Category: New Zealand Government – Business

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

About this consultation

The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are jointly running this consultation.

On this page, we have some background information and a summary of potential amendments to the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).

Further details, consultation documents, and information about how to make a submission are on MfE’s website. This consultation is open for submissions between 5 September and 31 October 2023.

Managing highly productive land – Ministry for the Environment

Background to this consultation

The NPS-HPL came into force in October 2022.

The objective of the NPS-HPL is to protect highly productive land so it can be used for land-based primary production. To do this, the NPS-HPL restricts inappropriate use, development, or subdivision of highly productive land.

Highly productive land provides significant economic and employment benefits to communities and underpins the value of Aotearoa New Zealand’s primary sector.

National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land 2022

Summary of potential amendments to the NPS-HPL

Feedback is being sought on potential amendments to the NPS-HPL.

Since the policy was introduced, 2 issues have been raised about its restrictions on the use and development of highly productive land for activities that don’t rely on soil.

Only these 2 issues are being consulted on. They are the:

• lack of a clear consent pathway for the construction of new specified infrastructure on highly productive land in clause 3.9(2)(j)(i). Specified infrastructure can include developments such as solar farms and infrastructure needed at pace, for example to support the recovery after Cyclone Gabrielle.
• absence of a clear consent pathway for developing and relocating intensive indoor primary production and greenhouses on highly productive land.

Making your submission

Submissions must be received by the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) by 11.59pm on 31 October 2023.

Information about how to make a submission is on MfE’s website.

Managing highly productive land – Ministry for the Environment

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

New Zealand Food Safety would like your feedback on proposed amendments to the Animal Products Notice: Production Supply and Processing.

These proposed amendments feature changes to chapters:

• C: Good Operating Practice (GOP)
• D: Dairy
• F: Red Meat
• H: Fish
• K: Honey
• M: Verification.

These include updates to clarify rules, changes to verification requirements for certain sectors, and updates to training requirements.

Consultation provides an opportunity for you to comment on the content of the new notice. Your submission will help us to assess whether these changes are fit for purpose.

Consultation documents

Proposed Animal Products Notice: Production Supply and Processing [PDF, 2.6 MB]

Summary of proposed changes

Discussion paper on proposed changes to the Animal Products Notice: Production Supply and Processing [PDF, 334 KB]

Current notice in force

Animal Products Notice: Production Supply and Processing [PDF, 1.9 MB]

Making your submission

Submissions close at 5pm on Friday, 29 September 2023.

To help make your submission, use the feedback form [DOCX, 64 KB]

Email your submission to animal.products@mpi.govt.nz

While we prefer email, you can post a written submission to:

New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

What to include in a written submission

• The name of the consultation document (Animal Products Notice: Production Supply and Processing).
• Your name and title.
• Your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it).
• Your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).

After the consultation closes

Submissions will be analysed to consider any changes needed to the notice. A summary of submissions will be published on this page.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

New rules to protect flat oysters from the disease-causing parasite Bonamia ostreae will apply to recreational fishers and boaties in some New Zealand waters from tomorrow, September 1.

Bonamia ostreae is in the Marlborough Sounds and Big Glory Bay at Rakiura, Stewart Island. It infects and eventually kills flat oysters (commonly known as Bluff oysters or tio). It is, however, not a food safety risk and fresh good quality Bluff oysters are safe to eat.

Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson says a new Controlled Area Notice (CAN), which comes into force from September 1, places conditions on movements of vessels and shellfish in the upper South Island, Big Glory Bay, the Chatham Islands and the lower South Island.

“This new CAN replaces existing legal controls on commercial operators in these areas.

“Now the rules apply to recreational fishers and boaties as well.

“In addition, the boundaries of some controlled areas have changed, and we encourage all boaties, fishers and vessel operators to be aware of these rules,” Mr Anderson says.

“The controls are there to protect our iconic Bluff oyster, which is highly valued, both commercially and culturally.”

Under the CAN, areas where Bonamia ostreae is known to be present are designated as contained zones, and areas that are free of Bonamia ostreae and where we know there are significant populations of flat oysters, are protected zones. The rules cover the movement of shellfish into and out of these zones, and fouling (visible sea life including shellfish, algae or weed) of boats and gear in these zones.

