February 11, 2020
Alternative work sought for forestry crews
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Forestry Minister Shane Jones says logging crews from the East Coast could be deployed to other parts of the country while the slow-down caused by the coronavirus outbreak in China continues.
Some companies have stopped harvesting because China has closed its ports to new shipments while the outbreak continues, and up to a third of contractors aren’t working in the heavily Māori-dominated industry.
Mr Jones says the Government is looking at ways to support the industry, especially in Te Tairāwhiti.
"Te Uru Rakau are exploring ideas to possibly relocate some of the harvest crews that have downed tools in the forestry sector so they can help defeat the march of wilding pine in the South Island so government needs to be very innovative and adroit to deal with some of the disruption coming from the coronavirus," he says.
Shane Jones
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