Ikea has 43,000 hectares of forest in New Zealand - we went to have a look
IKEA's investment arm is defending its forestry operations in New Zealand following concerns from local rural communities. The company claims to be prioritizing biodiversity and local employment while maintaining transparency about its land use.
Why it matters
The tension highlights the conflict between large-scale corporate land acquisition and the preservation of local agricultural communities and ecosystems.
Swedish furniture company IKEA says it has 'nothing to hide' with its forestry operations and is proud of what it is doing in New Zealand.
RNZ reported in December that rural communities were concerned about the extent of new forestry plantings in in Central Hawke's Bay. Locals pointed to worries about fire risk and the loss of jobs and communities due to the land use change from farming to forestry.
Earlier this month, IKEA gave media* and some farmers a tour of two forestry blocks.
Ingka Investments Forestland country manager Kelvin Meredith told RNZ that IKEA was proud of its work in New Zealand.
"You know, we're doing something different. We're doing large set asides, we're passionate about biodiversity and different species. We've got nothing to hide. We're an open book.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in