The Government's announced more powers for local councils to decide where new commercial forests are located, and new standards.  

It includes requirements to remove slash from erosion-prone land.  

Carbon forests will have to meet the same standards as plantation forests.  

Forest Owners Association President Grant Dodson told Mike Hosking that landowners should be able to plant the crop they want without having to win permission.  

He says if you own the land, you should be able to choose the best and most economic crop to put on it. 

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