New Zealand Forest Service facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1919 |
| Dissolved | 1987 |
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand |
| Minister responsible |
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The New Zealand Forest Service was an important government group in New Zealand. It started in 1919 as the State Forest Service. In 1949, its name changed to the New Zealand Forest Service.
This service was in charge of managing all the forests owned by the government. This included growing trees, protecting nature, and allowing people to use forests for fun. The New Zealand Forest Service stopped working in 1987.
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What Happened to Crown Forests?
In 1987, the New Zealand Forest Service was closed down. The New Zealand government then started selling off parts of its forests. Most of these forests were sold between 1990 and 1992. A big government-owned forestry company was sold in 1996.
The government decided to keep ownership of the land itself. This was to help with future claims from Māori groups about land ownership. Instead of selling the land, the government sold special permits. These permits allowed companies to cut down trees on the land. These permits were called Crown Forest Licences.
A group called the Crown Forestry Rental Trust helps settle land claims made by Māori against the government. These claims often involve land that has Crown Forest Licences.
Forest Access for Fun
Forests with Crown Forest Licences usually have some public access. This is because people have always used New Zealand's forests for recreation. Also, the land is still owned by the government.
Many people in New Zealand think all government-owned forests are open for any kind of fun activity. However, Crown Forest Licences usually only allow people to go walking.
Sometimes, special agreements allow groups or clubs to use the forests for other activities. But the companies that cut down trees often don't follow these rules. The government agency in charge, LINZ, doesn't always make sure the rules are followed. You can ask LINZ for a copy of a Crown Forest Licence to see the rules for public entry.
Waiuku Forest
Waiuku Forest is one of the last forests still owned by the government. It offers many free activities for people living in Auckland and Waikato.
Since 1966, a company called New Zealand Steel Limited has had a permit to dig for iron sand in Waiuku Forest. Before mining starts, trees are cut down. This means a large part of the forest cannot be planted and isn't open to the public. After mining is finished in an area, the leftover soil and sand are spread out. Then, new trees are planted.
Why the Forest Service Ended
The New Zealand Forest Service was officially closed in 1987. Its duties were split up and given to several new or existing groups:
- Looking after the environment and protecting nature went to the new Department of Conservation.
- The work of cutting down trees and the land used for it went to the Forestry Corporation of New Zealand.
- Giving advice on forest policy, and checking for pests and diseases (called biosecurity), went to the Ministry for Primary Industries.
- Some tree-cutting operations and land were sold or leased to private companies. These were managed by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) under Crown Forest Licences.
- The New Zealand Forest Research Institute stayed as a new government-owned research group. It is now known as Scion (Crown Research Institute).
Special Areas The responsibility for government-owned forests on the West Coast went to Timberlands West Coast Limited in 1990.
The New Zealand Forest Service was brought back by the government on May 11, 2018. It is now called Te Uru Rākau.
