New Zealand Forest Owners Association

Wood Council of New Zealand - New Zealand Forestry and Wood Processing Industries : Post election brief for in-coming government. This paper outlines an agenda for securing the future of the New Zealand forest growing and wood processing industry. Enhanced government support for the industry is vital if the current challenges to the industry’s competitiveness are to be overcome and the industry’s contribution to the nation’s economic growth, environmental performance and social cohesion is to be maximised. The industry’s main message to the incoming government is that improving the climate for forest and wood processing investment is essential to the industry’s future development following a period where investment confidence has fallen.

This feature article about the rich biodiversity found in plantation forests was first published in the Spring 2006 edition of the New Zealand Forestry Bulletin.

Removals of carbon dioxide via forest sinks is a key component in how Parties can meet their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. New Zealand is in a relatively unique situation having planted a substantial area of forest since 1990. It is estimated that between 1990 and 2005 675,000 hectares of new plantation forest have been established as a result of afforestation and reforestation activities. Projected removals from the land use, land-use change and forestry sector are based on data and assumptions from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry for the Environment. The forest carbon modelling was undertaken by Ensis (formerly Forest Research). The underpinning science incorporated in the forest carbon models used in these projections, along with scientific assumptions, come from work carried out by Ensis and Landcare Research.

Election Brief from the forest and wood processing sectors

With the who's who of China trade in Auckland last week at the Gateway to China Trade Summit, it's timely to think about what China's wood products market has to offer New Zealand's forestry sector, says NZFIC executive director Steven Jacobi.

What is the Projects to Reduce Emissions programme? - Questions and answers

Horizon2, the Radiata Pine Breeding Company, (RPBC), and Forest Research, (FR), combined were all unsuccessful with bids for Government funding for tree improvement research in 2003. Largely as a consequence of this a group comprising the RPBC, FR, CSIRO, Ensis and the School of Forestry is working towards the development of a Tree Improvement Consortium. The TIC will contribution $1 million towards a research programme and will seek matching funds from FRST.

National Environmental Standards are regulations issued under the Resource Management Act by central government that prescribe technical standards, methods or requirements for environmental matters. They apply nationally, meaning that each local council must enforce the same standard (although they can impose stricter standards when local conditions permit).

Already the third largest export earner, the industry has a vision of being New Zealand's top export earner by 2025 with exports worth around $20 billion. By that time, it expects to be contributing 14% to the country's Gross Domestic Product and employing, directly and indirectly, around 300,000 people. - Article Wairarapa Times Age

A range of resinous characteristics continue to degrade otherwise high value radiata pine - by Don McConchie

Forest Measurement NZ Limited is an example of a Gisborne-based company which specialises in providing quality information to forest resource owners. The company was established in 1994 under the name Forest Care by Kees Weytmans

Data gathered before a co-operative on the Kapiti Coast was established, and anecdotal evidence, strongly indicates that generally woodlot owners have a poor understanding of good forest management, but if they join a co-operative they can change that as well as capture scale benefits. If they do not form co-operatives it is estimated that it will cost New Zealand $1.5 billion over the next rotation - by Hamish Levack

In a postal survey conducted by Middle Districts Farm Forestry Association amongst its own members there were 85 replies. These covered an area ranging from Raetihi in the north to Waikanae in the south and from Brunswick, west of Wanganui, to Hopelands, east of Woodville. The area in trees indicated by most respondents totalled 9238+ ha

Rural Affairs Minister Jim Sutton said in a press release on 8 April that the key aim of the Agricultural Recovery Programme was to enable farmers and crop growers to re-establish their businesses as quickly as possible - article received from NZ Farm Forestry Association

This report was presented to the NZ Farm Forestry Association at its Annual Conference in April 2004 by Denis Hocking

Since the NZ Government ratified the Kyoto Protocol (KP) it has been developing its domestic policies that will enable it to meet greenhouse gas emission targets it has committed to - this article was sourced from Olsen News, Issue #21 – March 2004

Many District Councils are attempting to impose excessive costs on forest growers for road upgrades to transport harvested wood - this article appeared in the Tree Grower, February 2004 and was produced by Chief Executive, Rob McLagan

FIFA: Elements of relevance to private woodlot owners - this article was produced by the Chief Executive, Rob McLagan as a contribution to the Tree Grower February 2004

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs aims to strip farmers and foresters in the LakeTaupo catchment area of their property rights and property values, without compensation, in a scheme to save the lake from nitrogen run-off - article for The Independent by Tim Donoghue

Forest owners have had enough of local authorities extracting payments from them for road damage.While councils say the trucks cost them in maintenance, the forest owners point out that they already pay rates as landowners and much of this money goes towards roading - article for The Independent by Gareth Vaughan