Forest Talk

Penske Australia & New Zealand has appointed Stephen Kelly as the General Manager of its Penske New Zealand business.

Having joined Penske in November, Mr Kelly brings vast senior leadership experience across dealership, sales, parts and service operations.

In his role, he will oversee all New Zealand branch operations, including energy solutions, mining, commercial vehicles, defence, marine and rail, and he will continue to be based at Penske’..... more

This month’s Iron Test takes place in the Kaingaroa Forest, just off the Million Dollar Highway between Murupara and Kawerau, where the Thomassen crew is operating.  The target is the robust and powerful looking John Deere 953M, coupled with a New Zealand-made Quadco QB4400 fixed felling head.

The 9 litre, 330HP, John Deere is running three hydraulic pumps, 532 litres per minute (l/min), 114 l/min and 135 l/min. It impresses with its seamless po..... more

This month our Iron Test team visits the Mangatu Block to test Hill Logging's new Sany 245F fitted with a Falcon Winch Assist financed by TDF Solutions.

The 245F is powered by a 6.37 litre, 147kw/297HP Mitsubishi engine with two Kawasaki hydraulic pumps, pushing 260 litres per minute each pump. Agility and fuel efficiency are two of the standouts noted so far by its owners.

The geography of the test site under the lee of the main Raukumara Rang..... more

Just four months after being declared clinically dead, Kiwi axeman Kahu Woolley is back on the chopping block this weekend – literally.

Australian-based Woolley makes an emotional return to home soil this week - at the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® New Zealand Nationals - for the first time since suffering a near-fatal heart attack mid-competition in Victoria last November.

The 44-year-old mechanic was brought back to life multiple times after collapsing..... more

This month’s Environmental Forestry conference will focus on the immediate, practical needs of forest managers and planners.

While previous discussions in the sector have centred on the broad shift toward “applied solutions”, the 2026 event – taking place in Rotorua on 23-24 March – is specifically designed to answer the operational question: “What will you bring back to the office from this event?”

The programme addresses four critical pillars..... more

With decades of experience designing and building transport solutions for New Zealand conditions, The Patchell Group continues to focus on what it does best — producing robust, New Zealand-built trailers engineered to last.

The Patchell Group has always been at the forefront of design and technology, but recognises the benefits of aligning with other like-minded companies to be able to offer products that suit a range of transport solutions. It’s the..... more