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Last reviewed:

Update – 14 June 2023

Decisions have been made to amend the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF)

There are 3 key areas of change to the NES-PF:

  • expand the types of forests controlled by the NES-PF to include exotic continuous-cover forests ('carbon forests'), to manage their environmental (biophysical) effects as if they are plantation forests,
  • enable councils to develop local rules and policies to manage the location of new exotic continuous-cover and plantation forests, and
  • make operational changes to enable foresters and councils to better manage the environmental effects of forestry including slash and wilding pines – these changes respond to the Year One Review.

The Cabinet papers detailing what Cabinet has agreed to, including the recommendations report, will be proactively released prior to the amended regulations coming into force.

The regulatory changes, subject to Cabinet agreement are planned to be enacted by October 2023.

Local communities to have a say on farm to forest conversions – Government media release

Find out more about the consultation

About National Environmental Standards

National Environmental Standards (NES) are regulations made under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and:

  • set out technical standards, methods or requirements relating to matters under the RMA
  • provide consistent rules across the country by setting planning requirements for certain specified activities.

An NES prevails over district or regional plan rules except where the NES-PF specifically allows more stringent plan rules. 

NES-PF is available

The National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF) were published on 3 August 2017 and came into force on 1 May 2018.

Resource Management (National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry) Amendment Regulations 2018 (which include changes to the Erosion Susceptibility Classifications) were published on 26 April 2018 and commenced on 1 May.

Objectives of the NES-PF

The NES-PF objectives are to:

  • maintain or improve the environmental outcomes associated with plantation forestry activities
  • increase the efficiency and certainty of managing plantation forestry activities.

The objectives are achieved through a single set of regulations under the RMA that apply to foresters throughout New Zealand.

Why an NES for forestry activities

Councils previously managed the environmental effects of forestry activities through regional and district plans. As a result, the rules varied between and within regions. Sometimes these variations reflected local differences and community priorities. But where they didn't, it caused problems for the many forest owners who manage forests in 2 or more regions or have forests that straddle council boundaries. The variation resulted in:

  • increased costs
  • uncertainty about the plan rules they must follow.

The variations in rules also led to inconsistent environmental outcomes.

The NES-PF provides a consistent set of regulations for plantation forestry activities. It covers 8 core plantation forestry activities, allowing these to be carried out as permitted activities, subject to conditions to manage potential effects on the environment.

Where it isn't possible to manage these effects – for example, the site is at high risk of erosion and needs greater controls – the activity requires resource consent.

How the NES-PF works

The NES-PF regulations cover 8 core plantation forestry activities that have potential environmental effects:

  • afforestation (planting new forest)
  • pruning and thinning to waste (selective felling of trees where the felled trees remain on site)
  • earthworks
  • river crossings
  • forestry quarrying (extraction of rock, sand, or gravel within a plantation forest or for operation of a forest on adjacent land)
  • harvesting
  • mechanical land preparation
  • replanting.

The NES-PF applies to any forest of at least one hectare that has been planted specifically for commercial purposes and will be harvested.

Year One review

The terms of reference for the planned Year One review of the implementation of the NES-PF were agreed by Ministers and were made available on 12 February 2019. The review started 1 May 2019. Ministers were provided with the completed review on 24 July 2020, and it was made public May 2021.

Report on the Year One Review of the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry [PDF, 2.7 MB]

Terms of reference for Year One review [PDF, 256 KB]

Plantation forests continue to play a key role in contributing to New Zealand’s climate change, environmental, cultural, social, and economic aspirations. Ongoing implementation for the NES-PF following Year One review includes:

  • Our transition to a low-emissions future will require plantation forests to play a substantial part, both in removing carbon from the atmosphere and providing fuel for low emissions technologies.
  • Overall, the Year One review found that the NES-PF is effective, but further implementation support for councils and the forestry sector would lift performance and compliance.
  • The key findings of the Year One Review will be considered within the Government’s response to the Climate Change Commission’s upcoming recommendations and wider resource management reforms, to support the right tree in the right place.

To contact Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service about the Year One review, email NES-PF@mpi.govt.nz

Conditions to manage potential environmental effects

The regulations are based on good forestry practices.

Some examples of the conditions under the NES-PF regulations are:

  • setbacks when planting next to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal areas. These unplanted strips protect against erosion and sedimentation from afforestation
  • management plans for earthworks, forest quarrying, and harvesting activities to identify environmental risks and how they'll be managed
  • identification and maintenance of storm water and sediment control measures for forestry activities.

If forest operators can meet the conditions, the activity is permitted. If not, they must seek a resource consent from their council.

Councils may charge for monitoring

Councils will be able to charge to recover the costs of monitoring permitted activities that require a management plan (harvesting, earthworks, and forest quarrying) and river crossings. These permitted activities have a higher risk of environmental effects if foresters don't comply with conditions.

If councils choose to set a charge, they'll need to comply with the requirements of the RMA and the Local Government Act. These include:

  • a public consultation process
  • having clear links between any charges and the activities being charged for
  • establishing charges covering reasonable costs.

This is the same process councils must currently use to charge for issuing and monitoring resource consents. 

NES-PF overview of regulations for councils and foresters

Tools to help councils and foresters

The NES-PF regulations use several science-based tools to help council staff and foresters plan and manage forestry operations.

Flexibility for local environments

The NES-PF recognises the need for flexibility to protect sensitive local environments. Regional and district councils plans can be more stringent to:

  • manage their unique and sensitive environments such as geothermal areas and drinking water supplies
  • protect significant natural areas and outstanding natural features and landscapes
  • give effect to other national RMA mechanisms like the: 
    • National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
    • New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.

While the NES-PF covers the core forestry activities, there are other activities that are still covered by plan rules.

Implementing the NES-PF

The NES-PF requires changes to the way councils manage plantation forestry activities under the RMA. So councils and the forestry sector need to understand all the NES-PF regulations and the changes they bring.

After publishing the regulations, Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service (Forestry New Zealand) hosted a nationwide series of introductory workshops to help foresters and councils better understand the NES-PF.

A second series of workshops in May 2018 furthered foresters' knowledge of the NES-PF. Three scenario-based activities used in these workshops, including questions and answers, are available to download.

If you need further help implementing the NES-PF, check the guidance section below, speak to your local council, or contact Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service.

Guidance to support NES-PF implementation

MPI has developed guidance to support implementation of the NES-PF. The guidance is targeted at regional councils, territorial authorities, and the forestry industry as the primary users of the NES-PF.

Guidance on the NES-PF

The Ministry for the Environment have produced guidelines to help councils with their compliance, monitoring and enforcement (CME) responsibilities under the RMA:

Guidelines for compliance, monitoring and enforcement under the RMA

Get the latest on the NES-PF

Get updates on upcoming NES-PF materials and events by subscribing to plantation forestry updates on our website.

Material incorporated by reference in the regulations

References that are part of the NES-PF regulations (material incorporated by reference) are listed in Schedule 2 of the regulations. They include information that helps foresters understand the rules that apply to them. 

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Find out more

Who to contact

If you have questions about the NES-PF, contact Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service:

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