New Zealand Timber and Wood Products Procurement Policy (TWPP)

Welcome to the New Zealand Timber and Wood Products Procurement Policy (TWPP). This page will keep you up to date with the policy and provide you with the information needed to understand and implement it.

About the policy

Public service departments as listed in the First Schedule to the State Sector Act 1988, plus NZ Defence Force and NZ Police have been directed by Cabinet to follow the Timber and Wood Products Procurement Policy Guidelines; other agencies are encouraged to follow them.

The Guidelines pertain to timber and wood products including rough, sawn and dressed timber; plywood and veneers; fabricated wood; wooden structural components, fittings and joinery; and wooden furniture. Paper has been added as a result of a recent review associated with the development of the policy address illegal logging.

The TWPP aims to ensure that Government is buying only legally sourced timber and timber products. It also strongly encourages Government use of sustainably produced timber. Cabinet has asked for a further report back on the feasibility of making the purchasing of timber and wood products from sustainable managed sources a mandatory provision of the policy in 2008.

Key features of the timber and wood products procurement policy

Government departments are required to seek legally sourced timber and wood products.
Government departments are strongly encouraged to buy timber and timber products from sustainably managed sources. The Government expects its agencies to take all reasonable steps to ensure products are from sustainably managed sources.
Paper is now included under the TWPP policy (i.e. wood products includes paper).
Government departments are required to document for audit their verification of the legality of timber and timber products purchased.
The policy guidelines for the procurement of timber and timber products fit within the MED-administered Government Procurement Policy.
Officials will report back in 2008 on progress of the TWPP policy, including changes made to the policy in 2006.

Contacts

If you need further help or wish to talk to someone about the policy please contact the following people:

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Timber and Wood Products Procurement Policy)

Amber Duncalfe
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
Phone: 04 894 0710
Email: amber.duncalfe@maf.govt.nz

Ministry for the Environment (Govt3)

Govt3 Programme
Sustainable Industries Group
Ministry for the Environment
Ph: 04 917 7400
govt3@mfe.govt.nz

Useful links

Ministry for the Environment Govt3 programme
Govt3 is a programme for core central agencies departments and Ministries. As of 2 June 2006, 47 agencies have formally signed up to Govt3 membership. The Govt3 programme also engages in less formal partnerships with sustainability leaders in the wider public and private sectors.

The Ministry for the Environment coordinates the Govt3 programme, offering assistance to agencies to undertake sustainable initiatives including providing information, practical tools, and links to other agencies that have undertaken similar initiatives. Govt3 focuses on four key topic areas:

recycling/waste minimisation
buildings
transport
office consumables and equipment.

There are also two major cross-cutting themes, sustainable procurement (also known as sustainable purchasing) and energy efficiency.

Ministry of Economic Development – New Zealand Government Procurement
New Zealand's government procurement policy is based on the commercial principle of best value for money through competition, including full and fair opportunity for domestic suppliers. While the Ministry provides policy advice and has set some mandatory procedural rules, individual departments or agencies are responsible for their own purchasing decisions.

Audit Best Practice
Procurement: A Statement of Good Practice was issued by the Office of the Auditor and Controller-General in 2001. This defines "value for money" as the best possible outcome for the total cost of ownership (or "whole of life" cost), which does not necessarily mean selecting the lowest price.

Contact for Enquiries