April 21, 2013
Sharples hoping for CNI-China sawmill
Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples is reporting no takers so far to his proposal for Chinese investment in processing wood from Māori forests.
Dr Sharples is just back from accompanying the Prime Minister on a trade mission to China, where he met with Chinese timber companies among others.
He says while the companies would prefer to import raw logs and process them in China, he’s trying to convince them it’s better for the long term relationship with New Zealand to invest in facilities here.
“We really want to get one for the CNI, the Central North Island iwi’s because they’re up and ready to go and that would bring employment to places like Kawerau. At the moment, it’s being negotiated and at the moment they have no takers but we will still keep trying on that one because that’s a really big one,” he says.
Pita Sharples says foreign investment is important for New Zealand’s growth.
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