Kawerau offers significant benefits in comparison to other wood processing centres, according to an analysis undertaken by the Crown Research Institute SCION to compare investment returns from wood processing based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty town with those from other parts of New Zealand.

These benefits are gained by locational, logistics and resource synergies; and are measured by improved financial performance of businesses, better regional/national GDP impacts, employment resourcing opportunities, and more effective use of co-located resources, such as geothermal energy.

'The results of this study give us objective data to back up what we have known for a long time – that Kawerau has the potential to significantly increase its contribution to NZ Inc,” says Industrial Symbiosis Kawerau project manager Su Cammell. 'We look forward to being a part of a development programme that will provide big gains for both Kawerau and the wider region.”

The analysis also showed locating wood processing in Kawerau has advantages on a return on capital employed basis across a range of wood processing technologies. The size of this advantage varied with the type of process.

It was estimated new wood processing operations (based on an exemplar cluster of sawn lumber, engineered wood products and biofuels on a scale that fitted within the anticipated wood supply), could provide more than 344 permanent direct jobs and a further 670 indirect jobs.

Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell acknowledges increased employment would have a big impact on the social issues of the township. 'We know jobs work. Our residents want to see their children stay in the area, but at the same time have the opportunity to be engaged in productive work.”