Susie Thompson & Rob Danford, Hokitika, West Coast branch July 2014
This West Coast lifestyle property features challenging paki soils but Susie and Rob have planted a wide variety of trees for various reasons. A radiata block is for a retirement…
Warren Smith, Greymouth, West Coast branch July 2014
Warren Smith and wife Marion own two farms - a sheep and beef property which has been in the family for many years, plus a newer dairy block. Warren is…
Jack Davidson, Aharua Valley, Hokitika, West Coast branch July 2014
This small West Coast grazing and forestry block features a wide range of species including radiata pine, cypresses, eucalypts including ground-durable eucalypts, blackwoods, and poplars. Willows and poplar are grown…
Glen Crickett and Catherine van Paassen, Hokitika, West Coast July 2014
Glen Crickett describes the challenges of growing trees on paki soils near Hokitika. His property features Eucalyptus nitens grown for firewood and timber; blackwoods also feature, plus Glenn's new Peterson…
The Hokitika Conference - Some impressions from an Australian delegate (Access: unrestricted)
Carol Neal, August 2016
I was fortunate enough to attend the NZFFA Conference in Hokitika earlier this year. I was so impressed with the NZFFA structure and membership that I felt it important to…
Arahura Valley - where the soil may bring you to tears (Access: unrestricted)
August 2016
The morning of Wednesday saw us visiting Jack and Kay Davidson’s 70-hectare block which now has roughly 38 hectares in pasture, 25 hectares in forestry and seven in a QE…
Viaduct Creek (Access: unrestricted)
August 2016
The second part of the field day on Monday was to visit Viaduct Creek owned by Glenn Crickett and Catherine van Paassen. When they bought it the land was rough…
Matching the trees to the site (Access: unrestricted)
August 2016
The first of the Hokitika conference field days was at Susi Thompson and Rob Danford’s property. This was originally a 140 hectare grazing block which was purchased in 1988, with…
The West Coast - forests galore (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, February 2016
The national conference is only a couple of months away, staring on 21 April in Hokitika. If you have not already booked your place, do it now using the registration…
West Coast forest maps (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, November 2010
Forestry is a practical land based science, and tools to help in its management are essential. Aerial forest photographs or maps are one of the most important of these, as…
New land clearing and preparation for dairying (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, November 2010
Dairying is now the major industry on the West Coast, with an independent co-operative dairy company Westland Milk Products based in Hokitika. It is a multi-million dollar core industry of…
A passion for trees (Access: unrestricted)
Catherine van Paassen, May 2010
We have just over 17 hectares near Hokitika with about half planted in forest. Most of it is Eucalyptus nitens, some as shelterbelts and some thinned at 12 to 15…
Way down south at Whataroa (Access: unrestricted)
John Spencer, May 2010
John Spencer of South Westland has been a long term member of the Westland branch. He undertakes traditional farming at his property near Whataroa. It is a high rainfall area…
Down on the farm or forest (Access: unrestricted)
West Coast branch members, May 2010
West Coasters plant trees for pleasure, profit and keeping warm. An old adage here is − plant your first 10 hectares in radiata and you can put what you like in…
A physical description of the West Coast (Access: unrestricted)
David Eastwood, May 2010
The West Coast of the South Island is a distinctive region of New Zealand with unique geological, climatic, vegetation and social characteristics. It lies between 41 and 44 degrees south…
Farm forestry with a difference (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, May 2010
A history of trees With a history of gold mining then coal mining, sawmilling and forest clearing for agriculture, the West Coast has been very lucky to have had a…
The Hokitika Conference - Some impressions from an Australian delegate (Access: unrestricted)
Carol Neal, August 2016
I was fortunate enough to attend the NZFFA Conference in Hokitika earlier this year. I was so impressed with the NZFFA structure and membership that I felt it important to…
Arahura Valley - where the soil may bring you to tears (Access: unrestricted)
August 2016
The morning of Wednesday saw us visiting Jack and Kay Davidson’s 70-hectare block which now has roughly 38 hectares in pasture, 25 hectares in forestry and seven in a QE…
Viaduct Creek (Access: unrestricted)
August 2016
The second part of the field day on Monday was to visit Viaduct Creek owned by Glenn Crickett and Catherine van Paassen. When they bought it the land was rough…
Matching the trees to the site (Access: unrestricted)
August 2016
The first of the Hokitika conference field days was at Susi Thompson and Rob Danford’s property. This was originally a 140 hectare grazing block which was purchased in 1988, with…
The West Coast - forests galore (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, February 2016
The national conference is only a couple of months away, staring on 21 April in Hokitika. If you have not already booked your place, do it now using the registration…
