Endorsement criteria for enviro schemes

The government has released criteria for endorsing schemes in New Zealand’s voluntary nature and carbon markets, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard says.

“For voluntary markets to succeed, participants need confidence that environmental claims are backed by real and measurable outcomes,” Hoggard says.

In May, cabinet agreed to support high-integrity voluntary nature and carbon markets in New Zealand.

Now, endorsement criteria has been released which will prove a scheme has been independently assessed against New Zealand’s criteria.

The standards cover governance, transparency, independent assessment, and proof of real environmental outcomes.

“Without that trust, it will be hard to attract private investment into nature and climate action across New Zealand,” says Hoggard.

Some guidance has also been released to help participants use scientific evidence to measure those outcomes.

“Voluntary markets remain private sector-led, but if we want more investment in nature restoration, biodiversity and climate action, we need systems people can trust. These criteria are an important step,” Hoggard says.

For landowners, iwi, community groups and project developers, endorsement provides a clearer signal of which schemes meet recognised integrity standards.

For investors, it offers more confidence in projects linked to endorsed schemes.

The government hopes the framework will help encourage private investment into projects such as native planting, erosion control, wetland restoration and greenhouse gas removals.

Applications for domestic endorsement are expected to open later this year.