Leaving the scheme
When you register in the ETS, you or your organisation are added to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Register (NZETR). This register contains a list of all "participants" in the ETS – meaning people or organisations registered in the ETS under certain business activities.
Deregistering is the process of being removed from this register.
See the public records of ETS participants in the NZETR
When you must deregister
You must deregister if:
- your land is no longer eligible to be in the scheme (for example, if it was deforested). This applies if you are registered in the ETS or if you became responsible for forest land in the ETS. This could be through a transfer of land ownership or a change in a land agreement.
- you deforest, or plan to deforest, pre-1990 forest land. If you aren't already registered, you will become a participant in the ETS under the rules for the ETS. You must tell us about this and deregister once you have finished deforesting the land, if you have no other land in the ETS.
- you clear, deforest, or plan to deforest pre-1990 offsetting land. This is forest that was planted under an approved application. It replaces and captures the emissions from pre-1990 forest land that was deforested. You must deregister after you have finished clearing or deforesting the land.
How the ETS defines deforestation
When you can choose to deregister
- If you previously registered but then decide you don't want your post-1989 forest land to be in the scheme. You can choose to deregister. You must pay any units you received for the land. (This does not apply to post-1989 forest land registered as permanent forestry. You can only remove this land under certain circumstances.)
- If you became responsible as an ETS participant through a transfer of land ownership or a change in a land agreement. You can also choose to deregister. You must pay any units you received for the land, even if you have sold the units.
If you only want to remove part of your post-1989 forest land from the ETS, you wouldn't deregister completely.
See our separate guidance about removing some of your land from the ETS
How to deregister when removing all post-1989 forest land from the ETS
To deregister when you have post-1989 forest land, fill out the deregistration form. Send it to us using the instructions given at the end of the form.
Fees may apply, and you must pay back any units owing.
Service fees for forestry in the ETS
Post-1989 forest land deregistration – form [PDF, 334 KB]
How to deregister after deforesting pre-1990 forest land
See our separate guidance on what to do if you deforested, or plan to deforest, pre-1990 forest land. This includes information about deregistering from the ETS afterwards.
Deforesting pre-1990 forest land
Managing your NZETR account
If you have deregistered from the ETS for forestry, you can choose to close your New Zealand Emissions Trading Register (NZETR) account (where units are held):
- if you do not plan to buy, sell, or hold New Zealand Units in future
- if you are not registered under any other sector in the ETS.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) manages the NZETR accounts. You can close your account yourself in the NZETR or contact the EPA for help.
Read more about closing an NZETR account – EPA [PDF, 731 KB]
Notify other parties with an interest in the land
If you remove post-1989 forest land from the ETS, you must tell any other parties with an interest in the land.
- If you own the land, you must tell any person with a registered forestry right or registered lease on this land.
- If you are the holder of a registered forestry right or registered lease, you must tell the landowner.
