web analytics

The Essential Forest-Gardener – the humus factor

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, December 11th, 2016 - 22 comments
Categories: climate change, Environment, farming, food, sustainability - Tags: , , , , ,

The following is a Guest Post from Robert Guyton and is part of a series appearing over 12 Sundays. Other parts can be seen here.

Robert is a sustainability pioneer who along with his family grows the oldest food forest in NZ. A long time organic gardener, permaculturist and heritage orchardist, he’s a columnist, a regional councillor for Environment Southland, and an early climate change adaptor. 

The atmosphere in a forest garden is very different from that in other gardens; the light is dappled, sound is muted and distant views are masked by layers of tree and shrub. It’s settled and quiet under the canopy of leaves. The ground itself is more absorbent of noise than an ordinary garden, having a much deeper layer of fallen leaves and twigs to soak up sounds that might detract from the ambience. Walking around is quiet and can be done barefoot, at least in my garden where there are no alarming reptiles to keep the wanderer’s nerves on edge.

The effects and advantages of a complex, free-form, exuberant style of gardening are best demonstrated at ground level in the forest garden where everything eventually ends up; leaves, twigs, fruits and nuts, husks and spent flowers, along with droppings from birds, the bodies of insects and all sorts of materials unknown that arrive via the wind. These various deposits are the raw materials for what will become the “mother load” for the garden; the soil and it’s refined components, the most important being humus.

I know there’s debate about what humus is and whether there is in fact something that can be identified by the word, but I’m referring here to the dark, sweet-smelling stuff that’s found in soils that are built through the prolonged and steady build up of organic materials, including but not restricted to those I’ve already listed. Humus, some soil scientists say, is a sponge that holds water like no other substance, creating what could be described as an inland lake below the surface of the soil, away from the water-robbing actions of sun and wind. It’s an elegant description and made more appealing by the addition of the idea that it also holds minerals and nutrients that plants desire, and releases them freely when prompted by the plants.

Humus can be created by gardeners and there are many ways to do that. The forest garden, to its great credit, does it automatically and generously, effortlessly combining a number of processes that require no intervention from the gardener, in the form of compost-making, cultivation or the application of imported materials. It seems the ideal environment for building more ideal environment, in a never-ending cycle of gain and increasing productivity. The gardener needs only to refrain from interfering; cleaning up, tidying-away, burning, scraping, raking, piling up and hauling off. In my garden, the bits and pieces of forest life lie where they fall. More able organisms than me process the spent materials into the water-saving, heat-attracting humus and place it where it’s best deployed. Earthworms and ground beetles move it about, rain drops cling to it, plant roots feed from it.

Humus, mysterious and difficult to define though it is, is very well represented here. I hear it’s easy to destroy; most of the anti-biotic fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and so on, will do it in the blink of an eye. Cultivation knocks it about also, exposing humus to the degrading effects of sunlight. Applying strong doses of nitrate fertilizer which sends bacteria into a feeding frenzy that demands carbon-rich humus for a side dish, strips out humus from the soil like nobody’s business.

All of these destructive forces are foiled by the processes of a forest-garden that needs none of those things to occur. With its humus safely tucked away from harm and increasing from moment to moment, the atmosphere of the forest-garden becomes one of thriving healthiness that can be sensed by visitors who feel the cooling moisture emanating from the soil, breath in the oxygen-rich air and have their foot-falls moderated by the springiness of the ground. I believe also, that the lack of fussiness that results from not wheel-barrowing away every fallen branch and bird-nest, creates a relaxed impression.

If the signs of hard labour are missing; no tyre marks on the paths, spades buried to the hilt in dirt or piles of branches being readied for burning, the minds of any visitors or those lucky souls who live on site, will enjoy a depth of relaxation greater even than they might experience when visiting a park or arboretum where evidence of those activities abounds.

Another factor which has a powerful effect on perceptions in the forest garden, is the paths. Mine are rambling, poorly defined and ever-changing. I don’t cut them or tend to them in any way other than walking upon them, nor do I plan any route. The paths here have all evolved as time has passed, and continue to do so as people go cross-country in order to reach something they’ve seen. Their pushing through, if followed by that of other equally inquisitive visitors, presses down whatever groundcover might be dominant in that area makes a through-way. Preschool children are the best path makers, as they see opportunities for passage that their taller caregivers can’t and are not so bound by convention that they’ll keep to the beaten track. With plants such as wild chervil and alexanders having replaced the various grasses that grew here initially, pathways form easily to the sound of juicy stems crunching underfoot and the light-filtering canopy makes it difficult for any really tough grass to reclaim it’s place along the paths.

