Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand Inc P O Box 11-057, Wellington, eco@reddfish.co.nz, Tel
(04)385-7545
Media Release - Sunday 29 August, 1999 Wellington
Timberlands Contract Repudiation by Labour Urged
The national summit of environmental organisations today called upon the Labour Party to announce its policy on West
Coast logging and to repudiate in advance any contractual arrangements the National led government might enter into with
Timberlands West Coast.
"Any delay by Labour in repudiating any such contracts might encourage the state owned enterprise's subcontractors to
seek future compensation," says ECO, whose member organisations met this weekend in Wellington.
Chairperson Stephen Blyth said today "Three generations of conservationists from many different walks of life and from a
wide range of organisations pledged with a toast, to see the end of Timberland's logging of rimu forests and to prevent
the beech scheme getting underway.
"The weekend meeting heard of the decades of work protecting forests by distinguished ECO conservationists Dame Miriam
Dell ONZ, Bob Fantl, and Dr Ian Prior. We honoured that work.
Mr Blyth said the meeting called for immediate protection from logging of the West Coast forests and the rejection of
government plans to allow the export of indigenous logs and wood chips.
The delegates deplored the tactics of Timberlands West Coast and their PR company Shandwick of intimidating
environmentalists and churning out letters designed to appear to be written by West Coasters.
"Conservation Minister Nick Smith, who spoke to the delegates, seemed to be far more angry at the book "Secrets and
Lies" than we have ever seen him at the loss of rimu forest or destruction to the marine environment at Spirits Bay",
said Stephen Blyth.
"It is a disgrace that he is trying to normalize and legitimate the Shandwick - Timberlands underhand tactics." Mr Blyth
concluded.
(ENDS)
For further information contact Stephen Blyth, (04) 383-5727