More Information
New Zealand’s export of wood products
Authors: Chris GouldingPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2016, Issue N.Z.J.For. 61(1) 2016, pp 2-3, May 2016
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: The ‘Last Word’ in this issue for May 2016, by Brian Stanley, talks about the importance of the forest sector to New Zealand. That forest products are the country’s third largest export earner is well known to readers, as is the potential to earn so much more. New Zealand is the largest exporter of raw, unprocessed logs in the world; bottom ranked for processing its harvest within the country, having been overtaken even by Russia during this government’s administration. The Wood Council of New Zealand, Woodco, in 2012 drew up a ‘Strategic Action Plan’ which set the target of achieving $12 billion of forest product exports by 2022, now only six years away. A plan is only a plan if someone at least considers attempting to implement it, something that Woodco itself is not in a position to do, but the plan presents a vision that could be achieved. The questions are by whom and how.