Forest Talk

The fast-track approval of Port of Auckland’s expansion project will deliver an economic boost for the city, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).

The project, approved under the government’s Fast-track Approvals Act, will see construction begin this month on extensions to the Bledisloe Terminal and Fergusson North Berth, as well as a new cruise passenger terminal and other upgrades.

The development is expected to create addit..... more

“Despite costing $1.5 billion a year to run, Auckland Transport has limited expertise in freight,“ says National Road Carriers Association (NRC) CEO, Justin Tighe-Umbers. “Right now, freight is an afterthought for Auckland’s transport planners.”

He says the NRC is calling for detailed traffic modelling to support Auckland Transport’s recent proposed replacement of railway level crossing in Takanini with road bridges.

“The City Rail Link is goin..... more

There have been two recent incidents where trailer lifting chains failed while a trailer was being lifted onto the truck, including one near miss that could have resulted in serious harm, says the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC).  

Following these events, the LTSC has reviewed these incidents, with the support of Maritime NZ and WorkSafe NZ, including a review of the Trailer Lifting Code. 

Both failures were attributed to worn com..... more

Tariffs on wood products exported to the United Sates remain at ‘0’ percent as the section 232 Investigation aimed at determining the global effects imports of timber, lumber and their derivative products pose to the U.S. supply chain continues.
 
Although the ‘0’ percent tariff rate is a welcome relief for wood product exporters, the uncertainty of what may eventuate from the section 232 Investigation is causing unease across New Zealand wood proc..... more

This month, our Iron Test team is visiting the Stewart Logging Mosgiel site with AB Equipment’s Nicolas Ekron, who is the Dunedin branch Service Manager. Stewart Logging owner, Grant Stewart’s son Matt, owns the Sumitomo 4040 with Duxson Donaldson GX182HD grapple being tested. 

“Nicolas is originally from South Africa and grew up on a farm with his Dad and Uncle being quarry managers and mechanics, so he got to working with machinery maintenance..... more

“This winter, students from Bucklands Beach Intermediate will join Rotary’s Trees for Survival programme founders to plant the first of a million native trees or shrubs by 2030,” says Trees for Survival Business Development Manager, Sally Clegg.

School children have already planted more than a million native trees and shrubs since the national environmental education and restoration programme, Trees for Survival Charitable Trust was founded in 1990. ..... more