July 2020
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T L I BU A H T WI E S O P R U P Fit for forestry
From forest to firewood
Jock Weir: King Country sawmilling legend
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FOREST TALK Forestry Bill raises hackles; For once farmers and foresters agree; FICA takes action; Proposed regulations put projects on hold; New bulk carrier christened; NZ joins global COVID-19 port initiative; Local exports and global forestry industry holding their own; Japanese bank to buy finance lender, UDC; CablePrice expands; Joint venture signals confidence in NZ; Competenz Chairman retires; Boost for apprenticeships and industry training; Northpine Academic Scholarship for forestry student; Another step to meeting climate targets; Why isn’t NZ using more local wood?; Fallen Totara to leave a legacy.
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SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST They’re not the hero machines that are out cutting or retrieving the wood, but if they aren’t up to the everyday task of fleeting and loading, the job site soon grinds to a halt. The NZ Logger Iron Test team put Kaitoa Logging’s new Hyundai FX3230LL log loader to the test. SPECIAL FEATURE: FIREWOOD Ever wondered what happens to the wood you harvest that isn’t up to scratch – the rejects, the poor-quality logs, those that don’t make the export grade? Well, much of it ends up in somebody’s fireplace, but it’s no simple journey to get there. The firewood industry is
36 thriving, with both small- and large-scale operators. NZ Logger spoke to some of the biggest. 36
NZ TIMBER John (Jock) Weir led a colourful and challenging life, to emerge as a King Country sawmilling legend for good reason. We take a look at sawmilling’s glory days.
DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 42 fica 44 top spot 46 new iron 49 classifieds July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 1
from the editor
July 2020
Thank goodness for small victories
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ISSN 1176-0397
PHOTOS: JOHN ELLEGARD
Fit
Jock Weir: King Country sawmilling legend
From forest to firewood
Kaitoa Logging’s new Hyundai FX3230LL log loader was purpose-built for the job.
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S WE GO TO PRINT THERE IS SOME ANGER AND UNEASINESS IN the air, with the country’s first new Coronavirus case in nearly a month rearing its head. That unease is being felt in the logging fraternity too, as the Regulation of Log Traders & Forestry Advisers Amendment Bill continues to generate debate and strong opinions across the industry. “Rushed and impractical” has been one of the kinder comments levelled at the Bill. The ink was barely dry on our Forest Talk pages when news of a small victory came through. It seems all the raised voices are starting to be heard. One of the bigger interventions cited in the Bill was that a new Forestry Authority would have the power to set standards on everything from land preparation to harvest planning, emissions trading and even sales and purchase agreements for domestic or export sales. As the legislation heads back to Parliament, the Environment Committee is limiting the potential for a new industry regulator to interfere in commercial agreements between growers and log buyers. This allays some of the concerns that the Government could use its powers to set a cap on log prices, for domestic processing. In its report back to Parliament, the Committee recommended an amendment stating that “any such rules must not impose conditions or requirements that are properly a matter for commercial agreement between parties”, making it clear that “price controls would not be able to be imposed by rules.” Turn to page 4 to see the debate and action leading up to the change and the issues of concern that still remain. And while COVID-19 continues to take pot shots at the economy, export demand has risen and prices are good for now, with business almost ‘as usual’. That means we get to bring back our Iron Tests! The demand for purpose-built equipment has grown in recent years. We put Kaitoa Logging’s new Hyundai FX3230LL log loader to the test and it passed with flying colours. Also in this issue, you’ll find an in-depth view of the firewood industry, yet another branch of forestry that is testament to the innovation and determination of this sector. Nothing goes to waste here, as the ever-giving nature of wood continues to provide, even as it burns. Theoretically it may just take a chainsaw, a ute and an axe to create firewood but the big guns we spoke to have taken this industry to the next level. Of course, without roots, you can’t have trees. Our final feature this month spotlights the mills of the Old King Country and, in particular, sawmilling legend John (Jock) Weir. His story demonstrates the rewards that come with hard work and dedication. It has been said the year 2020 resembles a bad movie script, with everything from a volcanic eruption to a race revolution and a pandemic thrown in for good measure. The forestry industry has had its fair share of turmoil, jumping from fires and insects to log stoppages, total shutdown, workplace social distancing, questionable legislation and now, small victories. I can’t even begin to imagine what I might be writing on this page next month. We can only hope life returns to some form of normality as our forests get wetter and colder moving further into winter. Oh for the days when our worst complaint was sore muscles at the end of a long day in the bush. Until next time, stay safe. NZL
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forest talk
Forestry Bill raises hackles THE STORM OVER THE FORESTS (Regulation of Log Traders & Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill is still in full force. The Forest Owners Association (FOA) says more exports of processed timber products from NZ looks a good prospect on paper but Forestry Minister, Shane Jones’ current Log Bill is not going to achieve this and there are better options. This was in response to favourable statements from the NZ Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA) (covered in June’s Forest Talk pages). The WPMA says the regulations will result in diversion of export logs to local sawmillers at cheaper prices. “Neither the basis nor the effects of the Bill have been researched at all, and it is being rushed through under urgency. As the NZ Institute of Economic Research has pointed out, a comparable policy to protect Australian car manufacturing has cost a fortune and ended in disaster,” says FOA President, Phil Taylor. Mr Taylor says the WPMA Chairman, Brian
Stanley’s claim that the Bill would bring forestry into line with the rest of the land based industries is not accurate. He uses strong words: “There is no part of the NZ primary sector which has ever had a regime imposed where exports were expected to subsidise local manufacturing. It’s a WPMA fantasy. “Likewise, Mr Stanley asserts that since other countries subsidise their timber industry, then the solution should be more processing in NZ sawmills, with foresters forced to pay for it. “That is misguided and dangerous. The international market in timber is way more subsidised and protected than the international log market. Mr Stanley would take us out of a Post-COVID and developing international log trade protection smouldering fire, into a red-hot blast furnace of trade protectionism for timber products.” He suggests instead, a timber preference policy for wood construction: “The biggest opportunities are in timber product
FOA President, Phil Taylor. innovation. The future lies in a bio economy, and our plantation forests can be part of that exciting future. We want to embrace that with our science teams and government. We’d like to hope that WPMA would have the vision to be part of that as well.” NZL
For once farmers and foresters agree FEDERATED FARMERS AND THE FOREST Owners Association (FOA) have joined forces to condemn the new Bill as a means to potentially force farmers and foresters to subsidise local processing industries from reduced export earnings. Federated Farmers forestry spokesperson, Andrew Hoggard, says: “The unwarranted rush over the Bill risks unintended consequences, including retaliatory action by nations we trade with. “The period for consultation is tighter than even the emergency actions on highpowered automatic firearms spurred by the Christchurch mosque attacks. The Bill has come from nowhere and should be sent back to the drawing board for proper consultation,” says Mr Hoggard. The FOA’s Phil Taylor, says both organisations are united on this issue: “It seems the Bill is designed to use local processing as an instrument to provide employment, and instead of the government paying for it, they want to introduce a forestry cross-subsidy. That’s never happened before in NZ. “That amounts to another tax, which is introduced with no idea of whether it would produce more jobs or not. The government
4 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
has dreamt this up under urgency and done no research.” Mr Hoggard says it is understandable why Forestry Minister, Shane Jones, is keen to see steady supplies of competitively priced timber available to the domestic processing industry but a raft of new regulations, costs and extra red tape won’t help achieve this. “Federated Farmers is against any government moves to instruct primary producers on how much of the food and fibre they grow will be processed here in NZ. These are commercial considerations. We need to have the right to buy and sell, and take our own risks in the marketplace. It’s not a decision for government to make,” he says, He adds that there are many farm foresters among Federated Farmers members: “Those farm foresters want the option to choose to sell to an exporter or to a local sawmill at a time they choose – whoever offers the best terms. That’s the same for our meat or dairy production.” Mr Hoggard says the Log Traders Bill has arrived with very little advance warning or analysis: “This ridiculously short time frame has meant there has been no ability for affected parties to consult with the Ministry
for Primary Industries and amongst the sector to consider implications, gather thoughts and ideas, and to ensure that where there are concerns we can arrive at solutions. “Proposals include regulations that could be arbitrarily applied to various forestry sector participants in such a way as to favour domestic wood processors over log exporters and forest owners. That could well contravene NZ’s obligations in free trade agreements with key markets and our staunch support of free trade under the World Trade Organization.” NZL
Federated Farmers forestry spokesperson, Andrew Hoggard.
forest talk
FICA takes action FICA HAS TAKEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH to the Log Traders & Forestry Advisors Bill, with a submission to Government to ensure contractors “a seat at the table” and “a voice on the matter” says CEO, Prue Younger. “While significantly lacking in detail, the Bill effectively proposes the introduction of new legislation requiring forestry advisers, log traders and exporters to register and work to nationally agreed practice standards that will strengthen the integrity of New Zealand’s forestry supply chain,” says Ms Younger. She adds that the Bill is vague with no detail, a lack of communication to the forestry sector and a limited timeframe for response. “FICA membership will be heavily influenced by decisions made around the Bill, so democratically we needed to express our opinions appropriately,” she explains. The stated objectives of the new regulations are to: • Raise professional standards across the supply chain. • Address concerns that there are no industry safeguards on the quality of the advice being given to smaller owners – leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. • Support a more open marketplace for the large number of ‘first-time’ forest owners who will be bringing their timber to the market in the 2020s.
