Greenpeace Activists Arrested After LumberBank Refuse Public Inspection

GREENPEACE UPDATE

CLICK FOR BIG VERSION

Auckland, Tuesday, February, 2004; 3.00pm - Three Greenpeace activists have been arrested after police cut through chains that were blockading the entrances of Auckland based timber company The LumberBank.

Greenpeace Forest Crimes Unit together with landowners from Papua New Guinea (PNG) closed The LumberBank for over four hours today accusing them of importing timber from illegal operations in PNG and selling it here in NZ.

“We asked the LumberBank to allow a public inspection of their timber yard and for them to provide proof that their timber was legally sourced from PNG”, said PNG Landowner Representative Dorothy Tekwie. “They refused our request, and we suspect it’s because they cannot provide that proof.”

“New Zealanders have a right to know that timber they buy to improve their homes is not fuelling the destruction of our forest homes and livelihoods,” said Tekwie.

CLICK FOR BIG VERSION

“All we ask is that the New Zealand Government live up to their own 2002 election promise(1) and immediately place import restrictions on illegal timber coming into this country. This is just one example of the global trade in illegal timber from the Asia/Pacific region,” said Tekwie.

Currently Logan Petley, Michael McTernan and Jenny Mulcock are in the Auckland District Court.

For more information phone: Communications Officer Suzette Jackson 021 577 556 Dorothy Tekwie Landowner Representative 021 177 9029

(1) “Work towards ensuring that only sustainably produced timber is imported into New Zealand” (Labour Party 2002 Manifesto)

GREENPEACE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
http://www.greenpeace.org.nz
+64 09 630 6317
0800 22 33 44

© Scoop Media