United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says the Government's decision to stop rimu logging in Crown owned forests from 31 March 2002 shows it has no clear forestry policy.

"Labour's approach is becoming increasingly capricious."

"It seems no longer based on sustainable management of forest resources, and is increasingly based on what it regards as politically acceptable."

"No consideration is being given to long term forestry policy, or the implications for the future of forest-related industries," he says.

Mr Dunne says that indigenous forest policy cannot be separated from forestry policy generally, yet this is precisely what Labour is trying to do.

"It has given up the concept of sustainable management of indigenous forests in favour of looking them up altogether."

"The consequence is that we have put all our eggs in the basket of exotics, and thereby are totally vulnerable to the dictates of the international market."

"It is an extremely short-sighted approach."

"Today's decision confirms the Government's approach is erratic, and that it lacks an overall forestry policy," he says.

ENDS