16 October 2007
Forest owners in New Zealand have supported remarks by Paul Reynolds, a senior Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAP) official, that the Government’s Water Program of Action was a “program of inaction”.
“Reynolds was just being honest,” NZ Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) president Peter Berg said.
“The program has effectively stalled, because some farming sector groups are willing to make only weak and vague commitments for reducing the effects of intensive stocking on the quality of the New Zealand environment.
“Farming organisations were successful in mobilising their members to fight the Government’s Fart Tax proposals. The challenge they now face is to mobilise their members to respond positively on economically important environmental issues.
Berg said New Zealand was marketed internationally as 100% environmentally pure, a brand value that gave gives food and fibre exporters an increasingly important marketing edge.
Environmental monitoring studies by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) show that lowland streams are continuing to deteriorate, and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s ‘Growing for Good’ report exposes weaknesses in the ‘100% pure’ claim.
Peter Berg says the failure of some farming groups to make binding commitments to better environmental performance in realistic time-frames is worrying.
“It puts the credibility of those industries that have done the hard yards – such as forestry, viticulture and some orchard crops – at risk.”
He says the forest industry has a detailed Code of Environmental Practice, which it proposed to make binding on forest owners and people working in forests by September 2009. It was also willing to help the Ministry of the Environment develop a National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry.
While the irrigation sector has been proactive by launching a new Code of Practice, some farming sectors only talk of disseminating, promoting, lifting awareness and maintaining dialogue. There’s nothing specific.
“The dairy industry is better,” Berg said. “They have made firm commitments for excluding stock from streams, lakes and wetlands, but their nutrient budget targets seem a very long way away.”
Meanwhile sector inequities continue: “The forest industry is to be responsible for 95% of its carbon emissions from 1 January 2008. By comparison agriculture starts to account for emissions in 2013 and even then, 90% of its 2005 emissions are exempt,” Berg said.
NZTIF Conference Set For 25-27 October
The New Zealand Timber Industry Federation’s annual conference, postponed in June because of Queenstown’s worst blizzard in 33 years, is scheduled for 25-27 October.
Most speakers have been retained and delegates booked for June will have their registrations rolled over to the new dates.
The conference at Queenstown’s Millennium Hotel is tackling a diverse range of subjects including the industry’s struggle to compete with sawmills in low-cost countries; international wood prices; shipping cost trends; climate change; and offshore markets for treated pine.
An evening program on 26 October will include a visit to the picturesque Gibbston Valley Winery where delegates will descend into the caves for a taste of Central Otago’s finest wines.
Registration inquiries: New Zealand Timber Industry Federation, PO Box 308, Wellington, New Zealand. Tel: +64 4 473 5200. Fax: +64 4 473 6536. Email: inquiries@nztif.co.nz
Student Design Winners‘Unwraped’
After months of hard work and precision, 50 students from the Queensland University of Technology showcased their furniture designs at the Brisbane Home and Design Show held at the Brisbane Convention Centre on 10 October.
In groups of five, students conceptualised, designed and built the innovative furniture pieces in less than 10 weeks as part of their curriculum. All designs were based on the theme of ‘wrapping’ to represent the multiple layers culture, identity and meaning.
The first prize of $1500 went to ‘Decoded’ by students Alana Keogh, Elisa Varela, Emmy-Clare Rule, Cloudia van der Drift, Zoe Thomas and Kathryn Wright.
It is a bold piece of work – 2 m tall, challenging consumerism and evoking debate. It is passive in its meaning, yet bold in its design.
“The piece was constructed using supplied and recycled materials of plywood, acrylic tubing, steel brackets and light fittings. The concept of a barcode was derived utilising and challenging the given criteria of wrapping/unwrapping, while considering our modern, consumer driven society,” Emmy-Clare said.
The designs were part of the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia (FIAA) sponsored design competition in which the winner will participate in the Australian Furniture of the Year Awards in Perth on 3 November.
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