Wood Processors Working More Closely

Wood Processors Working More Closely

Wood Processors Association Chairman David Anderson, reporting at the organisation’s annual meeting, applauded the industry for working more closely together than it had ever done in the past. It is clear that there is a new sense of cooperation within the processing sector, evidenced by the fact that eight new affiliate members and five new corporate members have joined the recently established Wood Processors Association (WPA) in the last 12 months.

New corporate members include the large processing company, Juken New Zealand Ltd, as well as Forever Beech Ltd, Norske Skog, Pacific Pine Industries Ltd, and Westco Lagan Ltd. This shows that WPA is providing the coordination and voice that wood processors need to have in what has been and is likely to continue to be challenging times for the sector.

WPA Chief Executive Peter Bodeker reported that the major activities looking forward would be to provide a detailed and reasoned response to the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme released by the Government in September. Other issues include rationalisation and review of timber treatment, as well as a major stake in the industry promotional programme NZ Wood.

Anderson commented that within wood and wood-based products, New Zealand has an extremely valuable resource which stores carbon. Maximising the use of timber in all forms of building and replacing other high emissions-based products is an extremely environmentally friendly and sensible activity, and he urged New Zealanders to consider their use of wood and wood-based products in all of their activities.

WPA represents 18 corporate member companies responsible for the primary processing of approximately 80 percent of New Zealand’s wood, as well as 13 affiliate members from a variety of industry-related companies. With annual export earnings of $3.2 billion, the forestry and wood processing industry is New Zealand's third largest export earner. Additionally the sector has $1.5 – $2.0 billion of domestic sales.

Members of WPA include those involved in pulp and paper, engineered wood products manufacturing, sawmilling and remanufacturing.

ENDS

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