Growth Strategy for Growth Industry

23 June, 2003

ENTERPRISE NORTHLAND FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT GROUP : MEDIA RELEASES 2003

The fastest-growing major industry in Northland, the forest industries sector, has received Enterprise Northland and Industry New Zealand funding to map its development.

Enterprise Northland chief executive Brian Roberts says the growth strategy will help the industry unlock opportunities that are becoming available as production from Northland forests rises dramatically.

Mr Roberts congratulated the Enterprise Northland Forestry Development Group for having the foresight to identify the need for a strategy and added he had been pleased to work with Industry NZ to secure their support for the project.

Development group chairman, Derek Colebrook , says the strategy will provide the industry with critically important information that is needed for it to plan and invest for growth.

"The strategy will give Northland some hard data on the economic opportunities available through development of the industry," Mr Colebrook says. "It will also give us equally hard information about what we, as an industry, have to do to address constraints and issues relating to labour and skills, transport infrastructure, and central and local government regulations - such as the Resource Management Act."

The strategy will also look at investment needs and opportunities, Maori forestry development, industry communication, and energy requirements.

Industry New Zealand's Northland Region economic development advisor, Hinurewa Te Hau , says INZ's support for the Northland strategy is a logical extension to the national Wood Processing Strategy that was produced last year.

"It will enable the Northland forest industries to look at opportunities and issues that are unique to the region," Ms Te Hau says.

For further information:
Brian Roberts
Chief Executive
Enterprise Northland
025 958 308

Derek Colebrook
Chairman
Enterprise Northland Forestry Development Group
021 902 593