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New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. Source: Timberbiz “Negotiations are getting underway, and the public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay said. This follows a recent trip to India by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during which a Memorandum of Co-operation (MOC) was reached to restart free trade negotiations. Initial negotiations started during 2011 and continued until 2015 but then stalled. Mr Luxon’s trip rebooted the negotiations which, this time, were more successful. The MOC with India includes the export of timber. New Zealand wood and forest product exports to India decreased from a high of NZ$326 million in 2019 to an estimated NZ$76.5 million in 2024 this agreement could improve the situation. Although export opportunities remain for a range of timber and lumber products, the bulk of the export volume and receipts have previously been driven by India’s demand for New Zealand logs. The MOC also lays the groundwork for co-operation on areas such as sustainable forest management, research and innovation, capacity building, and certification. Now the government is offering all interested New Zealanders, including businesses, NGOs, and members of the public the opportunity to make a submission prior to 15 April 2025. With a population of 1.4 billion people and on track to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, India holds significant potential for New Zealand and will play a pivotal role in the Government’s goal to double New Zealand’s exports by value over the next ten years. “Alongside trade agreement negotiations, New Zealand will continue to invest in stronger, deeper, more sustainable connections with India across all pillars of the relationship, including our political, defence and security, sporting, environmental, and people-to-people connections,” Mr McClay said. For more information, including on how to make a submission visit: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/have-your-say before 15 April 2025. 

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has launched a candid new video that demonstrates the importance of the essential and sustainable products the timber industry creates. Source: Timberbiz “This video Try living without Aussie timber and paper is the latest development in AFPA’s 2025 Federal Election Campaign following the launch of our policy Platform Australian Timber. Australia’s Future, new billboards in key forestry battleground electorates and the forestfacts.com.au website to counter disinformation being spread about the forestry sector,” AFPA CEO Diana Hallam said. “It’s a comedic and quirky video with AFPA staff acting out each scene but it has a serious message about what life would be like without us. It should serve as a reminder to everyone and particularly our sector’s detractors about how important we are. “Whether it’s timber to build your house, cardboard boxes, furniture or even toilet paper – there is so much our sector is responsible for that we literally cannot live without. We need a strong forest products sector supply chain to ensure we have sovereign capability in timber and wood-fibre, can fight climate change at scale and provide employment for thousands of Australians. “While there are substitutes for the products we need in our daily lives, none are as climate friendly, renewable and sustainable as those originating from timber and wood-fibre. I hope this video can continue to help educate everyone about the importance of Australian forestry,” Ms Hallam said. Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6D452lywiY

