FIEA’s WoodTECH 2021 – already cancelled for Melbourne because of Covid complications – has now been cancelled for Rotorua, New Zealand. The conference was scheduled for 3-4 August 2021. Source: Timberbiz
Organisers said that as of mid-June, international borders remained closed which had prevented many presenters, exhibitors and delegates from outside New Zealand attending this year.
“Melbourne, Australia is still in and out of lockdown and there is a still a reluctance in Australia to travel interstate. This has meant Australian mills are unable to meet together, as they usually do, at this two-yearly event,” the organisers said.
Mills spoken to had been disappointed and again, the virtual experience or running webinars isn’t quite the same.
“And finally, as we all know, post COVID-19 has resulted in an unprecedented level of building activity across Australasia,” organisers said.
“As a consequence, mills are working extra shifts and extra hours to meet this demand. This means that many of the mills we’ve been speaking to over the last month or so are concerned that they’ll be unable to get into Rotorua to attend the event or even participate remotely – as right now – they’re all just too busy.”
The plan instead is to run a very similar program – much the same content and speakers as set up for WoodTECH 2021 in both Rotorua, New Zealand on 18-19 May 2022 and then again in Melbourne, Australia on 24-25 May 2022.
“We’re hopeful that most international borders will be open to travel and many of our international presenters – and exhibitors – who haven’t been out to Australasia for at least a couple of years, will instead be able to participate in person to present and exhibit at the 2022 series – and to meet up with their customers,” organisers said.
Updates will be supplied with a new program being set up by FIEA, sawmill tech and equipment suppliers and local mills, later in the year.
