Media Statement
16 March 2000
Kit Richards' Timberlands consultancy untenable
"The consultancy arrangement between Mr Kit Richards and Timberlands West Coast Ltd is untenable in the view of the
shareholder," Minister Responsible for Timberlands West Coast Pete Hodgson said today.
Timberlands is a state-owned enterprise. The shareholding ministers are Mr Hodgson and the Minister of Finance, Dr
Michael Cullen.
"I have conveyed the shareholder's view to the chairman of the Timberlands board, Mr Warren Young, this afternoon," Mr
Hodgson said.
"I anticipate hearing back from the chairman in due course."
Mr Richards resigned as Timberlands' general manager, planning, on January 28. His departure followed public disclosure
of an e-mail message in which he urged his correspondents to apply pressure to the Government to change its policy in
respect of native forest logging.
Timberlands' chief executive Mr Dave Hilliard told a Parliamentary select committee today that Mr Richards had since
been contracted as a consultant to the company.
ENDS