Forest Talk

Forestry Minister, Todd McClay, has announced the establishment of the ‘Tairāwhiti Forestry Action Group’ to expedite wood clean-up in Gisborne and help implement best practice for forestry.

“This is an important next step to ensure the ongoing clean-up of wood and mitigation of future risk across the Tairāwhiti region,” he says.

“The Government announced an additional $27 million in Budget 2024 for further removal and treatment of wood debris ..... more

Loggers, Gods and soldiers are awake early to get the day started, as writer, Colin Smith, discovers waiting in the carpark of the Pan Pac mill, just north of Napier, at 3.30am on a chilly Monday. 

He continues: “We’re meeting Platoon Sergeant Storm Harrison from the 5/7 Battalion NZ Infantry Regiment Army Reserve. And his two stand-out log trucks named Tāne Mahuta (God of the Forest) and Tūmatauenga (God of War).

“The military and logging..... more

“It's interesting to see how Eltec has designed the Eltec FBL277L B series - compact/zero tail version of the bigger 317 model that we tested a couple of months ago in Southland. At 47 tonnes gassed up and with the head on, this is still a big machine but Eltec has made it more manoeuvrable while retaining excellent servicing access under the clamshell. Seeing Iron Tester Tony Hill moving through the trees in this unit, you can see it is able to slip throu..... more

“Forestry is not a matter of choosing one type of tree over another. The goal should be to create a mosaic of farm paddocks and trees which enhances both economic returns and environmental sustainability,” says James Treadwell, President of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF). “We need to think about forestry in a holistic manner, placing trees where they will deliver the greatest benefits.”

This is in response to the Why Pines? A Context fo..... more

It seems like quite a while ago that we tested a Cat machine, so our Iron Test team is all ears when Terra Cat territory account manager Mark Costello, tells them what’s been changed in this new Next Gen 568: “We basically redesigned everything. New engine, new pump, new control system, all hoses are out of the cab now, new rear entry cab, new windscreen design which you will see is amazing, more track power, dual slew motors, the list goes on.”

Arri..... more

On a misty morning in June just north of Turangi, Gordon Flight from Flight Logging brought down the last tree in the Central North Island forests managed by NZ Forest Managers (NZFM) that had been damaged in February 2023 by Cyclone Gabrielle.

When Gordon set down the tree ready for extraction, it marked the end of an extraordinary 16-month salvage operation for NZFM and all the harvesting and trucking contractors that helped with the work.  more