Slayed In NZ Wood Product Brand Label Launched

A 'Slayed in New Zealand' furniture label was launched today by Native Forest Action who have been running a campaign since February 1997 to stop Timberlands West Coast logging native forests on public land.

The label features a dead kiwi in a parody of the distinctive blue and red 'New Zealand Made' brand commonly used by manufacturers to promote their products as 'Made in New Zealand'.

"The image of a dead kiwi is intended to draw people's attention to the fact that much of the native timber used in furniture and other products comes directly from kiwi habitat. Of our six species of kiwi one, the great spotted kiwi, occurs throughout many of the Timberlands' native forests. Like other mainland kiwi populations, this species is thought to be declining at an alarming rate. Predation by introduced predators is a major threat to kiwis and degrading the kiwi's habitat through logging and road construction can only hasten their decline" said NFA National Co-ordinator Nick Young.

"In the week coming up to Christmas we would like to encourage New Zealanders to make a stand and boycott any products made from native wood. Many of the forests that rimu and beech is logged from on the West Coast by the SOE Timberlands are prime habitat for the endangered kiwi. The 'Slayed in New Zealand' label is symbolic of the connection between native wood products and the death of the kiwi."

"To be destroying its habitat for cosmetic furniture and toilet seats is akin to wearing panda fur and eating whale meat which are now totally unacceptable in a civilised society".

The sticker can be downloaded on the Internet from: www.nfa.org.nz/slayed.jpg

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For more information contact: Nick Young - National Coordinator Native Forest Action 03 545 6040 nfa_offi@xtra.co.nz

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