Forest Talk

A recent safety alert on changing tractor tyres is equally relevant to the forestry industry says WorkSafe.

Feedback from the alert indicates it can also apply to skidder tyres, grapples and anything heavy that can fall on people in the forest.

The alert covers the importance of using safe methods when changing tractor tyres.

A farmer was fatally injured while changing a rear tractor tyre on a Canterbury farm in January 2026. The person w..... more

Tigercat machinery at Speirs Logging is the subject of the July Iron Test.  The Tigercat 4161-15 mulching head is running on a Tigercat L870D, a 370HP 38 tonne leveller. The Tigercat FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies) engine is specifically designed to deliver high power density, quick load response and excellent fuel economy for heavy-duty forestry applications.

Blake and Caree Speirs are the owners of Speirs Logging Ltd, based in Gisborne. Bla..... more

A plan has been put in place to cut damaging deer numbers in a Manawatū forest park.

The newly finalised Ruahine Adaptive Wild Deer Management Plan sets out a five year, evidence based programme of work developed with iwi and supported by a locally representative advisory group.

Monitoring shows deer numbers are above levels needed for forest recovery in parts of the park.

Department of Conservation Manawatū Operations Manager, Moana Smit..... more

New Zealand’s forestry sector is set to benefit from sensible regulation to help meet environmental obligations, while lowering the cost of compliance, according to Forestry Minister, Todd McClay.

“The wood and forestry industries are important contributors to New Zealand’s economy, supporting 42,000 jobs. Last year the sector contributed $6.2 billion worth of export earnings,” he said.

“It’s prudent we set appropriate legislation and provide t..... more

Niagara Sawmilling Company recently began a $115 million expansion of its timber processing operations, marking the most significant growth phase in the company’s 91-year history.  

The expansion includes a new state-of-the-art sawmill at Niagara’s Kennington site, on the outskirts of Invercargill, which is currently under construction in Canada and scheduled to be operational in late 2027. Niagara has also expanded its remanufacturing operation..... more

Bark and ambrosia beetles are acting as tiny taxis for fungi across New Zealand, giving researchers valuable clues about how these organisms travel through forests and crops.  To understand whether plant disease-causing fungi are being moved this way, Bioeconomy Science Institute scientists are identifying the species being carried on beetles found in New Zealand forests and orchards. “While a lot is known about the beetles, less is known about the fu..... more