Who needs to register?
All sawmills that want to mill native (indigenous) timber need to register. This includes:
- fixed, portable, and chainsaw mills
- industrial plants that produce woodchips, veneers, and process tree ferns
- chainsaws without any attachment where they are being used to produce sawn timber (a process also known as ‘free handing’).
When to register
You must register before you start milling.
How much does it cost?
It costs $115 (including GST) per sawmill per year.
How to register your sawmill
You need to complete a separate application for each sawmill you want to register. Download the application form and send it to us with your application fee. The fee is $115 (including GST) per sawmill per year.
Apply to register a sawmill to mill indigenous timber [PDF, 169 KB]
Email your form to indigenous.forestry@mpi.govt.nz
Or post the form to one of the following addresses:
Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service
Indigenous Forestry Team
Private Bag 4765,
Christchurch 8140
Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service
Indigenous Forestry Team
PO Box 1340,
Rotorua 3040
If you have any questions, contact our team by emailing indigenous.forestry@mpi.govt.nz
What happens after you register your sawmill
We will send you a certificate when we have processed your application. This takes up to 2 weeks.
You must provide us returns every 3 months for all timber you receive at the mill. You need to do this even if you have not milled any timber during that time. MPI will send you the return to fill in, and a prepaid envelope for you to return it to us.
We regularly visit sawmills during the year. If you move your sawmill to a different site, you must tell us.
Registration lasts for one year. The registration year for sawmills is from 1 July to 30 June. If you want to keep milling after 30 June, you must register your sawmill again.
Change of ownership of a registered sawmill
If you sell your sawmill, you must let us know by completing a change of ownership form within 10 working days. There is no cost for this. You will need to complete a final return for the current period to the day before the change of ownership.
Sawmill change of ownership form [PDF, 95 KB]
Penalties for illegal native (indigenous) timber milling
If you mill native timber without approval from MPI you may be prosecuted and fined up to $200,000. If you continue to offend, you will be fined up to $10,000 each day the offence continues.
If you use an unregistered sawmill to mill native timber, you may be prosecuted and fined up to $200,000. If you continue to offend, you will be fined up to $10,000 each day the offence continues.
MPI could also seize the illegally milled timber if you are convicted.
Who to contact
If you have questions about the information on this page, email indigenous.forestry@mpi.govt.nz
