Why no compulsory forestry levy?
The article examines some of the reasons why work has stopped on the proposal to introduce a compulsory forestry levy in New Zealand and why such levy is unlikely to succeed under the current legislation. Implementation of a compulsory forestry levy requires consideration of what should be levied. Current legislation requires that the uses to which the levy is put must be closely related to the interests of the people primarily responsible for paying. To continue the levy beyond five years requires a further referendum in which all those liable to pay the levy must again have an opportunity to participate. The introduction of such levy under the existing legislation would be expensive and subject to considerable risk.
