March 2020

Climate Change Operations Update  COVID-19

As part of MPI’s wider response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the Climate Change Operations team (CCO)  has taken the following steps to maintain our business function, protect our people and limit the potential for the spread of COVID-19.

Increasingly working from home. MPI has the infrastructure and policies that enable flexibility of work, including technology to work from home and the ability to meet via telephone and video conferencing. Commencing this week the majority of CCO Staff will increasingly be working from home. Our attendance at the office will depend on our work schedule and personal circumstances. We will all be available via email and phone as usual unless we are unwell and unable to work.

Limiting domestic air travel to essential travel only. CCO will be limiting domestic air travel to the delivery of essential services only. Air travel for other purposes (such as meetings) will be postponed, and/or alternatives such as video or telephone conferencing used. We will be in contact with you directly to arrange this.

Limiting meetings and conferences. The Government has introduced measures that limit public gatherings. MPI’s Director General has asked all staff to apply an essential services test to our internal and external gatherings to further limit the potential for the spread of COVID-19. Meetings of larger groups will be postponed or delivered in a way which reduces the risk of spread – for example through video or telephone conferencing.

Critical business functions. As part of CCO preparation for COVID-19, we have tested the more practical aspects of our continuity plan. While every effort will be made to ensure the continuation of work in the Emissions Trading Scheme for forestry, it is likely that there may be some delays as a result of the effects of COVID-19 on staff and resources. We will continue to prioritise the processing of Voluntary Emission Returns to ensure flow of NZUs to the sector, however there may be some impact to the timeliness of site visits and geo-spatial imaging as a result of the new restrictions.

Extensions to Emission Returns. Due to the current disruptions caused by Covid-19, for the remainder of 2020 Te Uru Rākau will accept all written requests for 20 working day extensions to emission return (ER) deadlines under s 119 of the Climate Change Response Act (CCRA). This will relate to ALL ERs for Forestry Activities under the CCRA, including voluntary ER, transmission ER, unit reconciliation ER, pre-1990 deforestation ER.

Please provide all requests in writing prior to the due date for the return to climate.change@mpi.govt.nz and cite Covid-19 disruptions as the reason for the extension request.

If you have any questions about business continuity or availability of our people during this period, please contact 0800 CLIMATE (0800 254 628).