Maryanne Butler-Finlay lost her husband Charles Finlay in a forestry accident in July. His was the seventh forestry-related death of the year and his family hoped he would be the last.

Labour Minister Simon Bridges says prosecutions are "very likely" for forestry owners who have breached safety standards.

The introduction of a corporate manslaughter law to deal with work-related deaths in New Zealand is "unlikely", says Prime Minister John Key.

A 63-year-old worker is dead following an accident in a forest area in the Bay of Plenty.

Labour spokesman says foreign firms' drive for big profits putting local industries in jeopardy.

A coroner will hold a series of inquests into forestry workers' deaths with the aim of identifying systemic issues within the country's deadliest industry.

A review of regulations covering genetically modified organisms hinges on a High Court case next week challenging approval for GM experiments on our most populous tree, pinus radiata.

The Government has opened up much of the volcanic plateau for gold and silver prospecting, including one of the largest tracts of native forest left in the North Island.

With six deaths already this year, the forestry industry has been warned to clean up its act. But in the search for solutions, politics and money are distracting from the focus on the lives lost.

The forestry industry has been put on notice after the sixth death of a worker this year, just three days after another accident left a worker with serious leg injuries.

China's so-called "economic miracle" has hit some speed wobbles, but a top NZ economist says this country should be insulated from any direct impact.

The mystery of why an experienced truck driver plummeted 20m off a Kaingaroa Forest road is unlikely to be solved, a coroner has warned.

The family of a 23-year-old forestry worker killed by a falling tree yesterday say he died doing what he loved and knew it was a risky job.

Police were called to a private forestry road in the Waione Block, off State Highway 30, near Moose Lodge, about 2.50pm yesterday.

The New Zealand economy grew at the fastest quarterly pace in three years in the tail-end of last year.

Forest growers have until March 29 to vote on a planned levy intended to raise around $7 million a year for industry research.

About eight hectares of forest has been burned by a blaze in rural Masterton, with crews still on site last night to keep the fire under control.