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.
To join contact NZFFA or join online. Copies of Indigena are also available to non-members at $10 per issue, $40 for four issues, including postage. Contact John Wardle, PO Box 40, Oxford, Canterbury. Make cheques payable to the Indigenous Forest Section NZFFA. Members can download back issues from the IFS members page.
Report: Trees for steep slopes - Southern beech
Dean Satchell,
July 2018 (Access: unrestricted)
A number of Southern beech species are indigenous to New Zealand. These are all evergreen broadleaved hardwoods and include silver beech, red beech, hard beech, black beech and mountain beech. Leaf shape…
Report: Trees for steep slopes - kauri
Dean Satchell,
July 2018 (Access: unrestricted)
Kauri (Agathis australis) has long been regarded as the Lord of the Forest, the dominant tree species of the natural rainforest in northern New Zealand, with diameters of 6 m…
Report: Trees for steep slopes - manuka
Dean Satchell,
July 2018 (Access: unrestricted)
Mānuka is not a plantation forestry species for timber, but there is considerable interest in plantations for producing honey. There has been international acceptance of the medicinal properties of mānuka honey,…
Report: Trees for steep slopes - totara
Dean Satchell,
July 2018 (Access: unrestricted)
Totara is a native conifer and member of the podocarp family, with two species growing into large trees, Podocarpus totara and P. hallii. These species naturally hybridise (Bergin, 2003), with P. hallii being predominant in…
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
New Zealand has five native beech species, commonly known as red, black, silver, mountain and hard beech, each with a different natural geographic distribution. Of the five, red beech (Fusca fuscospora)…
Growing totara for timber
Totara (Podocarpus totara) is one of New Zealand’s most easily grown native species. It has an extensive natural range and tolerates a wide variety of sites. It readily regenerates from…
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).
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.
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.
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).
Wairoa foresters forced to subsidise local meatworks Thursday, February 18, 2021
Foresters in the Wairoa District are appalled that a part of their recent rate increase will go to propping up the local meatworks. Wairoa District Council disclosed at a meeting…
Foresters say pines to be relied on to meet climate targets Monday, February 01, 2021
The Forest Owners Association says the Climate Change Commission has endorsed the crucial role exotic forestry will carry out in meeting New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emission targets in 2030…
Forest Growers Levy Board increases Levy to 33 cents per tonne Thursday, November 26, 2020
The Board of the Forest Growers Levy Trust has increased the Levy rate to 33 cents per tonne of harvested wood materials, the first increase in the Levy rate since…
Minister's Roots In Forestry Tuesday, November 24, 2020
The Minister of Forestry, Stuart Nash when speaking at the annual Farm Forestry Awards last Tuesday, announced he had started his career in farm forestry and as a student pruned trees…
Forest industry says main political parties abandon forest industry Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Forest industry says main political parties abandon forest industry at economic and environmental cost The Labour and National parties’ policies on forestry, leading into the election, are disappointing to forest…
Taxpayers to pick up carbon cost if production forests are restricted Friday, September 18, 2020
The Forest Owners Association says taxpayers are likely to have to pay billions of dollars for imported carbon credits, if planting production forests is to be restricted with the idea…
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…