The appearance of Mikey Havoc and his spunky sidekick Newsboy in Westport yesterday drew interest from the public wanting autographs from the famous Aucklanders.

Havoc, Newsboy and film crew were filming for their new series of 'Havoc On Tour'. Yesterday they were escorted into Orikaka Forest by Native Forest Action and Buller Conservation Group members to film and see evidence of Timberlands rimu massacre in the Buller Gorge.

"While Timberlands rave on about being world leaders in sustainable logging, the vast majority of their rimu logs come from forests even they admit they are logging unsustainably", said Native Forest Action spokesperson Dean Baigent-Mercer. "Timberlands are currently going hell for leather, ripping out all merchantable rimu in Orikaka Forest before the government puts a stop to this madness".

"Before Timberlands began logging Orikaka forest it was 75-80% virgin unlogged rainforest. Since late 1999, Timberlands have increased their logging rate and have already taken all the merchantable rimu from approximately 40% of this 6439 hectare forest. The Department of Conservation have assessed Orikaka forest to be of high conservation value."

"We thought it was essential for Havoc, Newboy and the rest of New Zealand to witness what goes on behind the hills of Westport, in our own forests. Hundreds of giant rimu logs piled high greeted us. Several were a staggering 1.4 metres diameter."

ENDS

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