You’ll get the feeling, when visiting my place, that life is easy in a forest garden. The effect of all of these things, combined with the shelter from strong winds provided by plantings of flexible, dense flax, cabbage tree and hebe along the windward boundary coupled with the garden’s north-facing aspect mean that it’s calm and warm most of the time. This soothes any furrowed brow that might present on visitors and residents alike, makes nesting a good option for birds, fluttering safely about appealing to butterflies and offers fruit a chance to form on trees that ordinarily grow and produce in warmer climes.

 

22 comments on “The Essential Forest-Gardener – the humus factor ”

  1. Sanctuary 1

    “Humus” with just one “m” is not very tasty 🙁

  2. weka 2

    Hu mus not be a soil microbe then.

    • weka 3.1

      Are you sure that isn’t greyrawshark turning up for a natter?

      edit, see?! (just released her comment from spam).

    • Jenny Kirk 3.2

      Goodness, Robert G. You were lucky to be able to photograph ruru – they usually silently flit away as soon as someone gets near. Must be a young one perhaps – not yet wary of people.

      • Wasn’t it fortuitous, Jenny! The tui were making a peculiar fuss and I approached the scene carefully.My camera doesn’t have a telephoto lens so you can see that I was very close. The ruru merely blinked at me, being distracted by the tui, who were making threatening sounds and displays. A couple of minutes later, I found a young thrush fallen into one of the post holes I’d dug for the tunnelhouse were are building. I got him out, though he shrieked at me for doing it.

  3. greywarshark 4

    Sounds good Robert. How many forest food tryers are you aware of now in NZ?
    Hundreds? Overseas?

    • Hi, greywarshark – the short film made about our forest garden by Happen Films and released a fortnight ago has now been viewed over 40 000 times and the comments amassing on the You Tube site are pretty encouraging, to say the least.
      This morning I hosted visitors to my garden who came in order to understand what and how, with the intention of taking their own gardens to the next phase, turning them into light-woodlands, like my own. We have bookings from groups wanting to do the same thing and I’m guessing this will be our busiest season ever, by a considerable margin, judging by what’s happening already. I’ve visited several food forest/forest gardens around New Zealand and while they are quite new, they look very promising and their designers are intent on succeeding. Oversees, I think the numbers are much greater and growing fast, but then, so is the population and the problems that come with that growth. I believe we have the best opportunity possible here in New Zealand. Our natural ‘she’ll be right’ approach though is catching us out a bit, I reckon as the need for forest gardens will be intense soon, in my view. It would be marvelous if NZ took the leadership role with this way of living and showed the way, at the same time learning what it means to be ‘living wild’ 🙂

  4. Sabine 5

    the forest that was the neglected garden that came with the cottage is beautiful. however the other one insists in having a lawn to mow. I try to tell him that we don’t need lawn, but oh well…..

  5. greywarshark 6

    Thanks weka you seem to be prescient.

    Robert what price to see over your garden forest? It is great that there is so much interest.

    Have you ideas that would suit a small back yard. Trees can’t be too high,
    perhaps four feijoa and something taller in the middle with a couple of fruiting vines that grow over to the tree and climb it, sort of maypole effect which would make a shady umbrella effect in summer?

    Thought you would like this quote in a friendship book – from Goethe.

    To know someone here or there with whom you can feel there is understanding,
    in spite of distances or thoughts expressed, that can make life a garden.

    • Goethe has it right, greywarshark – his is a thought with depth. I have visitors of all sorts, some of whom are old friends, others arrive for the first time from far off and want to give something toward a ‘guided tour’ as an investment for themselves and a help to us. I spend an hour or so with them, sharing my views and inviting theirs. It seems very happy arrangement, at least, they say so. I love your ‘maypole’ suggestion and you have got me thinking… Feijoa are handsome shrubs with wonderful fruits. I think they’re a good choice. Their flowers are delightful and you know, their young leaves are edible too.

  6. prickles 7

    Thanks Robert – reading of your garden and seeing it on TV has inspired me to continue to turn my garden from a “normal” suburban garden with lawns, flower beds and separate vege garden to a much more interesting place. No more lawns for me. And it pleases me greatly to simply let things die down and meld back into the earth. Squillions of insects, birds and bees seem to be pretty happy too.

