Miller fined for taking Waimarino tawa timber

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Milling native timber without consent has earned a Raetihi man and business a $15,000 fine.

Sawmiller Max Cody and his business Timber and Stone Ltd were also ordered to pay $6000 in costs when sentenced at the Ohakune District Court last week for illegally milling and transporting tawa.

The Ministry for Primary Industries said the charges followed information received that tawa trees had been taken from Waimarino Forest near Raetihi.

An investigation identified Cody, a previously registered sawmiller, and a search at his property located a sawmill in a shed, about 4cu m of tawa, and the remnants of a sawmilling operation in a paddock. The search also revealed evidence Cody had already sold about 8.7cu m of tawa to an Auckland timber merchant. That was later seized.

The ministry will work to have the timber returned to the landowners.

Milling of native timber is controlled under the Forest Act 1949 through forest management plans or permits.

MPI northern compliance manager Greg Keys said felling native timber without consent threatened the sustainability of indigenous forests.

"In this case, because of the very slow growing nature of tawa trees, replacement will likely take many decades," he said.

"This sort of blatant offending is unacceptable and the ministry is pleased to see the courts taking a strong stance in this case.

"Mr Cody was well aware of his obligations under the Forests Act as he was a registered sawmiller between 1995 and 2000 during which time he submitted sawmill returns relating to the milling of indigenous timber."