The judgment, which differs from the Ministry for Primary Industry’s (MPI) interpretation of the Forests Act, is described as “unfortunate” by the swamp kauri industry which has pushed MPI's application of the Act to its limits.

For the Northland Environmental Protection Society’s Fiona Furrell the victory spells the end of a nine-year battle against government agencies to clamp down on what it has always seen as an illegal trade. It’s been a costly and time-consuming battle she believes the small society should never have needed to take on.

“We’ve had to do it because of the actions of MPI and our regional council.”

The society grew concerned the scant remains of Northland’s wetlands were being drained, dug-over and destroyed by a flurry of excavation cashing in on the lucrative swamp kauri export market. Buyers from around the world had become interested in purchasing the wood which had been preserved in pristine condition in peat swamps for thousands of years.  Continue to read the full artile >