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Iwi involvement in forestry ownership
Authors: Mark FormanPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2013, Issue N.Z.J.For. 58(4) 2014, pp 19-21, Jan 2014
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Background This article contains an overview of an industrywide panel discussion in relation to iwi ownership of forests held at the offices of Minter Ellison Rudd Watts in November 2013 in Auckland. The discussion was part of a series of industry seminars held by the firm’s forestry team. Minter Ellison Rudd Watts is one of New Zealand’s forestry advisers, with a long history of advising on this country’s most significant forestry transactions and issues. The firm has also been involved in developments around forestry transactions (both freehold and cutting rights), forestry management issues such as the health and safety concerns currently faced by the sector, and developments relating to the ETS. The panel was introduced by Ross Pickmere of Minter Ellison Rudd Watts and comprised of Bill Liley, Graham Pryor and Curtis Mercer. I moderated the discussion. Bill Liley is managing director of Indufor Asia Pacific, one of New Zealand’s leading forestry advisors. Graham Pryor is a director of CNI Iwi Holdings Limited (CNI Holdings), the entity which holds more the 176,000 hectares of forestry land in the central North Island. Curtis Mercer is the head of primary sector lending within institutional banking at the BNZ and has extensive experience working with the New Zealand forestry and wood products sector as well as the major iwi groups.