“Haere taka mua, taka muri. Kaua e whai.
Go in front, not behind. Don’t follow!”

~Māori proverb

We are both professional foresters, university educated in the commercial management of exotic plantations, an important part of New Zealand’s primary sector and where we are both currently employed. We think about the future a lot, so much so that we are founding members of the Future Foresters. When starting this initiative, we wanted to ensure that the forestry sector had a sustainable workforce of young people who are engaged and motivated to move the industry in the right direction. As we have matured in life, and our roles, we have become increasingly aware that a future focused approach needs to put sustainability and climate change at the forefront of any discussions. We are strong believers that the fight against climate change requires a multi-forested approach. We welcome the leadership, forward-thinking and urgency presented by the Recloaking Papatūānuku initiative.

When we wrote our first creative piece for Ō Tātou Ngahere our mindset was light-hearted, we thoroughly enjoyed creating a green utopia, a look 100 years into the future, a place we want our children and grandchildren to thrive. We created a future where:

• The primary sectors are united as a joint front on climate change, working together as Kaitiaki of this beautiful land.
• Aotearoa has a never-ending system of continuous cover forestry that provides woody biomass for us and our future generations.
• Housing had transformed from the gray steel and concrete jungle of the past to the rich, golden syrup tones of tōtara, mataī and rimu abodes peppering the landscape.

Our vision was based on our own green desires, underpinned by the hope that a joint approach by industry, government, landowners and the general population would propel us forward in this direction. Unfortunately, as we sit here today our dream is looking increasingly harder to achieve without a significant change to the status quo.

We don’t need to look 100 years into the future, the climate emergency is here today. Since our first piece was written in 2021, the predictions of extreme climate events, devastating wildfires, and topsoil erosion have all dominated our news. We wrote about the warning signs flashing; these warning signs are now the headlines filling our newsfeeds. These are no longer just warnings but are now the reality we are facing; this is the reality our land is facing. Papatūānuku is weeping for the future; she deserves vibrant native forests.

We deserve a future where science-based solutions, long-term thinking, and global leadership creates resilient ecosystems, communities & economies. We deserve a future where our native ngahere is an integral part of our national identity, and where young people are the torchbearers of this legacy.

800 years ago, Aotearoa was predominantly a large forest, the landscape protected by a cloak of native bush. Through time, land use change has seen Aotearoa’s landscapes cleared of native forests and replaced with so-called “more productive” land uses. The reality is that this clearance and conversion extended well beyond the landscapes where the new land use can now be considered sustainable.

To achieve the future we deserve, we must start now. By focusing on our indigenous forest resources, we can safeguard the land, creating a shield of mixed forest canopy, intricate roots systems, and flourishing biodiversity with purified waterways.

In the fight against climate change we must be a two-trick pony. We must reduce gross emissions and offset what we cannot currently reduce. Aotearoa has an opportunity to not only recloak its landscape in beautiful vibrant greenery, but these forests will also provide a huge number of benefits for our country. They will stabilise our erodible soils, protect our sensitive waterways, provide habitat for our imperiled biodiversity, provide a playground for our tamariki, and support our rural communities. Importantly, these forests will be constantly and continuously sequestering carbon from our atmosphere and fighting against climate change for our whakatupuranga heke mai.

We must enhance Aotearoa’s current forests, protect and grow our existing native forests, create new permanent native forests, and most importantly diversify our forest species. By integrating forests on a landscape level, by working with the existing land use, Aotearoa can create benefits to be shared by all neighbouring land uses. Forests can be expanded in areas that focus on non-forest benefits; these forests are areas for all New Zealanders to enjoy.

As we stand, this visionary future may seem distant, but it is within reach. Our rangatahi deserve a future graced by vibrant native forests. They are the ones who will carry forward the legacy of environmental stewardship, as they embody the wisdom of “Haere taka mua, taka muri. Kaua e whai” – “Go in front, not behind. Don’t follow.” It is their right to inherit a New Zealand where native forests flourish, sustaining not only the environment but also the dreams and aspirations of generations to come.

“Haere taka mua, taka muri. Kaua e whai.
Go in front, not behind. Don’t follow!”

~Māori proverb

It’s the year 2121 and we are so lucky.

So lucky back in 2030, Prime Minister Taika Waititi and Deputy Prime Minister Max Key led the change in New Zealand’s sustainable future.

They learned from the successful eradication of the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020; after which New Zealand became known as the world’s ‘blue-sky thinker’. They learned New Zealand can be a leader. New Zealand learned the importance of science-based approaches to solving problems, finding opportunities, and shaping policy.

It all started with long-term thinking; what will the world look like in 100 years? What will New Zealand look like?

Driven by data, they worked with scientists and industry. The warning signs were flashing; they predicted the increased number of major extreme climate events and that the largest, most devastating wildfires were still to come, and they could see the dangerous topsoil erosion happening globally. The world needed help and New Zealand began to pave the way to discovering the green cure. They couldn’t have known about the great global fresh water and clean air shortage. They couldn’t have known how much this would influence public health; with pandemics becoming more frequent, other parts of the world have lost count of their COVID numeral.

