Assurance on forest sought

Press, 9 February 1981, Page 4

Assurance on forest sought

Wellington reporter An assurance has been sought from the Government “that remaining virgin forest in the Pureora Forest Park west of Lake Taupo has I been “permanently saved.” The assurance has been! : sought by. the; Nelson-based conservation group, the Native Forests. Action Coun-I cil, after complaints by the! Minister of Finance (Mrj ! Muldoon) that -it, has cost $7; [million to cancel logging; [contracts held over Pureora Ibv two mills in the area. i The council’s president, [ [Ms Gwenny Davis, has sent a telegram to Mr. Mui-' doom seeking /‘assurance! that the remaining virgin! I forest is permanently saved; [and will be.given legal projection from logging.". '. .-[ I The fight to save Pureora', j ione of the last habitats of aj |rare and endangered native, I bird — the blue-wattledi crow, or kokako — gained; national prominence in 1978, when protesters sat in trees; there to prevent them being; logged. , A three-year moratorium, ; on logging was imposed by I j the Government while a] ‘study of the kokako was! I undertaken. This moratorium: I is due to expire in August! [this year, although it will! ! probably be extended until December so that the study i can be completed. ; The two sawmilling firms,!; Pureora Sawmills, Ltd, and:; Ellis and Btirnand have given I clear indications that theyM

do not want to return to Puireora, having dismantled ‘[their mills in the area. But conservation groups •are afraid that if the moratorium on milling is lifted [without putting Pureora into ia permanent reserve, the J Forest Service itself might: /resume milling native trees .! there. , J "Taxpayers who are foot-1 .! ing the $7 million bill for; /saving the forest park will; /get pretty annoyed if Mr; ! Muldoon won’t give an' ; assurance that logging gangs [ are to be permanently ex-1 !eluded from it,” Ms Davis; [said.