Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service was established as a business unit within MPI in May 2018.

[4] In order to offset against future Waitangi Tribunal Claims the Crown (public/government) [5] retained ownership of the land, and sold a licence to fell the trees to a commercially operated forestry company.

In 1966, the Crown entered into a 100-year mining licence with New Zealand Steel to extract iron sand.

Trees are cleared before mining can start so a large area of the forest is not planted and is unavailable for public access.

One of the last remaining Crown Forests, Waiuku offers a wide range of free recreational opportunities to the Auckland, and Waikato communities.

[8] The New Zealand Forest Service was relaunched by the Labour–NZ First Coalition Government as Te Uru Rākau on 11 May 2018.