The central north island is the most developed forestry region in New Zealand, with around 550,000 hectares of planted production forest. Around half of the land area in the South Waikato District is covered in planted exotic forest, mostly Pinus Radiata. Major businesses in the area include Carter Holt Harvey’s flagship operations in forest management, pulp and paper production and ply wood. Although Carter Holt Harvey are converting 20,000 hectares to the Dairy industry this is not expected to result in a reduction in output in this sector. The Districts central location along state highway one means products can be moved efficiently to national and international destinations and easily link with the major export ports of Auckland and Tauranga by road and rail. South Waikato’s location is also a key factor in the success of its forestry processing sectors, including the many local engineering, transport and construction services which have evolved to support the industry.

Numerous businesses have already positioned themselves within the region to take advantage of the excellent potential for processing investment, particularly in the value-added sector to meet the international demand for a diverse range of wood products for niche markets. We offer the same competitive advantages to prospective investors, along with a commitment from the South Waikato District Council to work with them to ensure a ‘soft landing’ for your enterprise.