Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti

New Zealand's efforts to combat climate change have led to a surge in interest and speculative investment in carbon forestry companies. However, recent decisions made by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) regarding these companies have raised concerns among farmers, Māori communities, environmentalists and forestry experts alike.

One of the main concerns with the OIO's decisions is the lack of transparency and public consultation. This lack of transparency undermines public trust and prevents the opportunity for meaningful input into decisions, potentially leading to outcomes that do not fully consider the environmental, social, and cultural impacts of carbon forestry projects. The conversion of diverse ecosystems into monoculture forests can negatively impact biodiversity, disrupting delicate ecosystems and threatening native species.

OIO Prioritises Short-Term Economic Gains

Another significant concern is the long-term sustainability of carbon forestry projects approved by the OIO. Critics argue that the OIO prioritises short-term economic gains over sustainable land use practices. Carbon forestry projects often involve planting fast-growing, short-lived, shallow-rooting pine, which the recent Ministerial Land Use Inquiry found unsuitable for the erosion-prone soils and slopes of the East Coast.

In addition to the loss of production forestry and farming jobs, these plantations will have detrimental effects on soil quality and water resources. The lack of robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms further raises doubts about the long-term viability and environmental benefits of these projects. The Inquiry report also raises the question as to why a key condition of an OIO ruling on the sale of Hikurangi Forest Farms has never been enforced.

Carbon forestry companies are often promoted as a means to offset carbon emissions and contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts. However, questions arise about the integrity of these offsets. Recently the EU has decided that companies relying on carbon offsetting cannot claim to be carbon zero. This is the basis for the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the writing would seem to be on the wall for the international community soon rejecting the ETS as a legitimate policy for emission reduction commitments.

Without rigorous standards and verification mechanisms, there is a risk of greenwashing and the ineffective use of carbon offsets to address the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The latest draft advice of the NZ Climate Change Commission also highlights the problems associated with relying on carbon forestry for New Zealand's carbon commitments - and the looming problem of an oversupply of sequestered carbon units which would keep the price down and polluters continuing to burn fossil fuels.

Death & Destruction

In January 2023, following the ex-tropical Cyclone Hale, the Tairāwhiti region was reeling from the fourth major weather event to hit the region in less than 12 months. In March 2022 a number of storms had caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, farms and orchards - a few months later more communities were cut off following heavy rain and in October 2022 a local woman lost her life trying to reach safety across a swollen river. Tragedy struck again in January 2023 when a young boy playing in the water at Waikanae Beach was struck and killed by a freshly cut pine log.

The news of the boy's death came at the same time a group of residents organised themselves under the Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti banner and presented a public petition to Gisborne District Council calling for an independent inquiry into land use in the region, with a focus on forestry practices and erosion on farmland.

In April 2023 another child's pelvis was crushed by a forestry log at Awapuni Beach and Council has increased the signage warning of the danger from wood in the water. The petition also called on Council to update regional rules for harvesting and to support the development of plans to transition industry in Tairāwhiti from an over-reliance on pine and pasture, to a more diverse and sustainable economy.

Ministerial Inquiry

Council supported the petition and asked Government ministers to launch an independent inquiry. Despite efforts by several local groups to make it a locally-led "review" of the forestry sector, David Parker as Minister for the Environment and Stuart Nash as Minister of Forestry agreed to support a Ministerial Inquiry that would be chaired by Hekia Parata and two other experts in forestry and industry regulation.

The Inquiry Panel had just two months to undertake the work and present a short report of recommendations back to the Government. This report was released in mid-May 2023 and has had mixed reviews, but the majority of recommendations have wide support - from Council, the forestry industry, the Environmental Defence Society and Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti who called for the Inquiry.

Over 12,000 people signed the petition and it represents a unique display of community mobilisation for environmental stewardship and community wellbeing in Tairāwhiti. Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti, an informal local grassroots group, has shown what a small group of people can do when they get organised.

Over 100 Volunteer Researchers

The group's efforts garnered widespread support, attracting over 100 volunteer researchers from around the country and overseas, who dedicated their time and expertise to contribute to a submission that was presented to the Inquiry. This submission is available on the Mana Taiao Website and, as a collection of more than 150 research reports and public policy documents, provides a useful resource for understanding and addressing the complex land use challenges faced by the region.

Renowned for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the region has seen an accelerating impact of woody debris and sediment as harvesting of the post-Cyclone Bola (1988) "wall of wood" ramped up across the region over the past 15 years. The collective efforts of the petition and submissions to the Inquiry demonstrate the deep-rooted commitment and shared vision for a sustainable future in Tairāwhiti.

The team of volunteer researchers from Muriwai and Uawa to Cambridge University and the London School of Economics, comprised a wide range of local residents and subject experts, including ecologists, environmental scientists, economists, indigenous knowledge holders, and community leaders. Each researcher brought unique insights and expertise to the table, ensuring a holistic and well-informed approach to the submission.

The team also utilised artificial intelligence to help process the thousands of references and summarise key themes from the research. Due to the short timeframes available for consultation on such complex issues, using machines to quickly scan and organise information proved a valuable tool that was then checked and refined by human researchers.

Recommendations

The Mana Taiao submission proposed a range of changes to protect the whenua and communities, as well as innovative solutions and recommendations for policy changes and community-led initiatives that can help address the identified issues. The group is very happy to see nearly all of its recommendations became recommendations contained in the Inquiry report and some of these are already being implemented:

• an end to large-scale, clear-fell harvesting;
• a transition from short-lived, shallow-rooting pine to permanent native forest;
• a focus on economic opportunities connected to native ngahere;
• risk assessments for land, homes and infrastructure that could be hit by slips and flooding in the future;
• supporting workers and whānau currently reliant for income on pine plantations and farming on erosion-prone land.

So Now The Ball Is With The Government

Ministers have said Cabinet will respond quickly. Likewise, the forestry, and hopefully, farming sectors are working on their responses and Gisborne District Council is continuing the process of rules review that the petition called for in January 2023. The rest of us can play our part by joining Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti to help monitor the official responses and track changes Government and industry make, and support efforts to diversify the regional economy.

Mana Taiao is one of the first initiatives to use the newly formed Exchange Cafe, which plans to launch a series of resources supporting discussions on climate and nature-based solutions within the region. Mana Taiao has also connected with the East Coast Exchange (ECX), led by Renee Raroa, to promote new opportunities in the emerging indigenous bioeconomy.