NZFFA Conference 2026
NZFFA conference 2026 will be hosted by the Waikato branch and held in Cambridge.
NZFFA 68th Annual Conference - Cambridge, 20th - 24th April 2026
The Conference is now ready to take registrations. Please read the instructions below and to register, click the link below.
Register here for the Conference
Sunday 19th April - AMIGO has proposed a pre-conference trip on Sunday afternoon, to see and discuss management of Ian Brown’s 1992 pruned blackwoods at Pirongia, and to the blackwood provenance study area (Scion 2004) and PSP plots. It would also go into the NZFFA 2002 clonal redwood trial area. This would be a no-charge, self-drive or carpool trip. Tick the “expression of interest” box on the registration form, and we will contact you with more details closer to the time.
Day 1 – Monday 20th April – Cambridge Town Hall
8am – Registration desk opens
8:30am – 4:30pm - Special Interest Group meetings
8:30am-9:30am – AMIGO Acacia Action Group
9:30am-10:30am – Poplar/Willow Action Group
10:30am – Morning tea
10:45am-11:45am – Cypress Action Group
11:45am-12:45pm – Indigenous Action Group
12:45pm – Lunch
1:15pm-2:15pm – Eucalypt Action Group
2:15-3:15pm – Oak Action Group
3:15pm – Afternoon tea
3:30pm – 4:30pm – Sequoia Action Group
For those not attending the Special Interest Group meetings, we have a visit organized to the fabulous Hamilton Gardens. This would be a no-charge, self-drive or carpool trip. Tick the “expression of interest” box on the registration form, and we will contact you with more details closer to the time.
5:30pm–9pm – Opening Dinner at Good Union restaurant, Cambridge – located in an iconic historic church, renovated to provide an atmospheric dining experience. Just along the road from the Town Hall. Enjoy our fun Quiz Night too! Test your tree knowledge - prizes to be won!
Day 2 – Tuesday 21st April – Cambridge Town Hall
8am – Registration desk opens
8am – 12:30pm – Councillors’ meeting and NZFFA 2026 Annual General Meeting.
10am-10:15am – Morning tea
12:30-1pm – Lunch
1pm-3pm – Speakers
4:15pm – Buses leave Cambridge Town Hall for our Awards Dinner venue
4:45pm-9pm - Awards Dinner and entertainment at the Vilagrad Estate.
9pm – buses leave Vilagrad for Cambridge
9:45pm approx – Buses arrive back in Cambridge
Day 3 – Wednesday 22nd April – “Native Forestry Focus”, Cambridge area
8am - Buses leave Cambridge from outside Subway (opposite Town Hall)
First at award-winning Restore Native nursery, with founder Adam Thompson. See their latest innovations in production technology.
Then to Ian Brennan’s and Trisha Wren’s “Cassie’s Farm”, an outstanding showcase for new native forestry, particularly totara. Walk around, and hear Ian’s views on planning, planting and pruning. Knowledgeable speakers on the future of native forestry.
Morning and afternoon tea and lunch are provided.
Back to Cambridge about 5pm.
Free evening.
Day 4 – Thursday 23rd April – “Classic Forestry”, Taupo area
8am - Buses leave Cambridge from outside Subway (opposite Town Hall)
Travel south to Taupo, first through typical Waikato dairy country then into the central plateau heartland of radiata. We will visit 2 sites - Tenon, making quality products from sustainably-grown radiata forests, and using local geothermal power; and Nature’s Flame, using locally-sourced waste from wood processing to make wood pellets for heating. Lunch and view some older trees at Waipahihi Reserve. On the return trip, visit the fascinating NZ Timber Museum at Putaruru.
Morning and afternoon tea and lunch are provided.
Arrive back in Cambridge about 5:30pm.
Free evening.
Day 5 – Friday 24th April – “Farm Forestry Focus”, Te Awamutu area
8am - Buses leave Cambridge from outside Subway (opposite Town Hall)
At the property of Graham and Tess Smith at Wharepuhunga, we will look at a successful integration of a niche paulownia business within a dairy farm. Hear about the research that Graham has been involved in with Fonterra on the effect of feeding paulownia to dairy cows, and with AgrResearch and Scion on different grasses and effects of tree shade.
Then we will head to Kawa Mountain, the property of Dave and Sue Forsythe, and Richie Allen and Jane Forsythe, at Te Mawhai. Redwoods, totara, cypress including some recent trials cover this small (extinct) volcano. Quite a bit of walking here, wear good boots, bring your walking pole. There will be transport available for those who are not so mobile.
Morning and afternoon tea and lunch are provided.
We’ll have our closing dinner also at Kawa Mountain, with live music.
Arrive back at Cambridge about 10pm.
Saturday 25th April – proposed post-conference visit, Te Awamutu area
See Yarndley’s Bush (iconic Waikato kahikatea forest remnant), then older blocks of (mainly native) species, on 2 farms. The tree ages are known so you will get a good idea of their growth rates. Kahikatea, rimu, totara, matai and kauri feature. Also blocks of 1970, 1980 and 1989 redwoods. This would be a no-charge, self-drive or carpool trip. Tick the “expression of interest” box on the registration form, and we will contact you with more details closer to the time.
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To Register: read the instructions below and click on the link.
If you are not already logged in, you will need to login to the membership website https://nzffa.gecco.co.nz and click on the Conference page. On the top navigation Bar you will see the 'Conference Programme' tab and the 'Sponsorship' tab. On the righthand side you will see the 'Register' button, click on that and it will take you to the Registration page.
Please read the instructions at the start of the registration page and follow the instructions.
To register click HERE
Any issues with registering email: admin@nzffa.org.nz or phone: 044720432
Late Registrations: after the 31st of March 2026 the registration fee will increase by $100.
Some events may be limited by numbers.
Any refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Please note that there is a remote possibility that the program could change at short notice.
You will be required to follow all necessary Health & Safety requirements during the duration of the conference.
No private vehicles to be used on field trips.