The FIRST Union says it wants to hold urgent talks about forestry sector deaths with whoever wins the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election.
The union is campaigning for an independent inquiry into the number of deaths in the industry.
It says 25 people have died and almost 900 been seriously injured while working in forests in the past five years.
FIRST Union wood sector secretary Rawiri Daniels says a meeting with the new MP for the eastern Maori seat will be a priority - as the region has many forests.
He says he'll certainly be talking to the successful candidate to find some solutions to stop the accidents happening in the Tairawhiti.
Mr Daniels says he is also writing letters to ministers to press for an independent inquiry.
