Do not spoil the ship for a ha’porth of tar when deciding how to spend a commodity levy

Authors: Hamish Levack
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2012, Issue N.Z.J.For. 57(4) 2013, pp 42-43, Jan 2013
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: Let us assume that, at March’s referendum, stakeholders will vote in favour of a 27-cents-a-cubicmetre forest commodity levy. This would bring in $6.5 million a year. How would that be best spent? Preliminary budgets indicate, for example, that about half of it could be reserved for research. However $3.25 million will not enough for all the useful research that could be chosen, so expect debate over which projects should take priority. In the near term, the large-scale forest owners will be paying most of the levy because they will be harvesting most of the wood. Votes on expenditure will be proportional to contribution, so large-scale forest owners will have most influence.

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