    • That’s great to hear, prickles. I’m happy to hear about the passing of your lawn, may it rest in peace and may whatever grows in its stead be vigorous and productive. Today, in what was once my lawn, I found two skinks, a baby thrush and a morepork, all alive and well! And I was hardly looking, busy as I was putting up the frame of the new/recycled tunnelhouse. Goodness knows what I’d have found if I’d gone looking 🙂 And there were two tui in the branches of the tree overhead, showing off their plumage and voices to each other. Kereru in the plum trees as well. Plus several fantails, now that I think about it. Quite a menagerie, it was!

  7. greywarshark 8

    Robert Guyton
    You mention tui. Did you see the book Tui A Nest in the Bush by Meg Lipscombe? Lovely little photographic series that follows the progress of a pair of tui parents. The author and photographer, happened to see a tui fly in amongst a bush by her deck, when she went up there she could look over the rail right into a nest beneath. The books shows the month from the first egg in the nest lying on soft feathers provided, through the era of yellow open beaks and throats looking like tulips she says, to bright young fledglings. Fascinating.
    Craig Potton publishers (here in Nelson).

  8. Hi greywarshark – thanks for that recommendation, I’ll look the tui book up, it sounds delightful. I went recently to a presentation by a photographer who had done a similar study of a nest and his images were marvelous, showing the parents with beaks-full of dragonflies and cicada, etc, along with some dramatic mid-flight captures of the adult birds going to and fro, and yes, those throats do look like tulips! I’m interested that you’re in Nelson. That’s where I was raised and I still carry the region’s influence in some of the things I do and think about. I know there’s a plot to dam the Lee River, the deep, cool waters of which I used to spend hours and hours swimming in every summer. Such is “progress”. I’m pleased to see that there is much opposition to the plan. I don’t know where the project sits now (or should I say, crouches menacingly 🙂

    • greywarshark 9.1

      Yes I’m in Nelson though don’t buy my fish from Guytons at the Port.
      Haven’t been up the Lee for a while, and there has been an ongoing discussion for quite a while about the dam. But I’ve had nice picnics there with floating down the river on a tyre, or was it in the Aniseed Valley.

      The latest that has interested me is the takeover by bikes of walking paths so that this most basic and healthy means of exercise and transport and relaxation is everywhere under threat because of too much motorised traffic making cycling on the road too dangerous. I consider it another stealing of the commons. But people who know those who have died on the roads innocently and environmentally responsible are angry at my opinion, as I am too. Very awkward being in two minds.

      • The fishshop Guytons are a distant branch, greywarshark, so I’m not offended if you don’t buy fish there 🙂 The Aniseed was another of the rivers I swam in throughout my childhood – “up the Aniseed” was where I’d bike, sometimes to tent-over and catch eels to roast on a fire, then nip back down into the orchards to flog fruit under the cover of darkness – I remember peacharines…

  9. Kevin 10

    Thanks Robert, i have really enjoyed these posts the last few weeks.

