The Flexible Land Use Alliance represents some of New Zealand’s largest exporters, and other key players in New Zealand’s primary industries. It has been formed to ensure continued land use flexibility in the event of the introduction of a New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), recognising its importance to growing New Zealand’s export receipts and, therefore, to the economy as a whole.

The Alliance seeks the exclusion of forests planted before 1 January 1990 from the Emissions Trading Scheme, believing the inclusion of these forests to be unjustified on economic and environmental grounds. Where Māori have an interest in such forestry, the inclusion of pre-1990 forestry in the scheme is also seen to be a clear breach of Article Two of the Treaty of Waitangi. This would risk climate change policy becoming embroiled in a protracted Waitangi Tribunal process unless the policy was developed with the consent of Māori and in a way that was consistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. Resolution of these issues is a necessary precursor to the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill being passed, given that any outcome that saw Māori and non-Māori being treated differently would be politically unsustainable.