Forest Talk

Rounding a corner in the sand dunes to see a new 350 horsepower Timberpro forwarder certainly makes an 11 hour drive to the Far North worthwhile, says Iron Test writer, Tim Benseman: “It’s a monster of a machine. The design engineers must have had a great time getting this beast into production.”

He continues: “The crew at Subritzky Clark Logging is a small one with just three operators but these keen young men comprehend the advantage of big gear an..... more

The launch of a new government multimedia platform is set to help New Zealand businesses address chronic workforce shortages by enabling greater participation of disabled workers.

The move comes as the manufacturing, engineering and logistics industries, including wood manufacturing, prepare for an economic recovery and with rising demand for skilled labour driven by record levels of infrastructure investment and an ongoing exodus to Australia. The G..... more

The delivery of the latest Komatsu 951XC harvester to Rodwell Logging of Bomballa New South Wales (NSW), last June marked the 40th anniversary of purpose-built wheel harvesters. Komatsu’s long-standing history in this field began with its acquisition of the Swedish forest machine manufacturer Partek Forest AB, which originated from the Valmet brand, a pioneer in modern harvester design.

Valmet Logging AB released the first Valmet 901 harvester in Swe..... more

With nearly 600,000 cubic metres of large woody debris removed from river catchments and beaches across the Gisborne region since Cyclone Gabrielle, significant progress continues to be made to reduce woody debris risks.

Final work to address remaining debris in rivers in the Ūawa, Waiapu, Waipaoa and Northern catchments will get underway in early 2026. Work to scope the remaining 4km of the lower Waimatā River (from the Cheese Factory to the William..... more

Economic conditions have been challenging in Taranaki, and not just for forestry, but the downturn may be starting to ease for some.

This according to Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki’s latest Quarterly Economic Monitor for Taranaki, compiled by independent economic consultancy Infometrics. 

Over the year to September 2025, the region’s GDP has provisionally fallen 2.3%, compared with a national decline of 0.5%. However, the most recent qua..... more

New Zealand sites will be used as part of an upcoming European Space Agency (ESA) mission to better understand the role forests play in the carbon and water cycle.

This will provide direct measurements of New Zealand forests’ productivity, carbon sequestration and health, informing land management decisions at a local and national level and giving insights into the impact of drought and extreme weather events on native and exotic forests.

The E..... more