Mr Anderton said that 90% of the country’s homes are constructed from timber but “very few commercial buildings are built in wood”, adding that “it is time for wood to play a much more important role as an efficient building material”.
Now developers of government buildings will have to consider at least one wood-based method of construction, in order to promote greener, more sustainable and energy efficient materials and practices.
Doug Woolerton, forestry spokesperson for the New Zealand First political party, gave his backing to the programme, which was first proposed in November 2006, saying: “Using a resource that is abundant in this country is good for New Zealand investors and our economy, as well as being an added incentive for the planting of more trees.”
