Rotorua MP Todd McClay believes a new wood-products levy will help to inject some much needed funding into Rotorua's forestry sector.
Associate Minister for Primary Industries Jo Goodhew this week announced Government approval of a 27c/tonne levy on all harvested wood material from New Zealand plantation forests during 2014. This is expected to raise more than $6.5 million during the year.
She said the Government had agreed to make the new levy order following a successful referendum of forest growers in March this year.
"By voting in the referendum, forest growers gave a mandate to the Forest Growers Levy Trust to collect levies to invest in industry activities such as research and development, forest biosecurity, and industry training and education to support the success of forestry," Mrs Goodhew said.
Mr McClay said the levy was a bid to raise funds for investment in the forestry industry. "This sector is incredibly important to the Rotorua and Kawerau economies and there is plenty of potential for growth. A key part of this is focussing on research and development and this new levy will create extra means to invest in this area as well forest biosecurity and training and education.
