Ngai Tahu, the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand has bought nearly 23,000ha of pine trees from the Crown’s West Coast Timberlands forest. Source: Radio New Zealand
The trees sit on land already owned and operated by the tribe’s subsidiary, Ngai Tahu Forest Estates.
The Government will not say how much it has sold the trees for, nor is it willing to be specific about why it has offloaded them, saying only that it has a policy to exit commercial forestry.
Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew said existing supply agreements with timber processing mills would continue.
Ngai Tahu expects harvesting to increase by 10%, with the deal expected to be completed by the end of April.
