Last week the Government announced an initiative that I strongly support – giving formal recognition to high‑quality voluntary carbon and nature crediting schemes. The intent is simple but important: to give investors greater confidence to back local climate and nature‑based projects, and to channel capital towards schemes that genuinely deliver environmental outcomes.
Under the announcement, the Government is endorsing three international bodies that govern voluntary carbon and nature markets, while also creating a domestic pathway to accredit schemes here in Aotearoa. It’s not a Crown guarantee, but it does act as a quality signal – a faster way for investors, landowners and developers to identify credible, high‑integrity operators.
For those less familiar with the space, voluntary carbon and nature markets allow emitters to earn credits by investing in projects that reduce emissions or restore the natural environment. That can mean restoring wetlands, planting native forests, protecting existing habitats, or improving biodiversity outcomes on working land.
When done well, these projects deliver real environmental benefits alongside economic ones for landowners and local communities. Aotearoa Circle estimated the total value of ecosystem services of native forests is around $6,500 per hectare. If this price was reflected in a credit system (for example, with international financing to purchase credits), it would be significantly higher than per hectare revenue from forestry under current ETS (emissions trading scheme) settings.
So why am I writing about this?
First, because it’s a sensible, pragmatic step that helps crowd private capital into nature and climate solutions. We’re going to need a lot more investment in this space, and clarity and credibility matter. And secondly, because the announcement was made here at Ruamāhanga Farm.
As a charity, the Ruamāhanga Farm Foundation is always careful to navigate across political lines without endorsing any particular party. So when we were asked to host the launch – through our partnership with Trees That Count – it’s fair to say there was a little nervousness. But together we worked hard to ensure a balanced and broadly representative guest list.
On the day, that included Green MP Celia Wade‑Brown, Ministry for the Environment , South Wairarapa District Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Pāmu, the QEII National Trust, our local Waihinga Catchment group, and Trustees for the Aorangi and the Ruamāhanga Restoration Trust who are all active in land stewardship and environmental outcomes, regardless of political stripe.
It turned out to be one of those classic Wairarapa autumn days – calm, sunny, and generous. The Minister made the announcement down in our wetland, which, after the recent floods, was looking convincingly like a wetland. There was something quietly satisfying about that setting: policy words delivered in a place where environmental outcomes are tangible and visible.
The highlight for me came when the Minister planted a tree that had been gifted to us by Celia Wade‑Brown from her ETS registered land. After inspecting the hole, he decided it wasn’t quite deep enough, grabbed the spade, and got properly stuck in. He then graciously agreed to a photo with Celia, remarking that “I suppose it’s good for people to see that we’re not at each other’s throats all the time.”
It was a small moment, but a good one. A reminder that while politics will always involve disagreement, there’s still plenty of common ground when it comes to looking after land, water, and the natural systems we all rely on.
From paddock to policy, this felt like one of those days where the connection between the two was clear – and that’s something worth supporting.
Words by Lucy Riddiford