A man has been fined NZ$3000 plus costs for milling indigenous timber valued at NZ$15,000 at his unregistered sawmill in New Zealand. Sources: Fairfax NZ News, Stuff NZ
John Michell, a bicycle mechanic and part-time sawmiller, was fined in the Nelson District Court after pleading guilty to two charges relating to milling indigenous timber.
The 45-year-old Takaka man was also ordered to pay NZ$1000 towards the costs of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation.
MPI said it became aware of milled indigenous rimu timber being offered for sale on Trade Me in November last year.
Subsequent inquiries found the rimu had been milled by Michell at his unregistered sawmill at the request of another man, MPI said. The other man was also charged for breaches of the Forests Act.
In March a large quantity of indigenous totara timber, about eight cubic metres, was found at Michell’s home. The timber had also been milled at his unregistered sawmill.
Michell admitted having milled the rimu and totara at his sawmill when spoken to by a forestry officer and said he knew his mill needed to be registered to mill indigenous timber.
The court ordered Michell to forfeit the NZ$15,000 worth of timber.
MPI Nelson-Marlborough district compliance manager Ian Bright said he was pleased the courts had sent a strong message that harvesting and milling of indigenous timber without appropriate consents, plans or permits was unacceptable.
“Any harvesting and milling of indigenous timber without appropriate authority threatens the sustainability of indigenous forests.” Bright said MPI took the laws that governed native forests very seriously.
The ministry would use all resources at its disposal to ensure New Zealand’s environment and natural resources were protected for future generations, he said.
In 1999 Michell received a warning from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, now MPI, for milling indigenous timber at an unregistered sawmill.
