Nash Stuart: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNash Stuart: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 06 April 2016. Volume:712;Page:10235. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.STUART NASH (Labour—Napier) to the Associate Minister for Primary Industries: What reports has she seen on the conduct of Hikurangi Forest Farms in Gisborne?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development) on behalf of theAssociate Minister for Primary Industries: I have not seen any reports on the conduct of Hikurangi Forest Farms in Gisborne. However I have seen some limited media reports of some allegations being made.Stuart Nash: How does she expect to meet her target which she announced just last week of growing the level of processed wood products that we export overseas when the overseas-owned Hikurangi Forest Farms refuses to supply logs to local processing firms at a cost of 50 jobs even when these local mills are willing to pay export-equivalent prices?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I think the member should be advised to be careful not to place himself in the middle of commercial transactions between two parties because I understand from the media reports that there is a negotiation going on at some point. The member is in danger potentially of being used by one party I think to advance their cause at the expense of the other party.Stuart Nash: What is she going to do to get Hikurangi Forest Farms to process more of its logs into value-added lumber products in New Zealand given it promised to build a “state-of-the-art processing facility” in its successful 1996 2006 and 2007 Overseas Investment Office applications to purchase land but is yet to take any steps towards building one?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: My understanding is that that particular company is currently building a facility in the district that is going to create 22 jobs and potentially 44 jobs. I do not know how that relates in particular in relation to an Overseas Investment Office application but again I think the member has to be careful. If he is suggesting that we force private companies to sell their logs below other prices because it suits him then that is a very interesting path to walk down.Stuart Nash: Why is she prepared to stand up for a wealthy foreign investor who purchased 33000 hectares of our forests but then broke their promises flaunted our rules and refused to sell logs to local mills therefore costing jobs over the interests of good hard-working New Zealanders of the East Coast region?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I think the House could be excused for thinking that those are the talking points from one party to a potential commercial transaction. I think the member is being used. If I were him I would pipe down because he has been basically asked to advance the case of one private party on behalf of another and I actually think he should take some care with that.Stuart Nash: I seek leave to table an Overseas Investment Commission decision sheet from 16 December 1996 which states: “The commission was further advised that the company proposes to establish a state-of-the-art processing facility.”Mr SPEAKER: On the basis that it is quite some time ago I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular one-page decision by the Overseas Investment Commission. Is there any objection? There is no objection.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Stuart Nash: I seek leave to table a 21 February 2006 decision from the Overseas Investment Office on Hikurangi Forest Farms which states “Hikurangi proposes to acquire the subject property to develop a timber processing facility.”Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular Overseas Investment Office directive. Is there any objection? There is none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Stuart Nash: I seek leave to table a decision sheet from the Overseas Investment Office on Hikurangi Forest Farms from 15 May 2007 which states “Hikurangi proposes to acquire the subject property … to develop a timber processing facility.”Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular decision. Is there any objection? There is none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.