MPI's role
Swamp kauri is kauri timber that has been buried and preserved in what used to be swamps for anywhere between 800 years and 60,000 years. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has specific responsibilities for the regulation of the milling and export of swamp kauri under the Forests Act 1949. Responsibility for its extraction rests with councils under the Resource Management Act 1991.
Fact sheets
Information outlining the management of swamp kauri activity in New Zealand and the specific roles of MPI under the Forest Act 1949.
A fact sheet is also available for swamp kauri operators to help them understand and meet their obligations under the Forests Act 1949, if they're involved with milling and exporting swamp kauri.
- Download the Legislative requirements that relate to the milling and export of swamp kauri under the Forests Act 1949
- Information concerning revised operational measures for swamp kauri
Auditor-General's investigation
In response to public requests, the Auditor-General completed on 10 September 2015, an investigation into ancient swamp kauri management under the Forests Act by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The Auditor-General concludes there is no evidence that MPI is allowing the export of illegal timber or timber products. The Auditor-General has made 4 suggestions to improve oversight and management of swamp kauri resources under the Forests Act. MPI is progressing those suggestions.
Official Information Act responses
MPI has published responses to a range of Official Information Act requests made since July 2012 about the milling and exporting of swamp kauri.
Quarterly reports
These reports set out information on the quantities of swamp kauri being milled and exported as regulated by MPI under the Forests Act 1949.
Forms
As part of the operational changes announced in July 2015, new forms are available for use by swamp kauri operators. They're designed to:
- assist swamp kauri operators in providing adequate information with their applications
- enhance public understanding of swamp kauri activities
- improve oversight of all steps of the swamp kauri supply chain, from extraction and milling to export.
Download the forms:
- Swamp Kauri Milling Statement and Statement of Source Application
application - Notice of Intention to Export Swamp Kauri ITE2
Logbooks
MPI encourages operators to record extraction activities in a swamp kauri logbook, to help improve the traceability of swamp kauri timber. Where logbooks are not properly maintained, MPI may not be able to assess or approve milling statements or export applications.
Swamp kauri logbooks should be available from MPI in early February 2016. To get one, email swamp.kauri@mpi.govt.nz .