Forest Talk

A new optional accessory for Ponsse harvester heads ensures effective chainsaw lubrication. The Ponsse Greasing System feeds grease to the chainsaw from screw-in grease cartridges according to the dosing settings made through the Opti5G information system. Grease cartridges stored in a warm place ensure effective lubrication throughout the work shift.

“This is a solution that makes the workday of a forest machine operator easier, especially in cold w..... more

WorkSafe New Zealand's initiative to recruit up to 60 new health and safety inspectors in 2025 is a positive step towards addressing our alarming rates of workplace harm, says the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA).

"New Zealand's workplace fatality rate is notably higher than that of comparable countries," says EMA Manager of Employment Relations and Safety, Paul Jarvie.

"The investment of an additional $2.7 million annually into gr..... more

Under its new strategy, WorkSafe is turning some 15% of its targeted frontline activity to the forestry sector because of the high rate of harm, particularly for Maōri.   Forestry had the highest fatality rate of any sector in 2024, with 16.58 deaths per 100,000 workers. 

In a recent case, poor risk management from the two businesses above him, resulted in the death of a forestry contractor, says WorkSafe. Both businesses have been sentence..... more

Since Government cyclone recovery funding was approved in October last year, Gisborne District Council has repaired 60 slips and dropouts on rural roads and intends to complete another 200 this year.

“When funding was approved we were ready to push go on the first package of sites, so we didn’t waste any time getting moving,” says Tim Barry, Council Director of Community Lifelines.

A total of 344 slips and dropouts have been approved by funders..... more

Logging truck and trailer combos are a common sight in many parts of the country. So are empty logging trucks on their way back to the forest, this time with the trailer piggybacking on the truck.  This trailer on truck arrangement is efficient on the road but it also puts enough weight over the drive wheels for the truck to climb back up steep forestry roads to get the next load.

It happens hundreds of times a day. The log loader will unload th..... more

It’s amazing the people you meet in this job, says Iron Test writer, Tim Benseman. Arriving too early at the log port operation in Picton, he goes to the tourist lookout area above the yard to see if there are any good photo opportunities. Sure enough the view there is an impressive display of a large-scale, well-ordered logging industry workplace.

He continues: “It’s only a few minutes before several tourists drive up and are wowed by the spectacula..... more