Members sought for forest levy board

7 September 2015

Nominations are open for members of the Forest Growers Levy Trust board. There are vacancies for two members representing owners of large forests and one representing owners of smaller forests.

 This is the first election since a commodity levy was applied to harvested plantation logs in January 2014. The levy raised $7.96 million in 2014 for activities that benefit all forest owners, including research, forest health, safety and training.

"Half of the six elected board members have retired this year after only one year in office. This sets in motion a rotational retirement policy for directors that will see half their number retiring every second year after a four-year term," says trust chair Geoff Thompson.

Nominations are being sought for one board member representing entities with less than 1000 hectares of stocked forest and two members representing entities with more than 1000 ha. In the first category Steve Wilton is retiring and in the second, Paul Nicholls and Phil Taylor are retiring. All three are offering themselves for nomination.

Nominations opened on 1 September and close on 18 September. Anyone who owns a "qualifying forest" – 4 ha or more, planted before 1 October 2003 – is allowed to nominate or second a candidate and to vote in the election that follows.

"I strongly urge forest owners to participate in this process," Mr Thompson says. "The Trust has funded some excellent work in its first 18 months that is of benefit to all, but it is essential that individual levy payers understand and are involved in the work we are doing on their behalf."

To make a nomination, or for more information, visit the Forest Voice website, www.forestvoice.org.nz

For more information, contact Geoff Thompson, Tel 027 445 3455