Forest Talk

Gisborne District Council last month welcomed the Government’s funding announcement to provide additional capacity to progress forestry harvesting consents in Tairāwhiti over the next 12 weeks.

The one-off funding will help accelerate work on applications already underway and those expected during the current harvesting season.

Council Chief Executive Nedine Thatcher Swann says the funding is a welcome and practical contribution towards address..... more

A large number of recently planted native trees have been stolen from Ohinetonga Scenic Reserve in Ōwhango, between Taumarunui and National Park.

Planted by volunteers from Ōwhango Alive, with support from the Department of Conservation, the trees were part of ongoing efforts to improve local waterways and enhance biodiversity.

Ōwhango Alive chairman Mark Fredericks says the theft of the plants is disheartening.

“Dismay was the main feeli..... more

Researchers are investigating how drones could take the sting out of removing invasive hornet and wasp nests from hazardous, hard-to-reach places.

The Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao is exploring cost-effective drone systems to make nest removal safer, faster and easier in high-risk locations like tall trees, cliff faces and steep gullies.

The project, funded by Better Border Biosecurity, begins as warmer weather sees efforts to dete..... more

Close to 200 Foresters gathered in Rotorua earlier this week for the HarvestTECH & Wood Transport Logistics 2026 organised by Innovatek.

The first address was by Mike Casey who spoke on Energy Resilience for Forestry Supply Chains — Learnings from Other Sectors.  

As well as being a cherry grower from Central Otago, Mike is CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, a New Zealand charity dedicated to electrifying millions of fossil fuel machines across the..... more

The December Iron Test comes from the Douglas thinnings at Forest Creek Station on the Rangitata River in Canterbury. The Ponsse Buffalo King at King One Logging is the piece of equipment being put through its paces. The machine is powered by a Mercedes Benz 7.7litre diesel pumping 281 horsepower, a lot of grunt for a thinnings forwarder. It features some interesting innovations to increase productivity and machine durability.

The crane can be housed..... more

Les Owens is significant figure in New Zealand logging. He cut his teeth in the native logging of the Central North Island, helped in the salvage operation that followed Cyclone Giselle, the 1968 storm which sank the TEV Wahine, and would go on to be well known as a trainer and assessor.

In 1969 Les was involved in planting the first of the pine plantations within the Lake Taupō Forest. Today, the logging company he and his wife Lovey founded, Te Waa..... more