Showcasing the versatility of use of New Zealand’s Radiata Pine wood in the construction and housing industry, the Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Biosecurity and Fisheries, Mr Jim Anderton, today inaugurated the first of its kind model showcase home located at Classic Golf Resort, near Gurgaon. Completely built from 100% imported New Zealand Radiata Pine wood, the model showcase house is the first of its kind in the entire Indian Sub continent – a result of close working partnership between Lockwood International of New Zealand and India’s Macdonald Sarin.

As part of the ‘Wood Mission’, Hon’ble Minister, Mr Jim Anderton is currently leading a trade delegation of New Zealand’s largest Timber companies to India and is here to expand and further strengthen the scope of trade relations between the two countries in the areas of Agriculture and Forestry.

Lockwood International is one of the leading housing construction companies in New Zealand that is involved with building wooden houses constructed 100% out of the indigenous and sustainable Radiata Pine of New Zealand. Making use of its innovative and patented ‘lock-wood’ technology, the company does not involve usage of nails to build these homes. Structurally safe and earthquake resistant (upto 7.00 on Richter scale), Lockwood homes can be built in less than 6 months from the date of commencement. This particular model showcase home has been built in a little over 2 months time.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rupert Holborow, New Zealand High Commissioner to India said, “India is now protecting its native forest and needs to import timber to meet growing demand for construction and other industries. New Zealand’s large, growing and sustainably managed plantation timber resource is an ideal answer to this need.”

The New Zealand wood industry currently generates $3.1 billion in exports (or 3.15% of GDP) with India as New Zealand’s fifth-largest export market for wood products, worth NZD$65 million in 2007.

New Zealand Radiata Pine, which is one of the most exported and in demand products for construction and building is also certified to be a sustainable renewable resource from an ecological and usability stand point.

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked with the Indian Forest research Institute to test the suitability of New Zealand pine for India and confirmed the suitability of New Zealand Radiata pine for use in Indian conditions.

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