October 24, 2017
Maori critical for forestry expansion
Maori land owners and farmers are expected to play a key role in meeting afforestation targets as the new Government signals greater support for forestry.
New Zealand First has made an issue of the running down of forestry, and it is likely to pick up ministerial responsibility for the sector.
Forest Owners Association president, Peter Clark, says issues such as diminishing log supply in Northland and road infrastructure stress in Poverty Bay and elsewhere need to be addressed by government and industry working together.
He'd like to see either Labour's Stuart Nash or New Zealand First's Shane Jones in the role, as both understand the difficulties in the industry.
He says the country has lost valuable years when there should have been more trees planted to replace pastoral agriculture on marginal land and to increase wood supply for sawmillers.
Trees are also the only immediate lever the government has to significantly offset industry and agriculture carbon emissions.
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