MAF Policy News
Issue 9, April 2008
ISSN 1177-701X
In this issue you can read about:
- New Government-industry investment collaboration:
New Zealand Fast Forward - New Director take up the reins at Programme Directorate
- MAF continues to monitor drought on a weekly basis
- Review of Raw Milk Regulations now consulting on industry concerns
- Sheep Meat and Beef Sector study
- New MAF Policy publications now available:
- Introducing LUCAS
- Newzealand.govt.nz website redesign up and running
New Government-industry investment collaboration:
New Zealand Fast Forward
March saw the launch of New Zealand Fast Forward, an initiative aimed at lifting the long-term science base, capability, environmental performance and global competitiveness of NZ's pastoral and food industries.
The Government will make a capital investment of $700 million over the next 10 to 15 years with industries and businesses in the pastoral food sectors aiming to match the level of government investment.
This boost in funding will increase research and development as well as productivity, make the economy more sustainable and help develop new, high-value products that appeal to global consumers. It brings together the Government's economy transformation and sustainability themes and, in so doing, aims to boost the living standards of all New Zealanders.
As a first step MAF will be chairing an establishment group of Government officials and senior key industry supporters to work through governance issues. This group will make recommendations back to Government and industry on implementation in the next few months including how joint decision-making processes for the investment of government and private sector contributions will operate.
The new body is expected to be established by July of this year.
For more information
- Read about New Zealand Fast Forward
- Download a copy of the overview
- Contact for enquiries fastforward@maf.govt.nz
New Director takes up the reins at the Programme Directorate
On 25 March Clive Lilley joined MAF as the new Director of the Programme Directorate, replacing Michael Mills who has been acting in the role since the Directorate's establishment earlier this year.
Clive says he is very enthusiastic about this opportunity. "From what I hear, I'm joining a great team within a great organisation. I'm looking forward to working with them and contributing to work that will really make a difference, not only to New Zealand, but to the world."
He commended Michael on the job he had done in establishing the Programmes Directorate, which brings together the related activities of the Indigenous Forest Unit (IFU), the East Coast Forestry Project (ECFP), the Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative (PFSI), the Afforestation Grant Scheme (AGS), as well as the forest specific aspects of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
These programmes are central to Government's plans to reduce carbon emissions with the aim of the Directorate to provide a seamless and user friendly experience for landowners choosing to participate in the government's sustainability and climate change programmes. The ETS, the PFSI and the AGS create a strong economic incentive for owners of pre-1990 forests to retain their forests and encourage further conversions of marginal land to forests, especially when there are potential co-benefits such as the stabilisation of erosion prone land.
Clive's role at MAF follows a distinguished and wide-ranging military career spanning approximately 35 years.
For more information
MAF continues to monitor drought on a weekly basis
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is coordinating the Government's response to drought and monitoring the dry conditions throughout New Zealand on a weekly basis.
The Ministry for Social Development, through Work and Income, is providing a range of financial assistance to both farming and non-farming families whose incomes have been affected by drought. Farmers can call 0800 779 997 for assistance.
Inland Revenue has a range of measures including tax relief and income assistance to help farmers affected by the drought. Any farmers concerned about tax payments, changes in income, refunds or filing dates can contact their tax agent or Inland Revenue's emergency helpline 0800 473 566.
Other contacts include Federated Farmers, Rural Support Trust Coordinators and Lifeline for counselling services.
For more information
- Go to the MAF website emergency management
- or adverse events on-farm plans (www.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/assistance/ )
- To contact Rural Support Trust Coordinators click here
Review of Raw Milk Regulations now consulting on industry concerns
The second stage of the Review of the Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk) Regulations, outlining regulatory options and seeking further industry feedback, is now available for discussion and consultation.
The Dairy Industry Restructuring (Raw Milk) Regulations require Fonterra to sell a certain quantity of raw milk to other dairy processors at a regulated price, up to the 2008/09 season. Government and industry are now working together to find a durable solution to be implemented from the 2009/10 seasons onwards.
Submissions on the first public discussion document closed in December last year with around 40 written submissions being received. A summary of these submissions is available here.
For more information
- Read about the Raw Milk Review second stage
- Make your submission here
- Contact RawMilkReview@maf.govt.nz
Sheep Meat and Beef Sector study
MAF Policy is undertaking a study identifying and characterising key long-term issues and opportunities facing New Zealand's sheep meat and beef sector to inform future sector and government decision-making.
The study will consist of a stock-take of the current state of the sector, followed by a review of reports, studies and research on the sector, and a study of key experts, practitioners and observers to identify key issues and opportunities facing the sector over the next 15-20 years.
The team has already been conducting interviews with a small group of experts and is soon to survey over a hundred people with farming, processing, marketing and research experience. The final report is due later this year.
For more information
- Contact Russell Knutson at +64 7 957 8325 or email russell.knutson@maf.govt.nz
New MAF Policy publications now available
Rural Proof Your Policy - best practice guide now available
Rural Proof your Policy is a best practice guide designed to build central government agencies' capability to identify and take into account the needs of the rural community at the beginning of the policy development process, when implementing policy or undertaking consultation.
For more information
- Read about the Rural Proofing process
- To read the Rural Proofing Guide
- To request a printed copy email policy.publications@maf.govt.nz
- Contact MAF's Rural Affairs Coordinator on ruralaffairs@maf.govt.nz
MAF's Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecasts
MAF's Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecasts provide information about plantation forests and the wood processing industry in each wood supply region including forecasts of wood availability from 2006 to 2040. The reports will help planners, the forest industry and the wider public assess wood processing opportunities and identify infrastructure issues.
To view all the recent forecasts click here
East Coast Wood Availability Forecasts
This forecast is available online here
Canterbury Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecast
The Canterbury Wood Supply region has a well-established forest growing and wood processing industry which is now moving though a period of land use change. The forecasts indicate that over the next 10 years the available harvest volumes of radiata pine from all growers may remain at recent levels of about 800 000 cubic metres per year.
For more information
- This forecast is available online here
- For a printed copy email policy.publications@maf.govt.nz
Forestry statistical releases
Forestry Production and Trade for the December 2007 quarter
Total forestry export earnings for the December 2007 quarter were NZ$582 million, a decrease of NZ$77 million on the December 2006 quarter. Production of most forestry products were also down on the December 2006 quarter.
- To read this release click here
- For a printed copy email policy.publications@maf.govt.nz
Employment in Forestry and Wood Processing activities as at February 2007
This annual release of the Employment in Forestry and Wood Processing activities as at February 2007 is now available online by clicking here
Introducing LUCAS
On 29 February the Ministry for the Environment launched the LUCAS website explaining the New Zealand Land Use and Carbon Analysis System, part of the Government's climate change policy package.
This programme of work has been set up to measure and monitor the amount of carbon held in New Zealand's forests and soils - information which is required for New Zealand's reporting requirements under the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
To be kept informed about LUCAS progress and receive the 'Looking at LUCAS'
e-newsletter click hereto register
newzealand.govt.nz website redesign up and running
The central source of all government-related news, images, data, reports, and services has been redesigned and went live in March.
The upgrade means government agencies can advertise their products and services for free, RSS feeds (Really Simple Syndication) can provide access to information and services, while the search facility has been extended to cover more government websites.
To view click here
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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