Carter Holt Harvey signs Pakotai pact

Carter Holt Harvey has signed a pact with people in the Pakotai area, 48km northwest of Whangarei, to consult over the harvesting of Opouteke Forest.

The memorandum of understanding signed between Carter Holt and Pakotai Land Care is similar to agreements the company has made with two community groups in the Bay of Plenty and central North Island.

The memorandum provides a forum for discussion between Carter Holt and residents over issues such as roading, waterways, historically significant sites, land protection and other environmental matters.

Thirty people from Pakotai, Twin Bridges and the Upper Tangowahine Valley registered Pakotai Land Care as an incorporated society to gain more clout over forest harvesting as they felt they were making little impact as individuals.

Pakotai Land Care spokesman Bob Steed said the memorandum showed other Northland communities a way to have a say on serious issues affecting them as Carter Holt moves to harvest the 52,000ha of radiata pines it has growing in the region.

Mistakes had been made with plantation forest establishment and management in the past, and Pakotai Land Care would work with Carter Holt to remedy those issues, Mr Steed said.

Northland Regional Council recently approved the company's application for a resource consent to harvest the 13,000ha Opouteke Forest.

Carter Holt Forest Resources northern regional manager Duncan Annandale said salvaging of trees on road lines would begin in October and clearfelling would start next year.

The company was still discussing some conditions of the resource consent with council officials and was talking with iwi groups.

Similar memorandums of understanding were being discussed with two community groups in the Rodney district, Mr Annandale said.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)