  10. I’m glad you have, Kevin. It’s really gratifying to hear from people who find value in this story.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta to attend NATO meeting
    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, departs for Europe today, where she will attend a session of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brussels and make a short bilateral visit to Sweden.  “NATO is a long-standing and likeminded partner for Aotearoa New Zealand. It is valuable to join a session of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Secure all-of-government facility to be built at Whenuapai
    A secure facility that will house protected information for a broad range of government agencies is being constructed at RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai), Public Service, Defence and GCSB Minister Andrew Little says. The facility will consolidate and expand the government’s current secure storage capacity and capability for at least another ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Flu vaccine to protect Kiwis this winter
    From today, 1.8 million flu vaccines are available to help protect New Zealanders from winter illness, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Vaccination against flu is safe and will be a first line of defence against severe illness this winter,” Dr Verrall said. “We can all play a part ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Congratulations to Professor Rangi Mātāmua – New Zealander of the Year
    Associate Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Willow-Jean Prime has congratulated Professor Rangi Mātāmua (Ngāi Tūhoe) who was last night named the prestigious Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa New Zealander of the Year. Professor Mātāmua, who is the government's Chief Adviser Mātauranga Matariki, was the winner of the New Zealander ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Further sanctions on Russian and Belarusian political and military figures
    The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on political and military figures from Russia and Belarus as part of the ongoing response to the war in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Alekseevna Lvova-Belova ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ambitious new housing development for Whangārei
    A new public housing development planned for Whangārei will provide 95 warm and dry, modern homes for people in need, Housing Minister Megan Woods says. The Kauika Road development will replace a motel complex in the Avenues with 89 three-level walk up apartments, alongside six homes. “Whangārei has a rapidly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • CPTPP bolstered by decision on UK accession
    New Zealand welcomes the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “Continuing to grow our export returns is a priority for the Government and part of our plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed (rua reo)
    Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown have today initialled the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Deed, named Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little says. “I am pleased to be here for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Dates announced for 2023 Pacific language weeks
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds has announced the 2023 Pacific Language week series, highlighting the need to revitalise and sustain languages for future generations. “Pacific languages are a cornerstone of our health, wellbeing and identity as Pacific peoples. When our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated, our communities thrive,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Over a quarter of New Zealanders to get cost of living relief from tomorrow
    880,000 pensioners to get a boost to Super, including 5000 veterans 52,000 students to see a bump in allowance or loan living costs Approximately 223,000 workers to receive a wage rise as a result of the minimum wage increasing to $22.70 8,000 community nurses to receive pay increase of up ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thousands of community nurses getting April pay boost
    Over 8000 community nurses will start receiving well-deserved pay rises of up to 15 percent over the next month as a Government initiative worth $200 million a year kicks in, says Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall. “The Government is committed to ensuring nurses are paid fairly and will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and TOI Foundation breakfast
    Tākiri mai ana te ata Ki runga o ngākau mārohirohi Kōrihi ana te manu kaupapa Ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea Tihei mauri ora Let the dawn break On the hearts and minds of those who stand resolute As the bird of action sings, it welcomes the dawn of a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government takes next step to lift artists’ incomes
    The Government is introducing a scheme which will lift incomes for artists, support them beyond the current spike in cost of living and ensure they are properly recognised for their contribution to New Zealand’s economy and culture.    “In line with New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the UK, last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ stands with Vanuatu on climate at UN
    New Zealand is welcoming a decision by the United Nations General Assembly to ask the International Court of Justice to consider countries’ international legal obligations on climate change. The United Nations has voted unanimously to adopt a resolution led by Vanuatu to ask the ICJ for an advisory opinion on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • More Police deployed to the frontline
    More Police officers are being deployed to the frontline with the graduation of 59 new constables from the Royal New Zealand Police College today. “The graduation for recruit wing 364 was my first since becoming Police Minister last week,” Ginny Andersen said. “It was a real honour. I want to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Aotearoa New Zealand committed to an enduring partnership with Vanuatu
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met with Vanuatu Foreign Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila, today, signing a new Statement of Partnership — Aotearoa New Zealand’s first with Vanuatu. “The Mauri Statement of Partnership is a joint expression of the values, priorities and principles that will guide the Aotearoa New Zealand–Vanuatu relationship into ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government delivers levy change to support Fire and Emergency
    The Government has passed new legislation amending the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) levy regime, ensuring the best balance between a fair and cost effective funding model. The Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Levy) Amendment Bill makes changes to the existing law to: charge the levy on contracts of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Next steps for New Zealand’s organic regulations
    The Government has passed the Organic Products and Production Bill through its third reading today in Parliament helping New Zealand’s organic sector to grow and lift export revenue. “The Organic Products and Production Bill will introduce robust and practical regulation to give businesses the certainty they need to continue to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Govt helps to protect New Zealanders digital identities
    The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill, which will make it easier for New Zealanders to safely prove who they are digitally has passed its third and final reading today. “We know New Zealanders want control over their identity information and how it’s used by the companies and services they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Cyclone Taskforce focused on locally-led recovery
    The full Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Taskforce has met formally for the first time as work continues to help the regions recover and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle. The Taskforce, which includes representatives from business, local government, iwi and unions, covers all regions affected by the January and February floods and cyclone. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Law changed to protect subcontractors
