Forest Talk

With more than 220 entries from trades workplaces nationwide, industry training organisation Competenz has named Palmerston North’s Sean Martin as its first-ever Most Valuable Coach (MVC) Champion - declaring him the country’s top workplace trainer across engineering, manufacturing, mechanical and primary industries, as well as marine, plastics, HVAC/R, printing and other specialist trades.

He says he was genuinely surprised to learn he had been name..... more

New Forests recently announced its A$700 million Australia New Zealand Forest Fund 2 (ANZFF2) has signed agreements for the final asset dispositions with the sale of two New Zealand forestry assets to APG Asset Management, Europe’s largest pension investor.  

The sale includes a 38% interest in Taieri Forests Limited (TFL), one of the largest producers of softwood logs in the Otago region of New Zealand, with 24,700 hectares of plantable area, c..... more

The announcement of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and India, which eliminates tariffs on over 95% of forestry and wood exports to over 1.4 billion Indian consumers, offers new opportunities for Kiwi forest owners and wood processors in a significant growth market says the New Zealand Forest Owners Association.



“The New Zealand-India FTA is a big win for all New Zealand exporters, but especially those in the forestry space,” says ..... more

Bans and restrictions on outdoor fires came into force across most of Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman this week.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is introducing the measures in response to the increasing risk of wildfire. District Manager, Grant Haywood, says the top of the south is experiencing high fire danger due to the hot and dry weather and has asked the whole community to do their bit to prevent fires.

"Fires will start and spread very easi..... more

Rounding a corner in the sand dunes to see a new 350 horsepower Timberpro forwarder certainly makes an 11 hour drive to the Far North worthwhile, says Iron Test writer, Tim Benseman: “It’s a monster of a machine. The design engineers must have had a great time getting this beast into production.”

He continues: “The crew at Subritzky Clark Logging is a small one with just three operators but these keen young men comprehend the advantage of big gear an..... more

The launch of a new government multimedia platform is set to help New Zealand businesses address chronic workforce shortages by enabling greater participation of disabled workers.

The move comes as the manufacturing, engineering and logistics industries, including wood manufacturing, prepare for an economic recovery and with rising demand for skilled labour driven by record levels of infrastructure investment and an ongoing exodus to Australia. The G..... more