The contained zones are in the upper South Island and Big Glory Bay in Rakiura Stewart Island. The protected zones are the lower South Island and Chatham Islands.

The rules:

• Flat oysters must not be moved into or out of the Big Glory Bay contained zone.
• All shellfish or shellfish waste (including shells) collected in a contained zone cannot be put in the sea outside the zone.
• Vessels and gear must not be moved into or out of a contained zone unless they are visibly clear of fouling, unless a permit is obtained.
• Shellfish or shellfish waste from outside a protected zone must not be put in the sea inside the protected zone.
• Gear must not be moved into protected zones unless it is visibly free of fouling.

Mr Anderson says clubs, marinas, charter operators and local businesses in affected areas have been spoken to as part of raising awareness of the revised rules and what they need to do to prevent the spread of Bonamia ostreae.

“We’re putting up signage at boat ramps, ferry terminals, wharfs and huts, to tell people about the new rules and this is being reinforced with an advertising and social media campaign.

“If you boat or fish anywhere in New Zealand, it’s really important to keep your hull and gear clean.

“Remove any plant material or shellfish as it can spread the Bonamia ostreae parasite and other marine pests. A slight layer of slime and barnacles is okay – but nothing else,” Mr Anderson says.

“Pull weeds off any fishing, diving or other gear that you take out of the water and put it back in the sea where it came from before you move on.

“If you find something on your gear later, in a new location, do not put it in the sea. Place it in a plastic bag and put it in the rubbish back on land. You should also do the same with shells and other waste after eating shellfish.

“Diseased shellfish may look healthy – but even their empty shells can spread the parasite,” says Mr Anderson.

Details of the rules, including conditions that apply to marine farm operators and information on applying for special permits, can be found at Bonamia ostreae parasite threat to flat oysters.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

The daily limit for recreationally caught pāua will reduce to 5 of each pāua species per fisher to support the sustainability of stocks in the central and lower North Island.

The new rules take effect on 4 September 2023.

“Pāua are a popular species to catch for many New Zealanders, and are highly valued by Māori customary fishers, recreational fishers, and commercial fishers alike,” says Fisheries New Zealand’s director fisheries management, Emma Taylor.

Tangata whenua, including the Mai Paritu tae atu ki Turakirae Fisheries Forum which represents iwi and hapū from Gisborne to South Wairarapa raised concerns about the sustainability of pāua stocks. This view was also reflected in submissions from recreational fishers.

“Customary and recreational fishers have reported localised depletion, particularly in easily accessible areas which are expected to have higher levels of recreational fishing during the summer months,” said Emma Taylor.

“This echoes concerns from Taranaki hapū which led to a 2-year temporary ban for recreational and commercial pāua harvesting along the Taranaki coast in December 2022. This ban remains in place.”

Recent extreme weather events also play a part with increased sedimentation caused by Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle having likely impacted local pāua populations in some areas of the East Coast.

“The new measures take a precautionary approach to managing the fishery so that pāua can be enjoyed by future generations.

“Community feedback, along with the best available scientific information, contributes to determining sustainable catch settings. It highlights the importance of working together for the sustainability of these important shared fisheries,” said Emma Taylor.

Public consultation on the changes was undertaken as part of Fisheries New Zealand’s regular reviews in April 2023. Fisheries New Zealand received more than 60 submissions from a wide range of interests including strong support from tangata whenua, recreational fishers, and local communities to reduce daily limits.

Another upcoming change for the central and lower North Island pāua fishery is the setting of a total allowable catch (TAC) for the region for the first time. The TAC limits the amount of pāua allowed to be harvested to 192.188 tonnes from all sources, commercial, recreational, and customary.

More information on the consultation and the minister’s decision

To keep up to date with the recreational fishing rules download the free NZ Fishing Rules app 

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

Have your say

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is consulting on 2 proposals as part of the Maximising Forest Carbon Programme.

1. Creating a new forest type and default carbon tables for space-planted poplars and willows.
2. Updating the species the exotic hardwoods default carbon tables are based on and extending the upper limit for the tables from 35 to 45 years.

About this consultation

The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) was not designed to recognise the unique characteristics of space-planted forests. Space-planted poplars and willows are currently credited under the exotic hardwoods forest type. We need to consider how we can best accommodate these plantings.

