Wagner Nicky: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Wagner Nicky: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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NICKY WAGNER (National) 
: 
 I rise to support the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill at its second reading. As we have all heard today this bill is mostly a technical bill to deal with the timing of emissions trading scheme provisions as they relate to forestry. At the first reading I was extremely heartened to see the support across the House for this bill. All members of Parliament appreciate the need to get the climate change emissions trading scheme right and the reason to postpone the dates for these forestry requirements. We all know that the cross-party special Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee is still debating the issues and that the process is not yet complete. We have heard much debate from foresters and about forestry in that committee. We look forward to presenting that report in the coming few weeks. 
It would not make sense for foresters with pre-1990 forest land to have to meet legal obligations before the completion of the final allocation plan for the sector. As today is 30 June the requirement is unreasonable considering that the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee is still in session. We do not want forest owners to find themselves acting in breach of the law nor will the Minister so we are passing this bill today. 
I acknowledge also the Supplementary Order Paper from Charles Chauvel that sets the date for foresters to register deforestation and to apply for exemptions and the requirement for the Minister to produce an allocation plan by as 1 July 2010. It is an absolute date and it is now set rather than as in the original bill which allowed the date to be set by Order in Council. This date will give more certainty to foresters although it is an end date and it is possible for the chief executive to bring it forward. 
Including forestry in an emissions trading scheme is an interesting challenge. New Zealand is the first country in the world to attempt it and it is a very complex process. We must take the time and do the work to get it right. We are all well aware of the enormous financial and environmental importance of forestry to New Zealand and our economy and we must understand that these decisions are critical. 
There are roughly 1.8 million hectares of plantation forest in New Zealand and about 650000 hectares were planted post-1987. We know from looking around us that the vast majority of those forests about 90 percent are  
Pinus radiata 
 but we also have increasing amounts of other varieties the most common being Douglas fir. Foresters are becoming even more innovative in their choice of species. I was surprised to see recently in North Canterbury just south of Kaikoura that a redwood forest is being planted. It is good to see trees being planted again after years of dramatic deforestation and it is important for the industry that we get some certainty around emissions trading scheme policy so that more planting can get under way. Of course we are working towards a substantive climate change amendment bill later in the year and that is where the final shape of the forestry scheme will be spelt out in detail. 
It was very interesting to listen to speakers on the bill last week. There is a strong understanding of and commitment to New Zealand’s “clean green” brand. Like most New Zealanders parliamentarians are enormously proud of our beautiful natural environment and we want to make sure that New Zealand does its bit when it comes to dealing with climate change and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. We understand the importance to our economy and environment of getting this right. We want to be good international citizens and to make a valuable contribution to the global response to this issue. We want to work closely with other developed countries so that we can all deliver for the environment. 
New Zealand’s most important industries are agriculture and tourism and the success of both is predicated on a clean green and beautiful natural environment. Tourists come to see our “100% pure” country and overseas buyers of our food want to be very sure it is grown in a safe clean environment. So it is clear to all of us that environmental and economic health go hand in hand. Forestry contributes significantly to the health of our economy and to the well-being of our environment. It is a significant part of our response to climate change. This bill will ensure that we have time to get the forestry policy right so that it becomes an integral part of an effective long-lasting and sustainable emissions trading scheme.