Farm Forestry New ZealandSpecial Interest Groups
Special Interest Groups (otherwise known as "action groups") are nationwide groups of farm foresters with an interest in a forestry subject.
Acacia Melanoxylon Interest Group Organisation »
Acacia Melanoxylon Interest Group Organisation (AMIGO) Brings together members interested in growing Tasmanian Blackwood - professional forest researchers, timber marketers and commercial users in an information sharing network aimed at creating a sustainable NZ resource of plantation grown quality hardwood.
Cypress Development Group »
The Cypress Development Group is an industry action group dedicated to commercialising cypress as a profitable plantation forest species in New Zealand. There is a huge amount of innovative work on cypress varieties, management and silvicultural regimes being undertaken by NZFFA members. The Cypress Development Group collates existing research and pools the experience and knowledge of farm foresters growing cypresses.
Eucalypt Action Group »
Eucalypts have been a particular focus of farm foresters since the earliest days of our association over 50 years ago. The Eucalypt Action Group has a focus on eucalypts for hardwood solid timber end uses. We promote growing of eucalypts for the timbers natural durability, strength and hardness properties and decorative appearance. Eucalypt timber is suitable for on-farm uses such as posts and rails, along with structural applications such as exposed beams and decorative applications such as flooring and furniture.
Indigenous Forest Section »
IFS Promotes indigenous forestry (including timber production), and to manage these forests in an ecologically sustainable fashion so that they retain their unique characteristics for the benefit of future generations. Indigena is the quarterly journal of the Indigenous Section of the NZFFA. The journal includes articles relating to all aspects of indigenous forestry such as sustainable management for conservation, biodiversity enhancement and wood production, as well as riparian management, shelter and amenity, establishment of native trees, and the restoration of degraded areas of native vegetation. Members of the Indigenous Forest Section receive Indigena as part of their subscription.
Sequoia Action Group »
Now that the old-growth redwood forests of western USA are no longer available as a source of this prized timber, attention is focussing on the very promising potential for sustainably plantation-grown redwood (Sequoia) in New Zealand.
Forestry Investment Action Group »
The Forest Investment Action group was formed to provide growers and investors advocacy and information so radiata forestry continues to be profitable in New Zealand. The Forest Investment Action group meets regularly in Wellington.
Harvesting Action Group »
March 2019:
The Harvesting Action Group (HAG) is currently being set up to facilitate cost-efficient harvesting of small scale forests in New Zealand. You can join the Harvesting Action Group in your NZFFA subscription form. There is currently no cost to join HAG but we'll try and keep you informed anyway.
Oaks New Zealand »
Oaks New Zealand formed in June 2018 to encourage the planting and utilisation of oak trees in New Zealand. Oak is an important timber species in the northern hemisphere and anecdotal information suggests many species grow faster in New Zealand than their countries of origin. Some initial trials of English oak were established about 70 - 80 years ago but little research and evaluation work has been done since.
Poplar Action Group »
Promoting and supporting the growing, processing and marketing of poplar wood and poplar and willow fibre/ chemical products.
The poplar action group formed in April 2023 to encourage the planting and utilisation of poplar trees in New Zealand. Poplar is an important timber species in the northern hemisphere and is a popular farm tree in New Zealand for soil conservation. A number of hybrid poplars have been bred in New Zealand with improved growth and form, thus unlocking the timber potential for the species.
Tree Grower articles
- Alternative species foray into Northland - Covid be damned (Access: NZFFA membership)
Hamish Randle with Rachel Rose, February 2022
This was another Vaughan Kearns special. The memorable itinerary took in outstanding woodlots from near Waipoua Forest in the west all the way north to Taipa. Covid-19 was an obstacle.… - Progress on cypress - South Island field days a great success (Access: NZFFA membership)
Rachel Rose, August 2021
Cypress species have the potential to become a major plantation timber in New Zealand, a muchneeded back-up to radiata and a valuable softwood for domestic and international markets. A great… - Eucalypt Action Group weekend near Golden Bay (Access: unrestricted)
Eric Cairns, Piers McLaren and Gary Fleming, February 2020
This event, in October last year, was well organised and put together mainly by Vaughan Kearns, George Shallcrass and Tim Ekert. It was made more memorable because of shared accommodation… - Action Groups weekend in the Waikato (Access: unrestricted)
John Simmons, February 2019
The Waikato branch of the NZFFA hosted a two-day event to show around 85 participants several properties with stands of special interest species. We were pleased to have such a… - Action Groups weekend 2017 (Access: unrestricted)
Julian Bateson, February 2018
Each year, roughly, time is set aside for the NZFFA action groups to have a weekend of field days in which radiata pine gets a very back seat. In general,… - Action from the action groups (Access: unrestricted)
Julian Bateson, February 2016
In November the action groups met again for another weekend concentrating mainly on alternative species with a smattering of indigenous. We started with a morning inside, hearing from Paul Millen… - Action groups weekend field days in the Bay of Plenty (Access: unrestricted)
Julian Bateson, February 2015
It was dark and stormy night more than once during the week before the action groups weekend. However, we did not have to worry. The Bay of Plenty turned on… - Action groups partly virtual weekend (Access: unrestricted)
Julian Bateson, May 2014
The weekend in November each year when all the special action groups meet is becoming much more of an event these days. In November last year, around 100 people turned… - Combined Action Group weekend a great educational choice (Access: unrestricted)
Ian Brown and Dean Satchell, February 2010
The Hawkes Bay group were hosts for the combined action group weekend in October last year. The field day focussed mainly on eucalypts and redwood. Eucalypts We visited the McNeil…
NZFFA on facebook