Developing a technology enabled exotic forest description for New Zealand.

There is potential to leverage technology in order to deliver a more comprehensive, timely, and representative National Exotic Forest Description (NEFD) dataset, while also advancing government objectives to reduce the response burden on businesses. MPI welcomes diverse approaches, provided that any proposed solution for the NEFD takes into account evolving technological developments—such as advancements in spatial technologies and increased accessibility of administrative data—and incorporates relevant capabilities to enhance and future-proof survey outcomes. It is anticipated that the proposed options will leverage open-source imagery, thereby reducing the need to acquire new imagery sets. This approach supports budgetary and storage constraints, while also minimising duplication of effort and cost across Government. The solution, as defined in this tender, refers to the proposed methods and deliverables designed to provide a comprehensive, accurate, and timely dataset that aligns with the described requirements. The solution must satisfy a specific set of Requirements outlined in Appendix Additional Information; MPI Specifications. It is recommended that you review all supporting documentation prior to submitting your response. For clarity, "solution" refers to the approach and deliverables proposed by a Respondent to generate a comprehensive, accurate, and timely dataset that meets the Requirements outlined in this procurement. Proposed solutions must ensure data accuracy through physical validation in at least three New Zealand wood supply regions across both islands, as required by MPI. For this opportunity, assurance is limited to verifying that the methodology and approach accurately reflect the characteristics of the forest—specifically, that species identification and tree height assessment at a given point in time are correct. Method assurance must be achievable without direct stakeholder engagement with Forest Owners or Forest Managers, ensuring that the intended reduction in response burden for forest owners is maintained. The NEFD report is prepared annually at the conclusion of each calendar year. To ensure that MPI has adequate time for its compilation, data outputs from this initiative must be made available no later than the end of September each year, from 2026 through 2028.