Thanks, but what's the name again? says Anderton

By PAM GRAHAM

Thank you for your contribution but I don't think we've met, was Economic and Regional Development Minister Jim Anderton's response yesterday to Terry McFadgen, chief executive of Fletcher Challenge Forests.

McFadgen said this week that levels of investment were nowhere near the $3 billion required and the forestry industry needed a top-down plan, perhaps even a structure like the dairy industry.

Anderton said he had worked with company executives for 2 1/2 years to increase investment in wood processing and there were a "large number of companies who were either now investing, about to invest or wanting to invest in processing that were not on the horizon two years ago".

Fletcher Forests had not been very involved in the process and he could not recall meeting McFadgen, except maybe in passing.

"Everyone is welcome to their view and the Government and industry have been working on it for about two years," he said.

"My door is open."