Ngāti Porou forests eyed by mill project

A China-based wood processing company is looking at building a mill in Gisborne to take advantage of the region’s maturing timber supply.

Representatives of Bohui Paper have made three visits to the East Coast to discuss wood processing and long term forestry investment.

It also had briefings on the Ngāti Porou Whānau Forests model, in which the iwi-owned company leased land from trusts and incorporations to grow trees.

Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon and Councillor Pat Seymour are to lead a business delegation to China in the New Year to talk further to Bohui, and also to visit Gisborne’s sister city Rizhao where there are aquaculture, seafood and small farm enterprises of interest to Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tamanuhiri.

Mr Foon says as mayor he has a role to advocate for economic development, including development of Ngāti Porou land, which should benefit the council through increased rates revenue.

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