Hon Andrew Hoggard
Associate Minister for the Environment

Associate Minister for the Environment Andrew Hoggard today announced the Government's approach to grow New Zealand's voluntary nature and carbon markets - backed by a new assurance role to give buyers and landowners confidence in what they are investing in.

"Think of it like a warrant of fitness for the market," says Mr Hoggard. "It's light touch, but it gives people confidence the fundamentals are sound. That's what unlocks investment."

"The pressures on nature and climate are bigger than the public purse. We need private money flowing into restoration, and the appetite is there. What's been missing is the shape around it - and that's what Government is uniquely placed to provide."

Voluntary nature and carbon markets allow private money to fund projects that restore nature or remove greenhouse gases - work like wetland restoration, native planting, habitat protection, or locking up carbon. A landowner partners with a project developer, the work is measured against a recognised scheme, and credits are issued and bought by organisations wanting to back environmental outcomes with evidence behind them.

The Government's package introduces two pathways. High-quality schemes accredited by reputable international bodies will be recognised by the Government from the outset, so landowners and investors know what they can trust. Domestic schemes can opt in to a New Zealand endorsement pathway - assessed by an independent assurer against New Zealand's internationally aligned market principles. That pathway will be open in the coming months.

"Endorsement is a quality signal, not a Crown guarantee. We'll be clear about that from day one," says Mr Hoggard. "But it gives investors, landowners, and developers a much faster way to identify high-quality operators -and it lowers their costs."

"New Zealand organisations such as Trees That Count are already using internationally accredited schemes recognised by the Government. Trees That Count participated in the MfE pilot programme and has developed True Nature — its voluntary nature and carbon market offering — to generate internationally verified credits from restoration projects across New Zealand. The domestic pathway means more options suited to our context, at different price points."

The package also opens public conservation land to privately funded nature and climate projects that deliver benefits over and above what the Crown is already funding. Normal Department of Conservation concession requirements still apply, and projects should use endorsed schemes - though innovative approaches can be considered where risk is managed properly. Applications open later this year.

The approach/or package has been informed by ten pilot partnerships with market participants between June 2025 and March 2026, including Sanctuary Mountain, Pāmu and Trees That Count.

What's next

Recognition of the three international standards and accreditation bodies takes effect immediately. The domestic endorsement process will be operational within six months, once detailed criteria are developed and tested with independent assurance bodies and public engagement.

International bodies recognised by the New Zealand Government:

Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets

The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism

Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market

Opening public conservation land

Opening public conservation land to voluntary market projects boosts the supply of project land available for nature and climate work. Integrity principles still apply -benefits must be additional to what Government already funds, and standard Department of Conservation permissions including concessions still apply. Projects should use endorsed schemes, with innovative approaches considered where there is appropriate risk management. Applications open later this year.

The six integrity principles

Endorsed schemes must meet six voluntary market integrity principles agreed by Ministers: additional, durable, real and measurable, transparent, respectful of rights including those of Māori and local communities, and not double-counted. Further detail here.

More information coming soon

In the coming days, the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Guidance Update will be released on the Ministry for the Environment's website. The guidance clarifies expectations and principles for carbon credit supply and claims in voluntary markets, giving groups using international accreditation confidence for project planning and implementation.

To support emerging science on carbon removal activities, MFE will also publish information on how groups apply for a science assessment of a carbon activity they want recognised and rewarded. This information and the science assessment may help a group prepare to enter voluntary carbon markets. The work is part of the Assessment Framework for Carbon Removals published in 2025 and helps groups understand the longer-term pathway into the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme or future Nationally Determined Contributions.

Pilot projects

The Government approach has been informed by pilot partnerships with ten market participants between June 2025 and March 2026. More here.

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