Forest Talk

Combine a steep forest road network, erodible terrain, high-cost earthworks and destructive weather events and you’ve got a recipe for finding new log transport solutions. Qube Forestry New Zealand’s East Coast operation (formerly Pacific Haulage), based in Gisborne, did just that, in the form of the addition of ten 8x6 Scania G500 trucks to assist in harvest planning, loading and log transport in these difficult conditions.

With a full fleet of 90 t..... more

Budget 2024 has allocated $2.68 billion to transport, including an additional $1 billion to accelerate the delivery of the Road of National significance and major public transport projects. 

“This Government appreciates that if we are to unlock our economic potential and stimulate growth, investment in roading infrastructure is key,” says National Road Carriers (NRC) CEO, Justin Tighe-Umbers. “This Budget is rightly looking at what investment ne..... more

Clear felling of native forests had officially ceased by 1977 because the Government had realised during the 1950s that this valuable resource was rapidly being depleted and action was necessary to preserve what remained, says historian Ron Cooke. 

He adds that In hindsight he was fortunate or, to be more accurate, unknowingly on hand, to record the dying stages of an industry whose fate had already been decided.  

The date of his vis..... more

The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group has been given a national award for its exceptional efforts in creating the Te Aratia Walkway. Outdoor Access Champion Awards are presented each year by Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, to people who have made significant and lasting contributions to public access to the outdoors in New Zealand.

The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group, a collective of marae, landowners, and agencies, ..... more

Another Bailey bridge has been successfully installed in Gisborne. The bridge went up on the Makarika No.2 Bridge, Makarika Road, south of Ruatorea. It will allow contractors to clear debris and begin repairs to the abutment under the bridge and the road approaching the bridge.

Community Lifelines Director, Tim Barry, says it will make a huge difference to the community living across the bridge as the Bailey bridge means continued access while the re..... more

China has launched the first of two electric-powered river containerships. The 700 TEU pure power vessel, built for COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry, is part of an effort to use electric-powered vessels throughout the Yangtze region. 

The ship was floated at the shipyard in Yangzhou last year and is currently being referred to by its hull number of N997. Dry dock assembly began in March 2023 after the project kicked off in December 2022. It is sche..... more