East Coast residents are welcoming tightened forestry regulations which will require slash to be removed after harvesting.
The government has announced the first set of changes to the industry after an inquiry into slash, which was prompted by Cyclone Gabrielle's devastating effects.
Local councils are also gaining more power over the location of commercial forests.
Manu Caddie is the spokesperson for Mana Taiao Tairāwhiti, a group which has lobbied for stricter rules for a decade.
Caddie spoke to Corin Dann.
