NZIF Newsletter 14 August 2017

President's Column 

If we could see into the future, we would be so much better off. Without a crystal ball and with an election looming, I need to ensure I make an informed decision before casting my vote. It’s the least I can do. It matters to me on a personal level and to the future of the country I live in. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of places to get information about the various parties and candidates vying for my vote. We are, quite simply, bombarded with information. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. However it is hard to find out what our potential representative views are on forestry. This is why NZIF has organised for all parties to speak at this years conference, just weeks before the election, so we can all hear their views, and where required question them.

As a forestry professional I know making informed decisions is key to securing good outcomes and progress in our sector. The NZIF Conference is one of those places which will provide me with some of the most current thinking and information around forestry internationally and in NZ, and will prepare me for what might happen to our industry in the future. Most aptly, this years Conference is entitled “The Future of the New Zealand forestry sector.” Whether you intend to come along to network, socialise or to soak up the latest information, the important thing is you attend. Have you registered yet? It’s happening from the 3rd-6th of September in Rotorua.

9:05 AM, 14 Aug 2017

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NZIF Media Release

Emission Trading Scheme Imbalance Will Cost New Zealanders. 

Recent updates to the Government’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) are a mixed bag according to sources in the New Zealand Forestry industry.

Climate Change Minister Paula Bennett announced a raft of changes in the fraught area of global emissions last week. Key players in the Forestry sector are concerned that these changes will end up costing New Zealanders unnecessarily, and jeopardise meeting our international obligations. 

Under the Paris Agreement, New Zealand has ended up paying more than many other countries, simply because we emit more carbon than we fix. 

3:56 PM, 01 Aug 2017

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New Zealand Journal of Forestry Volume 62 Number 2, August 2017

The theme for the August issue is Conservation and indigenous forests, with papers on the work of the Department of Conservation and on tōtara management, with the Last Word being a plea to resurrect and maintain the indigenous forest silviculture trials established by the Forest Service. Additionally, there are papers on the economics of in-forest debarking, forest safety and the use of LiDAR for forest hydrology.  Elizabeth Orr’s book Keeping New Zealand Green on AR Entrican is reviewed by Peter Berg.  

5:22 PM, 08 Aug 2017

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Submission on Fire and Emergency NZ Regulations

The funding model for Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) is overly complicated for fire services and the model’s application is not fully reflective of the services being provided by FENZ. Nonfire incidents now account for a large and growing part of fire service activities in New Zealand.

11:49 AM, 20 Apr 2017

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