• Increase investor confidence in commercial forestry, to support long-term investment, and meet the Government’s broader objectives for land management and climate change. Ms Younger says FICA felt it important to acknowledge other factors that needed to be considered around the detail of the regulations to the amended Bill, including: • Alignment to the National Forestry Strategy. Given employment opportunities are at the centre of this Bill, FICA want priority on the sustainability of those opportunities. • Creation of statistical information through the central registration system would need to be accessible to the whole of industry. • Involvement of not just the grower, marketer, and exporter but the frontline workforce in decisions that previously have been limited to those that drive market and industry influence. • Any investment in domestic processing needs to be deliberate in backing good operators and not trying to plug the gaps. Ms Younger says FICA supports both export and domestic processing and price stability provides sustainability to an industry “fraught with a boom/bust mentality”. “It alleviates the risk for the contractors
and recognises their investment into an industry that is ranked the second-highest export contributor to our country post COVID-19 and is a key industry to support the rebuild of the NZ economy,” she says. She adds: “There are definitely some strong and varied viewpoints on the Bill across different sectors within the industry. The submission put forward by FICA was with the clear intention to provide outcomes that do not disadvantage members and this sector and would serve to enhance future sustainability, profitability and workforce engagement/retention within the sector. NZL
FICA CEO, Prue Younger.
Proposed regulations put projects on hold THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANNED REGULATION OF THE FORESTRY industry may stall four of its projects to expand the firm’s processing capacity, says Forest owner, Ernslaw One. Chief Executive, Paul Nicholls, told Parliament’s environment select committee that the potential powers the Government is seeking – to intervene in the log sales and contracts of forest owners – are “absurd” and go against any sensible business practices. He says the lack of detail and open-ended scope of the proposed regulations in the Bill, means any consideration of expansion at the firm’s pulp and timber operations near Tangiwai will be “on-hold”. This could be for anything up to two years until the implementation of the Bill and its implications are fully realised. Mr Nicholls says the scuppered projects could potentially lift the capacity of the combined Tangiwai operations over five years from about 660,000 cubic metres a year now, to a million cubic metres a year. “Honestly – if the Government wants this level of control of how logs are grown and sold in NZ then they should buy the forests and manage them themselves,” he says. Others told the committee that Forestry Minister Shane Jones’ bid to try to ensure a predictable flow of logs to domestic processors is an effort to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.
Grant Dodson, Chief Executive of Dunedin City Council-owned City Forests, says the industry has been “ambushed” by the Minister and the Bill. “This is not a log supply issue. This is purely a pricing play,” he told the committee. “The Bill is an absolute disaster for the industry and it cannot proceed in its current form.” Kaingaroa Timberlands Chief Executive, Robert Green, says forestry is a “breakdown” industry: “Every component of the wood flow needs to be used and the company needs access to export markets to ensure it can sell the full range of log grades coming out of its harvest. The potential restrictions on that from the bill could have significantly negative impacts.” ForestX’s Graham West, sums up the issue: “The Government’s Log Traders Bill has stirred up the inevitable adversarial position-taking in the sector, without providing any real leadership. The issue remains as to how this vital sector stabilises and progresses given strong Chinese market influence. The log market is heavily subsidised by the Chinese Government’s policies and monetary conditions. We are too small to take our own stand in a Donald Trump fashion. We need to play within the rules being set by the Chinese. Only by New Zealanders, including government, collaborating with intelligence and innovation will we come out ahead. Surely a ‘Forestry Development Conference’ would be a sensible next step?” NZL
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 5
forest talk
New bulk carrier christened THE BULK DIVISION OF THE CHINA Navigation Company, Swire Bulk, has taken delivery of its new, log-fitted bulk carrier into service. MV Singan could be seen from NZ shores before long, as it trades worldwide with a strong focus on the log trade in the Pacific and South Atlantic. MV Singan embarked on her maiden voyage at the end of April for Busan. Rob Aarvold, General Manager, Swire Bulk, says the vessel is designed for optimal speed and consumption at 12.5 knots in the laden condition. The eco-efficiency additions of the rudder bulb, wake fin and pre-swirl will
improve vessel hull efficiency, he says. Along with the high level of structural stability required for log carriage, the vessel is installed with the latest solid state radar equipment. MV Singan is the first ship delivered in a wider order of 10 bulk vessels to be built in Japan. The remaining vessels are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2021. “Swire Bulk’s new building programme will enable us to strategically deliver the largest and most eco-friendly fleet trading in the market,” says Mr Aarvold. “Having these log-fitted new buildings on
water will strengthen Swire Bulk’s position in the log market as one of the world’s largest handy size logger fleets,” he adds. The vessel was named in February 2020 by Mrs Kaori Imoto, the wife of John Swire & Sons Board Director, Jonathan Swire. The ship was named after a “beancaker” built for The China Navigation Company for the China coast trade in 1890. She was the third vessel in a series of 18 ships built to transport soya bean, bean oil and beancake between Chinese ports. MV Sungkiang, MV Singan’s sister vessel, is being built at the same shipyard scheduled for delivery in June 2020. NZL
NZ joins global COVID-19 port initiative NEW ZEALAND HAS JOINED AN INTERNATIONAL PORT authorities’ global initiative for safe and efficient movement of goods and shipping during the COVID-19 crisis. Worldwide, 56 port authorities have agreed to work together, facilitating maritime trade as the countries involved fight COVID-19. The independent Chair of NZ port companies’ CEOs’ group, Charles Finny, signed the international declaration on behalf of our ports. NZ’s maritime industry regulator, Maritime NZ, says it welcomes the declaration, which was initiated by Singapore and is being implemented by the international Port Authorities’ Roundtable. The 56 port authorities who have signed the international declaration have committed to: • safely keeping global supply chains and trade going and allowing merchant ships to load and unload; • coordinating so they can quickly share information about, and
6 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
experiences of, combating COVID-19; • continuing to adopt best practices for shore personnel and ship crew, safe handling of cargoes and measures taken in dealing with COVID-19 cases. “Ports, shipping and international trade are crucial to NZ’s prosperity,” says Mr Finny. “Ships transport about 99% of our country’s goods to and from our markets. That’s how we move milk powder, logs and other exports, and it is how we import medical equipment and consumer goods, and stock many of the shelves in our stores. We are part of global markets where 80% of the world’s goods are transported via sea lanes.” The Director of Maritime NZ, Keith Manch, says the maritime sector plays a crucial role in keeping trade flows open in the global fight against COVID-19: “Safe and efficient ports, with good international links, are vital for our country’s supply chain,” he says. NZL
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forest talk
Local exports and global forestry industry holding their own WITH COVID-19 MAKING THE OUTLOOK for primary industries more uncertain than ever, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) decided to delay the release of its June Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report. “The COVID-19 pandemic means the situation changes on an almost daily basis. Instead, MPI has prepared a report on how COVID-19 has disrupted NZ’s primary industry exports. This shows that, in general, primary sector exports are holding up well, primarily due to the NZ dollar weakening against the United States dollar,” says MPI. In fact, it predicts primary sector exports will grow by $1.7 billion compared to last year, a rise of 4.5%. However, those gains are “exaggerated” by the falling NZ dollar (NZD), without which export revenue would have fallen, the report says. In terms of forestry, China’s lockdown in February 2020 caused a 23% drop in total forestry exports that month, with further drops in March and April. However, with exports able to start again once NZ moved to Alert Level 3 in late April 2020, by late May, exports were at similar levels to May 2019. Meanwhile, the Wood Resource Quarterly (WRQ) report which tracks prices for sawlog, pulpwood, lumber and pellets worldwide, and reports on trade and wood market developments in most key regions around the world, has been released. The key points follow:
