Maori forestry to aid region
A Maori forestry project which will see 32,000ha of Maori land replanted could create thousands of new jobs, the chairman of a Maori forestry collective says.
Ten Maori land trusts - part of the Te Tai Tokerau Maori Forestry Collective - will be working together to replant more than 32,000ha of their land.
Chairman Pita Tipene said the initiative would create new jobs in the region.
"There are already 2500 direct jobs created in Te Tai Tokerau and we think there will be a multiplier by three of indirect jobs so as more value is added into the local community this will create more jobs."
Current jobs included horticulture, transport and jobs in the timbermill while an example of indirect jobs might be creating more work for fuel companies who need to provide diesel to transport companies.
"Our preference is to employ local people," Mr Tipene said.
The Te Tai Tokerau Maori Forestry Collective was formed last year to bring together forest and land owners who wanted increased returns from their sector.
He said the plan was about boosting productive land use, creating jobs and contributing to economic development by increasing the return to owners.
"What we want to do is ensure value is added to pine that we grow. We don't want to see logs taken and shipped off. We want to see it processed here and we need to attract investors.
"What we need is scale and if we can give certainty of supply to investors they're likely to come here."
A Northland Maori forestry project could lead to thousands of new jobs as
backers hope to carry out more value-added log processing in the region.