Forestry Transactions.

Legal Support for Forestry Transactions

Forestry investments involve complex, long term legal and commercial arrangements. We help landowners, investors and operators manage forestry projects with advice that covers the full lifecycle, from acquisition and compliance to harvesting and sale.

Key Areas We Advise On

We assist with:

• Forestry rights and long-term land use agreements

• Buying and selling land with forestry assets

• Carbon credit schemes and compliance obligations

• Joint ventures and partnership arrangements

• Harvesting, supply and contractor agreements

• Lease agreements, variations and renewals

• Due diligence and land title reviews

• Regulatory and environmental compliance

We help ensure your agreements and structures are clear, compliant and aligned with your commercial objectives.

Practical, Commercial Guidance

Forestry projects often involve multiple stakeholders, significant investment and complex regulation. Our advice is:

• Legally sound and easy to apply in practice

• Designed to manage risk and maintain flexibility over time

• Structured to reflect your long term business goals

We take a practical and commercially focused approach that supports smooth project management from start to finish.

Where We Work

Our commercial and rural law teams are based in Wellington and Masterton. We work with forestry clients across the Wairarapa, the wider Wellington region and throughout New Zealand.

Questions We Often Get Asked About Forestry Transactions

What legal documents are needed for a forestry project?

Forestry projects typically require land use or forestry rights agreements, supply or harvesting contracts and sometimes joint venture or lease documentation. We help prepare and review these documents to ensure they meet both legal and commercial needs.

How do forestry rights differ from owning the land?

A forestry right gives permission to grow and harvest trees on someone else’s land without transferring ownership of the land itself. We advise on how to structure and register these rights to protect your investment and comply with legal requirements.

What should we consider when buying or selling forestry land?

Key considerations include existing forestry rights, environmental obligations, carbon credit participation and long term land use restrictions. We carry out due diligence and help you understand the practical implications before settlement.

How do carbon credits fit into forestry investments?

Forestry projects may generate carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme. We advise on registration, compliance and how carbon obligations affect ownership and future transactions.