Global lumber markets • Importation of softwood lumber to the US fell for the third consecutive year in 2019. However, in the 1Q/20, the import volume was up year-over-year, and the month of March was surprisingly strong despite the Coronavirus Epidemic. • Softwood lumber imports to China plunged in the 1Q/20, 14% lower than the previous quarter and 37% lower than the all-time-high in the 2Q/19. • Profitability generally improved for lumber producers around the world in the 1Q/20. This followed a year of mostly gloomy financial news with many lumber producers making very low or even no profits at all. • Declining export prices for sawmills in the Nordic countries coupled with only incremental reductions in log costs gradually reduced profitability during 2019 and early 2020. Global timber markets • There were relatively few price changes for sawlogs throughout the world in the 1Q/20 despite interruptions in trade and uncertainty in short-term lumber demand in many of the key markets. • The Global Sawlog Price Index (GSPI) remained practically unchanged from the 4Q/19 to the 1Q/20. This followed a period of two years when the Index was in constant decline. • Over the past two decades, sawlog prices in Eastern Europe have gone up the most on the continent, albeit from low
levels, while prices in Central Europe have declined substantially, particularly in 2019. Global pulpwood markets • Wood fibre costs fell for many hardwood pulp-producing countries worldwide in the 1Q/20. The biggest declines were seen in the US, Russia, and Latin America. • The Hardwood Fibre Price Index (HFPI) dropped 4.2% in the 1Q/20. This was the fourth quarter-on-quarter decline, resulting in a 9.2% reduction of the Index since the 1Q/19 and the lowest price in four years. • The Softwood Fibre Price Index (SFPI) also spent last year in decline, although not as severe of one as the HFPI. Global pulp markets • Following a plunge in pulp prices of almost 30% in Europe and approximately 20% in North America from late 2018 to late 2019, prices bottomed out and even saw small price increases in early 2020. • The premium for softwood pulp over hardwood pulp is currently about $160/ ton, the highest premium in over a year, and substantially more than the 10-years’ average premium of $106/ton. Global biomass markets • Domestic prices for residential pellets in the three major markets in Europe (Austria, Germany and Sweden) held up quite well during the first five months of 2020 and were just slightly lower than during the same period in 2019. NZL
Japanese bank to buy finance lender, UDC JAPAN’S SHINSEI BANK IS TO BUY INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS finance lender, UDC, from ANZ Bank for $762 million. The original deal to sell it to China’s HNA Group for $660m was rejected by the Overseas Investment Office in 2018. “With a strong outlook for infrastructure and agriculture projects as the NZ economy rebuilds post-COVID-19, there is a significant role for UDC to play. As such, it needs an owner that can invest in and grow the business,” says ANZ Chief Executive, Antonia Watson.
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Tokyo-based Shinsei is a diversified financial group with a wide range of banking, business and consumer lending in Japan and overseas. Chief Executive, Hideyuki Kudo, says Shinsei will keep UDC operating in its current form with all staff and, in time, expects to inject more capital to fund growth. UDC has about $3.4 billion of loans and advances, and posted a net half-year profit of more than $24 million. NZL
forest talk
CablePrice expands CABLEPRICE (NZ) CONTINUES TO EXPAND its Fuso Truck, Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner sales, parts and service network with the addition of Timaru. The latest additions to the CablePrice network follow quickly on the heels of the announcements, earlier this year, that CablePrice had been appointed as the Fuso truck authorised sales, parts and service dealer for Christchurch, Greymouth and Invercargill and as the South Island’s authorised sales, parts and service dealer for Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner. CablePrice New Zealand Managing Director, Keisuke (Ken) Okuzumi, says: “We see Timaru as an important hub and gateway to the South
Island, with its large agricultural diversity, significant manufacturing operations and increasing commercial traffic. It has been our intention for some time now to expand our offering and support to the regions. “Our new Timaru sites will service the wider south Canterbury region and offer customers full workshop support along with 24/7 mobile support, should the need arise. We have also been fortunate enough to secure the talents of some fantastic, experienced technicians, ensuring we offer the highest level of service”. Fuso New Zealand CEO Kurtis Andrews says: “Timaru is a key location in the Fuso dealer network. We’re delighted that
CablePrice has secured a new site from which they will provide Fuso genuine parts and service and now also new truck sales. Fuso operators in South Canterbury, and those who operate up and down the South Island, can expect a high level of specialist service from this new Timaru dealership.” Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific Aftersales and Network Operations Director, Greg Lovrich, says Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner customers will benefit from CablePrice’s addition of the Timaru site. “The quality of the staff at this location is of the highest order and we know that our customers will appreciate their support,” he says. NZL
Joint venture signals confidence in NZ OIL INTEL HAS ANNOUNCED A 50/50 joint venture with Total Marketing & Services, cementing a 20-year partnership since its appointment as authorised lubricants distributor for NZ. “The joint venture signals strong confidence in the NZ market and represents a strategic drive for proximity to be close to our customers in industries such as mining, industrial, food production, agriculture, automotive, construction and transport,” says Reuben Thickpenny, Managing Director and co-shareholder of Oil Intel. Both parties are further united by a shared mission of conducting business
responsibly he says: “Over the years, we have taken industry-leading steps towards responsible trading, taking into consideration environmental impact.” An example is the Lubricant Container Stewardship Programme, whereby NZ oil companies collectively work towards a sustainable process of recycling lubricant containers. Oil Intel is one of the leading parties in pushing this project to successful completion. Total says this is in line with its ambition to be the responsible energy major, supported by initiatives such as programmes on used oil recycling partnerships or biodegradable lubricant ranges. NZL
Oil Intel MD, Reuben Thickpenny. July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 9
forest talk
Competenz Chairman retires LONG-SERVING COMPETENZ TRUST BOARD Chairman, Mike Simm, has announced his retirement. Competenz CEO Fiona Kingsford says Mike’s contribution over the last eight years has been invaluable for the Industry Training Organisation (ITO): “Mike’s passion for youth development, vocational education and our industries has led Competenz to become a highly respected and trusted advisor with our industries and Government. “On a personal note, I have truly valued Mike’s support and mentorship over the past four years and will miss his wisdom and insight.” He worked across a range of industries including manufacturing, engineering and the construction sector before shifting to tourism and regional economic development, serving as a director, trustee and advisor in companies, trusts and local and central government entities. His career has also focused on youth development and transitions from school to work, particularly through his work as a trustee of various community trusts in Northland. “It has been a great privilege to have been part of the Competenz journey, overseeing the genuine contribution that we make to the NZ economy through vocational training and to be closely associated with the people that bring that to life,” he says.
Mike Simm, retiring Competenz Trust Board Chairman. “Some of my most treasured moments have been visiting workplaces and discussing their challenges and opportunities with employers and learners. This is where ‘the rubber hits the road’ for us and where I have been able to experience first-hand the opportunities we have to make a real contribution to upskilling the NZ workforce and all the collateral benefits that accrue from that,” he adds. Mike says there is a real need to continue to work constructively with the Government in the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) process to ensure that the final product remains relevant and engaging for
New Competenz Trust Board Chairman, George Adams. employers and learners. George Adams will replace Mike as Board Chair. George joined the Competenz Board in April 2018. He has 30 years’ experience leading companies in NZ, Africa and Europe, which he says has given him an in-depth appreciation of the benefits of industry training to learners, companies and the country. He is a strong advocate for the FMCG, Forestry and Health & Safety sectors. A former Chair of the NZ Food and Grocery Council, George currently holds Chairman and Directorship roles on a number of boards. He also chaired the 2014 Independent Forestry Safety Inquiry. NZL
Boost for apprenticeships and industry training COMPETENZ SECTORS ARE SET TO BENEFIT SIGNIFICANTLY from free apprenticeships and industry training commencing this month. As part of the $1.6 billion boost in the vocational education sector, Education Minister Chris Hipkins, has launched the Government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF), with the aim of providing COVID-19 relief and addressing skills shortages in targeted growth sectors. “We applaud the Government’s support of vocational education. Keeping our workforce skilled and nimble is critical for the future of our sectors and our economic recovery,” says Competenz CEO Fiona Kingsford. Under the Government’s $320 million package, fees for all apprenticeships and targeted areas of industry training will be covered by the fund from 1 July 2020 until 31 December 2022.
