Forest Talk

A clear-fall operation is set to start in Armidale State Forest to remove dead and dying pine trees, which present a public safety risk. 

The northern section of the pine plantation in the Forest has been closed due to safety concerns over the instability of pine trees that died during the 2019-2020 drought.

Northern Regional Manager, Gary Pearson, says a previous harvest operation selectively removed dead and dying trees in the forest and..... more

Minister of Forestry, Todd McClay, has welcomed a decision by forestry sector representatives to drop Judicial Review proceedings related to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) fees.

“The Judicial Review was initiated in response to the excessive fees imposed on the forestry sector by the previous Government,” Mr McClay says.

“The previous Labour government made a number of decisions that drove up the cost of ETS Registry and they expe..... more

Masterful machine control and nerves of steel saw Dunedin’s Josh Keane power his way to victory against 19 of Otago's best excavator operators at the Civil Contractors New Zealand CablePrice Otago Regional Excavator Operator Competition last month.

The event took place at Taieri Showgrounds in Mosgiel during the Taieri A&P Show, drawing in hundreds of spectators who were mesmerised by the excavator expertise on display as the competitors tackled tric..... more

The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) says the Government’s decision to merge the country’s seven Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) could strengthen forestry’s role in bolstering the bioeconomy.

The  decision, which will affect forest research CRI Scion, will see all CRIs merge into four Public Research Organisations (PROs) focused on the bioeconomy, earth sciences, advanced technology and health and forensic sciences.

NZFOA Chi..... more

“Forest Pro has two crews in in the mighty Mangatu Forest. Its original crew is a classic European style ground-based logging operation with processing in the cutover and forwarding logs to skids. The crew we are visiting today is its recently established crew based around a near-new John Deere/Harvestline,” says Iron Test writer, Tim Benseman. 

He continues: “The Forest Pro team is really up against it when it comes to road access but we finall..... more

Returning speed limits on Rotorua roads to higher speeds could spell trouble, residents say, following the Government announcement that it will reverse or consult on speed changes implemented since 2020.

Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell, says she would be reluctant to see the limit on State Highway 5 south of Rotorua back at 100km/h without Government investment into road safety, and a former council candidate is planning a petition against the proposal...... more