3 Feb 2004

Greenpeace NZ alleges illegal timber import from PNG

4:07 pm on 3 February 2004

Greenpeace has called on the New Zealand government to stop the importation of illegal timber from Papua New Guinea.

Greenpeace activists and landowners from PNG shut down an Auckland company, LumberBank Ltd, after alleging that it imported timber harvested illegally.

Police have arrested three people for trespass.

A Greenpeace forest campaigner, Grant Rosoman, says the organisation wants the New Zealand government to act.

"We're looking to the government to respond to this and to immediately place import restrictions on illegal wood and in fact to develop a strong procurement policy, that's like a purchasing policy on the government that they use themselves."