The Government plans to plant one billion new trees in the coming years.

An ambitious plan to plant one billion trees has got another $240 million from the Government - taking its cost close to half a billion dollars over the next three years.

Forestry Minister Shane Jones said Cabinet had approved the creation of a new grants programme and partnership fund to get more trees in the ground and provide training and employment opportunities.

"We're allocating $240m from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to support tree planting in areas where wider social, environmental, and regional development goals can be achieved," Jones said.

BENN BATHGATE/STUFF Government putting its weight behind trees - pictured are Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey, NZ First MP Fletcher Tabuteau, Assistant Forestry Minister Meka Whaitiri, Jacinda Ardern, Shane Jones and Te Arawa kaumatua Monty Morrison.

The programme would create up to 1000 jobs, do the heavy lifting in meeting New Zealand's climate change targets, and was a "nation building' programme that would also see big tracts of New Zealand land replanted in native forests, repair damaged and eroded landscapes and convert non productive land to forestry, Jones said.

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But National has slated the plan and says the country has bigger priorities.

"When the Government is closing down maternity centres like Lumsden's, cancelling new funding for cochlear implants for children, breaking its promise of universal cheap GP visits and more funding for mental health initiatives because it claims it doesn't have enough money, the extra $240 million for planting pine trees is extraordinary," regional economic development spokesman Paul Goldsmith said.

"The fact is the Government has now found around $485 million for NZ First's pet project, while at the same time telling teachers it can't afford the pay rises they want."

Jones said the boost to the scheme was about "strengthening" the Government's support for planting over the next three to four years in areas where there are "currently limited commercial drivers for investment, and where wider social, environmental or regional development benefits can be achieved".

The announcement came as the Government also opened consultation on improvements to the emissions trading scheme, which aims to reduce New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions..

"The ETS has a vital role to play in New Zealand meeting its climate change targets, but the way it currently operates means it's not doing that," Jones said.

"Getting the ETS right could drive the planting of 340 million trees over the next 10 years – double the amount that would be planted if the ETS was left in its current state.

"This is one of the most important levers the Government has to incentivise the planting of trees to help reach our Billion Tree programme's goals."

Climate change minister James Shaw said a net zero emissions target by 2050 was being considered in the zero carbon bill process but improvements to the ETS were required in the meantime.

The new forestry grants scheme would provide "simple and accessible" direct funding to landowners for the cost of planting and establishing trees and regenerating indigenous forest. It would be open to private landowners, government agencies, non-Government organisations and iwi.

"These grants will be available from later this year and we're aiming to encourage the planting of natives, trees for erosion control, and environmentally-focused planting – all ensuring we have the right tree in the right place for the right purpose," Jones said.

The grants would pay for an additional 60 million trees over the next three years.

There would also be a new partnership fund.

"On top of this, a new partnership fund will create an even closer working relationship between Forestry New Zealand, Te Uru Rākau, regional councils, NGOs, training organisations, Māori landowners and community groups," Jones said.

About $118m would be set aside for grants and a further $120m for partnership projects over three years.

This is in addition to the $245m already committed from the Provincial Growth Fund for tree planting.