The forest industry says processors hit by last week's natural gas shutdown should consider using wood chips as an alternative fuel source.
The dairy industry suffered the greatest disruption from the rupture of the Maui gas pipeline last week. Fifteen Fonterra processing plants were forced to close for one or two days and millions of litres of milk was dumped.
Fonterra and other processors are reviewing their energy arrangements.
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association says those with processing sites within trucking distance of plantations should consider using wood chips as a secure alternative fuel for their boilers.
The association's senior policy analyst Glen Mackie says vast quantities of wood left from harvesting logs are available for fuel.
Glen Mackie says wood chips can be used with conventional boiler technology. However, wood gasification is just around the corner, with a pilot plant being developed in Rotorua.