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Mr Hipkins says the scheme focuses on courses likely to lead to employment: “We know as a result of COVID-19, many New Zealanders will be looking to retrain and employers in key sectors will need more skilled people.” Industries that are likely to play a key part in NZ’s economic recovery have been singled out for training support. “Competenz covers sectors targeted by the TTAF, such as engineering, manufacturing, food processing, and forestry. These are industries with identified skills shortages. Free industry training and apprenticeships will mean that employers don’t have to compromise when it comes to training and retraining employees, as they rebuild their businesses,” says Ms Kingsford. The scheme is set to benefit current and budding apprentices alike, with those currently learning on-the-job eligible for a partial refund if their training extended beyond 1 July 2020. NZL
forest talk
Northpine Academic Scholarship for forestry student NORTHLAND STUDENT, CAMRYN STEWART, has been awarded an academic scholarship from Waipu-based timber manufacturer, Northpine. In her fourth and final year of a Bachelor of Forestry Science at the University of Canterbury, Camryn (pictured above) says the financial grant from Northpine is a huge help. “As a student you don’t really have a lot of money, and it is such a massive help financially. I am putting it towards my course fees and extra course costs like field trips,” she says. As a Northlander born and bred in Kaitaia,
Camryn has spent some of her practical course work interning for another Northland company, Summit Forests, completing practical experience in plotting and helping with trials. After graduating from her Bachelor of Forestry Science, she hopes to work in forestry management or forestry marketing and supply chain operations. “The variety and flexibility of the forestry industry appeals to me, and I enjoy being outdoors on the job,” she says. “I’m excited about the possibilities and what my future holds.”
The scholarship was presented to the industry at the Northland Forestry Awards in September 2019 and endorsed by the Northland Wood Council. Applicants can apply via the Northpine website. “I’m extra grateful to receive this support from a company in Northland. I extend my thanks to Northpine for their generosity,” says Camryn. Northpine General Manager, Bruce Larsen, says supporting forestry students in their studies is part of the company’s commitment to the industry and fostering the next generation. NZL
Another step to meeting climate targets RECENT CHANGES TO THE EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME (ETS) by Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw, will finally start to cut NZ’s greenhouse gas pollution as was originally intended, he says. The changes include a limit on the total emissions allowed within the ETS, rules to ensure emission prices are more predictable, and a provisional emissions budget for the 2021-2025 period. “A reformed ETS will be one of NZ’s most efficient and cost-effective tools for reducing emissions and ensuring we leave behind a safe planet for our children and grandchildren,” says Mr Shaw. The changes will better incentivise emissions reductions and will be implemented through regulation once the Bill is law and include a cap on the total emissions allowed in the ETS, and rules for the auctioning of emission units. “Until now the ETS has been a cap and trade system without a cap. This has meant that emissions permitted under the scheme were, in effect, unlimited. I am delighted to say we are finally changing that,” says Mr Shaw.
“The new changes will better translate our emission reduction targets into a predictable emission price, which will incentivise our biggest polluters to invest in the transition to a clean, climate-friendly economy. New Zealanders now know what our emissions limit is for the first half of this decade, and the contribution the ETS will make towards keeping us below that level. We have also put everything in place to make sure businesses covered by the ETS can play their part in tackling the climate crisis in fair and affordable way,” he adds. Proposed amendments to the Emissions Trading Reform Bill include: • Deferring implementation of major forestry policies to January 2023 while ensuring foresters who register under the current announced settings are not disadvantaged. • Delaying the introduction of penalties for small foresters. • Extending cover for surrender liabilities to foresters during temporary adverse events using stock change accounting, and introducing exceptions of the new penalties for small forest participants. NZL
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 11
forest talk
Why isn’t NZ using more local wood ? AS THE SPOTLIGHT FALLS ON FORESTRY, as one of NZ’s biggest industries to help revive the economy post lockdown, the NZ Forest Sector Forum (NZFSF) is asking the question: Why isn’t NZ using more locallysourced wood, and getting behind its zerocarbon construction properties? According to the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), approximately two-thirds of NZ wood is exported with almost $6.93 billion exported from NZ in 2018-19. On the flip side, NZ imported over $1.5 billion worth of wood products in 2019. So why are we importing a huge amount of wood products when we grow so much ourselves? We’ve got to use more wood in NZ, reversing the reliance on concrete and steel in our construction, says NSFSF. By doing this we will mitigate the effects of climate change, increase the use of a naturally renewable resource and strengthen regional economies. Not only is wood locally produced, supporting approximately 30,000 jobs, but it is the best choice for the environment, says the Forum. For every tonne of wood material used in construction, it is estimated that 5.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide are saved from release into the atmosphere, and wood requires less energy to produce than any other building material. Basically, trees eat carbon out of the atmosphere and lock it up in wood. The more wood you use, the more carbon is removed from the atmosphere.
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Therefore, when you build, create, or use wood it locks away that carbon. It seems obvious that if the public consumes NZ wood, it promotes NZ landowners to plant more trees to supply that wood demand. More demand for wood products = more trees = more carbon locked away. Concrete (8%) and steel (5%) account for an estimated 13% of greenhouse gas emissions globally between them. Both require huge amounts of fossil fuels and energy to extract, transport and process. Carbon dioxide is also a significant by-product of both. Most NZ cement is imported from Malaysia, while our steel mostly comes from China. Using locally grown timber also helps reduce one’s carbon footprint, as there are no emissions from transporting timber from offshore. This helps with the government’s suggestion NZ needs to increase its valueadd, by processing within NZ and creating manufacturing jobs, says NZFSF. It’s a locally produced, more environmentally friendly product, which builds our regional communities. Added to this, over 65% of NZ wood is independently certified, verifying its sustainability of production. So, with such a reliance on concrete and steel in current construction, the NZ Forest Sector Forum is asking the question: Why don’t New Zealanders use more wood? There seem to be three main parts to the answer, says the Forum. Firstly, we are still
waiting for the government’s leadership in setting zero-carbon construction rules. These rules will enable buildings to be constructed with minimal environmental footprint. Clear articulation of government’s objectives for the environment and employment is needed, set out in the NZ Building Code, it says. Secondly, responsibility also lies with architects, engineers and quantity surveyors. We need to change the way these experts think about construction. Much more education is needed on the value of wood and how to use it. The wood sector has made a good start on a re-education programme but needs much more pro-active government support through vocational training, higher education programmes and professional development incentives, says the NZFSF. Thirdly, change is also in the hands of the NZ consumer. Why would we not choose NZ wood products over imported alternatives, in the buildings we commission and the homes we live in, while also benefiting from the jobs they create and the carbon offset? The NZFSF says it’s time everyday New Zealanders knew where their wood products or wood alternatives came from and, more to the point, that wood products purchased locally, grown and processed here in NZ, support approximately 30,000 New Zealand jobs. If ever there was a time to get that awareness out there, this is it. NZL
forest talk
Fallen Totara to leave a legacy
Examples of traditional Māori carvings. (Photos: Tōtara Industry Pilot Project.) A FALLEN 900-YEAR-OLD TŌTARA TREE, estimated at 10 tonnes in total weight, with the trunk alone measuring 7.2 metres in height, will be put to good use. Extracted from Wakamoekau Creek, the tree will be used for whakairo (traditional Māori carving) by Wairarapa artists to be displayed at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre’s education building. This is thanks to a joint funding effort by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Department of Conservation and JPS Earthmoving. Gifted by local farmer, Richard White, the prized wood will provide material for 11 carvings which will be installed in Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre’s education building upon completion. Wayne Pitau, who descends from the hapū Ngāti Hāmua, Rangitāne iwi of Wairarapa and is Cultural Advisor at Pūkaha National
Wildlife Centre, knew immediately it was going to be something great for his iwi and hapū when he was first introduced to the Tōtara. “When I saw how large the tree was I realised, ‘this is bigger than me in so many ways’,” he says. “For me, carving this Tōtara tree is giving mana to our people and our whakapapa in terms of our connection to Pūkaha which was once known as Te Tapere Nui o Whatonga.” This project feeds into a larger initiative to raise cultural awareness that Pūkaha launched in October last year with the establishment of a new education building. “This is an opportunity to intertwine tikanga in internal practices and origin stories when we discuss native wildlife with visitors. “It also shares an iwi perspective while welcoming non-Māori to gain a more in-depth understanding of Māori culture through art,”
says Wayne. Flood Protection Area Engineer at Greater Wellington, Des Peterson, says it was no easy feat to get the log out of the creek, which is why it took a year to fund and arrange the extraction: “There were a few hoops to jump through as the log was on private property. It required summer conditions and some funding for the extraction. But in the end we got there as everyone was keen to get on board and help to extract the log.” The next part of the mammoth project will be undertaken by Wayne, a team of qualified carvers and two trainees. “It’s humbling to be a part of this process and I look forward to seeing it finally come to life,” says Wayne. Whakairo will begin in the next few months and it is estimated that it will take 10-12 months to have the carvings completed in time for the opening of Pūkaha’s education building. NZL
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 13
iron test
HYUNDAI WITH A PURPOSE Story & photos: John Ellegard
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Main: The new Kaitoa Logging Hyundai FX3230LL, with Iron Tester Stan Barlow at the controls, loading an RFH truck. Right: While there is plenty of power in the hydraulics for grabbing several logs at once, the Hyundai FX3230LL shows off its dexterity picking up this single log with ease. Far right: Although Kaitoa Logging’s new FX3230LL spends much of its time fleeting and loading on the skid site, it has also impressed crew boss, Ben Hutching, with its shovelling ability on the hills in the background.