West Coast forest maps (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, November 2010
Forestry is a practical land based science, and tools to help in its management are essential. Aerial forest photographs or maps are one of the most important of these, as…
New land clearing and preparation for dairying (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, November 2010
Dairying is now the major industry on the West Coast, with an independent co-operative dairy company Westland Milk Products based in Hokitika. It is a multi-million dollar core industry of…
A passion for trees (Access: unrestricted)
Catherine van Paassen, May 2010
We have just over 17 hectares near Hokitika with about half planted in forest. Most of it is Eucalyptus nitens, some as shelterbelts and some thinned at 12 to 15…
Way down south at Whataroa (Access: unrestricted)
John Spencer, May 2010
John Spencer of South Westland has been a long term member of the Westland branch. He undertakes traditional farming at his property near Whataroa. It is a high rainfall area…
Down on the farm or forest (Access: unrestricted)
West Coast branch members, May 2010
West Coasters plant trees for pleasure, profit and keeping warm. An old adage here is − plant your first 10 hectares in radiata and you can put what you like in…
A physical description of the West Coast (Access: unrestricted)
David Eastwood, May 2010
The West Coast of the South Island is a distinctive region of New Zealand with unique geological, climatic, vegetation and social characteristics. It lies between 41 and 44 degrees south…
Farm forestry with a difference (Access: unrestricted)
Michael Orchard, May 2010
A history of trees With a history of gold mining then coal mining, sawmilling and forest clearing for agriculture, the West Coast has been very lucky to have had a…
Emissions Trading Scheme fee review a relief for cost-struck foresters Thursday, February 29, 2024
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association says the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) fees is a relief for foresters facing excessive costs and loss of climate change action. …
Planting trees on pasture can have a positive impact on soil health Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Rather than damaging soil in New Zealand, planting trees on pasture restores soil to be similar to its original condition. A recent news story highlighting changes in soils from converting…
Forest plantation soils have benefits too Tuesday, December 19, 2023
The Forest Owners Association (FOA) says the fact that soils under plantation forests are similar to soils under native trees, does not make them damaged, as a recent Newshub report has claimed.…
Wilding Conifers - A legacy issue that needs continued, collaborative management Sunday, October 29, 2023
Forest owners welcome the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCE) acknowledgement that the presence of wilding conifers across New Zealand is largely a legacy issue, but caution against placing costs…
Stock take of the commercially viable alternatives to Pinus radiata Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Scion has published a “Stock Take of the Commercially Viable Alternatives to Pinus Radiata” for MPI, which reviews alternative species, their expected growth rates, climatic range, resilience to pests or…
SNA regulations 'confusing ecological naivety' Thursday, July 06, 2023
Forest Owners say the just released National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) is a classic bureaucratic formula of confusing ecological naivety which will not help rare species and likely…
Forest Owners hail ‘Biosecurity Hero’ Monday, May 22, 2023
The Forest Owners Association and Scion want more people to report suspicious imported wood products which might be infested with introduced wood and forest pests. FOA Biosecurity Manager, Brendan Gould,…
Tairawhiti land use inquiry not addressing wider issues Sunday, May 14, 2023
The Forest Owners Association says the Ministerial Inquiry into landuse in Tarawhiti has a core of practical recommendations, but has not addressed some more difficult and fundamental issues. President, Grant…
Opportunities from Trees Workshops - NZ Wide Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) is running 18 extension workshops in May and June with a target audience of landowners, or people with access to land, who are potential tree…
Forest Owners back more trees for Tairawhiti Sunday, April 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Association has told the Ministerial Inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti, that the region’s future has to include more trees for land stability. But it appreciates forest…
Forest Owners want genetic technology approved Thursday, February 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Organisation says New Zealand needs to concentrate on the safety of genetic technology on a case-by-case basis rather than persisting with blanket bans. The FOA wants approval…
Fieldays Forestry Hub to demonstrate that forestry is a solution Monday, November 28, 2022
A range of solutions to farmers’ current problems will be on display in the Fieldays Forestry Hub near Hamilton between 30 November and 3 December, says Farm Forestry Association president,…
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