3rd July 2023 Newsletter
PRESIDENTS COLUMN
Dear Members
First and foremost, I would like to express my anticipation in seeing many of you at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) and awards dinner next weekend. If you haven't registered yet, I strongly encourage you to do so without delay. Attending AGMs holds significant importance for any membership organisation, and our awards dinner serves as a special occasion to celebrate those individuals who have truly gone above and beyond. After all, we could all benefit from a little celebration currently.
In the previous newsletter, I addressed the challenges our industry is facing due to recent policy announcements, which have resulted in uncertain investor sentiment. I urge you to read the Open Letter to MPs and media, as well as the joint press release between NZIF and FICA, both of which can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. We are making every effort to raise awareness about these issues, but it is undeniably a daunting task. Unfortunately, it seems forestry rarely receives the attention it deserves from the media unless it involves woody debris on beaches. Nevertheless, we have taken member feedback into account and we are working hard to increase our lobbying and media initiatives. However, this responsibility should not solely fall on the Council's shoulders. If you believe there is something we should be advocating for, please share your ideas and thoughts with us. In order to truly represent our membership base, we need to hear from each and every one of you.
I also urge you to arrange meetings with your local Members of Parliament (MPs) as well as those who are running for office. Engage in discussions about how the proposed policies are adversely affecting our sector, jeopardising future investments, and undermining our ability to contribute billions to the economy through the ITP. Emphasie to the National Party their policy would cost New Zealand $2 billion annually, as we would need to purchase more offshore units to meet our commitments. Remind the Labour Party about the negative consequences of requiring resource consents for planting, which would result in delays, increased costs, and potentially hinder us from meeting the CCC’s budget target for new planting. The better option would be some tweaking to the NES-PF. Highlight to the Greens the implications of the ETS review, as it has confirmed their worst fears—emitters can now purchase units at low prices instead of offsetting their emissions. Instead of maintaining separate markets and decoupling forestry, it would be more effective for the government to cease printing units which have no effective carbon mitigation and selling them each quarter. If you require further clarification on any of these matters, please don't hesitate to contact me.
It is crucial MPs and prospective officeholders hear from us. I am frequently informed by Ministers and MPs about their limited understanding of forestry and the lack of communication they receive from our industry. While we may voice concerns about the perceived preferential treatment given to farmers, it is worth noting farmers individually and collectively engage with their local MPs, write letters, and consistently advocate for their interests. We must follow suit. So, please make an appointment to meet with your MP as soon as possible.
Regrettably, our climate policies appear to be in a state of disarray, with NZUs reaching prices not seen since 2020 and emitters purchasing cheap units to account for their future emissions. This is precisely what the Climate Change Commission (CCC) sought to prevent with their recommendations. We had clearly warned the CCC about the adverse effects of constant policy changes, and unfortunately, our predictions have been proven correct. Far too often, officials overlook the expertise of our professional body, and far too often, we are proven right. It is a disheartening situation, but we are tirelessly working towards rectifying it. Unfortunately, officials seem to believe their knowledge surpasses ours.
I would like to again draw your attention to some recent changes within our Administration team, which were discussed in the previous newsletter. As a result, there will be modifications to email addresses and contact details. Please be vigilant in checking future newsletters for these updates and ensure you update your address books accordingly. It is of utmost importance we respond to your inquiries promptly, and by directing your queries to the correct email, you can greatly assist us in providing quicker responses.
Once again, I look forward to catching many of you at the upcoming AGM and awards dinner. Your participation and engagement are vital to the success of our organisation. Let us stand united, advocate for our industry, and continue working towards a prosperous future for all.
Regards
James
