Phil Taylor
New Zealand’s Forest Owners Association says it is working closely with the government in making sure that relief packages for forestry workers will both look after the workers and also speed economic recovery when the COVID-19 epidemic is over. Source: Timberbiz
The incoming FOA President, Phil Taylor says forestry will be a crucial export tool in leading New Zealand’s recovery.
“In common with the rest of the primary sector, we will be ready to do our part to pull our economy through the extraordinary times which are ahead of us,” he said.
Mr Taylor said forestry had been hit very hard by measures in China to try to contain COVID-19.
This had created some urgency to help people who had now been out of work for weeks.
The Forestry Minister, Shane Jones, has announced a $28m relief package for forest workers in the Gisborne region, which will provide work for 300 forest workers in jobs such as road maintenance of removal of trees which are in danger of falling onto roads or powerlines.
Mr Taylor said it was great that these workers could be given employment that is useful to the local economy, doesn’t take the workers away from their home region and keeps the workforce intact.
“The worldwide appetite for timber is undiminished,” he said.
“In fact, it’s likely to increase for New Zealand timber as climate change has an impact on forests in other countries, such as Canada, Australia and through Europe.”
The Forest Growers Levy Trust, at its meeting in Wellington late last week, also endorsed the government’s move in the Gisborne region.
The FGLT collects a levy on the national log harvest for industry-good projects.
Its chairman Geoff Thompson said he appreciated the severity of the economic situation and the Trust would continue to back its forest work programme, despite the hit on its income from a reduced harvest.
“These are incredibly difficult and stressful times,” he said.
“That means we must look after our workforce and work with the government on the best ways we can do this.”
