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The Importance of New Zealand’s Forestry Industry Essay

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New Zealand’s forests are one of its greatest natural resources, holding significant financial, physical, and spiritual value (DOC, 2013). These forests provide a significant trading resource (Perry, Oren, & Hart, 2008), directly influence soil and flora quality (West, 2006), and contribute to the cultural health of Maori by enhancing their whakapapa (or ‘Connection’ with the land) (Gallagher & Te Atawhai o te Ao, 2011).
This resource, however, is under threat through poor management (Levack, Poole, & Bateson, 2006), over exploitation (MPI, 2003) and the operating conditions of the Forestry Industry (ACC, 2007). This assignment will examine the impact that deforestation may have on New Zealand, and possible models for rectifying the …show more content…

According to ACC reports, there were 200 serious injuries and fatalities in 2012, leading to a financial cost to ACC of $10 million dollars (ACC, 2014). The emotional cost of the death of a family member, is incalculable (Bowlby-West, 1983), and the resulting void may instigate feelings of ‘disbelief, shock and anger’ by the co-victims (family), especially without prior mental and emotional readiness (Clements, DeRanieri, Vigil & Benasutti, 2004), such as would occur if a family member died of a terminal illness. An example of this void can be observed in the case of Mr Charles Finlay of Tokoroa, who was one of twenty eight forestry workers to lose his life, in the workplace since 2008. (The New Zealand Herald, 2013). Finlay left behind a widow (Maryanne Butler- Finlay) with three children, as composed in Bowen, (2013), stating ‘That the family are struggling to get over the death and are undergoing grief counselling, also requiring time off school to recover from their shortfall’.
In addition to the hazards posed by the industry, there have been studies conducted that suggest mass deforestation of an area can result in a decrease in air

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