Indigenous species - Information resources
- Establishing native hardwood trees for timber
NZFFA Information leaflet No. 24 (2005). There is in New Zealand a constant demand for high quality wood products made from native species, including hardwoods, principally for joinery, furniture and the…
- Natives for Timber or Amenity
Nothing can be more rewarding for a forester than creating and nurturing a native plantation from 10 years on their size, growth rate, form and rapid maturation looks and feels…
- Growing NZ Beech for timber
In this page: Site selection for beech How many should I plant Pruning beech Thinning beech New Zealand has five native beech species, commonly known as red, black, silver, mountain…
- Growing totara for timber
In this page: Site selection for Planted totara How many should I plant? Pruning totara Thinning totara Totara (Podocarpus totara) is one of New Zealand’s most easily grown native species.…
- Wardle’s Native Trees of New Zealand
Wardle, J., & Platt, I. p. (2011). Wellington: Bateson Publishing.
A comprehensive and accessible guide with over 300 colour photographs. Each tree species is described and illustrated, and the botanical and ecological details are supplemented with information about their uses. Order your copy »
- Bush Vitality Assessment
Janssen, H. (2006). Bush Vitality Assessment (revised edition). New Zealand: Helmut Janssen.
A visual assessment kit for native bush, especially small remnant areas. Also has information on establishing new forest, the use of exotics, and erosion control.
- Expanding economic viability for sustainably managed indigenous beech forests
Donnelly, R. H. (2011). Expanding Economic Viability for Sustainably Managed Indigenous Beech Forests. Christchurch: NZ School of Forestry.
Comprehensive report focusing on markets and the market potential for indigenous beech. SFF project 05/048, co-funded by University of Canterbury, NZFFA, Maori Trustee.
- Indigenous forestry: Sustainable Management
NZ Ministry of Forestry, & NZ Farm Forestry Association. (1998). Indigenous Forestry: Sustainable Management. Wellington, NZ: NZ Ministry of Forestry.
Handbook, general guide to principles and practice of indigenous forestry; focus on management of existing forest. Covers all aspects (but now being superceded by Tane’s Tree Trust publications).
- Farming with Native Trees: A guide for farmers from Northland to Waikato.
NZ Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 5
Mike Dodd and Helen Ritchie (eds)
Practical advice plus a range of case studies from the northern North Island but relevant to other areas.
- Kauri: ecology, establishment, growth and management.
NZ Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 2
David Bergin and Greg Steward
Accessible, practical information produced in full colour. Best current information on all aspects of growing and utilising kauri
- Native forest restoration: A practical guide for landowners
Porteous, T. (1993). Native Forest Restoration: A practical guide for landowners. Welliington, NZ: Queen ELizabeth the Second National Trust.
Very useful practical handbook. Mostly covers environmental restoration but much detail on propagation, site preparation, planting and maintenance.
- Native Trees: Planting and early management for wood production, NZ Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 3
Bergin, D., & Gea, L. (2005) New Zealand Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 3 (pp. 44). Rotorua: NZ Forest Research Institute.
Accessible, practical information produced in full colour. Best current information on all aspects of growing and utilising most important native species.
- New Zealand’s Native Trees
Dawson, J., & Lucas, R. (2012). New Zealand's Native Trees. New Zealand: Craig Potton Publishing.
Award-winning book: comprehensive coverage and botanical photos of all NZ’s native species.
- Plant Materials Handbook for Soil Conservation, Vol. 3: Native Plants
Hathaway R.L. (1986) Vol 3: Native Plants. Wellington: National Soil and Water Conservation Authority.
Using native plants for soil conservation.
- Pohutukawa: ecology, establishment, growth and management, NZ Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 4
Bergin, D., & Hosking, G. (2006) Pohutakawa: Ecology, establishment, growth and management. New Zealand Indigenous Tree Bulletin Series No. 4 (pp. 104). Rotorua: NZ Forest Research Institute.
Accessible, practical information produced in full colour. More on conservation / ecological values than other bulletins in this series but does have details of timber use, growth and forestry potential.
