Native Forest Action
Encyclopedia
Native Forest Action was set up protect the publicly owned native forests of the West Coast
of the South Island
of New Zealand
from logging.
The West Coast has extensive stands of virgin native forests and numerous organisations had lobbied for their protection. In 1986 the West Coast Accord
was signed between environmental groups and government agencies. There was discord amongst other environmental groups since it was seen to be too much of a compromise towards the logging interests. This should be seen it light of the fact that New Zealand had lost approximately 75% of its original forest cover since human habitation.
In 1997 the NFA campaign involved protesters setting up camps in the forest and tree sitting
. In April 1997, one of these sites by deliberately destroyed by swinging a tree from a helicopter into it, allegedly without ensuring that it was fully clear of protesters.
NFA had a campaign of non-violent direct action which gained it prominence in the media. The New Zealand Labour Party
made an election promise in 1999 to halt the logging. One of the most controversial parts of campaign history was when a bomb was found on a helicopter used for logging. NFA, which had always maintained a policy of non-violence denied vigorously any links to the bomb, and no link was found.
It is claimed that the release of the book Secrets and Lies by Nicky Hager
prior to the 1999 general election
had an influence on the election of the Labour Party. The book made detailed claims about an organised smear campaign
against NFA by public relations
firm Shandwick on behalf of Timberlands West Coast, the company tasked with sustainably harvesting West Coast beech forests. The Labour/Alliance coalition government halted the logging and the land was transferred to the Department of Conservation
.
NFA, which as an organisation always had a very informal structure, is now dormant.
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from logging.
The West Coast has extensive stands of virgin native forests and numerous organisations had lobbied for their protection. In 1986 the West Coast Accord
West Coast Accord
The West Coast Accord was an agreement signed on 6 November 1986 between government, industry and environmental organisations concerning the forests of the West Coast of New Zealand....
was signed between environmental groups and government agencies. There was discord amongst other environmental groups since it was seen to be too much of a compromise towards the logging interests. This should be seen it light of the fact that New Zealand had lost approximately 75% of its original forest cover since human habitation.
In 1997 the NFA campaign involved protesters setting up camps in the forest and tree sitting
Tree sitting
Tree sitting is a form of environmentalist civil disobedience in which a protester sits in a tree, usually on a small platform built for the purpose, to protect it from being cut down...
. In April 1997, one of these sites by deliberately destroyed by swinging a tree from a helicopter into it, allegedly without ensuring that it was fully clear of protesters.
NFA had a campaign of non-violent direct action which gained it prominence in the media. The New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
made an election promise in 1999 to halt the logging. One of the most controversial parts of campaign history was when a bomb was found on a helicopter used for logging. NFA, which had always maintained a policy of non-violence denied vigorously any links to the bomb, and no link was found.
It is claimed that the release of the book Secrets and Lies by Nicky Hager
Nicky Hager
Nicky Hager is an author and investigative journalist born in Levin, New Zealand and now resides in Wellington. He generally writes about issues involving intelligence networks, environmental issues and politics. He has degrees in physics and philosophy...
prior to the 1999 general election
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
had an influence on the election of the Labour Party. The book made detailed claims about an organised smear campaign
Smear campaign
A smear campaign, smear tactic or simply smear is a metaphor for activity that can harm an individual or group's reputation by conflation with a stigmatized group...
against NFA by public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
firm Shandwick on behalf of Timberlands West Coast, the company tasked with sustainably harvesting West Coast beech forests. The Labour/Alliance coalition government halted the logging and the land was transferred to the Department of Conservation
New Zealand Department of Conservation
The Department of Conservation , commonly known by its acronym, "DOC", is the state sector organisation which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage...
.
NFA, which as an organisation always had a very informal structure, is now dormant.