The Labour Minister says a drop in serious injuries in the forestry industry is good news, but there are still major problems in the sector.
Simon Bridges said on Tuesday that 46 people were seriously injured in the six months to May, compared with 82 in the same period last year.
But Mr Bridges said industry regulator WorkSafe New Zealand was still finding failings in the industry.
He said in a recent inspection of 222 worksites, WorkSafe issued nearly 300 enforcements, including 36 prohibitions which shut down part or all of a felling operation.
Mr Bridges said there had been some improvement but it was definitely not time to celebrate nor time for complacency.
"There's still serious levels of non-compliance in the industry, the basics have got to be done right and the safety culture and the work to transform that has got to continue."
First Union represents some forestry workers and general secretary Robert Reid said the number of enforcements was a concern.
"I think we are seeing some improvement in this area, but the fact that so many enforcement notices and the fact that WorkSafe have had to even stop some jobs shows it is still far too dangerous out there in the forests."