- Sherry river native plant establishment: ‘Best bet’ guidelines.
Nick Ledgard and David Henley, 2009. Scion, PO Box 29237, Fendalton, Christchurch
A practical, well-illustrated 8-page guide designed specifically for inland northern South Island – but basic principles would apply to most sites.
- Planting and Managing Native Trees: Tane’s Tree Trust Technical Handbook
2011, Tane’s Tree Trust.
Comprehensive set of full-colour notes covering various aspects of indigenous forestry. Focus on establishment of new plantations. Regularly updated and added to.
- The Native Trees of New Zealand
Salmon, J. T. (1986). The Native Treees of New Zealand: Reed Methuen.
Botanical emphasis
- The New Zealand Beeches: Ecology, utilisation and management
Wardle, J. (1984). Wellington: NZ Forest Service.
Slightly out of date on management aspects but excellent for ecology of the beeches.
- The New Zealand beeches: establishment, growth and management, NZ Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 6
Smale, S., Bergin, D., & Steward, G. (2012). New Zealand Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 6 (pp. 64). Rotorua: NZ Forest Research Institute.
Full colour handbook covering all NZ’s beech species. Incudes management of natural stands and some information on establishing new plantations. Best available information on all aspects of growing and utilising the beech species.
- Totara: establishment, growth and management NZ Indigenous Tree Bulletin No.1
Bergin, D. (2003). New Zealand Indigenous Tree Bulletin No. 1 (pp. 40). Rotorua: NZ Forest Research Institute.
Full colour handbook: practical advice on growing and managing totara in NZ.
- Totara: Existing uses and market development opportunities for naturally regenerating totara timber
Quinlan, P., & Northland Totara Working Group. (2011). NZ Landcare Trust. Sustainable Farming Fund. Northland Totara Working Group.
Comprehensive report with practical information about harvesting, processing and marketing totara. Northland focus but relevant elsewhere. SFF project (L10/145).
- Alternatives to heart kauri for boat-building: Bending properties of planks of clear and finger-jointed radiata pine and second-growth kauri
FRI Bulletin No. 27, Parker, J. R. (1983).
- The Seasoning of New Zealand Beech Species
Utilisation Development Division Report No. 14, R.K. Bagnall (1971).
- The Air Drying of Beech in Westland and Nelson
Utilisation Development Division Report No. 9, NC Clifton (1968).
- The Utilisation of Hard Beech (a) Sawing Studies at Three West Coast Sawmills
Utilisation Development Division Report No. 54, JC Vaney, RK Bagnall, DR Page (1976).
- The Utilisation of Hard Beech (b) Application of a four Stage Seasoning Schedule
Utilisation Development Division Report No. 55, JC Vaney (1976).
- The Utilisation of Hard Beech (c) Suitability for Manufactured Products
Utilisation Development Division Report No. 56, JC Vaney, RK Bagnall, REJ Docking (1976).
- Riccarton Bush: Putaringamotu
Brian Molloy (ed) 1995
Detailed description of managing a bush block, including excellent ecological history of Canterbury.
- Standards and Guidelines for the Sustainable Management of Indigenous Forests (3rd edition)
NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). (2007). (3 ed.). Rotorua: Indigenous Forestry Unit, MAF Policy. (The framework for MAF (now MPI) sustainable forest management plans and permits).
