Bruce's Blog

By Bruce Larsen, President, NZ Timber Industry Federation(NZTIF)

New Zealand’s forestry and timber processing sectors areproud contributors to regional employment, carbon storage, and renewableresource management. New Zealand Timber Industry Federation (NZTIF) champions aclear message: Wood is Good—for the environment, for the economy, andfor the future.

Despite this, government procurement policy continues tomiss the mark when it comes to supporting local timber. NZTIF is calling for aTimber First approach that recognises the legitimacy and sustainability of NewZealand’s own legal forestry framework—rather than defaulting to restrictiveinternational certification schemes that shut out many local producers.

Government Procurement: Who Really Benefits?

A case in point is the Rakau Rangatira Phase Two RFPrecently issued by the Department of Conservation (DOC), which mandates ForestStewardship Council (FSC) certification as a requirement for timber supply.While well-intentioned, this creates a barrier for many small-scale New Zealandforest owners, who harvest responsibly and legally under our world-classregulatory system—but don’t hold international certification.

Requiring FSC certification excludes a significant portionof New Zealand’s log supply, particularly from small woodlot owners, who arefully compliant with the Resource Management Act, National EnvironmentalStandards for Plantation Forestry, and other robust domestic legal andenvironmental controls.

As we noted in our press release in May: “It is NewZealand’s laws that ensure sustainability, not an offshore certification logo.”

Rural Impact: Local Sawmills Left Out

This exclusion doesn't just hurt small forest owners—it alsoaffects the rural sawmills and processors who have long-standing relationshipswith these growers. Many of these mills are located in regional communities,providing jobs and economic activity where it’s needed most.

Because government procurement rules require certified logsfor public projects, these sawmills can’t use legally harvested, locallysourced timber from their usual suppliers—even when the product is highquality, fit for purpose, and environmentally sound. This policy effectivelycuts domestic processors out of public construction opportunities andundermines the resilience of New Zealand’s local timber supply chain.

A Missed Opportunity for Regional Growth

By imposing international certification criteria that don’trecognise New Zealand’s own legal frameworks, government agencies areunintentionally excluding a large share of the country’s sustainable woodsupply. This disadvantages small and medium-sized businesses, Māori landowners,and regional processors who are operating entirely within legal and sustainablestandards.

Ironically, these policies also reduce the likelihood thatNew Zealand-grown, lower-carbon timber is used in public projects—at a timewhen the country is seeking to reduce emissions and strengthen regionalresilience.

If It’s Good Enough for Wool ...

In a welcome move, the Government recently announced thatall new government-owned buildings costing $9 million or more, andrefurbishments of $100,000 or more, must use woollen fibres for insulation andacoustic treatments. This is a great step forward for New Zealand’s wool sectorand for circular, natural materials.

But it raises a simple question: if it’s good enough forwool—why not wood?

Like wool, New Zealand timber is renewable, low-carbon, andlocally produced. Yet our own public procurement system often overlooks timbergrown and processed in Aotearoa.

A Call for a Timber First Policy

NZTIF is calling for a Timber First procurement policy thatprioritises New Zealand-grown and processed timber, and accepts logs and lumberproduced in accordance with New Zealand’s environmental laws, not justinternational certification systems.

This approach would:

• Support     local and regional forestry businesses, including small-scale woodlot     owners and rural sawmills.
• Recognise     New Zealand’s strong regulatory framework, which already ensures legal     and sustainable forestry practices.
• Reduce     embodied carbon in government buildings and infrastructure by     favouring locally sourced timber.
• Stimulate     domestic processing and value-add opportunities, rather than driving     demand offshore.

Wood is Good — Let’s Back It

New Zealand doesn’t need to import sustainability. We growit here—legally, responsibly, and renewably. A Timber First policy that alignswith our own legal standards would ensure that public money supports localjobs, lower emissions, and a stronger regional economy.

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