Culpability of forest firms high, says council: Fines of $130k, $50k asked for

May 24 2024 Updated May 25, 2024

Wynsley Wrigley

3 min read

Two forestry companies appeared in the Environment Court in Gisborne today for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to contravening the Resource Management Act.

Forestry practices in Gisborne have been labelled poor and two “highly culpable” companies face potential fines of $130,000 and $50,000 after the latest Gisborne District Council forestry prosecution.

Chief Environment Court Judge David Kirkpatrick and lawyers for Samnic Forest Management Ltd and Forest Management Solutions Ltd appeared by audio visual link in the Environment Court in G...