Logs earnings for Wairarapa

A major Australasian forestry products company is making a push into the Wairarapa, spearheaded by a former Wairarapa man.

Pentarch Forest Products is the third-biggest exporter of softwood logs in Australia, behind Fletcher Challenge and Carter Holt Harvey.

Pentarch is at present loading its first shipment of Wairarapa logs in Wellington, and the company plans to export about 7500 truckloads annually.

Alister Harvey, formerly of Wairarapa, is executive director, and one of two majority shareholders, having been based in Australia for nearly 40 years.

Pentarch already exports to 12 countries, from Korea to the Persian Gulf, and has an annual turnover of more than $100 million.