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…
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…
Wharves in China can’t take more logs from New Zealand Monday, February 24, 2020
Lack of space in Chinese ports is bringing a virtual halt to New Zealand log exports to China. The Forest Owners Association says precautions in China against coronavirus have resulted…
New Zealand forest owners wary of closing access risk in Chinese market Monday, February 03, 2020
New Zealand log exporters are bracing themselves for supply chain problems in China due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Some forest owners are already reducing their harvesting rate. Regrettably this…
NZ log exporters bracing themselves for supply chain problems Monday, February 03, 2020
Attached is a press release put out yesterday by FOA and the Forest Industry Contractors Association regarding New Zealand log exporters bracing themselves for supply chain problems in China due…
Harvesting Innovation Workshops yield useful results for small growers Sunday, January 26, 2020
Six Forest Growers Levy funded workshops have been held throughout New Zealand, focussing on harvesting innovations taking place in small-scale forests. This has resulted in useful insights into recent developments that could be…
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