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The purpose-built Hyundai FX3230LL hardly flinches as it lifts this 5-axle trailer off the back of the truck.
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T’S GREAT TO BE BACK AT WORK, RECKONS BEN Hutching, even if the weather has turned wet and cold. Certainly beats being locked-down at home for several weeks while the overheads mount up and the income shrivels to nothing. You have to wonder why the rest of the primary sector was allowed to carry on working during Level 4, yet forestry was frozen. Would have been just as easy to isolate, plus it would have provided much-needed income for provincial communities without having to rely on government handouts, not to mention the boost to the wider economy. That’s water under the bridge now. At least it gave China time to overcome its seriously bloated log stocks, enabling prices to rise to more sustainable levels as harvesting operations resumed here in Godzone. Yup, there’s always a silver lining if you look hard enough. And we found another silver lining on the wild west King Country coast, at Marakopa, where Ben’s Kaitoa Logging crew is getting to grips with a massive woodlot operation that will provide ongoing work over the next five years. It’s one of the first new Hyundai purpose-built FX3230 log loaders to go to work in NZ. It arrived a few days before the Covid-19 lockdown – around the time log prices took a massive dive, threatening the viability of many woodlots throughout NZ. That wasn’t particularly good timing, but once harvesting resumed it meant that Ben’s team was able to crack into work with a new machine that is designed to deliver excellent productivity, whilst built specifically to take the hammering that comes from operating in a tough forestry environment. Until now, if you wanted a Hyundai excavator built strong enough to withstand those daily rigours you had to buy a standard digger and then have it guarded and upgraded to be fit for forestry. And that’s also the way it
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was for most standard excavators from other brands, and loggers were happy because they could always pull off the forestry bits and pieces to sell the machine back into the general market when it was retired. Today’s foresters have a different view. They understand that purpose-built machines are designed and built specifically for their forestry tasks, being more productive and less likely to break. That’s especially so for harvesters and processors. Now it appears to be the case for log loaders, too. Trouble is, purpose-designed and built forestry machines are much more expensive than regular equipment, which has opened up a market for someone to introduce a value-based proposition. Porter Equipment has been talking to the Korean factory for some time about building forest spec versions of its mid-size Hyundai excavator range to fill that role and the conversations eventually struck pay-dirt, with an agreement to supply three models tailored exclusively to forestry use in both the New Zealand and Australian markets. The three new forestry models replace the High Chassis versions of the R250LC-9H/C, R290LC-9H/C and R320LC-9H/C in the Hyundai excavator range, arriving here virtually ready to go into the forest, with just the implement and any non-factory options fitted locally. The FX models are a response to demand from customers, says Darren Ralph, General Manager Sales & Marketing for the Porter Group. “The demand for purpose-built equipment has grown in recent years and has now reached the point where we deemed that the market was stable enough for the factory and ourselves to make this investment,” he says. Being able to utilise the technologies at the factory results in a better product, with better structural integrity, which is essentially lighter but at the same time stronger due to the design and production experience of Hyundai, adds Mr Ralph.
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Above left: Big beefy chassis and track guards are clearly a must in these conditions, where you don’t know what you’re crawling over. Above centre: A close up of the storage area in the space under the cab floor. Above right: Sturdy purpose-built cab and guarding are part of the factory equipment on the new Hyundai FX3230LL. Two FX versions There are two versions of the FX; the G-series for general forestry use, such as processing, and the LL-series, which are set up specifically as log loaders. The new LL versions arrive with straight booms and arms, fitted with an under-slung ram to provide more lift performance and the piping already installed, ready for mating to the buyer’s grapple of choice. Meanwhile the G-series can have factory-installed plumbing for processing on the standard forestry boom and arm set. All FX models come with high and wide chassis and a ROPS/FOPS/OPS cab, along with standard heavy-duty bonnet and bump rails, under-slew guards, final drive guards and catwalks. All engines are carried over into the new models in Tier 3 spec and existing hydraulic performance is deemed suitable for forestry work, with the larger pumps able to handle multiple tasks with relative ease. Ben went with the FX3230LL as this size machine suits the wood his crew is harvesting and he’s already familiar with the R290LC-9H/C, having started out with one when he established Kaitoa Logging four years ago – “and it’s still going,” he says. While the FX3230LL arrived with an all-up weight of 34.2 tonnes, compared to a standard R290LC-9H/C’s 33.3 tonnes, the new model works out lighter when taking the extra guarding and strengthening that would have to be added locally to the standard excavator. Ben is very happy with the result because it means he gets the benefit of a forestry machine that has factory-built quality, along with the good value that Hyundai excavators have traditionally provided. It also meant that the new machine was able to go into the forest not long after arriving, unlike the Hyundai R430LC-9 processor he ordered at the same time, which needed to go through extensive engineering before it could join the new loader at Marakopa. The R430LC-9 sat in Hamilton over the duration of the
lockdown before the guarding and other work was completed and the SATCO head plumbed in. Delivery finally happened in early June, on the same day that NZ Logger turned up to Iron Test the purpose-built loader, which had already clocked up close to 400 hours by that stage. The old processor – a small Logmax attached to an R290LC-9H/C – was pensioned off not long after the Kaitoa Logging team arrived at this job late last year because much of the wood was too large, forcing them to revert to manual log making while they waited for the new processor. “We got pushed down to a four-day week, then three days as the log prices crashed – then lockdown came, so we didn’t really have to do much manual log making,” says Ben. The crew returned to their homes in Whakatane, in the eastern Bay of Plenty, when the country went into Level 4, while Ben stayed in one of the two houses that he purchased at Marakopa at the start of the contract as a weekday base for them. Biggest boom It took more than a week following the end of Level 4 to get the team re-assembled to kick-start harvesting. With no one on hand immediately to work the Thunderbird TMY45 yarder until his team arrived, Ben was able to make use of the new FX32030LL to shovel stems down the hill and then drag them to the skid site to provide sufficient wood to get the crew off to a flying start once they returned to work. “Man, it’s awesome for shovelling,” says Ben. “And when it gets to a stump it doesn’t stop, it just climbs over it on those single grousers – I ordered those especially for shovelling.” Ben also ordered the biggest boom available to make it even more efficient at shovelling – a 6,200mm straight boom borrowed from the larger FX3632LL, rather than the 6,000mm version that normally comes with this model. His machine retains the 4,000mm arm, which provides a total working reach
Stretching out full length to grab these two weighty stems doesn’t unsettle the Kaitoa Logging Hyundai FX3230LL.
