Farm Forestry New ZealandPress Release: New Zealand Government, 23 December 2005.
Anderton welcomes pan-industry body- Woodco
The formation of Woodco, the Wood Council of New Zealand, is a very positive development according to Forestry Minister Jim Anderton.
"I congratulate the forestry industry on the establishment of their new pan-industry grouping 'Woodco'. By coordinating, cooperating and sharing new ideas the industry will be better able to take a strategic approach to the industry's development into the future.
"This will further enhance the work industry and government are doing together as part of the Forest Industry Development Agenda. The five key work areas under the FIDA are market development; market access; education & training; bio-energy; and excellence in wood engineering design.
"I look forward to working with Woodco on lifting the performance and value of our forestry industry," Jim Anderton said.
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Formation of important new pan-industry forestry body widely welcomed
WELLINGTON, 23 December, 2005: The formal establishment this week of a new single pan-industry body for forestry has been welcomed by industry and government leaders as a vital step forward for the entire forestry sector.
Woodco, the Wood Council of New Zealand, is an "association of associations", whose formation has been on the agenda of sector leaders for more than a year. It will provide all forestry operators with a single voice for the first time.
At its inaugural meeting in Auckland this week (Monday, December 19), Woodco elected Council members representing major forestry sector organisations, and appointed Tony Johnston, a leading forestry executive with national management and international marketing experience, as its Executive Chair.
"This is an important first step in building a stronger sector," said Council member Lees Seymour who is also on the Executive Council of the Forest Owners Association and Managing Director of Weyerhaeuser NZ Incorporated.
"Woodco brings new unity on common issues and in areas of shared market opportunity. It also provides a single point of contact with the Government, who we look forward to working with closely through the Forest Industry Development Agenda process which will be a key to further development in the sector.
"We are also extremely fortunate in having as our first Executive Chair someone who has a very strong track record in applying strategic thinking to sector issues and pioneering new markets."
Members of the Council Board are: Peter Berg, Phil Langston and Lees Seymour (of the Forest Owners Association); David Anderson, Peter Springford and Marty Verry (Wood Processors Association); Mike Halliday (Farm Forestry Association); John Stulen (Forest Industry Contractors Association), and Owen Griffiths (Pine Manufacturers Association).
Their organisations represent the bulk of New Zealand forestry operators. The Wood Processors Association of New Zealand (WPA) was itself formed recently as part of a process of enabling the creation of Woodco. It announced the appointment of its first CEO last week, Peter Bodeker, who took up this position after being the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Dairy InSight.
David Anderson, chairman of the WPA and Managing Director of Winstone Pulp International (WPI), said the industry was bringing together a whole new package of improved representation and welcomed the formation of Woodco as creating a powerful new voice for the sector.
"We look forward to now being able to work much more effectively for all our members - and for the New Zealand economy to which forestry is a huge contributor," he said.
Tony Johnston is Principal of Mainsail Services Ltd, a consultancy. He was formerly CEO of the Thames Group and Thames Timber, and, among other executive roles was a General Manager for Fletcher Challenge Forests Ltd, responsible for production and distribution operations in the United States, New Zealand and Chile.
He said Woodco would complete its incorporation process in the new year. He will take up his new role, operating from the Association’s Wellington office immediately.
Note to Editors: Minister of Forestry the Hon Jim Anderton also welcomed the establishment of Woodco in a separate statement released by his office today. Please contact Joy Gribben 04 471 9172 or 027 407 6719 for details.
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