Log Traders and Forestry Advisers Must Be Registered
If you are acting as a log trader and/or forestry adviser, you may need to register.
We urge anyone who is not yet registered to apply.
Find out about registration, the benefits of the system, and what to expect from registered log traders and forestry advisers.
If you are acting as a log trader and/or forestry adviser, you may need to register.
We urge anyone who is not yet registered to apply.
Log traders and forestry advisers must be registered unless they are exempt.
Registered log traders and forestry advisers are listed on a public register. The register includes name, contact details and locations.
The public register helps people find out if someone is registered and how to contact them.
Public register of forestry advisers [PDF, 5.3 MB]
Public register of log traders [PDF, 1.4 MB]
The system assures anyone dealing with registered log traders and forestry advisers that they are getting expert and impartial advice from people with the right knowledge and experience.
Registered log traders and forestry advisers have passed a background check, including a criminal conviction check. (This is referred to as “fit and proper person requirements” in the regulations and legislation.) Registered forestry advisers have also given us evidence of their qualifications and experience. Once registered, log traders and forestry advisers have ongoing obligations they must meet.
What registered log traders must do
What registered forestry advisers must do
A complaints process is being set up to deal with complaints about registered log traders and forestry advisers. Anyone can make a complaint about unsatisfactory conduct or misconduct of a registered log trader or forestry adviser.
Contact us to make a complaint
Under the Forests Act 1949, a log trader is a person in trade (a business) who:
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:
Who needs to register as a log trader
Under the Act, a forestry adviser is someone who provides any of these services to a client:
Who needs to register as a forestry adviser
Answer a few questions to see whether you need to register as a forestry adviser:
Find out if you need to register as a forestry adviser – decision tool
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.
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
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]
Public consultation on operating requirements for registered log traders and forestry advisers closed on 23 February 2023.
It was decided that registered forestry advisers must do continued professional development as part of their registration. This comes into effect from 1 July 2024.
Read more about the consultation and decisions made.
Operating requirements for log traders and forestry advisers consultation
The code of ethics for registered forestry advisers was made on 15 September 2022. It came into effect on 17 October 2022. The code guides how forestry advisers conduct themselves and their business.
Forests (Code of Ethics for Registered Forestry Advisers) Rules 2022 – NZ Legislation
Public consultation on the code of ethics for forestry advisers closed on 11 July 2022.
Closed consultation on the code of ethics for registered forestry advisers
Some fees and levies are waived for some applicants and registered people. These waivers were made under regulations 30 and 43 of the Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Regulations 2022. The waivers came into effect on 16 November 2022.
Read more about fees and levies for log traders
Read more about fees and levies for forestry advisers
Some people will not need to register if an exemption applies.
We have made exemptions:
Final policy decisions to make exemptions from log traders and forestry advisers registration requirements [PDF, 156 KB]
Read more about exemptions on the legislation website.
Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Exemption Notice 2023 – NZ Legislation
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is responsible for regulating log traders and forestry advisers.
We use the VADE model (Voluntary, Assisted, Directed, Enforced) to help us decide the best tool to use with registered log traders and forestry advisers to achieve compliance with the Act.
Registration of log traders and forestry advisers compliance model [PDF, 325 KB]
Forests (Registration of Log Traders and Forest Advisers) Amendment Act 2020 – NZ Legislation
Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Regulations 2022 – NZ Legislation
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
If you have questions, email forestryregister@mpi.govt.nz
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