Our survey for the June 2025 quarter indicates a rising sense of optimism twelve months out compared to the March survey. 

We completed another annual NZTIF wages survey recently and we thank you for taking the time to supply the confidential information that contributes to the only national survey of wages and conditions in the New Zealand sawmilling and wood processing industry.

New Zealand exporters of timber that is used to manufacture furniture and other wood products in Vietnam for export to the United States will be relieved to know that an agreement on tariffs has been reached between those two countries.

Building consent numbers show an intent to build but we know that not all building consents translate into actual building activity. 

As previously reported, while imports of timber into the United States are not included in the so-called “reciprocal tariffs” that have been imposed by the Trump administration, the matter of import duties on timber is the subject of a Commerce Department investigation being conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.   

NZ Timber Industry Federation Calls for a More Inclusive and Pro-Wood Government Procurement Strategy

The results of our business survey of members for the quarter to 31 March 2025 indicate a feeling that while the next three months are going to be subdued, possibly with the onset of winter, the longer-term twelve-month outlook is more positive with 75% of respondents believing that general business conditions will have improved.

On 9 April 2025 Cabinet agreed to amend Rule 69 of the Procurement Rules to require government agencies to use wool fibres where practical and appropriate in government buildings.

Set out below is the NZTIF submission to government on the proposed NZ-India Free Trade Agreement.

The Trump administration’s “Liberation day” on 2 April implemented a comprehensive range of tariffs that will apply to imports into the US of goods from some 168 nations. 

On 20 December 2021, Ashley Industrial Services Ltd – a family-owned sawmill/manufacturing plant in Oxford - experienced a tragic accident.

A lot of hype has been given in recent days to the likelihood of a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. 

President Trump’s application of tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico is impacting on the North American timber trade.

The first NZTIF business conditions survey covering the quarter to 30 September 2024 has been completed. 

Our annual survey of timber industry wages and conditions of employment in the year to 30 April 2024 was recently completed.

New Zealand Timber Industry Federation president Bruce Larsen outlines his views on how the change of Government will impact the forestry and timber manufacturing sector.

The government has announced a “commitment to increasing housing supply by reducing barriers, improving competition in the building system and lowering costs.”

At our recent meeting in Wellington we accorded Life Membership on Alan Tanner in recognition of his lifelong support for NZTIF.

Life member and long-time NZTIF Board member Jack Butterworth passed away in Rotorua on 6 June 2023. Jack was a founder member of the board of NZTIF, President in 1988-1990 and accorded Life Membership in 1992.

Business, political and economic commentators have discussed the need for New Zealand exporters to diversify away from the Chinese market for many months now, especially with the weakening of economic activity there. China has been and continues to be a very significant market for the forestry sector as it is for others such as dairy but in amongst all this, timber exporters have been busily reducing their reliance on that market in recent years. A quick look at this development since 2020 can be seen in these charts.