Tree planting to be done by locals

THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNALLED that it prefers the massive expansion of new tree planting over the next ten years to be carried out by locals, rather than rely on imported workers.

Forestry Minister, Shane Jones, says the government wants to avoid bringing in foreign labour to do the tree-planting being under the ‘One Billion Trees’ programme.

He says a key part of the plan is about getting “my so-called nephs (nephews) off the couch” and into work.

Around 1,000 jobs, mostly based around seasonal planting, are likely to be created by the programme, however Jones acknowledges that unemployed youth in South Auckland might have to move to the regions to take the work if there aren’t enough people available closer to the new forests.

The current target should see close to 100 million of the targeted billion trees in the ground by 2020 and Mr Jones says funding is also required to allow nurseries to gear up seedling production, in addition to helping the forestry industry attract and train a larger workforce.

NZL