The forest industry’s boom/bust cycle in New Zealand has got to change, according to forestry minister Jim Sutton.
He has told large forestry owners they must work harder to provide sustainable employment so skilled workers do not leave the industry.
The high dollar, rising shipping and electricity costs and low sawn timber prices have resulted in 2,700 workers losing their jobs since June. Many have now found other work and are reluctant to return to the forest industry.
Mr Sutton said it was a waste to train people and then lose them when there was a downturn. Forestry owners, he said, should aim to maintain stability and he wanted to hear from forestry workers about how this might be improved.
