From stuff.co.nz: Breaches of milling regulations and the Forests Act have cost a Te Awamutu company and its director $12,000 in fines and court costs.

The prosecution was brought by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) which charged Land Milling Limited and director Nicholas Ashmore with offences against the Forests Act 1949 and the Forestry (Indigenous Timber Milling) Regulations 1993.

Land Milling Limited and Ashmore pleaded guilty in Hamilton District Court this month to charges relating to the milling of indigenous timber that was not harvested in accordance with an approved annual logging plan, and failing to provide quarterly sawmilling records as required by the regulations.

The court ordered the company and Ashmore to pay a total of $12,000 in fines and costs for the breaches.

Under the Forests Act it is illegal to mill timber not harvested pursuant to an annual logging plan.

MAF Sustainable Programmes directorate compliance manager Dean Winter said that the successful prosecution sent a strong message to people who harvested more native trees than they were entitled to.

"New Zealanders place significant value on our native forests - they are part of our cultural heritage. Therefore it is important that they are managed sustainably."

Mr Winter said MAF required an approved annual logging plan along with a sustainable forest management permit, as well as quarterly milling return records to show the timber being removed and milled was done so sustainably.

"Land Milling Ltd has admitted it did not follow these rules.

"The message to forestry and milling companies who fell and mill native timber is work with us to keep your logging plans and returns in order, because the alternative is to end up in court."