Forestry a permitted activity?
Barry Gilliland, August 2014
Forestry is a ‘permitted activity’ in the Manawatu - Whanganui region now that the rule has been approved by the Environment Court. But how can forestry be a permitted activity? Those…
Horizons’ proposed One Plan Where are we?
Barry Gilliland, August 2013
It is a long and difficult birth is my stock answer to the perennial question – At what stage is the proposed One Plan? The fact is that the situation…
Pining in the sand hills, Episode two
Gwen and Chris Bossley, May 2013
In the November 2008 Tree Grower we described our progress to that date. For four years, from 1982 until 1985, we planted 13.4 hectares of sand hills which were covered…
It’s all about density
Angus Gordon, November 2008
Hautapu Pine Products tree farm is situated on the north bank of the Orua river east of Apiti and adjacent to the Ruahine range. The majority of the property is…
Alleviating the boredom with eucalypts
Denis Hocking, November 2008
The coastal sand country of the south-western North Island is probably one of the easiest places in New Zealand to grow radiata pine. There are few disease or physiological problems,…
The Gordon Trust property 60 years on
Angus Gordon, November 2008
The Gordon Trust property owned by John and Julie Gordon, and previously by John’s father Ron, is situated 11 km due west of Taihape in one of the upper branches…
The history and trends of land use in the Middle Districts
Angus Gordon and Denis Hocking, November 2008
The Middle Districts branch, along with the associated Tararua branch, is as diverse as most you will find in New Zealand. Middle Districts is bounded by the four W's −…
Trees and farming near the roof of the world
Angus Gordon, November 2008
Ian Cummings farms an 800 hectare sheep and beef property at Hihitahi, 9 km south of Waiouru, in what can only be described as a climatically challenging environment. His farm…
Pining in the sandhills
Gwen and Chris Bossley, November 2008
In the early 1980s we decided that, as urban dwellers, we needed somewhere to escape to, within easy driving distance of home. We knew very little about lifestyle farming, but…
Forest Growers Levy Board increases Levy to 33 cents per tonne Thursday, November 26, 2020
The Board of the Forest Growers Levy Trust has increased the Levy rate to 33 cents per tonne of harvested wood materials, the first increase in the Levy rate since…
Ministry Roots In Forestry Tuesday, November 24, 2020
The Minister of Forests, Stuart Nash when speaking at the annual Farm Forestry Awards last Tuesday, announced he had started his career in farm forestry and as a student prunedtrees in…
Forest industry says main political parties abandon forest industry Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Forest industry says main political parties abandon forest industry at economic and environmental cost The Labour and National parties’ policies on forestry, leading into the election, are disappointing to forest…
Taxpayers to pick up carbon cost if production forests are restricted Friday, September 18, 2020
The Forest Owners Association says taxpayers are likely to have to pay billions of dollars for imported carbon credits, if planting production forests is to be restricted with the idea…
Election forestry policy unnecessary Tuesday, July 07, 2020
Right now, we are in a Covid-19 recovery phase and an election year. Farmers feel good about keeping the economy going, but are challenged by climate change, freshwater regulations and…
New construction policy will deliver more timber use Monday, July 06, 2020
The Forest Owners Association says the MBIE announcement of ‘Building for Climate Change’ will mean more timber is used in New Zealand construction. FOA President Phil Taylor says he’s been…
Feds telling their members they can’t sell land for forestry Sunday, July 05, 2020
The Forest Owners Association is startled that the new Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair is asking the government to restrict the right of farmer members to plant trees or…
New business agreement with ForestX Tuesday, June 23, 2020
NZFFA has negotiated a Referral and Collaboration Agreement with ForestX NZ Ltd, who provide transaction support for the sales of forests, land and standing timber. The seller pays a listing…
Better options than Log Bill Thursday, June 04, 2020
The Forest Owners Association says more exports of processed timber products from New Zealand looks a good prospect on paper, but Shane Jones’ current Log Bill is not going to…
Farm Foresters recommend action in Wood Sector Friday, May 22, 2020
In conjunction with other sector associations, the NZ Farm Forestry Association has made five important post Covid-19 recommendations to the Ministers of Forestry and Agriculture for specific actions in the…
Forest Owners brace for avalanche of clip-boards in government measure Friday, May 15, 2020
The Forest Owners Association says the industry anticipates an unacceptable and pointless bureaucratic cost to all parts of the forest industry, if the Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry…
Forest Growers Levy Trust commits to support industry Wednesday, April 29, 2020
The New Zealand Forest Growers Levy Trust is anticipating borrowing and using reserves to maintain as much of its yearly work programme as possible. The Trust has decided today (29…
Forest Owners urge caution about back to work this week Sunday, April 26, 2020
The Forest Owners Association President Phil Taylor is cautioning foresters about jumping the gun getting back to work on Tuesday after the lockdown, and that health and safety on the…
Hunters must respect the rules Friday, April 24, 2020
Game Animal Council General Manager Tim Gale says it is really important that hunters respect the rules around hunting in plantation forests. “While hunters play an important role in managing…
Forest industry back to work Wednesday, April 22, 2020
The Forest Owners Association says its members and the supply chain are gearing up to meet the challenge of getting back to work on Tuesday 28 April, working within the…
NZ Forestry Contractors Reaching Breaking Point in Forestry Crisis Monday, March 09, 2020
New Zealand Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) says forestry crisis is dire and contractors are reaching breaking point in an ever-worsening situation. Rapid impacts have been felt over the past…