Les Carr, Mangamuka, Northland branch
Les Carr describes some of the successes and pitfalls involved with forestry in his mixed drystock and 90-hectare forestry operation near Mangamuka, Northland, including a joint venture with members of…
Brian Simms, Kaitaia, Northland branch
Brian Simms' farm near Kaitaia in Northland combines grazing with high value trees. Tree species planted include radiata pine, blackwood and silky oak (Grevillea robusta). Brian plants for erosion control…
Doug Lane, Kaeo, Northland branch
On this award-winning property plantings are for timber, aesthetics and to create a pleasant working environment. Trees planted on land that was marginal for stock have made stock management much…
Peter and Nikki Davies-Colley, Titoki, Northland branch
On this 300-hectare sheep, cattle and forestry property, a whole-farm approach is taken - trees are only planted on land too steep or difficult to cultivate. Poplars are planted to…
John and Christine Pedersen, Parakao, Northland branch
The Pedersens have integrated livestock, woodlot and timber-line plantings; trees have been planted on the steepest, driest parts of farm. Main species are radiata pine and eucalypts. Trees have resulted…
Peter and Pam Kelly, Dargaville, Northland branch
This 300-hectare exposed dry coastal sand country is used for intensive beef production.40 ha of the worst land is in production forestry; 4-5 ha in shelter and amenity plantings have…
Articles and reports
2018 North Island farm forester of the year field day - Dean Satchell
Vertically Integrated Forest Operation - Horowai Trust, Purerua Peninsula, Kerikeri High value forest 150 ha, aiming for good quality timber for high end use and a good return Diverse products, harvest thinnings,…
Field day - Doug and Janet Bogardus' farm and Northland Kauri
5 June 2019. Peter Davies-Colley introduced Doug and Janet at their house while it poured down outside. They built their mud brick and timber house themselves, with some beautiful Lawson…
Field day - John Dawns, Titoki
November 23rd, 2019. John Dawn has a “small” 44 hectare private investment forest near Titoki, west of Whangarei. After coming back to New Zealand from overseas in ‘94 John decided he…
Field day - Killens farm, Kaikohe
14 March 2020. Ross Killen hosted this field day with his father Bruce and Ross's brother in law Shane Tobin. The farm is 300 hectares and running sheep an beef, with mixed-age…
Trounson Park
Ian Brown, November 2015
When James Trounson emigrated to New Zealand from Cornwall in 1862, he moved to Northland and set about milling trees and clearing land for farming. What distinguished him from most…
Swamp kauri – a post 2015 conference visit
Ian Brown, November 2015
Nelson Parker, owner of the Kaihu Kauri Mill, is a larger than life character. A former champion axeman, he is built like a Sherman tank with a personality to match…
Bushman’s impressive shed
Nick Ledgard, August 2015
I had the Kauri Museum or Trounson Park in my sights for the last conference day, but the need to be back in Whangarei for a mid-day flight required taking…
Whangarei Conference 2015 - field days
Whangarei branch committee, August 2015
The annual NZFFA conference was held in Whangarei in April and as usual there were a number of field trips for attendees to take part in. Over the next few…
Good stewardship of land, water and trees
Brian Simms, February 2011
My parents bought half of the present farm area in 1955 for the princely sum of £2,000. This land comprised a couple of hectares of rough grass, a few hectares…
Far North field day Re-conceptualising weedy scrub
Dean Satchell and Doug Lane, August 2009
This ex-dairy and drystock property was purchased by Paul and Katarina Quinlan in 1996 and had already been occupied as a lifestyle block for 16 years. Being mostly rolling contour, a…
Plantation forestry ranks best for land use Thursday, April 15, 2021
The just released Ministry for the Environment’s latest environmental report scores exotic forestry highly for its low impact on soils. The MfE report identified exotic forests as the land use by far…
The NZIF Foundation Awards & Scholarship Applications Now Open Thursday, April 15, 2021
The NZIF Foundation is offering the following awards in 2021: Future Forest Scholarship for post graduate research of up to $10,000 Up to two scholarships available Otago Southland Award One or…
Foresters celebrate scooping primary industry awards Wednesday, April 14, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says taking out three of the four category prizes in the Primary Industries’ Good Employer Awards this week is a sign the forest sector has come…
Log supply not the cause of timber shortage Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Forest organisations have joined to reject statements that the current shortage of framing timber is caused by foresters selling logs to China and not leaving enough timber to be processed…
Farm Foresters fired up to play a role in land use issues. Monday, March 29, 2021
Farm foresters are now excited and fully informed to play a role in helping role solve NZ land use issues says the incoming association president, Graham West. They have just…
Wairoa foresters forced to subsidise local meatworks Thursday, February 18, 2021
Foresters in the Wairoa District are appalled that a part of their recent rate increase will go to propping up the local meatworks. Wairoa District Council disclosed at a meeting…
Foresters say pines to be relied on to meet climate targets Monday, February 01, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the Climate Change Commission has endorsed the crucial role exotic forestry will carry out in meeting New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emission targets in 2030…
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…
Minister's Roots In Forestry Tuesday, November 24, 2020
The Minister of Forestry, 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 pruned trees…
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…
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