The New Zealand Forest Service was originally established in 1919 as the State Forest Service. The State Forest Service changed its name to the New Zealand Forest Service in 1949, at about the same time that the Forests Act of 1949 passed through Parliament. The New Zealand Forest Service was responsible for the management of New Zealand's state-owned forests, including forestry, conservation and recreational functions, and was abolished in 1987.
In 1987 the NZ Forest Service was disbanded and the New Zealand Government began selling Forest assets. The majority of forests were sold between 1990-1992, with the SOE Forestry Corporation of New Zealand sold in 1996. In order to offset against future Waitangi Tribunal Claims the Crown retained ownership of the land, and sold a licence to fell the trees to a commercially operated forestry company. These forestry companies operated under what is known as Crown Forest Licences. The Crown Forestry Rental Trust works to expedite the settlement of Māori claims against the Crown, which involve or could involve Crown forest licensed lands.
Recreation provisions in Crown Forest Licences
Crown licensed forests contain limited recreational access, to reflect the historic public access in NZ Forests, and the continued Crown ownership. It is a commonly held belief in New Zealand, that all Crown Forests are open to the public for any recreation. However, the Crown Forest Licences usually only provide for public access for walkers. Recreational access may be provided for through Section 7, Public Access Easements or Appendices which set out "Continuing Recreational Use" for organisations within the control of the Licensee. In practice, the licensed tree harvesting companies frequently breach these contracts, and LINZ does little or nothing to enforce the licence conditions on behalf of the public, nor rectify these breaches. Anyone can obtain a copy of a Crown Forest Licence from LINZ. On each licence, Section 6 sets out the conditions for Public Entry.
Waiuku Forest
In 1966, the Crown entered into a 100-year mining licence with New Zealand Steel Limited to extract iron sand. Trees are cleared before mining can start so a large area of the forest is not planted and is unavailable for public access. Once mining is complete over an area, mine tailings are re-spread and the area replanted. One of the last remaining Crown Forests, Waiuku offers a wide range of free recreational opportunities to the Auckland, and Waikato communities.
Abolition
The New Zealand Forest Service was abolished in 1987.
Its environmental and conservation functions were taken over by the newly established Department of Conservation.
The logging operation and associated land was passed into the Forestry Corporation of New Zealand.
The logging operations and some land was sold, or leased to private logging companies in what were described as Crown Forest licences, under the management of Land Information New Zealand.
