﻿Mr SPEAKER: Question No 9, Dr Jian Yang.
Dr JIAN YANG (National)
to the Minister of Science and Innovation:
What research is the Government undertaking
to strengthen the forestry sector?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Science and Innovation):
Yesterday I announced that the Government will invest
$5 million over 7 years in a $10 million research partnership
to help increase the competitiveness of the forestry sector.
This research will focus on developing a broader range
of high-value, better-performing wood products from tree species
such as eucalyptus, Douglas fir, and cypresses, which provides
an alternative to our predominant tree species, radiata pine.
The new partnership is led by Future Forests Research,
an industry-operated entity, in collaboration with Scion,
the University of Canterbury, and the NZ Drylands Forests Initiative,
and will operate on a dollar for dollar basis,
matched by the industry.
Dr Jian Yang: Why is the Government investing more
in forestry sector research and development?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE: This investment aims to strengthen the ties
between research organisations and the industry, building on
our existing forestry strength and moving up the value chain
by developing high-value specialty wood products
while retaining a strong focus on sustainability.
It complements other research work we are supporting
in the forestry sector. [Interruption] You would think
they would ask a question rather than just talk all afternoon.
The Primary Growth Partnership project on steep land harvesting
is designed to increase the safety of forestry workers
on steep and sloping land, while reducing the cost of harvest by 25%.
Forestry is NZ’s third-largest export earner, behind dairy and meat.
It contributes around $5 billion to our exports, and we are committed
to growing that further with investments such as this.
Stuart Nash: Is he aware that since his party has been in Government,
the volume of logs exported without a cent of value being added
has gone from 6 million cubic metres, or 30% of all logs cut,
to 17 million cubic metres, or 56% of all logs cut;
and how will this initiative come even close to addressing this disparity?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The number of logs cut has grown dramatically
over that period, and the amount that is processed here
is approximately the same. [Interruption] Mr Speaker,
do they want an answer to the question they asked me?
Mr SPEAKER: Would the Minister give his answer.
Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The good news for the member in this subject
is actually the significant investment going on
in the wood processing sector as we speak. Oji, for example,
which lives just up the road from his city, has made a big investment
in forestry in Hawke’s Bay and has made a billion-dollar investment
around the country with the purchase of Carter Holt Harvey assets in Taupō—
Stuart Nash: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
I tried to direct this question towards the primary question
by asking how the initiative that the Minister announced
was going to reduce that disparity.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! If you had shown some courtesy—
Hon Gerry Brownlee: Speaking to that point of order—
Mr SPEAKER: No, I do not need assistance. If you had shown
some courtesy to allow the Minister to finish his answer,
and if you could ask for a bit of courtesy from your own bench mates to us
so we could hear the answer, I think you will get the answer.
Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The point I was making was that there is good news
for the member in this regard. There is significant investment
in the processing sector, such as by Oji, which I mentioned;
also, in Rotorua, Red Stag Timber is constructing a big super mill there,
which will be the largest in the southern hemisphere—
despite the fact that it did not get Labour’s policy—and in Taupō,
Pacific T & R is building a new high-tech processing plant.
Research initiatives such as these being done in partnership
with the sector will help the forestry sector develop further.
Stuart Nash: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
The Minister’s information is most interesting, but the initiative—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member will resume his seat.
There is no doubt in my mind that that question was addressed.
Question No 10.
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