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of 9,650mm, compared to 9,500mm if he’d stayed with the recommended boom. While the extra 150mm doesn’t sound a lot, every little bit helps. When the Iron Test team arrived, Ben parked up the machine on the edge of the skid site for a closer inspection and the FX package certainly looks the part, with the big straight boom/arm set, forestry cab and guarding giving it a very purposeful appearance. It sits on a beefy high and wide chassis, along with two-piece, extrastrength under-body protection and maintenance covers to guard against wayward logs or stumps sitting above the 765mm ground clearance from damaging the vulnerable undersides. The ground tackle is completed by a longer, heavy-duty track frame with substantial guarding for the rollers. The guarding plate over the cylinders at the base of the boom looks strong enough to withstand a hefty whack from a log, as do the large bars protecting the front screen. Similar size bars are also fitted above the skylight, just in case the machine is working under the canopy. Walking up the steps onto the bonnet, just to the side of the boom, you get a good appreciation of how substantial the cab looks from any angle. In fact, there’s plenty of protection all-round, including guards for the fuel and hydraulic oil inlets and the rear-view camera on the back of the bonnet. Access to the engine under a manually-lifted hatch is similar to what you’ll find on the usual Hyundai R290LC-9H/C, meaning that bolted panels will have to be removed if you need to dive in further than just the top of the power plant. The engine itself hasn’t changed either. It’s still the same Tier 3 Cummins QSB-based 6.7-litre 6-cylinder engine that is described as the Hyundai HE 6.7 in the manufacturer’s brochure. Whatever name it goes by, it is a well-proven unit and does a very good job powering all the hydraulics and systems on the FX3230LL. Back down on the ground, as another shower sweeps across the valley, the darkening skies are easily compensated by the great LED lighting package, which consists of a wide light bar above the door of the cab, plus four large lights above the front screen, another two on the rear of the cab and a pair of lights at the top of the boom shining onto the Ensign 1730 grapple. Ben, who shares operating duties on the FX3230LL with his brother, Joe, says the lighting is great for early winter morning starts before the sun rises. We’re also interested to hear his opinion on the purpose-built cab and he reckons it’s as good as any of the locally made cabs, adding: “There’s a lot of room in there – you can almost lie down and go to sleep. “It’s good and comfortable. Nice visibility and the A/C’s work pretty well, too.”
Roomy cab Climbing up to check it out ourselves, we note that it sits on a small riser, probably no more than 200mm high. There’s a void under the cab floor that is only accessed with the door open, allowing for items like a shovel and any tools to be stored. The cab is as roomy as Ben described, with lots of space behind the airsuspended seat for a big lunch box and wet weather gear. You won’t find the fancy plastic moulding and trim that Hyundai fits to the interior of its standard factory cabs, but the company has lined all the metal surfaces with a felt-like material to give it a much cosier feel. Joysticks are the same as on a regular R290LC-9H/C, attached to the seat, but the screen down on the lower right is slightly different. It’s a 7-inch LCD job with a toggle switch that allows the operator to select personal preferences. Meanwhile, the usual dials and switches from the standard R290 are positioned alongside the bottom edge of the driver’s-side window. I’ll leave it to our Iron Tester, Stan Barlow to describe the functions and how they work in detail on page 22. Ben, who started in forestry 23 years ago with Hayes Logging in the Bay of Plenty, has owned a few Hyundai machines since he went out on his own and rates them highly, saying: “They are very well priced and do the job.” He heard about the introduction of the purpose-built models around the middle of last year when he was planning for this job and thought the FX3230LL would suit the loading task he had in mind. “As a purpose-built machine this will go anywhere I want to take it,” says Ben. “Climbs really good. Running gear is good and the bigger pump in this one is what it needed. It has sufficient power and hydraulic pressure. “Now we’re back from lockdown I have a contract to go balls-out and they (forest manager, Forest 360) will take as much wood as I can harvest. And we’ll need the new processor (Hyundai R430LC-9 and SATCO SAT3L2T) to cope with some of the big wood we’ve been pulling here. It’s been a battle trying to get wood out of here and this will make a big difference. Some good sticks in here. The average P size is 2.3. Good wood in this section.” As we speak, the Porter Equipment boys turn up with the new processor on the back of a transporter and Ben leaves brother Joe to show Stan what jobs the loader needs to do so he can get started with his part of the Iron Test. The first task is to shift all the logs that the cross-cutters have just sawn and then lay out stems for more logs to be cut in order to fill the two RFH trucks that have just turned up. Joe walks Stan around the log stacks, pointing out homes for the big pruned
The Hyundai FX3230LL laid out these stems for log-making in double-quick time, in spite of the boggy ground conditions.
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Above: It’s bigger than first impressions suggest, with the seat and main controls from the standard R290 fitting in nicely to the new forestry cab (left); Plenty of space behind the seat for drinks and lunch, but the positioning of the radio head (centre-right) makes it a little awkward for the operator to reach; It says Hyundai on the engine cover, but it’s still the well-proven Cummins QSB6.7 sitting down there in the engine compartment (right). Below: The new purpose-built Hyundai FX3230LL arrives in New Zealand ready to go to work in the forest – just add your favourite implement. lengths to go down to Tenon at Taupo and the rest making up a variety of export lengths bound to Mt Maunganui. And then he’s off to join the rest of the crew helping to get the new processor off the transporter, leaving the NZ Logger team in charge of the site and their new loader. No problems. Stan’s very happy with loading, even in a very tight skid site like this and he gets to work straight away. On a boggy paddock, where the machine is sucked in by the deep, cloying mud, the power of the track motors and hydraulic pumps is very evident. It just powers through as if on a sun-baked surface. Stretching out Stan is able to grab three and sometimes four of the smaller diameter logs in the grapple, lift and swing them around with ease and no hint of tipping forward as he builds up the stacks. That’s down to slightly longer tracks than the regular R290LC-9H/C and a solid counterweight on the rear of the cab body. Nor is the stability upset when he walks over to the de-limbed stems and picks up two very large examples – one of them weighing more than 4 tonnes – with the boom/arm at full stretch and walks them back to the skid. Very soon he has filled the skid with stems for the log makers to get to work
with their chainsaws. Except that we have to wait a while for them to return from the distraction of the newly arrived processor. But when they do turn up, the four cross-cutters make quick work of the stems, while one of the log trucks backs in for Stan to lift off the trailer and set it aside so he can load the back of the truck first. Again, the Hyundai lifts the trailer with ease, stretching out the boom and arm to place it away from the stacks without any hint of rocking on the tracks and Stan starts loading. Once the truck is loaded, the driver moves forward for Stan to lift the trailer in behind to connect with the rest of the rig and he loads one packet of large pruned logs for the domestic market. On a normal day, the Kaitoa Logging FX3230LL will fill eight trucks and trailers on this site, as well as go out to the hill and shovel/bunch logs to be pulled back to the skid site. It’s perfectly suited to the job and it has the purpose-built armoury and equipment to continue doing it for years to come. NZL
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iron test: Stan Barlow
LIVELY LOADER LOADERS ARE THE MEAT AND POTATOES of a forestry crew’s daily workload. They’re not the hero machines that are out cutting or retrieving the wood. But if they aren’t up to the everyday task of fleeting and loading, the job site soon grinds to a halt. On paper, this new, purpose-built Hyundai FX3230LLL appears to have all the ingredients needed to make a successful loader – right size and weight for most typical Kiwi logging operations, solid construction straight out of the factory, dependable engine and good hydraulics. So it wasn’t really a surprise that the performance matched the paperwork when I put the Kaitoa Logging machine through its paces. I liked the look of that straight boom and arm but wondered if the extra length would prove to be its Achilles heel when lifting some of the heavier wood coming out of this forest. Surprisingly, it never flinched during any of the lifting tests I put it through, even
when I stretched out to lift two big stems. And I still had the power to bring them in and slew around. I had some big grabs with those KIs in the stack and that grapple hung onto them. The Hyundai remained firmly planted, never rocked once and I couldn’t detect any change in power. Same with the trailer. I was expecting it to rock around a bit, no it didn’t. Even when I pushed the trailer out on the boom and arm, it was very stable and there was no fluctuation in power. I was surprised at how stable it felt. Perhaps the only criticism is the slight dip in power when I tried several functions at the same time. But even then, it didn’t really make a lot of difference. The FX3230LL has three power modes, like the standard R290LC-9H/C and Ben told me he leaves it on full power for most jobs. As with all modern machines, the operator can vary the amount of assistance through the computer screen. He turns it up to ten when shovelling, but otherwise leaves it on
Iron Tester, Stan Barlow. seven or eight on the skid. And that’s what I did, too. In those settings I found it very responsive, perhaps a bit too touchy at first, but I got used to it. The lift is outstanding. There was plenty of walking power, even in that mud hole. The control patterns are standard Cat-type layout and for once, the grapple rotator was just the way I like it – hit the right button and it will rotate clockwise and hit left, it goes anticlockwise. It’s intuitive, I can’t understand why some operators prefer it the other way around. The purpose-built forestry cab provides greater storage and better visibility than a standard cab, plus you know you are in a
How’s this for productivity? Five good size logs lifted at the same time.
