Forest Talk

An innovative, low-emissions, driverless tractor able to perform up to three tasks at once is on the cards for New Zealand orchards. While the focus is currently on viticulture, the fundamental technology stack has potential uses in a lot of different sectors including forestry, says Smart Machine Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Kersley. “We would be very interested in exploring this further if any specific use cases with scalable opportunities are identified,” he adds...... more

In a first for the wood heating industry, Kiwis and Aussies will be able to heat their homes with a zero-carbon footprint thanks to a tree-planting initiative. 

New Zealand manufacturer, Pyro Fires, will offset 100% of the carbon emissions that each of their eco-friendly wood burning fireplaces will emit during its lifetime.

Pyro Fires has teamed up with One Tree Planted to plant 23 native trees for every Pyro sold. According to the Tāne’s Tree Trust Na..... more

Newly arrived into New Zealand, the Logset 8H GTE Hybrid harvester offers, you guessed it, a mix of electric and diesel power. 

It's the first all-new hybrid-powered forestry machine to go to work in New Zealand and is a taste of what low-carbon harvesting will look like in the future.

Logset is a Finnish-made machine that is still relatively unknown and certainly uncommon among forestry operators on our shores in 2022. But never one to simply follow th..... more

Though critical skills gaps in the primary sector are being eased with exceptions being made to the usual immigration rules to open the door for 1,580 additional experienced workers to come to New Zealand for jobs in forestry, the dairy industry and meat processing, New Zealand still urgently needs more overseas truck drivers to fill a growing shortage, says National Road Carriers Chief Operating Officer, James Smith.

“The people crisis is becoming glaringly obvio..... more

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology (Toi Ohomai), the largest tertiary education provider in the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato has launched its new co-brand with Te Pūkenga - Aotearoa’s new national vocational education provider.

The new co-brand forms part of the engagement process as Toi Ohomai, along with all 15 Institute of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) across Aotearoa, transition into the new national entity.

This work will see the Toi Ohomai logo..... more

"When you’re on that path of almost going to jail or, worse, in jail, you know you gotta make some radical changes. Life has changed for me for the better... I think, through growth, learning from past mistakes and trying to get ahead to better the future for myself and my family,” says Cruz Hobson of his job placement with FNR Forestry through the Department of Corrections. Starting there in silviculture and now cutting logs to length in an 875 Tigercat Machine for Mol..... more