Zero Carbon Submissions - WPMA July 2018
This is a submission on behalf of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA), based on draft submissions provided to WPMA by the NZ Institute of Forestry. WMPA’ s motivation is to emphasise the alignment between sustainable plantation forests, processed wood products and the emissions constrained economy envisioned in a “net zero emissions by 2050” target. Read more...
Tax Working Group - WPMA April 2018
Future of Tax - Submissions Background Paper. The Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association (WPMA) advocates on behalf of a broad membership spanning the whole of New Zealand’s wood supply chain. WPMA represents one of New Zealand’s largest manufacturing sectors, employing over 20,500 people directly in the regions and is the third biggest export sector currently valued at NZ$2.5 billion per annum.
WPMA members handle in excess of 85% of the wood processed in New Zealand. Members produce pulp, paper, sawn lumber, panels, laminated products, mouldings, bio-chemical and bio-composites for export and for the domestic market read more...
Building Performance Standards: Long-Term Funding Projection and Standards Programme - 24 February 2017
The Wood Processors and Manufacturer’s Association of New Zealand (WPMA) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Long-Term Funding Projection and Standards Programme 2016. The WPMA advocates on behalf of a broad membership spanning the whole of New Zealand’s wood supply chain post forest gate. WPMA represents one of New Zealand’s biggest manufacturing sectors, employing over 20,500 people directly in the regions and is the third biggest export sector currently valued at NZ$2.5 billion per annum. Read more...
New Zealand ETS Review 2015 / 16 - 29 April 2016
The Wood Processors and Manufacturer’s Association of New Zealand (WPMA) welcomes the opportunity to make a second submission on the ETS Review 2015/16 as set out in the Discussion Document of 24 November 2015 and the Forestry Technical Note of March 2016. Please note that the WPMA has also made a submission on the ETS Review via the Wood Council of New Zealand... read more
Container Weight Verification - Changing SOLAS Regulations - March 2016
As the result of amendments to The Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) new regulation will come into force internationally on 1 July 2016 that will require all shipping containers to have a Verified Gross Mass prior to lading.
The change here is that, whilst containers have been weighed in the past, the new SOLAS regulation requires the Shipper to have weighed the container using a system (eg weighbridge, load cell etc) that has been certified to the exacting requirements of the NZ Weights and Measures Act.
The timber industry is amongst a number of major exporters reporting back to the regulator in NZ (Maritime NZ) that this new regulation looks to require new complex logistics and will undoubtedly drive up costs.
Please find attached a number of communications from Maritime NZ on this matter including a document listing FAQs.
Also attached is the recent submission to Maritime NZ from WPMA. We raise a number of issues needing clarification (such at the weighing tolerances permitted) but, importantly, seeking an opportunity for WPMA to work with Maritime NZ on continuing to use our standard method of volume-to-mass conversions that have been scientifically validated for NZ timber products.
If Maritime NZ is confident that volume-to-mass conversions for timber are dependable and accurate then WPMA is looking for assurance that members can continue with existing methods of determining mass.
Thank you to the WPMA Technical Committee which came together at short notice to develop this submission. I will keep you posted of developments with Maritime NZ.
In the meantime I urge you to talk to your freight forwarders and port companies about provisions for the 1 July implementation of the new SOLAS rules.
Please click to view these documents:
WPMA Submission - New Zealand ETS Review Priority Issues - February 2016
Introduction
The Wood Processors and Manufacturer’s Association of New Zealand welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the ETS Review 2015/16 and on the priority issues set out in the MfE Discussion Document of 24 November 2015.
The wood processing sector delivers multiple benefits for New Zealand. It is one of the few sectors that align to, simultaneously, the government’s economic, social and environmental objectives set out in the Business Growth Agenda.
Expansion of the planted forest resource is very important to wood processing investors. Continued commitment to, and expansion of, domestic processing will be heavily influenced by access to input supply. Achieving economies of scale will help the sector make the necessary long term and large scale investment to grow the share of processing carried out on-shore. read more...