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SPECIFICATIONS - HYUNDAI FX3230LL LOG LOADER SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE 6-clinder, 6.7-litre, Hyundai HE 6.7, Tier 3 Bore / stroke Gross power Max torque Max drawbar pull Max travel speed
107mm x 124mm 169kW (227hp) @ 1,900rpm 949Nm @ 1,500rpm 27,300kgf 5.0km/h
HYDRAULICS Main travel pumps Two variable displacement axial piston pumps Max flow 2 x 252L/min Swing pumps Axial piston with automatic brakes Swing speed 10.5 rpm Boom / Arm Model Hyundai straight boom Reach 9.65 Grapple Model Ensign 1730 Rotation 360-degrees
safer working environment. Not having a tall riser wasn’t an issue for me, unless you are stacking logs really high, but these stacks were low, so you could see over everything. I like to have a camera on the back to check for people and obstructions behind when I’m on a crowded skid site like this,
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Max clamp opening 1,700mm Capacity 0.47m² Weight 1,080 kg REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES) 500 50 24 330
Fuel tank Engine coolant Engine oil tank Hydraulic system (inc tank) DIMENSIONS (MM) Shipping length Shipping height Shipping width Ground clearance Track length Track shoe width Tail swing radius Operating weight
9,450 3,030 3,470 765 4,950 600 3,200 34,300kg (without grapple)
although Ben says he doesn’t use it much because he can’t see the tracks, so the angle may need adjusting – easily done. Loading is one of my favourite jobs in forestry. Sure it’s not glamorous, but it’s damn good when you are behind the controls of a nice machine like this. NZL
Left: Crew boss, Ben Hutching, is happy with the new purpose-built log loader from Hyundai. Above: The arrival of a brand new Hyundai 430/SATCO SAT3L2T processor is celebrated by Ben Hutching (left) and his business partner, Desmond Quirk.
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July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 23
Special Feature: Firewood
FROM FORE S
Story: Hayley Leibowitz
A 3000 cubic metre stockpile of kiln dried Pine at City Firewood, Christchurch.
E
VER WONDERED WHAT HAPPENS to the wood you harvest that isn’t up to scratch – the rejects, the wood often left on the skid to rot away, poor-quality logs, those that don’t make the export grade? Well, much of it ends up in somebody’s fireplace, but it’s no simple journey to get there. At first glance the firewood sector may seem like forestry’s poor cousin, but it’s a thriving industry with both small- and
24 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
large-scale operators. NZ Logger spoke to some of the biggest. Christchurch-based City Firewood services a wide area, from Christchurch to Castle Hill up to Amberley and beyond. This family company began 35 years ago and was the first in NZ to start kiln drying firewood. With a staff of 25, including temporary workers, it sells over 50,000 cubic metres of firewood a year. General Manager, Robbie Harris, who
took over from his father nearly four years ago, says the majority of the wood comes from managed forests in Canterbury working with names like Rayonier Matariki Forests, Laurie Forestry, Forest Management Group, Port Blakely and PF Olsen, as well as directly with logging contractors. “It just depends what the relationship is between the forest managers and the forest owners. Sometimes they don’t want to deal in
E ST TO FIRE
the firewood side of logs… there’s not as much money in it, so quite often part of the deal is that the logger can deal with the firewood. Sometimes it’s the cartage company. So, we just basically work with everyone. We don’t harvest ourselves; we just work with people who harvest. We take the firewood grade logs and buy them at a landed rate into our site on the log truck,” says Robbie. Auckland-based Ignition Firewood Director,
Carlos Ter Huurne found his way into the firewood industry when he was still studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Auckland University. He took his dad’s chainsaw and cut down some of the Pine trees on the family farm to make a bit of extra cash. It took off from there and he bought his first splitter in 2012, soon growing to be the biggest firewood company in Auckland, with 10 full-time staff and some pretty
impressive production gear serving two main production lines, not to mention the loaders and diggers. Carlos says, being big-city-based, unlike City Firewood, the majority of the company’s wood comes from land clearing companies within Auckland: “There’s a hell of a lot of tree clearing companies around Auckland – about 50 – and 10 of them are pretty big with big gear. The wood arrives in all
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 25
Special Feature: Firewood
different shapes and sizes – from a logging perspective, nothing is really A Grade or Prune Grade. And we obviously get a huge variety of species.” When the discarded wood reaches the processing site, it takes on new life as it makes its way through various hightech processes to transform into humble firewood. At City Firewood, four imported firewood processing machines take different sizes and grades of logs. A large, highstacking wheeled timber handling machine unloads the log trucks and sends them on their way back to the forest. From there the logs are stored on site, sorted and loaded for cutting and splitting. Close to 100 20-foot shipping containers converted into specialised firewood containers with mesh siding, take around 33 cubic metres per container. Between the four machines, seven to nine containers of firewood are cut directly in per day – that’s 200 to 300 cubic metres or 150 tonnes per day. Carrying about 8-10,000 tonne of stock, Auckland’s Ignition Firewood’s speciality is processing different sized logs, says Carlos: “We’ve got one bit of machinery that does small logs. Then our main processor cuts and splits logs up to 900mm. Anything bigger than 900mm we cut up with a chainsaw and then feed through our big splitter.” Boasting NZ’s largest firewood kiln, City Firewood’s 40-tonne forklift easily lifts the four containers the kiln can hold down the road to its kiln site. It takes between 24 and
48 hours to dry with the next load ready to go, allowing a two-day wood turnaround time from forest to fire. “We backload. We take a green container there, we load a dry container back then we come back and we tip it off at our main retail site,” says Robbie. “Kiln drying is a major part of what we do because it just allows us to control the quality so much better. Basically, it’s a result of how dry the wood is that’s the main factor in its burning efficiency. So, every drop of moisture that leaves, ends up improving the cost per kilowatt hour for the customer when they burn it. That’s what we base our
business on. We spend a lot more on drying than anyone else,” says Robbie. Added to that, all the company’s waste wood is used as boiler fuel in the 2.5 megawatt boiler. Sales are via delivery or the company’s pick-up retail area. As a final process the wood is screened to remove the “small, fine stuff ” which tends to emerge as it’s moved around, dried and handled. It’s then delivered directly into the truck “as clean as it can possibly be” for transport. An office team handles orders, including aspects like customer preferences and driveway preferences, with 10 different vehicles depending on the size and fit of the order.
Top: These photographs show the Pezzolato TM1200 cutting station and TB900 splitting station at City Firewood. Above: Rabaud wood cleaner cleaning the firewood of debris before delivery, with specialist firewood screening equipment.
26 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
“While the drivers are out on the road there’s someone loading all the vehicles here, so when they come back, they just switch vehicles, already pre-loaded,” says Robbie. Ignition Firewood either naturally seasons or kiln dries its wood, with a kiln on site, also using its own waste wood to heat it, and storage space for around 4000 cubic metres of wood. The vast majority of deliveries for both companies are to homes as well as some pizza oven restaurants. “Christchurch has a lot of fireplaces,” says Robbie. “In Canterbury alone between 30 and 40% of homes have a fireplace.” They’re not the only ones benefiting from cold NZ winters. Equipment supplier, Forestquip, has been selling firewood processors in NZ for a good 15 years. Managing Director, John Hansen, says buyers range from “the hobby, farmer-type, right up to the full-time professional”. “The ‘farmer-type’ is quite often someone who’s got a little bit of plantation or loggers have been in and they clean up all the bin wood or waste and turn it into firewood. “We also see a lot of people turning the chip logs into firewood. A cube of firewood is a cube of firewood. It doesn’t matter if it comes out of an export log or it comes out of a bent, crooked branch. The value of the firewood doesn’t change compared to what value of timber you’re putting in for it. I would say only 5 to 10% of people in firewood will be doing their own harvesting. The big scale operators don’t even look at harvesting themselves.” The big processors are only for the bigger
Above: Complete Pezzolato cutting and splitting station installed near Wanaka, 2016.
