The West Coast has extensive stands of virgin native forests and numerous organisations had lobbied for their protection.
This should be seen it light of the fact that New Zealand had lost approximately 75% of its original forest cover since human habitation.
In 1997 the NFA campaign involved protesters setting up camps in the forest and tree sitting.
In April 1997, one of these sites was deliberately destroyed by swinging a tree from a helicopter into it, allegedly without ensuring that it was fully clear of protesters.
[weasel words] The book made detailed claims about an organised smear campaign against NFA by public relations firm Shandwick on behalf of Timberlands West Coast, the company tasked with sustainably harvesting West Coast beech forests.