Chief Executive's Overview
This is the last "annual" report from the Ministry of Forestry. The Ministry formally went out of existence when it merged with the Ministry of Agriculture on 1 March 1998 to form the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This last report covers the eight month period from 1 July 1997 to 28 February 1998.
Following the decision taken by the Government in July 1997 to merge the two Ministries, the work load of staff was significantly affected by merger activities. The normal work of the Ministry was inevitably affected by the major diversion of attention and effort. The fact that output was maintained to the extent it was, was due to the dedication of staff who in many instances worked very long hours to accomplish the additional tasks required of them.
The following highlights were achieved. The Ministry:
- continued a high profile programme to eradicate Orgyia thyellina (white spotted tussock moth) from Auckland. Intensive pheromone trapping and surveillance to determine the success or otherwise of 1996/97 spraying has detected no residual population. Surveillance will continue until June 1998.
- provided advice and analysis to enable Cabinet to make decisions on sustainable management
- developed options for the indigenous forests managed by Timberlands West Coast with announcement of decisions expected later in 1998.
- carried out surveys for the pest Uraba lugens (gumleaf skeletoniser) in Mount Maunganui, and treated approximately 100 infested trees in an effort to eradicate this pest. Further surveys will be carried out in March 1998 to determine the success of the treatments.
- earned gross revenue of $30.8 million (provisional figure) in log sales from the Crown lease forests.
- conducted intensive health surveillance of approximately 735 000 hectares of exotic forest, and 126 inspections of port environs and hazard sites, to detect new pest introductions.
- commenced a major survey of all exterior surfaces of 5000 randomly selected imported sea containers to quantify the pest risk associated with this pathway.
- completed the sale of the Crown’s interest in the Tainui-Kawhia lease forest and associated assets, and continued negotiations with other Maori lessors towards selling the Crown’s interest in its lease forests on Maori land.
- worked with MFAT and the New Zealand Forest Industries Council in preparing a response to the United States injunction on timber imports from New Zealand.
- initiated policy reviews of the East Coast Forestry Project and the Northland Forestry Project.
- continued consultations with officials of the Japanese Forestry Agency on access for New Zealand forest products into the Japanese market.
- represented New Zealand at the World Forestry Congress and presented a paper on Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management.
- undertook a survey of key forestry sector players to underpin well-informed policy advice, and to identify areas where government may have a role to play in removing identified impediments to the success of the forestry industry.
- initiated and developed an internet based network of international analysts procuring and sharing fundamental market information for softwood products.
- reprioritised significant resources in order to implement Government’s decision to merge with the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Forestry can look back on a record of significant achievement since it was created from the Forest Service. It is hoped that the merger with the Ministry of Agriculture will result in even better service delivery through greater co-ordination. This is likely to be particularly true in areas such as biosecurity, border quarantine and advice on integrated land use where activities from the two Ministries have been completely merged.
Bruce J Ross
Chief Executive
Contact for Enquiries
Strategy and Performance Group
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0738
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