‘A cynical slap in the face’ — Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti response

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Government response to the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use is toothless and is a total disappointment, says Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti co-lead Manu Caddie.

“Funding one adviser and a facilitator to the region seems like a cynical slap in the face. GDC needs a small army of policy experts to help them,” he said.

“The useful report recommendations need significant resourcing – none of that is on offer.”

Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti was instrumental in the inquiry happening in the first place, after launching a petition which gathered widespread support across the region.

Mr Caddie said Minister of Forestry Peeni Henare seemed “tone deaf” in suggesting much of the region was unsuitable for indigenous forest, which was “both offensive and ridiculous”.

“I went into the meeting with a strong sense of optimism, but left with outrage — and now I’m heartbroken for Tairāwhiti.

“This was such an important moment for the region and it feels like no one outside of here with the power to influence change cares enough. The bureaucrats and politicians across the political spectrum are spineless and incompetent.

“The science is unequivocal, the submissions and report showed that. But the vested interests in business as usual are too powerful and the Government too afraid to do anything meaningful.”

Mr Caddie offered four alternatives to the Government response:

• Change the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry rules to stop clear-felling over 5ha on erosion-prone land and stop permanent pine plantations “that falsely claim they can magically transition to diverse native forest one day”.

• Require woody debris above 10cm in diameter to be removed from all harvest sites immediately.

• Fund a community-led Just Transition including significant research and development focused on options for permanent indigenous land cover.

.• Lock in Jobs For Nature to support forestry and farm workers to have meaningful employment, making the transition happen with urgency.