Forest Talk

Niagara Sawmilling Company recently began a $115 million expansion of its timber processing operations, marking the most significant growth phase in the company’s 91-year history.  

The expansion includes a new state-of-the-art sawmill at Niagara’s Kennington site, on the outskirts of Invercargill, which is currently under construction in Canada and scheduled to be operational in late 2027. Niagara has also expanded its remanufacturing operation..... more

Bark and ambrosia beetles are acting as tiny taxis for fungi across New Zealand, giving researchers valuable clues about how these organisms travel through forests and crops.  To understand whether plant disease-causing fungi are being moved this way, Bioeconomy Science Institute scientists are identifying the species being carried on beetles found in New Zealand forests and orchards. “While a lot is known about the beetles, less is known about the fu..... more

Southland is the location for June’s Iron Test, of the CDL log grapple made by 3D Industrial Engineering in Rotorua, paired with a Caterpillar Next Gen 320.

We venture about as far south as you can go, to Invercargill, to test this grapple at Neville Stirling Excavating, and find it hard at work on a macrocarpa windblown salvage operation.

It's a tough test. The macrocarpa logs are heavy, big and old, but the grapple shines through as a solid b..... more

Andrew Leighton is OneFortyOne’s incoming Chief Executive Officer.  He will join the company following a comprehensive selection process and will succeed Michael Barbara, who has been serving as Interim CEO.

OneFortyOne Chairman, John Gilleland, said the board was delighted to appoint a leader of Mr Leighton’s calibre.

“Andrew is an accomplished senior executive with deep experience across forest products and complex industrial businesses ..... more

National Road Carriers Association (NRC) has welcomed the decision to prioritise freight carriers as part of the government’s updated Fuel Response Plan in the highly unlikely event New Zealand will move to Phase 4 of the plan.

The Government’s Fuel Response Framework has four escalating phases – 1 Watchful, 2 Precautionary, 3 Managed, 4 Protected, with the country currently in Phase 1.

Earlier this week, the government announced four categorie..... more

The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) has welcomed the release of the Climate Change Commission’s 2026 National Climate Change Risk Assessment, particularly the recognition of forestry as one of New Zealand’s most significant climate related risks.

NZIF President, James Treadwell, said the report correctly recognises forests are already facing increasing pressure from climate change, including more severe storms, wildfire risk, drought, changi..... more