The possible sale of New South Wales state plantations is back in the spotlight, fuelled by widely reported speculation that more asset sales to finance growth are in the pipeline – as John Halkett reports.
The future of the valuable New Zealand pine framing export trade to Australia remained in the balance in November following a move initiated by the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) to reduce moisture levels.
“The cat has got out of the bag and is running around the neighbourhood.” That is New Zealand forestry minister Jim Anderton’s colourful description of the challenge facing the wood industry in securing a fairer deal from the Green Building Council rating system. Tony Neilson and Michael Dover investigate.
The earliest form of environmental assessment of buildings was probably a consideration of mainly indoor environments, aimed at improving living amenities or enhancing convenience for occupants.
One of New Zealand’s most experienced international log marketing experts says opportunities worth hundreds of millions of dollars are being lost by exporters because they think they can do it better on their own.
The investment environment in New Zealand continues to deteriorate, according to the Wood Processors Association (WPA), with one of the major negatives being energy cost uncertainties.
The conventional pine framing industry has recently been alerted to the development of a new technology which could potentially turn the structural lumber industry inside out – literally. And, as Tony Neilson reports, the stakes are high.
The ever-rising cost of extracting jungle timbers has brought a new wave of Asian and domestic interest and investment in Papua New Guinea’s expanding plantation forest industry.
Customised off-site house construction is a fast-growing business in the northern hemisphere and the Australasian engineered wood products industry needs to be ready to ride the wave, as Jim Bowden reports.