Woodco Submission on the New Zealand Emissions Trading - Scheme Review 2015/16
Priority issues - February 2016
The Wood Council of New Zealand (the Wood Council) is a pan-industry body which represents the common interests of the forestry and wood processing and manufacturing sectors.
The Wood Council was successfully incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 on 2 March 2006.
The Wood Council members are the following associations:
1. Forest Owners
2. Wood Processors & Manufacturers
4. Farm Forestry
5. Forest Industry Contractors
As such it considers the impact of government policy across the entire forest industry value-chain.
The Wood Council welcomes the opportunity to provide input in to the public consultation process on this important issue.
A number of the individual entities comprising the Wood Council will make their own submissions. This submission reflects a high level of commonality between those entities on key over-arching issues.
Introduction
The forest sector contributes positively to a lowered C emissions goal both in terms of the growing forests and the wood products that are delivered. The entire industry is based on a sustainable and infinitely renewable resource. As well as other environmental benefits, one of the strong unique characteristics of the industry is the absorption and storage of carbon as well as large scale use of energy from wood to replace fossil fuels.
Concurrently, the Emissions Trading Scheme is the government’s self-stated primary tool for achieving the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Given these two facts, it would be reasonable to conclude that the ETS would recognise and encourage the forest industry. We do not believe this recognition is adequate to achieve what we all need from forestry and wood processing.
read more...
A National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry - August 2015
Introduction
The Wood Processors and Manufacturer’s Association of New Zealand welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on a National Environment Standard (NES) for Plantation Forestry.
The wood processing sector delivers multiple benefits for New Zealand. It is one of the few sectors that align, simultaneously, the government’s economic, social and environmental objectives.
Expansion of the planted forest resource is very important to wood processing investors. Continued commitment to, and expansion of, domestic processing will be heavily influenced by access to input supply. Achieving more cost effective regulation of plantation forests through an NES will contribute to encouraging forestry expansion and therefore help the value-add part of the supply chain make the necessary long term and large scale investment oto grow the share of processing carried out on-shore.
Read more
WPMA Submission on NZ Anti Dumping and Counterveiling Duties Regime June 2015
Why weaken NZ's powers to prevent dumping of subsidised wood products on the NZ market?
WPMA has made a second submission today on the government's plans to remove/weaken parts of our existing trade regime that prevent dumping of subsidised goods on the NZ market. Given the extent to which overseas governments subsidise their forest and wood sectors (85% of the world's forests are publicly owned according to PEFC) NZ has to be especially vigilant that predatory pricing on the NZ market of imported wood products is not the result of subsidised production regimes overseas.
WPMA's view on MBIE's latest consultation on this is that the government has made no compelling argument for a change in the existing trade regime and that it is unclear what problem the Government is trying to remedy. If it is anti competitive behaviour in the NZ construction sector then there are already provisions in the Commerce Act to address this. If it is trying to make houses more affordable then Minister Nick Smith has already said the issue here is land price and red tape not the cost of building materials.
MBIE has also not presented a review of the wider economic and social impacts of the proposals and no analysis of the domestic economic costs. Consequentially, WPMA opposes the proposed changes to introduce an automatic termination period and remains opposed to the original proposal to introduce a bounded public interest test in the anti-dumping and countervailing duties regime. Read more
Woodco Climate Change Submission - May 2015
To view this submission: Click here
WPMA Submission on NZ Climate Change Target - June 2015
New Zealand’s post-2020 climate change contribution under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change read more...
SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE UPGRADE OF THE NEW ZEALAND CHINA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT - May 2015
To view this submission: Click here
BIF - Submission for Standards and Accreditation Bill - January 2015
To view the full submission click here
WPMA Submissions on MBIE H & S Regulations Discussions: August 2014
Developing regulations to support the new Health and Safety at Work Act
WPMA Submission on the MBIE Discussion Document,
Chapter 5: Regulating work involving hazardous substances - view here
Health & Safety Reform Submission: May 2014
Health and Safety Reform Bill - view here
