An enforcement order has been approved for removal, remediation and native planting at a forestry site on the East Coast described by experts as “one of the worst” they had seen.
By Imogen Brophy for Local Democracy Reporting
Summit Forests NZ and associated parties were ordered to remediate and plant native vegetation in Awatere Forest near Te Araroa.
Summit is one of the country’s largest commercial forest owners, with forests in Gisborne, Northland and Whanganui.
It oversaw the harvest of the 390ha pine forest on Awatere Station, completed by Ngāti Porou Forests Ltd (NPFL).
The site is on Māori freehold land, managed by Awatere B Trust.
Gisborne District Council staff and an independent expert found the forest “in an extremely poor state”, describing it as “one of the worst sites” experts had ever seen.
The enforcement order, first applied for through the Environment Court in July, was amended following a mediated meeting in September.
The order against Summit, NGFL and four of its directors requires the cessation of woody debris or sediment discharge into water and beyond the forest boundary.
All debris from harvest activity needed to be removed from streams, skid sites and other high-risk locations by burning, helicopter or truck removal.
Debris could also be moved to safe disposal locations identified in the site’s Risk Assessment Report, unless the report indicated the debris needed to remain in place, which would require council approval.
Work was to be completed by March 31, 2027.
By the same date, water and sediment controls were required at all skid sites, roads and tracks to reduce the risk of erosion or site collapse.
Water had to be redirected away from skid sites, “an adequate number of appropriately spaced” culverts were needed on roads, and slash catchers were to be installed.
A slash catching network was to be installed by October 1, 2027, and until July 1, 2029, catchers would be inspected following 15mm/h or 100mm/24 hours of rain recorded at the Karakatuwhero River.
Ongoing monitoring at all streams within the site, including removal of mobilised debris, would continue until July 1, 2029.
The enforcement order also required the permanent retirement of areas unsuitable for harvest because of terrain, geology or risks to waterways by May 1, 2027.
The areas, about 18.37ha, would need to be replanted as native vegetation.
Trees should be removed by hand, poisoning or chainsaw, unless needed temporarily while native species establish.
Vegetation and pest management plans, addressing pests such as wilding pines, were due to council last month.
If the trust wanted to resume harvesting activities, council was to be notified at least four months before work.
A Summit spokesperson said Summit welcomed the court’s approval of an agreement to address issues at the forest.
“Summit and Ngāti Porou Forests Ltd have agreed how remediation work will be shared, with most of this work already completed.
“The cost of the work is substantial, but Summit remains committed to completing outstanding work and contributing towards resolving the issues identified in Awatere Forest.”
Chairman of Ngāti Porou Forests, Whaimutu Dewes, said everyone involved shared goodwill and commitment to completing remediation work, despite challenging conversations during mediation.
“Ngāti Porou Forests Ltd and Summit Forests have now agreed how the work will be divided, and good progress has already been made – with work having started well before the Environment Court hearing and continuing at pace.”
He was pleased parties could work together towards a shared objective.
While the wider iwi may not have been familiar with the orders, he said there was support for the co-operative approach to address effects of Cyclone Gabrielle and the January weather event.
“Looking after our lands so they can look after us and future generations is deeply embedded in our iwi DNA.”
Gisborne District Council has been approached for comment.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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