Government Regulations

In accordance with New Zealand Government regulations, Treeworkx obtains milling consents for all the recovery operations conducted in New Zealand. This process allows us to export or supply for exportation, native timber products.

Introduction

Forest products are New Zealand's third largest export earner. While the contribution from indigenous (naturally occurring) forest is relatively small, it does provide growing consumer markets with high quality timber products unique to New Zealand. New Zealand's competitiveness in international markets relies on quality products consistently arriving on time. An important part of this process is ensuring the rapid clearance of products through overseas customs and phytosanitary formalities.

Most countries have stringent phytosanitary entry requirements to prevent the accidental introduction of harmful pests and diseases. Exporters should be aware of overseas requirements in order to reduce the risk of spreading unwanted pests and diseases and to ensure their cargo is cleared as quickly as possible.

The importance of the need to manage and use natural forests sustainably is widely recognised in New Zealand. International recognition that our natural forests are being used sustainably is also very important as many countries are considering restricting imports to those products harvested under sustainable forest management programmes.

New Zealand has taken positive steps on this issue by passing the Forests Amendment Act 1993, which amended the Forests Act 1949. This promotes the long term sustainability of New Zealand's privately owned indigenous forests by regulating their management for timber production, while maintaining natural and amenity values.

One control mechanism of the Act covers the export of sawn indigenous timber and timber products. This control is consistent with the goal of sustainable forest management. It encourages the use of indigenous timber for high value finished products. In addition to meeting the Acts export controls, exporters must also comply with the Forest Produce Import and Export regulations 1989.

The Forests Act is administered by the Ministry of Forestry's Indigenous Forestry Unit, based in Christchurch. This Unit liaises with the Ministry's Protection Operations Group which works with shippers and waterfront agencies at New Zealand's ports.

Export Products

The following sawn indigenous timber products may be exported from New Zealand:

  • Any grade of sawn beech or sawn rimu, if the timber has been taken from and area managed in accordance with a registered sustainable forest management plan or permit
  • Any finished or manufactured indigenous timber product, regardless of the source of the timber. This is defined as any indigenous timber product in its final shape ready to be installed or used without further processing. It may include a complete item or a component of an item (whether assembled or in kitset form) such as joinery, furniture, toys, tools, and household utensils. It does not include dressed or rough sawn timber, mouldings, panelling, furniture blanks, joinery blanks, building blanks or similar items.
  • Any personal effects.
  • Any stump or root whether whole or sawn, if the timber has been taken from and area managed in accordance with a registered sustainable forest management plan.
  • Any salvaged stump or root, whether whole or sawn where the timber has been taken from an area that is not indigenous forest land. Salvaged stump or root is defined as a stump or root remaining from any timber felled before 3 July 1989 on land that is not indigenous forest land, for example, farmland or planted forest.
  • Any tree fern trunk (or part thereof) or fibres from a tree fern trunk taken with the Ministry of Forestry's permission from indigenous forest land which can supply tree fern trunks sustainably.
  • Any tree fern trunk (or part thereof) or fibres from a tree fern trunk taken from an area managed in accordance with a registered sustainable forest management plan.
  • Any tree fern trunk (or part thereof) or fibres from a tree fern trunk from an area that is not indigenous forest land, for example, farmland or planted forest.

The Ministry of Forestry's Role in Export Facilitation

The Ministry of Forestry offers export facilitation services to existing and intending exporters of timber and timber products. While these services are not a mandatory requirement for export, they will assist exporters in gaining entry into overseas markets.

Services include:
  • Advice on phytosanitary entry requirements of overseas countries, including any concessionary entry requirements and New Zealand export formalities
  • An internationally recognised phytosanitaryinspection and certification service
  • An export sawn timber Quality Assurance scheme which facilitates concessionary entry into specific overseas countries.
  • Additional phytosanitary or product quality assurance inspection and certification when requested by exporters or independent agencies.

The Export process

Orders for Kauri stump wood are sourced, recovered, cut up and dried for delivery throughout the world. Shipping and fumigation costs are expectable on orders of one cubic metre and above.

Single pieces can be carried as hand luggage on international flights and are a common purchase of overseas turners visiting New Zealand.

Finished items purchased in New Zealand can be carried as personal effects or exported by air courier service throughout the world.