Articles tagged with Land Use
Forestry Minister Appoints Facilitator to Support Tairāwhiti Forestry Sector Progress
1 week ago | 163 viewsForestry Minister Todd McClay has appointed Doug Leeder as a Facilitator to advise the Government on addressing forestry challenges in Tairāwhiti, focusing on consenting complexities and land use changes. The government aims to reset the relationship between Gisborne District Council and stakeholders to support sustainable forestry management, jobs, and local businesses while ensuring compliance measures are workable and proportionate. Building on the progress of the Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group, the Facilitator will help accelerate clean-up efforts, improve collaboration, and guide decisions to benefit forestry, the environment, and the community.
Tags: Todd McClay Doug Leeder Gisborne District Council Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group TFAG Forestry Minister Bay of Plenty Regional Council Local Government New Zealand forestry sector land use changeGreater Land Use Flexibility Empowers Māori Farmers for Productivity and Sustainability
2 months ago | 475 viewsAgriculture Minister Todd McClay and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka emphasize that greater land use flexibility enables whenua Māori landowners to enhance productivity and environmental outcomes. The Government is investing $2.6 million in a project with Te Arawa Primary Sector Incorporated to help Māori landowners optimize farm production, increase profitability by 10-30%, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5-25%. This initiative aims to support farmers and growers through regulatory reform, innovation, and data sharing, strengthening New Zealand's primary industries and rural communities.
Tags: Todd McClay Tama Potaka whenua Māori land use flexibility Māori landowners Agriculture Minister Māori Development Minister Te Arawa Primary Sector farming systems New Zealand agricultureNew Zealand Boosts Agriculture with Land Use Flexibility and Sustainable Innovation
2 months ago | 569 viewsThe New Zealand Government is enhancing agricultural land use flexibility to promote innovation, sustainable productivity, and a reduced environmental footprint, supporting over 257,000 workers and contributing $52 billion in exports. It is investing in multi-million-dollar projects to boost beef, sheep, and dairy production with improved environmental outcomes, including reducing nitrogen leaching and increasing pasture utilization and feed efficiency. These initiatives aim to back farmers with regulatory reforms, science, and technology to ensure profitable, sustainable growth that benefits regional economies and rural communities.
Tags: Todd McClay New Zealand agriculture land use flexibility dairy farming beef production sheep farming environmental sustainability regulatory reform virtual fencingGovernment Invests $143M to Boost NZ Food & Fibre Sector Productivity Through Innovation
2 months ago | 428 viewsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay emphasize that New Zealand’s food and fibre sector, which accounts for over 80% of exports, requires increased productivity through innovation and greater land use flexibility. The Government is investing $143 million in six commercial projects across various sectors, partnering with industry to demonstrate how science, technology, and regulatory reform can drive growth while reducing environmental impact. A report from Lincoln University and ASB Bank projects that adopting these innovations and flexible land use could boost the economy by $10 billion within five to seven years.
Tags: Christopher Luxon Todd McClay New Zealand food and fibre sector agriculture innovation land use flexibility Government investment productivity Lincoln UniversityNew Zealand Updates Land Use and Natural Hazard Policies to Boost Development and Resilience
7 months ago | 1047 viewsThe Government’s new reforms, effective today, aim to balance enabling urban development with protecting New Zealand’s most productive land, particularly by providing more flexible use of moderately productive Land Use Capability Class 3 land. Additionally, a new National Policy Statement for Natural Hazards introduces a consistent, risk-based approach for councils to manage natural hazard risks, enhancing community resilience amid climate change. These changes, part of the first tranche of national direction instruments under the RMA, support streamlined planning, safer communities, and will integrate with the upcoming modern planning system.
Tags: Chris Bishop Todd McClay RMA Reform National Policy Statement Land Use Capability Class 3 Natural Hazards New Zealand Government Agricultural Areas Climate Change Planning BillNew Zealand Government Passes Bill to Protect Farmland and Forestry in Climate Change Response
11 months ago | 997 viewsThe Government passed the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme Forestry Conversions) Amendment Bill to prevent wholesale conversion of farmland to pine forests, aiming to balance food production and Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) confidence. Key changes include limits on exotic forestry registrations for productive farmland, flexibility for farmers to convert up to 25% of land to forestry, and provisions for Māori-owned land. The Bill aims to support rural economies, create jobs, and ensure ETS credibility, with a review planned for 2028 to assess effectiveness.
Tags: Todd McClay Simon Watts Government Climate Change Response Emissions Trading Scheme Forestry Conversions Agriculture Forestry New Zealand Land Use