One of New Zealand’s largest forestry companies has had its certification suspended over slash damage in and around Tolaga Bay. Sources: 1News, Timberbiz
Ernslaw One is part of the Oregon Group, owned by the Malaysian based Tiong family, along with its subsidiary company and processing arm, Winstone Pulp International, situated in the Central North Island, which undertakes lumber and pulp manufacturing.
The certification was from the Forest Stewardship Council, an international body that sets forestry standards.
Damage to the area from the slash is from 2018, however, locals remain concerned.
Tolaga Bay farmer Mike Parker said there’s “thousands” of areas which have had slash damage.
“[They’re] in the back of Tolaga Bay, Tokomaru Bay, our friends up in the Waiapu region there, there’s thousands of these situations happening. There’s only one way they go, and that’s down and they keep going.”
With multiple forestry companies working in Tairāwhiti, there’s no way of knowing where all the wood has come from. However, some areas impacted by the slash filmed by 1News this week were where Ernslaw was a major grower.
Manu Caddie of Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Hauā said Ernslaw has already been prosecuted successfully in the High Court.
“This is just another notch against them, I guess, and hopefully there’s other companies that go under the spotlight.”
Chair of the Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use Hekia Parata said it was an environmental disaster unfolding in plain sight.
Not only has Ernslaw lost its certification from the Forest Stewardship Council but an audit was being conducted into many forests around the country.
Ernslaw said it was appealing the suspension.
The company referred 1News to the agency that audited its forestry operations in New Zealand. The agency hasn’t responded to a request for comment.
1News chief correspondent John Campbell said that like the slash itself, there is much more to come on this story.
