$6000 fine for felling native trees

A Northland milling company and its director have been fined $6000 for illegally harvesting native timber.

Northland Kauri Limited and its managing director Arthur Theodorus Bergman were convicted in Taumarunui District Court late last month.

Bergman pleaded guilty to harvesting and milling rimu and matai in excess of the 50 cubic metres approved at a property in Manson's Siding near Tongariro National Park, 28km southeast of Taumarunui.

The company was also convicted of failing to produce sawmilling records to a forestry officer.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's (MAF) sustainable programmes directorate operations manager Robert Miller said the successful prosecution sent a strong message about harvesting more native trees than entitled.

"MAF takes breaches of the Forests Act very seriously.

"The successful prosecution emphasises that taking more than the approved amount will not be tolerated."

The landowner of the property had earlier been convicted and fined.

- NZPA