ABSTRACT
Since the mid-1980s, the New Zealand forestry sector has become increasingly integrated into the Pacific Rim economy (Le Heron and Pawson, 1996). Prior to this time exports toN ortheast Asia were intermittent. However, an extensive reorganization of production and a strengthening of trade linkages has occurred in response to national restructuring. The privatization of plantation ownership by the New Zealand government introduced foreign investors into the forestry sector and a reorientation within the production system has occurred in response to the flow of international capital and the subsequent establishment of production facilities by globally oriented forestry companies. New Zealand's integration into an Asian forestry production complex centred upon Japan has occurred, firstly, through low value exports and, secondly and more recently, through substantial investment by Japanese corporations in forestry ownership and processing facilities. This chapter addresses this integration.
