Forest Talk

Crowning the nation’s top rookie axeman, the New Zealand Rookies Championship, presented by the New Zealand Axemen’s Association will be part of the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games on the 13th March. 

“There’s a strong connection between woodchopping, forestry, and sawmilling – it’s all about skill, respect for timber, and mastering a craft,” says Alexa Vorster, Marketing Manager for Wood-Mizer New Zealand which is sponsoring the Championshi..... more

Compounds from native trees contribute distinctive properties to propolis, a natural substance produced by bees, according to a recent study by apicultural scientists and a Māori land trust in the native ngahere of Te Urewera.

Propolis is a resinous substance honey bees create from plant materials including sap and leaf buds to protect their hives. For centuries humans have used propolis as a natural or herbal remedy, being widely recognised for..... more

The Bravo contingent of 20 firefighters experienced in arduous conditions, plus two liaison officers, departed recently to support firefighting efforts in Victoria, Australia.

This second Fire and Emergency New Zealand deployment followed a formal request from Emergency Management Victoria for an exact replacement of the current Alpha deployment which arrived back in New Zealand earlier this month.

Deputy National Commander, Brandan Nally, says..... more

As the eradication response effort on Auckland’s North Shore continues to accelerate, radio tracking technology has enabled the detection of ten yellow-legged hornet nests.

Biosecurity New Zealand’s Commissioner North, Mike Inglis, says the technique - attaching tiny radio transmitters to worker hornets and tracking them back to their nests - has quickly become a core tool in the response programme.

“Our capability with the equipment is growing..... more

The wood sector needs to “seize efficiency opportunities to reduce energy costs and fuel use” says Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA) Chief Executive, Mark Ross.
 
 “A lot of our sector’s emissions come from energy, as well as a large proportion of ongoing operational costs. We’re increasingly seeing businesses taking steps to use less energy because it’s a win-win - lower bills and lower emissions,” says Mr Ross.
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While there are many winch-assist units out in our industry supporting felling and bunching on steep terrain, winch-assist skidding is a lot less common, says the University of Canterbury’s Prof Rien Visser. 

He continues: “Under the right conditions winch-assist skidding allows us to operate on what was traditionally cable logging terrain, however, our understanding of its full potential is still somewhat in its infancy. Within the scope of the..... more