Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Maori urged to understand global timber customer better

Updated at 12:26 pm on 8 March 2010

The manager of Tuwharetoa's biggest forestry businesses says Maori need to understand the needs of the global timber customer so they can work out where to invest most effectively.

George Asher says Lake Taupo Forest Trust and Lake Rotoaira Forest Trust have a policy of buying out leases as trees are harvested so they have total ownership of the next crop.

The policy has also been adopted by the central North Island forestry coalition, of which Ngati Tuwharetoa is part.

Mr Asher says Maori need to invest in other parts of the industry, and his preference would be to buy into the marketing and distribution end of the chain.

He says it's important to understand what customers want, because that determines what sort of product creates the best value and what sort of trees are suited to create those products.

Mr Asher says that type of information is needed before investing in any part of the value chain.

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