Farm Forestry - Headlines
Article archive »
- New Zealand Future Foresters part of the launch of Global Network for Forestry Young Professionals
Sunday, June 12, 2022
Future Foresters New Zealand is supporting a global effort to unite forestry young professionals to promote, grow, and raise awareness of the importance and opportunities of the forest sector. The…
- Forest Owners say native trees are nice but won’t solve the Climate Emergency
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
The Forest Owners Association says the just released Emissions Reduction Plan is a welcome and unprecedented blueprint for reducing New Zealand’s gross emissions. But the Association is warning that a…
- ‘Smart spade’ one of new technologies for forest silviculture project
Thursday, May 05, 2022
A ‘smart spade’ which identifies exactly where to plant a tree seedling is just one of the new technologies in the seven-year $25.5 million Precision Silviculture development project. The newly…
- Forest Owners call for forest trade mission to India
Monday, April 11, 2022
Forest Owners call for forest trade mission to India following approval of new fumigant for log exports The Forest Owners Association wants a delegation of government ministers to urgently go to…
- Forest Owners and Federated Farmers mourn passing of former Chief Executive of both organisations
Sunday, April 03, 2022
The pastoral and forest industries are mourning the recent passing of Rob McLagan, who served as Chief Executive of both Federated Farmers and the Forest Owners Association. Rob was CE…
- Joint efforts under way after unwanted pest detected in Tauranga
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Biosecurity New Zealand is working with primary sector and Te Tiriti partners after a single confirmed egg mass belonging to the moth pest the fall armyworm was found in Tauranga.…
- Forest Biosecurity update March 2022
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Check out the latest Biosecurity newsletter which gives an update on the biosecurity surveillance system, pitch pine canker, red needle cast, tortoise beetles, a new ladybird (always good) and the…
- Forest Owners says IPCC doesn't back Anne Salmond
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
The Forest Owners Association says highly qualified reservations in the latest International Panel on Climate Change report, do not back anthropologist Anne Salmond’s claims that New Zealand should switch exclusively…
- Forest Owners puzzled at overseas investment reform
Thursday, February 24, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is asking why the government needs to reintroduce more process around overseas investment for conversions from pasture to plantation forests. The Associate Minister of Finance, David…
- Forest Owners tell government to look across the Tasman
Monday, February 21, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is telling the government that Australia’s support of plantation forestry is in sharp contrast to the increasingly restrictive measures being promised in New Zealand by our…
- The folly of the native forest carbon solution
Monday, February 21, 2022
The Farm Forestry Association says anthropologist Dame Anne Salmond’s recently publicised views, that planting native forests offer the best solution to the climate crisis, is misinformed and misleading. Association President Graham West says the overwhelming…
- Forestry Minister has strategic leadership opportunity in farm forestry
Friday, February 04, 2022
The Farm Forestry Association says Forestry Minister, Stuart Nash, should incentivise farmers to plant more trees to combat climate change. Association President Graham West asks, “Why isn’t the government working…
- Forest Owners challenge Federated Farmers to prove misleading carbon farming claims
Tuesday, February 01, 2022
The Forest Owners Association is telling Federated Farmers that it needs to educate itself about how the Overseas Investment Act works before making any more false claims about non-existent overseas…
- Further tax changes possible
Monday, January 17, 2022
Changes are possible to the ‘cost of standing timber’ provisions of the Income Tax Act. Farm Forestry members have been working to help willing owners aggregate their forests for economies…
- Forest Owners say Fish and Game barking up the wrong tree
Thursday, December 09, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says Fish and Game’s criticism of exotic plantation forests doesn’t accord with reality. “Fish and Game is, quite simply, barking up the wrong tree when it…
- Changing causes and impacts of unwanted fires in our forest and rural landscapes
Friday, December 03, 2021
Commercial forests and climate change are regularly cited as contributors to an increase in unwanted rural fires in New Zealand. However, evidence suggests other factors are exacerbating the causes and…
- Consultation opens for registration of forestry advisers and log traders
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Key players in the forestry industry are encouraged to have their say on the design of a new registration system for log traders and forestry advisors with consultation opening today.…
- Forest Owners says lessons for New Zealand in UN Wood-Based Products Report
Friday, November 19, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has laid down a blueprint for the New Zealand forest and wood industry, with the release of ‘Forest Products…
- New Zealand Forest Owners sign on to International Wood Manifesto leading into COP26
Thursday, October 28, 2021
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association has joined 17 other forest and timber organisations around the world in launching the International Wood Manifesto in London, to lead into the crucial…
- Forest Owners say ‘back the bat’
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
The Forest Owners Association is urging its members and the public to vote for the pekapeka – the Long-Tailed Bat - in the Forest and Bird sponsored Bird of the…