More farmland falls to Pinus Radiata

Farm land is increasingly being used for pine trees. (Image: Unsplash)

Thu, 02 Jun 2022

The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) has approved four applications to convert farmland to forestry, under the soon-to-be-defunct special forestry test. The streamlined test was introduced in late 2018 to encourage more tree planting but amid growing concern that an increase in carbon farming was coming at the expense of New Zealand’s rural communities, the government said in February it was taking steps to ensure “the right forest is planted in the right place, for the right reasons”.In the future, any investment must be...

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