Kanuka Forest

In August 2024, the Environment Court approved an Enforcement Order from the Gisborne District Council against China Forest Group (CFG). The case centred on the slash and woody debris that washed down from Kanuka Forest onto Mangatu Blocks Incorporation land along Waimata Valley Road, following Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.

For the past two years, the Incorporation has been actively seeking a solution to this issue. We worked with CFG both before and after the cyclones to remove their slash, but despite our early requests to address the problem, the necessary action wasn’t taken in time. As a result, debris from CFG land flowed into Waimata Valley’s water systems, causing significant damage to Mangatu Blocks.

Throughout this process, the Incorporation had to stand firm on multiple occasions. One example is when CFG proposed installing debris traps on Mangatu land to catch slash as it left their property. We refused this proposal, making it clear that this was not an acceptable solution. The subsequent court case and enforcement order affirmed that CFG must manage and clean up their debris on their own land.

The Mangatu team, particularly Billy Maaka, worked closely with CFG to ensure the safe and effective removal of the slash. This involved granting access to the debris site, supporting road construction, creating removal plans, conducting health and safety checks, and monitoring operations to ensure the debris was handled without causing further damage.

Following the court’s decision, the Incorporation supported the enforcement order to ensure that any remaining slash in Kanuka Forest was dealt with and that measures were put in place to prevent future incidents. This included installing debris traps on CFG’s land and potentially retiring some of their forestry operations.

This case gained national attention and set a precedent for future enforcement orders by the Council. It highlighted the accountability of overseas companies and their contractors in managing forests responsibly, serving as a stark reminder of the risks and damage that can result from poor forest management.