The current exotic hardwoods tables are based on outdated data from a species that is no longer representative of exotic hardwoods grown in New Zealand. These tables only include carbon stock values to age 35, meaning tables will run out in 2024 for forests planted in 1990.

We are proposing improvements to the default carbon tables for exotic hardwoods in the Climate Change (Forestry) Regulations 2022, to reflect our better understanding of how carbon is stored. Consultation on these proposals opens on 29 August and closes on 24 October 2023.

These proposals are the first in a series of improvements to the default carbon tables under the Maximising Forest Carbon Programme.

A summary of the proposals is on this page and full details are in the consultation document.

Consultation document

Maximising Forest Carbon Programme: Recognising space-plantings and exotic hardwoods in the NZ ETS [PDF, 4 MB]

Summary of the proposals

The default carbon tables in the Climate Change (Forestry) Regulations 2022 are used to calculate carbon storage by participants in the NZ ETS with less than 100 hectares of post-1989 forest land registered in the scheme or pre-1990 forest land.

We are proposing to create a new forest type and default carbon tables for space-planted poplars and willows (typically between 50 and 200 stems per hectare). Poplars and willows are often planted at wide spacings (space-planted) on farms for erosion control and stock shelter, and are also efficient at carbon storage.

We are also proposing to change the representative species for the exotic hardwoods tables from Eucalyptus nitens to Eucalyptus fastigata and extend the upper limit of the tables from 35 to 45 years.

The proposals apply to both post-1989 and pre-1990 forest land. The new tables would be ready to use in 2026 (the next mandatory emissions return period).

Making your submission

Send us your feedback on the proposals in the consultation document by 5pm on 24 October 2023.

We would prefer if you made a submission electronically – either by completing the online form or by email. However, we will also accept written submissions sent by post.

You are welcome to submit on the whole discussion paper, or you can choose the areas relevant to you. Provide supporting evidence with your submission where possible.

Online

Complete the online submission form – Alchemer

Email

If you are sending us a submission by email, we encourage you to use the submission template which has the same questions as the online form.

Submission form template [DOCX, 135 KB]

Post

If you prefer to make your submission in writing, send it to:

NZ ETS Carbon Tables Consultation
Operational Policy – Forest Incentives
Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.

What to include in written submissions

Make sure you tell us in your submission:

• the title of the consultation document
• your name and title
• your organisation’s name (if you are submitting on behalf of an organisation, and whether your submission represents the whole organisation or a section of it)
• your contact details (such as phone number, address, and email).

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

A Canterbury meat business and its owners have been fined $84,500 for the illegal sale of  unregulated homekill meat through butcher shops.

Canterbury Homekill Services Limited (CHK), and owners Noel Womersley (51) and Halena Hitchcock (44) were sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on multiple charges under the Animal Products Act today.

New Zealand Food Safety took the prosecution because the meat had not been through the food safety system’s checks and balances to ensure it was safe.

“Consumers deserve and expect that the meat they buy has come from a legitimate supplier. This means any risks associated with the meat have been identified, managed, and checked to keep people safe,” says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

“The majority of food businesses go to significant effort and investment to ensure they keep their customers safe. When food businesses act outside these rules, we take action. There are health risks associated with eating unsafe meat, particularly for vulnerable communities and those with weakened immune systems, so it’s important they do the right thing.

While the company was allowed to process recreationally hunted animals for individuals, it was not permitted to sell the meat.

“The prosecution was the result of a careful investigation, begun in 2020, which found evidence the company was selling unregulated meat, including large quantities of venison through their two retail butcher shops. A close analysis of invoice records revealed discrepancies between the venison sold and purchased, meaning  unregulated meat was being sold.

“Mr Womersley is a keen recreational hunter and had a chiller at CHK where he stored meat from hunting trips. Staff at the butcher shop in Rangiora noticed homekill meat was being brought into the shop from CHK because it was vacuum packed and unlabelled with supplier branding or packaging. They reported that offal from CHK came into the butcher shop in large tubs, still with grass on it, was being cleaned and packaged for sale to the public.

“These meats were sold to the public through their retail butchery. Mr Womersley, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years, should have known the sale of this meat was illegal,” says Mr Arbuckle.

Investigators also found evidence, through studying electronic records, of various other  unregulated meat sales, including beef, pork and goat that CHK illegally supplied to customers.

None of the meat was exported.