Search

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that over 5.5 million new seedlings will be planted during winter 2017, as a result of the latest funding round for the Government’s Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS).

“The approval of 4,818 hectares to be planted across the country next winter means that an estimated 5,533,200 seedlings will go in the ground, which is a fantastic result for forestry in New Zealand,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have welcomed $3.1 million in new funding for 13 climate change research projects in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

The grants were announced today by the Ministry for Primary Industries through the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change (SLMACC) research programme.

“This funding plays an important part in helping our primary industries prepare for the future challenges of climate change,” says Mr Guy.

Food Safety and Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew will travel to China today for bi-lateral meetings and to open a new Fonterra dairy facility in the Shanxi Province.

“The relationship between New Zealand and China has never been stronger, and it is crucial for our economy that we maintain that strong relationship in food safety,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Two new reference groups will help support New Zealand’s climate change goals and reduce emissions from the livestock and forestry sectors, Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have announced today.

“As part of ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, New Zealand has set a target of reducing our emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The primary sector will need to be an important part of that,” says Mr Guy.

New forest harvesting technology revealed today in Nelson sets its sights on further increasing safety in steep land harvesting operations, Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says.

The new ‘tele-operation’ technology provides out-of-harm’s way operation of a purpose-built tracked feller-buncher forest harvester, from the safety of a separate operator cabin and console.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew has this afternoon marked the success of the first round of the Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS), by planting a Eucalyptus Globoidea tree at Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula.

Following the re-launch of the scheme last year, $3.77m will be invested in 2,900ha of new forest planted this year, through 81 separate grants.

“The new AGS builds on the success of the previous scheme and over the course of five years will see more than 15,000ha of new forest planted across the country,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

I would like to start by acknowledging:

• Apiculture New Zealand and the newly elected board members
• Scott Gallacher, Deputy-Director General, Regulatory & Assurance, MPI

It is a pleasure to be here today at the first ever Apiculture New Zealand National Conference.

It is great to see the establishment of Apiculture New Zealand, and the unification of the apiculture industry that this represents.

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have welcomed Australian Ministers of Agriculture to New Zealand for a study tour and forum.

“The primary industries are the engine room of both New Zealand and Australia, and an important goal of both countries is growth in value-added products,” says Mr Guy.

The second funding round for the Afforestation Growth Scheme (AGS) opens today and comes at an important time for forestry, Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew announced today.

“The goal of the AGS is to increase the planting of new forests and the rate of afforestation.

Government’s Priorities for the New Zealand Forestry Sector [Slide 1 – title slide]

E āku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good morning. Thank you to (Dr) James (Buwalda) for the introduction, I am delighted to be here today.

I would also like to thank the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) for the invitation to present, as well as to the other conference organisers:

Associate Minister for Primary Industries, Hon Jo Goodhew, is welcoming the International Day of Forests 2016 as a chance to highlight the vital role that New Zealand’s forests play in both protecting the environment and contributing to economic growth and prosperity.

“Our forests contribute to a number of important environmental and climate outcomes, by absorbing carbon, increasing biodiversity, and reducing erosion,” says Mrs Goodhew.

The formal launch today of the Specialty Wood Products Research Partnership, marks a new chapter for the forestry sector in New Zealand, Associate Primary Industries Minister, Jo Goodhew says.

“I welcome the launch of this new partnership, and the ground-breaking research that will be undertaken. Forestry is a key export earner for New Zealand that is worth around $5 billion annually, and employs nearly 20,000 people” Mrs Goodhew says.

Today’s announcement of the start of a review of the NZ ETS brings an opportunity to consider how New Zealand can further incentivise the planting of more forests, says Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew.

“Forestry is one of New Zealand’s largest and cheapest forms of carbon storage,” says Mrs Goodhew. “It is critical that foresters engage in the review so that together we can develop policy proposals that are in the best interests of the scheme and the sector.”

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

It is a pleasure to be here again to discuss challenges facing the dairy sector.

I have just been at the launch of ANZ’s Insights Report ‘Hungry for growth’ where I spoke about the key challenges of distance and scale for New Zealand’s food industry.

The forestry industry has become the sixth industry group to join the Government Industry Agreement (GIA) biosecurity partnership, Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew have announced today.

“It’s great to have the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (FOA) onboard, working with the Ministry for Primary Industries to manage and respond to the most important biosecurity risks,” says Mr Guy.

“A growing number of industries have now signed up to work together with the Government through the GIA.”

A demonstration of new forest harvesting technology near Nelson today marks a major step forward in ensuring the safety of forest workers working on steep land, Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew say.

The demonstration featured New Zealand’s first ever remote controlled forest harvesting machine.

“This ground breaking technology, developed by the Steepland Harvesting Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) programme, is the first of its kind in New Zealand, and we believe a world first for a tracked excavator-based felling machine,” says Mr Guy.

The first funding round of the Afforestation Grant Scheme will see 5819 hectares planted throughout New Zealand, says Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew.

The Afforestation Grant Scheme is a $22.5m programme to help establish about 15,000 hectares of new forest plantations over the next six years.

“Under the first round of funding the total area applied for covered 9044 hectares, far exceeding our expectations,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku Rangatira Tena koutou katoa.

Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou

Distinguished audience Greetings to you all.

It is my pleasure to speak with you at this time.

Tonight I will talk about New Zealand’s forests, and how the New Zealand government is supporting the industry in a focused and targeted way.

We have specific challenges to address, and we want to add value to the industry as a whole.

This Congress is all about collaboration and learning from each other.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew leaves for South Africa today to attend the XIV World Forestry Congress.

Held once every six years, it is an opportunity to engage with international forestry leaders and delegations on a range of forestry issues.

Mrs Goodhew will also launch New Zealand’s Third Country Report on the Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators, which demonstrates New Zealand’s sustainable management of natural and planted forests to the international forestry community.

A review to increase uptake for the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative is underway and the government is seeking feedback from industry on the proposed changes, says Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew.

Introduced in 2006, the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative was the first national scheme that allowed forest landowners to earn emissions units for the carbon stored within their forests.

A new National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry to simplify and standardise Resource Management Act requirements was proposed today by Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew at Paengaroa For

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew have welcomed the annual KPMG Agribusiness Agenda, which shows strong industry support for the Government priorities of strengthening biosecurity and adding value to exports.

“This annual report surveys over 100 leaders in the primary sector and is a valuable snapshot of industry views,” says Mr Guy.

“It’s no surprise to see biosecurity highlighted again as the number one issue by industry, as it has been my number one priority since becoming Minister.

The Government has today launched a new tool for exporters of New Zealand-grown forestry products to help combat illegal logging of tropical forests, Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says.

“From 15 June this year information statements will be available for our exporters to use when they send products to countries who have imposed requirements to combat illegal logging,” says Mrs Goodhew.

New Zealand’s legislation, and specifically the Resource Management Act 1991, mean that New Zealand’s planted forests are produced sustainably.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

It is a pleasure to speak at the conference dinner this evening.

This is the first time I have had the opportunity to talk with you all as a group since the election and since again taking responsibility for the forestry portfolio.

For almost two and a half years now I have visited our regions and spoken to a wide range of people in the forestry industry to help me gain a better understanding of how the forestry and wood sector works, and where the potential opportunities lie.