Timber Queensland has acknowledged the outstanding contribution Colin MacKenzie has made to the timber industry both nationally and in Queensland. Mr MacKenzie passed away on 24 March in Brisbane. Source: Timberbiz “It is with heavy hearts, we note the passing of Colin MacKenzie, a visionary in timber engineering, a dedicated contributor to the built environment, a legendry dry-humoured colleague and a friend to so many in our industry nation-wide,” Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said. “His loss will be particularly felt by the many former and current directors and staff of Timber Queensland who have known and worked with Colin over many decades, as well as the hundreds of member companies and technical bodies that relied and benefited from his advice. “Timber Queensland, the broader timber and building industry and the community all owe a great debt to Colin MacKenzie. His tireless work and reputation to develop and educate the industry on relevant timber codes for structural integrity and safety is un-questionable.” Mr MacKenzie passed away on the morning of 24 March in Brisbane aged 75 following a period of illness and is survived by his loving wife Christine and daughters Aleisha and Trina. His influence on the timber and building industries will be felt for generations to come. Affectionally known as ‘The Timber Expert’ due to his skills and experience, his enthusiasm and commitment to timber product education will be hard to replicate. Mr MacKenzie’s journey in engineering began in Melbourne, where he graduated from the Caulfield Institute of Technology in 1974. With over 40 years of experience in all facets of timber and wood product design, use, and application, he became a leading authority in the field, particularly where timber was used in building and construction. His expertise was built from his early days as a Technical Officer with CSIRO’s Divisions of Forest Products and Building Research through to his leadership roles as Technical Director, TRADAC and later Manager of Timber Application and Use with Timber Queensland. His contributions were instrumental in advancing timber construction standards, ensuring structural integrity, and promoting innovative applications for wood products. Over the course of his career, he became a defining figure in timber engineering, working with the Timber Research and Development Advisory Council of Queensland (now Timber Queensland) before establishing MacKenzie Consulting. His work spanned durability design, domestic engineering, and the advancement of Australian Standards and Building Codes. A leader in pioneering timber grading and in-grade testing programs, his impact reached far beyond Australia. He served on numerous Australian Standards Committees including the Timber Structures Committee, the Structural Timbers Committee and the Timber Framing Committee. Internationally, he represented Australia on the ISO TC 165 Timber Structures Committee, ensuring that his expertise shaped the global timber industry. His commitment to education and industry advancement was evident in his contribution to writing numerous technical publications, including the renowned Timber Queensland Technical Data Sheets, Queensland Timber Framing Manuals, Mult-Residential Timber Frame Construction publications, AS 1684, and the Handy Span Tables book. He played a key role in research projects such as Advanced Flooring Re-search, Recycled Timber Grading, and Durability Design, all aimed at strengthening the future of timber construction. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr MacKenzie was recognized with the ‘Stanley A. Clarke Medal’ from the Institute of Wood Science in 1999, an acknowledgment of his outstanding contributions to timber technology. He was also a Registered Professional Engineer in Queensland, a member of the Institute of Engineers, the Building Disputes Practitioners Society, and served on influential committees including the HIA Legal and Technical Committee and the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Industry Reference Group. His legacy is not only in the structures that stand strong today because of his work but in the numerous generations of people he mentored, the standards he helped establish, and the industry he loved and gave so much. Though he is no longer with us, his work remains as a lasting testimony to the industry and the many builders and certifiers that have relied on his knowledge and expertise – solid, resilient, and built to last, just like the timber he so passionately championed. “Given his significant influence spanning decades we know there will be many in the industry who will want to pay their respects, and we are discussing with Colin’s family their wishes for memorial arrangements. In addition, Timber Queensland will be putting in place a lasting legacy to appropriately recognise Colin’s contribution in the field of timber engineering in Australia. We are talking with other industry partners and will be able to make a further announcement at the appropriate time,” Mr Stephens said.

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s investment announcement of $54 million to support prefabricated and modular home construction. Source: Timberbiz AFPA Chief Executive Officer Diana Hallam said Aussie grown, sustainable timber and wood-fibre are key materials resources for the expanding prefabricated and modular construction industry and it’s important the right regulatory guidance and government support framework is set, as demand increases for these new home options. Over the weekend, the Government announced $49.3 million to support state and territory governments to boost prefabricated and modular home construction and $4.7 million for the development of a voluntary national certification process to streamline approvals and standards. “Australia desperately needs new and innovative ways to deliver much needed new homes and the forest products sector has been ahead of the curve diversifying into pre-fabricated and modular housing construction,” Ms Hallam said. “We welcome the Albanese Government’s support to assist state and territory jurisdictions with this expanding form of housing and funding to develop a national voluntary certification process, to assist industry confidence in the manufacturing process. “Just last month, the Productivity Commission recommended a scaling back of ‘unnecessary regulatory impediments’ into new construction methods like prefabricated and modular housing, which is why it’s important that governments work with industries like ours when developing certification processes – and we extend a willing hand to be part of that development process,” she said. “The benefits of using Aussie grown sustainable timber and wood-fibre for housing construction are many. Our materials naturally store carbon and help fight climate change, while our sector supports skilled employment, much of it located in regional Australia. “We thank the Government for this announcement and will work with them and the Dutton led Opposition ahead of the election to ensure our Australian Timber.”