By 2040, international climate politics took centre stage, we created New Zealand’s ‘green bubble’.  We are so lucky, our government, alongside New Zealand’s greenest influencers including Sir Mike McRoberts, and Former PM Jeremy ‘Green fingers’ Wells, leaned into changing the socio-environmental values. This forward-thinking about climate change and the long-term strategies to off-set and reduce carbon emissions helped create our successful circular bio-economy.

They dissolved the boundaries between primary sectors. Agriculture and forestry united together as a joint front on climate change called Te Tiakanga o te Whakatupu.

They focused on New Zealand’s indigenous forest resources. Expanding current forests, creating permanent forests and most importantly diversifying our forest species. They prioritised eco-sourcing seeds and planting native species; they made sure forest planting showed respect to the manawhenua and incorporated community desires. Smaller rural communities flourished as their expanded forest areas became a highly sought-after visual commodity. By integrating forests on a landscape level, by working with the existing land use, New Zealanders created benefits to be shared between all neighbouring land uses. Forests were expanded in areas that focus on non-forest benefits; these forests are areas for all New Zealanders to enjoy. Within the trees, there are unlimited opportunities for relaxation and recreation.

Back in 2052, the first merged consciousness was successfully downloaded as a human symbiosis with artificial intelligence, known as Ashford-Loo. Famously, Ashford-Loo quantified the link between exposure to rich biodiversity and healthy green spaces with long life spans, increased mental health, strengthened immune systems and overall Hauora. This discovery led to the United Nations and the World Health Organisation to create a global, green wellbeing standard for all humans. Overnight our clean, green New Zealand became the world’s #1 treatment.

Now in 2121, New Zealand is tree-loving heaven. We are not only ranked #1 for rugby, sailing, and Olympic surfing, but we have also ranked #1 globally for personal wellbeing for over 60 years running. This ranking is 100% related to the trees and the forests we grow. New Zealand, once again, is now regarded as the most beautiful place on earth; we have long been pest-free and people pay a fee to log in to virtually experience the grandeur of our birdsong chorus.

The world has united in the use of cryptocurrencies: there is no foreign exchange risk and no uncertainty in the value of a dollar. This change brought about a globally recognised and valued green cryptocurrency, invented in New Zealand called the ‘Kākāriki’. This green dollar rewards all land guardians who ensure more and more environmental protection is occurring.

The land is more valuable than anything and the people with trees are considered ‘green billionaires’. People realised they didn’t want to live in cities and didn’t need to spend their life’s earnings on a small cube in downtown Seymore-Ville (formerly Remuera). The Kiwi-dream is now to ditch the traffic jam and migrate from the cities to become a land guardian. People realise that the land that surrounds us can provide food, fodder and an opportunity to offset the residual carbon emissions from their grandparents.

Everything is now made from wood. These woody products are sourced from our New Zealand forests; a never-ending system of continuous cover forestry that provides woody biomass for us and our future generations. Housing continues to transform from the grey steel and concrete jungle of the past; the rich, golden syrup tones of totara, matai and rimu homes pepper the landscape. New Zealand has been smoke-free for over 80 years, plastic is illegal, fossil fuels are gone, electric self-driving vehicles rule our roads and zero-emission boilers fuel our circular bioeconomy. Our tourism thrives as electric planes deliver tourists; arrival taxes reflect New Zealand’s values and each tourist must plant a tree, protect a waterway or undertake an action that results in a cleaner greener New Zealand.

In 2121 sustainability is a salary and the land guardians are rewarded for the positive externalities they provide. For years forests were considered nothing more than an off-setting source for emitters and polluters, however, now through widespread societal recognition, the industry of sustainability no longer offsets but exists to undo the damage of our past generations. The industry of sustainability is a leader in new job creation enabling diverse economic opportunities.

Land use no longer prioritises profits in the historical sense. Returns are now realised through environmental improvements, cleaner air, even cleaner water, and a landscape that all Kiwis admire. Many of those original tree-huggers or eco-warriors are now among the rich-listers. People invest for dividends of improved wellbeing as opposed to the singular financial driver of the olden days and returns on all investments are reported in both financial and wellbeing terms. This wealth is being redistributed straight back into NZ’s environmental ecosystem; investment in the environment is internationally recognized as the best option for ethical wealth creation for others.

Te Tiakanga o te Whakatupu is taught in all schools. Before math or chemistry, we must learn to look after the land, so she looks after us. All children are taught about the importance of soil conservation and water quality, creating a passion for the environment in these young, green leaders.

Through the last century, millions of these green leaders held New Zealand responsible to ensure we will always be a green nation. The force of our green revolution, driven by the millions of kaitiaki looking after their beautiful country.

Right now back in 2021, we are a long way from the green world of 2121. However, this transformation is gaining momentum and is being driven forward by our future generations, our future kaitiaki. As the next generation of kaitiaki come along they will act with the following words resonating in their minds….

“Haere taka mua, taka muri. Kaua e whai. Go in front, not behind. Don’t follow!”

Sheridan Ashford

Adrian Loo