    Changes have been made to legislation to give subcontractors the confidence they will be paid the retention money they are owed should the head contractor’s business fail, Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods announced today. “These changes passed in the Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act safeguard subcontractors who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New congestion busting harbour crossing options unveiled
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has unveiled five scenarios for one of the most significant city-shaping projects for Tāmaki Makaurau in coming decades, the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing. “Aucklanders and businesses have made it clear that the biggest barriers to the success of Auckland is persistent congestion and after years of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New law enhances safety and security in the aviation sector
    The Government has passed new legislation that ensures New Zealand’s civil aviation rules are fit for purpose in the 21st century, Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan says. The Civil Aviation Bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single modern law ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Coroners Amendment Bill passes third reading
    A Bill aimed at helping to reduce delays in the coronial jurisdiction passed its third reading today. The Coroners Amendment Bill, amongst other things, will establish new coronial positions, known as Associate Coroners, who will be able to perform most of the functions, powers, and duties of Coroners. The new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Review into Stuart Nash’s communications with donors
    The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to conduct a review into communications between Stuart Nash and his donors. The review will take place over the next two months.  The review will look at whether there have been any other breaches of cabinet collective responsibility or confidentiality, or whether ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • 600 more workers to support recovery
    The new Recovery Visa to help bring in additional migrant workers to support cyclone and flooding recovery has attracted over 600 successful applicants within its first month. “The Government is moving quickly to support businesses bring in the workers needed to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods,” Michael ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Bills to vet school boards, contractors pass first reading
    Bills to ensure non-teaching employees and contractors at schools, and unlicensed childcare services like mall crèches are vetted by police, and provide safeguards for school board appointments have passed their first reading today. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 3) and the Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Bill have now ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Bill recognises unique role and contribution of Wānanga and Kura Kaupapa Māori
    Wānanga will gain increased flexibility and autonomy that recognises the unique role they fill in the tertiary education sector, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No.3), that had its first reading today, proposes a new Wānanga enabling framework for the three current ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Foreign Affairs Minister talks to the Vanuatu Government on Pacific issues
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Vanuatu today, announcing that Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further relief and recovery assistance there, following the recent destruction caused by Cyclones Judy and Kevin. While in Vanuatu, Minister Mahuta will meet with Vanuatu Acting Prime Minister Sato Kilman, Foreign Minister Jotham ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Major investment to support the safety of frontline Police and communities
    The Government is backing Police and making communities safer with the roll-out of state-of-the-art tools and training to frontline staff, Police Minister Ginny Andersen said today. “Frontline staff face high-risk situations daily as they increasingly respond to sophisticated organised crime, gang-violence and the availability of illegal firearms,” Ginny Andersen said.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Further laws passed to keep communities safe from gang offending
    The Government has provided Police with more tools to crack down on gang offending with the passing of new legislation today which will further improve public safety, Justice Minister Kiri Allan says. The Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Bill amends existing law to: create new targeted warrant and additional search powers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Standard kerbside recycling part of new era for waste system
    The Government today announced far-reaching changes to the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of waste, ushering in a new era for New Zealand’s waste system. The changes will ensure that where waste is recycled, for instance by households at the kerbside, it is less likely to be contaminated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New laws will crack down on gang profits and criminal assets
    New legislation passed by the Government today will make it harder for gangs and their leaders to benefit financially from crime that causes considerable harm in our communities, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan says. Since the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 came into effect police have been highly successful in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Stuart Nash dismissed from Cabinet
    This evening I have advised the Governor-General to dismiss Stuart Nash from all his ministerial portfolios. Late this afternoon I was made aware by a news outlet of an email Stuart Nash sent in March 2020 to two contacts regarding a commercial rent relief package that Cabinet had considered. In ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Tax incentive to boost housing passes third reading
    Legislation to enable more build-to-rent developments has passed its third reading in Parliament, so this type of rental will be able to claim interest deductibility in perpetuity where it meets the requirements. Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods, says the changes will help unlock the potential of the build-to-rent sector and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Law levels playing field for low-emissions commuting
    A law passed by Parliament today exempts employers from paying fringe benefit tax on certain low emission commuting options they provide or subsidise for their staff.  “Many employers already subsidise the commuting costs of their staff, for instance by providing car parks,” Environment Minister David Parker said.  “This move supports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • 40 years of Closer Economic Relations with Australia
    Today marks the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), our gold standard free trade agreement between New Zealand and Australia. “CER was a world-leading agreement in 1983, is still world-renowned today and is emblematic of both our countries’ commitment to free trade. The WTO has called it the world’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Amendments to mass arrivals legislation
    The Government is making procedural changes to the Immigration Act to ensure that 2013 amendments operate as Parliament intended.   The Government is also introducing a new community management approach for asylum seekers. “While it’s unlikely we’ll experience a mass arrival due to our remote positioning, there is no doubt New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Progress on public service pay adjustment
    The Government welcomes progress on public sector pay adjustment (PSPA) agreements, and the release of the updated public service pay guidance by the Public Service Commission today, Minister for the Public Service Andrew Little says. “More than a dozen collective agreements are now settled in the public service, Crown Agents, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Further legislation introduced to support cyclone recovery
    The Government has introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to further support the recovery and rebuild from the recent severe weather events in the North Island. “We know from our experiences following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that it will take some time before we completely understand the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-04-02T12:14:12+00:00