The land is likely to be classed as a significant natural area (SNA) under new biodiversity rules in regional and district plans. The Bruce farm in the Maruia valley. Landowners all over New Zealand were busy planting native forest to improve farms and waterways, O'Connor said. A YouTube video posted by Aaran Bruce shows a burning tree with fuel stacked around its base, while social media photos appear to show smoke rising from native forest. West Coast regional councillor Debra Magner, who is also a farmer, said many West Coast farmers' finances had been under serious stress from years of low payouts even before 2017, and land values had stagnated accordingly.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 16, 2021 01:18 UTC