themselves when:
A person does not need to register if they are only doing these things during harvesting:
A business is considered to be a log trader when they act as an agent for another business to:
A company that transfers ownership of New Zealand logs to a related company is a log trader. A company is related to another company if:
A log trading business does not need to register as a log trader if:
The volume threshold is 2,000 cubic metres per year of logs in a financial year. This includes the combined total of all of a person’s log trading activities.
The volume threshold includes logs that change hands or are processed in the financial year. The volume can be:
For example, a person would meet the volume threshold if they:
A person is not a log trader if their only activity is shipping or transporting logs, or associated logistical activities. These activities include:
Someone who only ships or transports logs is not considered to be an exporter of New Zealand logs.
You do not need to register as a log trader if your only log trading activity is buying New Zealand logs as the agent for another person and you are registered as a forestry adviser.
Read more about who needs to register as a forestry adviser
Read more about exemptions on the legislation website.
Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Exemption Notice 2023 – NZ Legislation
Use this chart to help you decide whether you need to register as a log trader:
The flowchart asks: Do you as a business or sole trader buy logs in New Zealand (including logs already harvested, or to be harvested at an agreed date), export New Zealand logs, process logs you have grown yourself, or do any of these activities on behalf of someone else? Do you transfer ownership of logs grown in New Zealand to or from a related company? If no, you do not need to register as a log trader. If yes, it asks: Do you trade more than 2,000 cubic metres of logs per year? If yes, you need to register as a log trader.
Get the latest news and updates on the registration system and what you need to do to register.
Subscribe to email updates about the registration of log traders and forestry advisers
For more information about the registration system for log traders and forestry advisers, email forestryregister@mpi.govt.nz
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