Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has welcomed what he described as a range of new operational changes designed to improve the transparency, clarity and enforcement of rules around swamp kauri.
"Last month I asked the ministry to look at any improvements that could be made in managing the milling and exporting of swamp kauri stumps. I'm pleased to see such a comprehensive package of measures," he said.
The measures had also been welcomed by the Northland Regional Council and the wider industry.
The changes include:
-Operators will notify 100 per cent of all finished products for export approval, and the MPI will inspect those products to ensure they are legal.
-Operators will notify the regional council of any and all extraction activities, information that will be shared with the MPI.
-The MPI will visit all extraction sites as part of its milling statement approval process.
-Additional resources will be provided to the ministry in Whangarei to increase inspections of sawmills and export consignments.
-The ministry will increase its oversight of swamp kauri export consignments, and work with Customs to ensure any items not complying with the Forests Act will not be able to leave New Zealand.
-Fact sheets for overseas markets will be developed outlining the law, and the MPI will help with the wording of advertising to avoid confusion.
-International trade listings will be monitored regularly, and action will be taken when advertisements are found to be misleading or where they indicate that there could be non-compliance with export controls.
-Quarterly updates of regulatory activity will be published by the MPI.
Mr Guy said he believed the MPI did a good job and enforced the law appropriately, but the changes would increase the information flow and improve the management of an industry that was important to Northland's economy.
"There has been good engagement from local operators, who are keen to ensure their extraction, milling and export practices are more transparent. They realise the industry is worth at least $25 million to the wider Northland economy, and provides many jobs," he added.
"Many operators have been processing swamp kauri domestically for 30 years, and while most is still processed and sold locally, in recent years the export trade has been growing.
"These measures are being enacted quickly and effectively, and the MPI will closely monitor these changes. If they don't deliver the desired outcome of greater transparency I expect the ministry will suggest further changes to me."
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