Media Release
For Immediate Release
Announcement set to bring jobs and economic growth to Kawerau
Foresta’s proposed torrefied wood pellet plant in Kawerau is set to couple economic growth and environmental stewardship-kaitiaki taiao said Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui.
“Today Foresta announced that funding, project planning, and contracts for supply and production are all well underway which, thanks to environmentally sustainable production processes, is great news for Kawerau and Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Mayor Tunui acknowledged Putauaki Trust for working to secure this significant ‘anchor tenant’ operation in Kawerau on their industrial park, which is already home to Waiῡ Dairy, another value-added manufacturing operation.
“The prospect of the Kawerau-based operation directly employing over 50 people helps support our long-term growth strategy for the district. This strategy is captured in the recent Spatial Plan and Regional Economic Development Plan which were developed and adopted by us and our neighbouring Eastern Bay councils earlier this year.
“Economic growth relies on communities, Iwi and Council collaborating for the benefit of our shared future”.
“The development of the industrial park by Putauaki Trust unlocks huge potential for current and future generations. These new businesses offer new jobs and incomes that can help people raise their families here in Kawerau.
“Council’s newest housing subdivision of 104 lots forms an essential part of this growth, so people can continue calling Kawerau home.
“We welcome the prospect of growth and new jobs, and we acknowledge our long-standing manufacturing operations, engineering service industries and geothermal power producers who have ensured Kawerau has ‘punched above its weight’ as evidenced by the GDP (gross domestic product) per filled job in Kawerau of than $143,268 in 2024. This is above the Bay of Plenty region GDP of $130,304.”
These benefits and inputs to the local, regional and national economy are only likely to increase with Foresta’s world first operation offering value-added processes, and reducing the country’s coal consumption and greenhouse emissions. Additionally, if Foresta can utilise what is often referred to as slash, this helps reduce a problem for many regions, and could significantly bump up their product yield.
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*Courtesy of Infometrics 19 August 2025, data is for the 2024 year.