13 April 2026
New Zealand Forest Owners Association backs India trade deal
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association has joined the wider BusinessNZ network to call on political parties across Parliament to support the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This FTA would expand economic opportunity for forest growers, wood processors, exporters, and regional communities.
New Zealand Forest Owners Association Chief Executive Elizabeth Heeg says India represents a significant growth market for New Zealand. Wood and wood products are already New Zealand’s largest goods export to India, worth NZ$134 million in the year to June 2025 and growing.
“India is a large, fast-growing economy and an increasingly important partner for New Zealand.
A high-quality trade agreement would help improve access for our sustainable timber and wood products and give forest growers and processors greater confidence to invest for the future.”
It is also an opportunity to deepen the relationship between New Zealand and India through collaboration on research, education, and forestry practice.”
Heeg says the forestry sector is well placed to contribute to the wider economic gains expected from the agreement. India has scale, strong demand for New Zealand wood products, and significant momentum, with its economy forecast to grow to NZ$12 trillion by 2030.
“New Zealand growers have a strong relationship with India, and we are looking forward to building on that foundation.
Better access to India would support jobs, investment, and growth across our forestry supply chain, from forests to ports to processing and manufacturing.”
Heeg says New Zealand has benefited from a practical, bipartisan approach to trade for many years, and the India agreement deserves the same support.
“Opportunities of this scale do not come along often. This is a chance to secure better access to one of the world’s most important growth markets and to give New Zealand exporters a stronger footing for the years ahead.
We are calling on all parties in Parliament to back the agreement and help get it across the line.”
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Jen Nolan
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