Hundreds of millions of dollars of our ancient swamp kauri have been exported in the past few years with little added value to New Zealanders. Our unique native wetlands have been destroyed, but the main players stay hidden and the big digging machines continue.

Swamp kauri is one the world’s oldest and most valuable timbers. Huge trees preserved in Northland’s peat swamps for up to 50,000 years are selling overseas for around $US100 per square foot. Single trees can we worth $US300,000 or more.

This resource is being taken from one of the poorest communities in the country. Little of the $200 million worth of exports per year are being retained in Kaitaia or the Far North, where natural environment is being destroyed and few jobs are being created in the industry.

This valuable timber is likely to be gone in the next few decades and the unique wetlands and their wildlife will be gone forever. Protected wetlands are being dug up carelessly, drained and destroyed. Just 7.7 percent of the regions original wetland habitat remains and desperately needs protection. Indigenous plants and animals have already become threatened and extinct.

The Forests Act prohibits the export of most native timber. Only finished products are allowed to be exported, however huge slabs of timber have been found for sale online overseas. China’s demand for Ancient Swamp Kauri is contributing to decreased water quality of our lakes and rivers.

The Ministry of Primary Industries is allowing foreign sponsored firms to dig out logs as quickly as possible for export with little or no New Zealand Government scrutiny. Those exploiting ancient swamp kauri do not want to be stopped.

The Northland Environmental Protection Society is a group of regular New Zealanders who are determined to hold the government accountable for allowing export of raw native timber and destruction of protected wetlands.