26 July 2021

Registering post-1989 forest land in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

Submit ETS registration applications for post-1989 forest land as soon as possible

As a result of an increase in applications to register land into the ETS in the lead up to the end of the current Mandatory Emission Return Period (1 January 2018 – 31 December 2022), Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is experiencing high work volumes. Depending on the size and complexity, applications to register land are currently taking around six months or longer to process.

Applications are processed in the order they are received, so you should get your application in as soon as possible to ensure it is processed before 31 December 2022.

If applications to register land are not approved by Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service before 31 December 2022, applicants:

• will be unable to claim New Zealand Units (NZUs) back to start the of the current Mandatory Emission Return Period (1 January 2018)
• will be unable to opt to use stock change accounting and will have to register under the new averaging accounting method (unless they are registered in the permanent post-1989 forest category)

In response to the high work volumes, Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is expanding its spatial intelligence team and reviewing its processes to increase application processing capacity.

We are also making it easier for applicants to access the historical imagery we hold, to help ensure you have the best available information when preparing your application. We will send out an update once this information is available and provide instructions on how to access it.

Please provide sufficient information to support your application

Applicants should make sure they follow the instructions carefully for registering post-1989 forest land and provide all the information required. Ensuring your application is complete and accurate on submission will assist us to process your application faster.

Land can only enter the ETS if we are satisfied that the land is post-1989 forest land. There are two key aspects to this:

1. Being satisfied that the land is forest land at present, which includes determining the forest type, coverage, age and location of your forest. 
2. Clarifying the historical land use prior to the establishment of the current forest.

To do this we need you to provide good quality information with your application, such as photos and videos that show the current and historical land use. Providing this information when your application is first submitted will help streamline processing.

This guidance document outlines what kind of information you should supply with your application to enter post-1989 forest land in the ETS.

ETS intention survey

To help us forecast the upcoming volume of applications, we have prepared a brief questionnaire for people considering registering in the ETS. It asks about how many hectares, what forest type and when you plan to submit your application. This information will help us understand the nature of your application and how long it might take to process. If you intend to register, please take a moment to complete this questionnaire and return it to us by Friday 13 August.

Field Measurement Approach (FMA) participants

Start your FMA measurements now

Post-1989 forestry participants with at least 100 hectares of forest registered in the ETS are subject to the FMA. Participants must complete and submit a set of forest measurements for the current Mandatory Emissions Return Period by 31 December 2022. Participants should ensure they have an up-to-date plot set before they commence measurement.

For more information on the FMA, how to ensure your plot set is up-to-date and submitting forest measurements, visit Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service’s website.

This information is guidance only and is not a substitute for, or in any way an alteration to, New Zealand law, or other official requirements. It does not constitute legal advice, and users should seek advice from qualified professionals before taking any action based on this information.