Federated Farmers is backing Labour’s plan to prevent whole-farm conversions to carbon forestry. Climate Change spokesperson Richard Dawkins says Labour would pause forestry registrations into the ETS and review the whole system.

“This is the first time in 25 years that Labour aren’t openly campaigning for emissions pricing,” he says.

He says about 30,000ha of forestry is still going in each year, incentivised by the ETS subsidy, and he wants Labour to rule pricing out of any coalition deal.

“With those settings that National brought in, you can still do what you like with your land.

“If you still want to plant your entire farm in trees, you absolutely can.”

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