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E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good afternoon everyone and thank-you Dennis for inviting me to be here today.

The National Government’s business growth agenda has six streams focusing on the inputs businesses need to succeed and grow: export markets, capital markets, innovation, skilled and safe workplaces, natural resources and infrastructure.

There are more than 350 BGA actions, of which more than half are complete or being implemented.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says the results from a trial using remote control technology in tree felling, which could save lives in forestry harvesting operations, show promising results.

“During the successful trial the operator was able to successfully fell and bunch several trees from a safe distance at the top of a steep slope using a remote control device,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has announced changes to the funding programme supporting East Coast landowners with erosion issues.

“The Gisborne region has a severe erosion problem. A quarter of the land is susceptible to severe erosion, compared with only eight per cent of all land in New Zealand,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Minister Primary Industries Jo Goodhew is urging Northlanders to take extreme care when clearing windthrown trees, and to get in touch with the Ministry if they need safety tips.

The warning follows days of torrential rain and gale force winds, which have battered the region. The storm has impacted around 80% of the primary sector, and as a result has been declared a medium-scale adverse event.

“As the clean-up gets underway, there are widespread reports of uprooted or toppled trees,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good morning everyone and thanks for inviting me to address you today.

First, I want to acknowledge the institute, a professional body with a long and distinguished history.

I was interested to learn that the NZIF was founded in 1927, as this country’s first tree planting boom really took off.

I would like to acknowledge Bob Pocknall, from PF Olsen and Co, this year’s conference organising committee chair.

A report released today provides important information to help transform the forestry industry says Associate Primary Minister Jo Goodhew.

“The Future capability needs for the primary industries in New Zealand report will help in attracting, training and retaining that future forestry workforce,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Future improvements in the skill level of the workforce will be a critical requirement for achieving the forestry industry’s strategy targets.

The Government welcomes the passage of legislation amending the Climate Change Response Act 2002 so that only New Zealand Units (NZUs) can be surrendered by participants when deregistering post-1989 forest land from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

The amended act will remove the opportunity to arbitrage NZUs by registering and deregistering the same piece of post-1989 forest land from the ETS multiple times.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew is welcoming the expansion of a trial which has successfully exported timber products to Australia without chemical treatment.

“Forest product exporters are normally required to fumigate with methyl bromide or other chemical treatment during the summer flight season of the burnt pine longhorn beetle,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has visited the wind ravaged West Coast today to experience first-hand the impact on local communities.

“The severe winds on last Thursday (17 April) have affected the indigenous and plantation forests, as well as the wider agriculture sector from Karamea to Haast,” says Ms Goodhew.

During the storm the strongest gust recorded was 130km/hr at Westport, although the level of damage suggests the winds were even stronger in some areas. The Insurance Council of New Zealand is still assessing the damage.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Associate Minister Jo Goodhew today announced a collaborative partnership to restore the Waiapu catchment in the Gisborne District.

“The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between MPI, Te Runanganui O Ngāti Porou and Gisborne District Council demonstrates a long term commitment to work together and with landowners to address the erosion control problems in the catchment.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has announced that a project which aims to provide information for growers on alternative tree species has been approved for a Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) grant.

“The project will focus specifically on cypresses and eucalypts. Both species groups have been successfully grown here on a wide range of site types for many years, but on a limited scale,” says Mrs Goodhew.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Thank you Pamela, and good morning to you all and welcome to the 2014 PreFabNZ conference.

I’d like to extend a special greeting to delegates from overseas, welcome to Auckland.

Putting together conferences like this takes time and energy.

I would like to start by acknowledging Pamela Bell, PreFabNZ chief executive, who has done so much to make this event possible.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew says that public consultation on proposed operational changes to the East Coast Forestry Project (ECFP) has now ended.

“We were pleased to receive submissions from landowners, research providers, forestry companies, local government and industry bodies.

“The submissions were supportive of improving the ECFP. Many of the submissions identified issues that we are aware of such as the need to speed up the payment process to reduce the period of bridging finance. 

Primary Industries Ministers Nathan Guy and Jo Goodhew are welcoming commercialisation of new forestry technology this week as a big step forward in improving both productivity and safety.

“The Steepland Harvesting Programme is a very exciting Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) project, with $6 million in joint funding from the industry and the Government and a vision of 'No worker on the slope, no hand on the chainsaw',” says Mr Guy.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

I would like to acknowledge the pan-industry conference organisers; the Forest Owners Association, the Wood Processors Association, Pine Manufacturers Association and the Forestry Industry Contractors Association.

I would also like to acknowledge our MC Dr James Buwalda and my fellow panellists, Labour’s Hon. David Cunliffe and Dr Russel Norman from the Greens.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew has tonight paid tribute to the best of the best in Kiwi timber engineering and building design.

“Innovative designs in wood are giving us a whole new kind of building. The best of what is being built today is strong, sustainable and thermally sound.”

Mrs Goodhew made the comments during the presentation of the Ministry for Primary Industries Supreme Judges’ Choice Award at the NZ Wood Resene Timber Design Awards 2014.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced the sale of 22,800 hectares of Crown forest cutting rights on the West Coast to Ngāi Tahu Forest Estates Ltd (NTFE).

“The Crown’s forests are being sold to NTFE under a first right of refusal dating back to Ngāi Tahu’s 1997 Treaty Settlement,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The land the forests are on was previously purchased by Ngāi Tahu as part of their Treaty Settlement.

Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew and Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser have today announced changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) which will allow for greater transparency.

“From April buyers and sellers of carbon units will be able to see where the unit has come from, so they know how the unit was generated,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew has today announced that public consultation on proposed operational changes to the East Coast Forestry Project (ECFP) is now underway.

“The Gisborne region has a severe erosion problem. A quarter of the land is susceptible to severe erosion, compared with only 8 percent of all land in New Zealand,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The ECFP funds the treatment of land to prevent soil erosion, through planting trees or indigenous regeneration.”

Associate Minister for Primary Industries, Jo Goodhew has today announced a new commodity levy on all harvested wood material, including logs, from New Zealand plantation forests.

“The Government has agreed to make this new levy order following a successful referendum of forest growers in March 2013,” says Mrs Goodhew.

Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew welcomes international participants to the 25th session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC) in Rotorua today.

“APFC meets every two years. New Zealand is chairing this session and will retain this role until the next meeting in 2015,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“It has been 50 years since the last session was last held in New Zealand, and the Government is privileged to host this event once again.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Rotorua Mayor Hon Steve Chadwick, FAO Assistant Director-General Mr Konuma, FAO Director of the Forest Economics Policy and Products Ms Eva Muller, Scion CEO Warren Parker and chair Mr. Su Chunyu.

Distinguished delegates and guests, industry and iwi leaders, local dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa. Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good afternoon everyone and thanks for the warm welcome.

It is great to be back here in Rotorua, my second visit in as many months.

I attended the WoodEXPO 2013 meeting in September - and recognise some familiar faces from that informative day!

Putting together conferences takes time and energy and I want to start off by acknowledging three key individuals who made today’s forum possible.

E aku rangatira, tēnā koutou katoa.  Ka nui te honore ki te mihi ki a koutou.

Good morning everyone and thank you for inviting me to open this important and timely meeting. Thank you to Francis (CEO of Grow Rotorua) for the warm welcome.

I bring you apologies from Hon Steven Joyce who was unable to be with you on this occasion, and asked me to speak on his behalf.