Māori Land & Carbon Farming

Māori collectively own approximately 2.4 million hectares of land in New Zealand, with around 700,000 hectares already in forestry. Carbon farming presents significant opportunities — and unique considerations — for whenua Māori.

Māori Forestry at a Glance

According to the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment:

• 190,000 hectares of Māori-owned plantation forests
• 570,000 hectares of Māori-owned native forest
• $4.3 billion estimated value of Māori forestry assets (2022)
• ~1.4 million hectares in primary production

Māori play a pivotal role in New Zealand forestry — as landowners, as part of the workforce, and increasingly as carbon farming participants.

Te Ture Whenua Māori Act Protections

Most whenua Māori is held collectively under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, which:

• Prevents sale of Māori land to non-Māori
• Protects land for future generations
• Requires governance through appropriate structures (trusts, incorporations)
• Reflects tikanga and kaitiakitanga obligations

These protections mean Māori land often requires different approaches to development — including carbon farming.

2025 ETS Exemptions for Māori Land

The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme – Forestry Conversions) Amendment Act 2025 includes explicit exemptions for Māori land from the new LUC restrictions on exotic forestry.

Exempt Categories

Māori land is exempt from LUC 1-6 exotic forestry restrictions if it is:

1. Governed by Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 — most collectively-owned Māori land
2. Changed to general land under the Māori Affairs Amendment Act 1967 — land that lost Māori status under historical policies
3. Part of a Treaty settlement — land returned through settlement processes

What This Means

While other landowners face restrictions on exotic carbon forestry, Māori landowners retain full flexibility to:

• Plant exotic species on any LUC class
• Register exotic forests in the ETS
• Choose between exotic and native approaches
• Pursue carbon farming as an economic development pathway

This exemption recognises Treaty obligations and the historical context of Māori land development.

Opportunities for Whenua Māori

Carbon as Economic Development

For many whānau, hapū, and iwi, carbon farming offers:

• Income from marginal land — areas difficult to farm can generate returns
• Lower capital requirements — compared to intensive farming
• Alignment with kaitiakitanga — environmental and cultural values
• Long-term asset building — forests as intergenerational taonga

Native Regeneration

Many Māori landowners are particularly drawn to native forestry:

• Cultural significance — restoring ngahere has deep meaning
• Mahinga kai — food resources, rongoā (medicine), materials
• Biodiversity — restoring habitat for native species
• Permanent forest category — well-suited to native establishment

Income Stacking

Carbon credits can be combined with other income streams:

• Mānuka honey — significant potential on suitable land
• Tourism and recreation — cultural tourism, bush walks
• Sustainable harvesting — rongoā, seeds, native plant materials
• Biodiversity credits — emerging market opportunities

Governance and Decision-Making

Carbon farming decisions on Māori land typically require:

Trust or Incorporation Approval

• Ahu whenua trusts, whenua tōpū trusts, or Māori incorporations
• Trustee/governance approval for ETS registration
• Consideration of beneficiary interests across generations

Consultation Requirements

• Engagement with beneficial owners
• AGM or special meeting resolutions may be required
• Documentation of decision-making processes

Te Kooti Whenua Māori (Māori Land Court)

• May be involved in some decisions
• Ensures compliance with Te Ture Whenua Māori Act
• Protects beneficial owners’ interests

Treaty Settlement Lands

Lands returned through Treaty settlements have particular characteristics:

Settlement Structures

• Often held by post-settlement governance entities (PSGEs)
• Commercial arms may manage forestry
• Balancing commercial, cultural, and environmental objectives

Historical Forestry

Many settlements included existing forestry:

• Central North Island forests (significant settlements)
• Accumulated Crown Forestry Rental Trust lands
• Existing ETS registrations may transfer with land

Development Potential

Settlement lands may have:

• Existing infrastructure
• Professional management capabilities
• Access to capital and expertise
• Established commercial relationships

Practical Considerations

ETS Registration

For Māori land, ensure:

• Correct legal entity identified (trust, incorporation)
• Appropriate governance approvals obtained
• Beneficial owner interests considered
• Long-term implications understood

Professional Advice

Given complexity, consider engaging:

• Lawyers experienced with Māori land
• Forestry consultants familiar with ETS
• Carbon advisors understanding Māori contexts
• Māori Land Court guidance where needed

Funding Options

Māori-specific funding may be available:

• Te Puni Kōkiri programmes
• Whenua Māori Fund
• Provincial Growth Fund allocations
• Māori Development Fund (various iwi-specific)

Case Study: Tairāwhiti Native Regeneration

On the East Coast, some Māori landowners have successfully:

• Reforested unprofitable, difficult-to-farm land
• Sold carbon credits through the ETS
• Funded fencing projects with carbon income
• Intensified production on remaining farmland
• Created mānuka honey income streams

This approach demonstrates how carbon farming can support broader land development goals.

Kaitiakitanga and Carbon Farming

For many Māori, carbon farming aligns with kaitiakitanga obligations:

Environmental Stewardship

• Protecting Papatūānuku
• Restoring degraded land
• Improving water quality
• Enhancing biodiversity

Intergenerational Thinking

• Building assets for mokopuna
• Long-term environmental restoration
• Sustainable income streams
• Cultural reconnection with whenua

Balance

Carbon farming can enable:

• Economic returns from whenua
• Environmental restoration
• Cultural value creation
• Community benefit

Challenges and Considerations

Complexity

• Multiple governance layers
• Beneficiary consultation requirements
• Legal and regulatory compliance
• Long-term commitment implications

Capacity

• Technical expertise requirements
• Professional service costs
• Administrative burden
• Ongoing compliance obligations

Risk

• Carbon price volatility
• Policy changes over long timeframes
• Natural disaster exposure
• Compliance failures

Competing Uses

• Agricultural potential vs carbon farming
• Development vs conservation
• Short-term vs long-term returns
• Individual vs collective interests

Support and Resources

Government Resources

• MPI — ETS guidance, Te Uru Rākau programmes
• Te Puni Kōkiri — Māori development support
• Te Kooti Whenua Māori — governance guidance

Industry Support

• Ngā Pou a Tāne — National Māori Forestry Association
• Federation of Māori Authorities — commercial guidance
• Regional Māori land advisory services

Professional Networks

• Lawyers specialising in Māori land
• Forestry consultants with Māori land experience
• Carbon advisors and aggregators

Key Takeaways

1. Māori land has explicit ETS exemptions — LUC restrictions don’t apply
2. Significant forestry assets already exist — substantial Māori involvement
3. Governance complexity requires careful navigation — trust and incorporation structures
4. Native forestry aligns with cultural values — kaitiakitanga and restoration
5. Income stacking is possible — carbon, honey, biodiversity, tourism
6. Professional advice is essential — legal, forestry, carbon expertise

Next Steps

• 2025 Legislative Changes
• Native Forestry & Regeneration
• Biodiversity & Environmental Co-benefits
• Discuss options for your whenua