These companies are now part of US or Japanese-run large integrated production networks. International Paper, owner of Carter Holt Harvey has forestry operations around the Asia Pacific Region. Kirin operates brewing concerns likewise. NZ forestry is already largely US and Japanese owned. Sooner or later US interests can be expected to make a bid for Fletchers, although the firm has a significant defensive structure.
Fishing is Maori-owned, but with significant joint ventures with Korean and Japanese firms.
Consolidation of these networks for transnational interests is top of the agenda for the ongoing APEC talks, scheduled for Auckland in November 1999, In particular, talks are currently focussed on the creation of an Asia-Pacific bloc in forestry and fishing to further rationalise these networks for the US and Japanese multinationals in the region. Aotearoa s place in the imperialist restructuring of the Asia Pacific region has become a raw materials resource base for imperialist exploitation at lower and lower wages. Under the weight of balance of payments deficits and mounting debt the structures supporting the standard of living of the workers of Aotearoa will continue to be systematically dismantled.