Gaping Health Risk - Cheap Chinese MDF triggers formaldehyde scare
Official concern is mounting about imports into New Zealand of medium density fibreboard (MDF) with levels of formaldehyde emissions up to five times greater than the limit specified in the joint Australian/New Zealand standard. Elizabeth Howarth reports on this potentially serious health threat, apparently from mainly China-sourced product.
Carbon taxes that New Zealand had been forced to pay the Kyoto Management Fund again exceeded US$10 billion, and with an average GDP of minus 3.8% over the last five years, the economy was about to collapse.
Dramatic forest ownership changes and on going freight and exchange rate pressures have combined to place huge pressure on New Zealand log suppliers in key export markets such as China, South Korea and Japan.
From what one is revealed by those who populate what passes for a stock exchange in New Zealand, or is available from business media sources, when trying to make an informed decision on the Carter Holt Harvey/Rank Group fiasco one might as well look for guidance in the entrails of a dead cat. (Tea leaves would be a useful alternative for those who can’t stand the sight of blood.)
As if they didn’t have enough to worry about with the recent housing market decline, Australian timber merchants are waking up to the prospect of stiffer competition from no lesser opposition than some of the ‘big box’ hardware giants, as John Halkett reports.
The 2005 Australian Timber Design Awards were a record-breaking affair, fittingly presented in November at the elegant and beautifully restored Old Customs House on the banks of the Brisbane River.
A year ago, and with so little interest generated, there was talk of making New Zealand’s OriginÒ Timber Awards a biennial event. What a difference a year makes! Entries for the 2005 competition doubled to 33 and the two main sponsors - CHH Woodproducts and the New Zealand Timber Design Society - have committed to doing it again in 2006.
