Forest Talk

Economic conditions have been challenging in Taranaki, and not just for forestry, but the downturn may be starting to ease for some.

This according to Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki’s latest Quarterly Economic Monitor for Taranaki, compiled by independent economic consultancy Infometrics. 

Over the year to September 2025, the region’s GDP has provisionally fallen 2.3%, compared with a national decline of 0.5%. However, the most recent qua..... more

New Zealand sites will be used as part of an upcoming European Space Agency (ESA) mission to better understand the role forests play in the carbon and water cycle.

This will provide direct measurements of New Zealand forests’ productivity, carbon sequestration and health, informing land management decisions at a local and national level and giving insights into the impact of drought and extreme weather events on native and exotic forests.

The E..... more

“The prospectus for wood processing being selected as one of the three focus areas for InvestNZ is demonstrating to the world’s investors, we are open for business, ready to scale up and take advantage of new opportunities”, says Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (WPMA) Chief Executive, Mark Ross. 

The announcement was made by Minister for Forestry and Trade and Investment, Todd McClay, this month at the Invest New Zea..... more

The two new Acts that make up this month’s Resource Management Act (RMA) reform announcement will provide impetus to economic, business and infrastructure development while also providing environmental guardrails that were lacking in the previous Act, says the EMA.

“The EMA has been at the core of a group of associations pushing for and working on RMA reform for the past eight years and we are pleased to finally see meaningful steps aimed at simplify..... more

Gavin Wilson of Havard Logging in Masterton was so impressed when he bought the first in the world Hitachi ZX400L-7G that he got busy and bought the second one in the world as well, says Iron Test writer Tim Benseman.

He continues: “Gavin started out at Havard Logging straight from school in 1985 and, along with his wife Donna, bought the company in 2021. With a fleet of 18 Hitachi’s (23 if including subcontractors) it’s fair to say Havard Logging ru..... more

A fungus discovered in 2020 can process wood and agricultural waste more effectively than traditional commercial enzymes – helping transition forestry into a high-value manufacturing sector, according to new Bioeconomy Science Institute research.

The fungus, Penicillium rotoruae, was discovered as a new species growing on radiata pine in the “timber graveyard” at Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – and named afte..... more