ABSTRACT
The forestry sector can be broadly split into two component industries or subsectors, which are referred to as the timber industry and the forest products industry. This chapter examines the current state of, and trends evident in, the New Zealand forestry sector. It provides a brief summary of the scope and structure of the sector, and highlights some of the more important aspects of the sector's structure, performance, and contribution to the New Zealand economy. When considering the significance of New Zealand as a source of forestry products, it is misleading to consider the production levels of the entire world. It is the production pattern of the Asia-Pacific region that is of most relevance. From an international perspective it can be seen that New Zealand is likely in the future to become a substantial exporter of forest products in global terms, despite the fact that it is an insignificant producer in global terms, and likely to remain so.
