Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

National takes chainsaw to afforestation grants

National takes chainsaw to afforestation grant scheme

Budget documents show that the Government will downscale the Afforestation Grant Scheme by $2m per year over the next three years before eventually ceasing it, says Labour Forestry spokesperson Stuart Nash.

The Afforestation Grant Scheme is a contestable fund designed to encourage the planting of new forests.

Stuart Nash said that the axing of this scheme is foolish for three reasons.

“The first is that the planting of trees is vital to New Zealand meeting its Kyoto commitments. Trees eat carbon, as opposed to, for example, livestock that produce it. The only reason New Zealand doesn’t have any international carbon liabilities is because of the amount of forests planted after 1990.

“Forestry will play a significant role in ensuring that New Zealand plays its part in mitigating the effects of global warming, and to cut a scheme that encourages people to plant forests defies logic.”

Stuart Nash said: “The second reason is that forestry has the potential to be a large employer at a time when unemployment figures are still high due to the difficult economic times. Why would the Government take the chainsaw to a scheme that has the potential to create jobs at a time of economic hardship?”

The third reason axing such a scheme was foolish was because it has a high component of regional focus and initiative.

“Half the funding is available to regional councils to help them meet their sustainable land management objectives. For example, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has proactively marketed the Afforestation Grant Scheme as an opportunity for Hawke’s landowners to establish new forests,” said Stuart Nash.

“The scheme encourages regional economic development and promotes an activity in forestry where everyone wins: the landowner, the region and the country.

“Sadly, given that there are so many winners, the scheme is now going, going, gone.”

ENDS


Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.