Rethinking Forestry in New Zealand: What the Latest Environmental Report Tells Us

At Innate Furniture, we care deeply about where our timber comes from. When the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released a major report earlier this year—Alt-F Reset: Examining the Drivers of Forestry in New Zealand—we took the time to read it carefully. It offers a thoughtful and balanced look at the future of New Zealand’s forests, how they’re managed, and what that might mean for the landscapes we all love.

In this blog post, we’ve summarised the key ideas from the report in a way that’s easy to understand, especially if you’re someone who cares about native forests, climate change, and sustainable materials. We’ll also explain why it matters for New Zealanders who value quality timber and thoughtfully made furniture.

What’s This Forestry Report All About?

The report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) takes a wide-angle view of how forestry is working in Aotearoa today. It looks at:

• The types of forests we’re planting

• How policies like the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are influencing decisions

• The environmental, cultural, and economic impacts of different forestry models

The Commissioner isn’t proposing a single solution, but instead invites New Zealanders to reflect on where our forests are heading and how to better support a balanced, long-term approach.

A Quick Snapshot of NZ’s Forests

One of the most interesting facts in the report is how much native forest we already hav, around 8 million hectares, which is over a third of the country. But most of that forest is protected and not actively managed for timber production.

On the other hand, around 2.1 million hectares of land are covered in exotic plantation forests, mainly radiata pine. These pine forests grow quickly and are commonly used for both export and local building products. But because of their fast growth and carbon absorption, they’re also heavily favoured under New Zealand’s climate policies.

What the Report Finds

The PCE’s findings are wide-ranging, but here are some of the most useful takeaways for anyone interested in sustainable design, native timber, and the future of our forests:

1. The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is shaping land use

Under the ETS, landowners can earn carbon credits by planting fast-growing trees like pine. This has encouraged widespread pine planting, sometimes at the expense of more diverse or long-term land uses. The report suggests this could be limiting our options in the future.

2. Native forests offer long-term benefits

Native trees like beech, rimu, tōtara, and kahikatea grow much more slowly than pine—but they support more biodiversity, are culturally significant, and can be managed in ways that are low-impact and regenerative over time.

3. There’s real potential for ‘transitional forestry’

The idea of transitional forestry is simple: start with fast-growing species to stabilise the land and earn some returns, but gradually introduce native trees over time. This helps build long-term forest cover that supports both people and nature.

4. Timber production can be more diverse

The report encourages exploration of alternative exotic species (like eucalyptus or redwood) as well as better support for small-scale, native forestry enterprises—particularly those led by iwi or rural communities.

What Does This Mean for New Zealand Timber?

If you’re someone who appreciates custom furniture made from New Zealand-grown wood, this report is an encouraging read. It shows there’s growing interest in managing forests in ways that support:

• Biodiversity and wildlife habitat

• Soil and water health

• Cultural values, especially for Māori landowners

• Local timber supply chains for things like flooring, cabinetry, and furniture

It also raises the possibility of more sustainable native timber becoming available in future—whether through continuous cover forestry, transitional systems, or carefully managed harvesting.

Timber Choices and the Future of Furniture

One of the things we love about using native NZ timbers like West Coast Beech, Tōtara, and Recycled Rimu is the character they bring. Each board tells a story—from the forest it came from to the hands that shaped it. And while pine is a big part of New Zealand’s economy, this report reminds us that diversity matters—ecologically, culturally, and even economically.

If forestry policy shifts in the direction the Commissioner suggests, we may see a greater emphasis on native timber and mixed-species forests that grow over generations—not just decades. That means more opportunity for New Zealand furniture makers to work with durable, meaningful materials that are grown right here at home.

A Thoughtful Way Forward

The Alt-F Reset report doesn’t point fingers or demand immediate changes. Instead, it offers a thoughtful framework for considering how forestry decisions shape our future.

Whether you’re a landowner, a furniture lover, or just someone who enjoys walking in the bush, there’s something in this report for you. And for businesses like ours that work with timber every day, it’s a helpful reminder that what we make is always connected to the land it came from.

Want to Read the Full Report?

You can download it directly from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s website here:
👉 Alt-F Reset: Examining the Drivers of Forestry in New Zealand (April 2025)