May 15, 2023
Forest industry loses social licence
Lead ministers David Parker and Peeni Henare say they will make decisions on the Ministerial Inquiry into forestry slash as soon as possible.
The inquiry chaired by former minister Hekia Parata warned there is five to 10 years to turn around what is an environmental disaster in Tairawhiti/Gisborne and Wairoa.
The worst impacts are in outer MĀori communities and especially in Ngati Porou, where communities took hit after hit in broken roads and bridges, lost power and communication, delayed and undependable emergency provision.
It recommended the establishment of a Woody Debris Taskforce to lead the planning and delivery for current and future clean-up activities across both Wairoa and Tairāwhiti.
The bulk of funding should come from forest owners, along with central and local government.
The panel found the forest industry has lost its social licence in Tairāwhiti due to a culture of poor practices – facilitated by the Gisborne District Council’s weak regulation and under-resourced monitoring and compliance.
Other recommendations included ending clear felling, making more use of local resources including Māori workers and companies to fix infrastructure quickly, working with Māori owners on land-use change, and properly resourcing the Māori Land Court.