National will cut red tape and restore certainty for forestry and wood processors as part of our plan to drive investment and rebuild the economy, National’s Forestry spokesperson Joseph Mooney says.

“Forestry is this country's fourth-largest exporter, earning $6 billion of revenue last year and employing more than 35,000 people.

“But forestry is struggling after being hit by a perfect storm of declining sales, extreme weather, a collapse in the carbon price and a stalled economy.

“National wants to urgently restore confidence and certainty in the sector to deliver investment and growth in forestry and wood processing.

“With more than 60 per cent of harvested logs leaving New Zealand unprocessed, New Zealand has the opportunity to add more value to timber exports.”

National will:

1. Boost wood processing by introducing one-year consents to establish new wood processing facilities, and investigating Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) credits for wood processors for the embedded carbon in their products.
2. Build confidence in forestry by stabilising ETS revenues for the sector.
3. Mitigate slash and other environmental challenges with new fit-for-purpose rules for managing forests.
4. Restore regional control of skills development for forestry by undoing the failed polytechnic mega-merger and returning control to the regions.

“National’s vision is for a growing forestry sector that processes more logs into timber and other wood products to deliver more jobs, more growth, and more value for New Zealand.

“After three reviews of slash in five years, Labour has moved far too slowly, and now communities on the East Coast are paying the price. National will set clear rules for slash management to keep communities safe.

“New Zealand’s economic recovery starts in rural New Zealand with a thriving forest and wood processing sector. New Zealand’s economy depends on primary production – it’s how we pay our way in the world to fund health and education and other public services that we all rely on.

“Forestry and wood processing are part of National’s plan to rebuild the economy and get it working for all New Zealanders.”

ENDS

Media contact: Connie Giquel 027 230 1499

Notes to Editors: National's Forestry for a Strong Economy Policy can be found here.