(continued on page 30) July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 27
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Special Feature: Firewood
(continued from page 27) operators, says John. “The thing with the processors is the bigger the size of the logs it can take, the higher the price. Then we have a sort of ‘hobby type’ wood splitter, so it comes down to the customers. What is the end goal? If they just want to do one trailerload a week, that’s different to a trailer-load a day.” Carlos adds that it’s a very large and varied industry: “There’s a hell of a lot of operators. I don’t have a figure that says the industry is worth x-amount but every major town would have a larger scale operator I would say, and then there’s quite a few smaller scale operators. Anyone can do firewood. If you’ve got a chainsaw, a ute and an axe you can do firewood. “There’s a lot of people that do a few hundred cube and then there’s a few that do a few thousand cube in each town, and then I’d say there’s one or two operators
30 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
that do more than 10,000 cube. All of NZ would go through at least 300,000 cube, up to 500,000 in a year, if not more, I would say. And there’s a lot of farmers and people that do their own firewood as well.” What makes good firewood? What makes good firewood depends quite a bit on customer preference as it turns out. As the main plantation species across NZ, Pine is the most popular. Then comes Douglas Fir and Blue gum, which is the most commonly sold hardwood at City Firewood. Robbie says, though those are the main ones, “we remain quite flexible for suppliers to find outlets for other woods as well, so we tend to try to find a market for everything just to help things move. We don’t particularly like Poplar though. It’s not a very good firewood. It’s technically a hardwood but it’s a very low-density wood and doesn’t burn very well. Generally, firewood is proportional to
the density in terms of the energy that’s in it”. “One person’s favourite wood is another’s worst. Some people like something that just gets really hot and gives a roaring fire – that’s quite often Pine that does that, Old Man Pine, but it also burns away quite quickly. It’s the older trees that are quite sappy because the sap is quite volatile and makes a lot of heat but it also makes smoke. So, some people really like it because of the heat but others hate it because of the smoke. “Then you have something like Blue gum which is a lot harder, gives a lot of heat but doesn’t roar like the Pine does and you need to actually have something like Pine to keep it going to release the heat. Some people don’t like that. They don’t think it burns very well. And then in the middle you have your Oregon which is the Douglas Fir and that’s kind of a nice softer wood, a medium sort of density.
Above:The Ignition Firewood production team – Filipo Cameron, Ken Paparahi, Donovan Douglas, Sam Conaghan, Ethan Kelly and Benji Baoro. Top right: Shed full of seasoned wood stocking up for winter at Ignition Firewood. Middle right: Ignition Firewood’s Carlos Ter Huurne with Delivery Manager Trevor Moore standing next to the V8 ute and delivery truck. Bottom right: Ignition Firewood Director, Carlos Ter Huurne with his daughter, Emily.
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 31
Special Feature: Firewood
It’s quite light. It burns easily. It’s easy to split so people like making kindling out of it, but it doesn’t burn like the Pine. It’s sort of a lower intensity heat and it burns very cleanly. So, it’s all really down to the customer preference in terms of species and cuts.” Carlos says though there are some woods Ignition Firewood doesn’t take because they don’t burn well or are harder to process “we pretty much use whatever wood’s available”: “Typically, as opposed to other regions in NZ, we get more sizes of wood, whereas if you go down to Wellington, it’s a bit harder to get firewood logs because the forests are so far away from the actual town. In Christchurch there’s not very many forests around for the price of the hire and we’re quite lucky that we’re about three-hours’ drive away from Kinleith Forest. “If we were just down the road from Kinleith we’d have to pay a lot more for our logs because people would rather just take it somewhere locally than truck all their pulp log down to Kinleith. We do pick up a bit of
business from that as well. Because we’re further away, just trucking it down to Kinleith would cost about $30 a tonne, so even if they’re paying $50 a tonne, 30 of that would be trucking. The majority of the wood we pay for by the tonne, but because the other main buyer is so far away, we tend to get a lot of wood that would otherwise be going down there.” The Wilding project Other than the three staples, different species will often come in, depending what is available at the time, like Larch, Wattle, Corsican Pine and Beech – a rarity, only used if it is being cut down as part of another project like gold mine conversion, says Robbie. One of the projects City Firewood is currently involved with is turning Wilding Corsican Pine into firewood. Robbie explains that as a fast-growing tree, Conifers are too competitive for our native species, seeding, outgrowing and shadowing them until they start to die.
New Hakki Pilke 50 Pro at a firewood operator in the North Island. 32 NZ LOGGER | July November 2020 2014
Mckenzie Country in Canterbury is a good example of this he says: “After a certain period of time, what was a native planted area, a natural native ecosystem, will be completely replaced by exotic Pine. It’s all over Canterbury, all over NZ and very rapidly spreading. ECan (Environment Canterbury) spends a lot of money each year just trying to kill it, poison it, do whatever. So, what we’re trying to do with some of the more mature ones, working with ECan and another logging company, is to harvest it as economically as possible and get it here as a firewood to recover the costs rather than it being a big expense. The ultimate goal is to make it economically viable to get rid of them without it being a cost to ECan or the government.” John says there are other environmental benefits to firewood too. Though most sales are currently domestic, the boiler market for wood chip is starting to open up in NZ: “It’s a massive market in Europe. It’s slowly coming here as you can put little branches
through your chipper and it turns it into chip. That comes into commercial perspective for hospitals and the like. I know there’s a new hospital in Christchurch thinking about putting in a woodchip boiler for its heating, being CO2 neutral. “Firewood is a CO2 neutral product. As forestry growers know, in terms of carbon farming, the wood only releases what’s taken up, so from that perspective it’s a lot better than using other fuels like electricity and heat pumps. That’s what’s competing against the firewood market – heat pumps, gas fires, those types of things – but the good thing about firewood measured on a kilowatt or kilojoule cost, is it’s pretty much the cheapest way of heating your home.” Robbie explains that this is true because the electricity generation in winter often relies on fossil fuel-based power as there is more demand for electricity than what our renewable sources create: “If all of our hydro dams, windmill and geothermal plants are maxed out, every appliance (including
electric heaters and heat pumps etc.) that is switched on when renewable sources are maxed out, requires 100% of its electricity to be generated by fossil fuels (i.e. natural gas or coal).” Weathering the challenges Though potentially a seasonal business, with appropriate planning, firewood companies find themselves busy all year. Selling some 10,000 tonnes of firewood a year, Carlos says Ignition Firewood has full-time staff year-round: “We’re always busy, just busy doing different things. So, if you come out to our site from September to November, you’ll see that our delivery trucks are parked up but we’re still very busy processing for the coming season. The busiest months for us are March/April. That’s when we’re out delivering the most.” Robbie can relate: “We try very hard to get people to buy a bit earlier because the prices are a lot cheaper as we don’t have to kiln dry if people buy a year in advance. We can sell
it to them as green wood and they dry it at their own house and save a lot of money in doing so,” says Robbie. “Selling five to 10 000 cubic metres through spring and up to 20 000 cubic metres between spring and summer, culminates in consistent sales of 200-300m3 every day through winter and over 400m3 sometimes in cold weather events. We’re processing all year round. The only thing that changes are the sales.” John agrees, adding: “Firewood is a business where you have to work a year ahead of yourself, so it’s really cash flow demanding as you have a lot of money tied up in stock that obviously doesn’t turn over very often. “There are some people out there that do what we call green sales, selling straight off the processors to the customer from now on until Christmas time. People will buy a year ahead and that also means they get some pretty good prices. The green wood, it’s quite wet. There’s no way you can burn it, but a lot of people will buy that at a discounted rate.
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 33
Special Feature: Firewood
Over 3000 tonnes of logs were turned into firewood by City Firewood from this wilding pine block near Mount Cook in 2019.
They’ll put it under the shed, stack it up and leave it for six months, sometimes a year.” Carlos confirms this, saying Ignition Firewood also sells plenty of wood in the summer season with “a big marketing push” to do some big sales in the off season: “Like 50% off compared to winter prices, and yeah we do move a hell of a lot of wood then as well which is the best time of year to buy it. So people will be saving a lot of money and then come wintertime their wood will be perfectly dry to burn. That’s something I’ve been pushing people to do more of since I started and yeah, it’s working well.” Large undercover storage allows for year-round production of dry stockpiles to supplement the volumes to keep up with winter demand at City Firewood. “When the demand drops off, there’s a point in time when our production exceeds the demand and at that point we start storing again. So, we just start building up dry stock. We keep drying and we keep storing dry wood and we build it, build it, build it, so it keeps going round in a cycle,” explains Robbie. This efficiency is achieved with the help of extensive machinery, from log handling machines to heavy log lifting, firewood processing machines, a 40-tonne
34 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
forklift, log loaders, delivery trucks and everything in between. Of course, the business is not without its challenges. “There’s always something that you can’t foresee that tends to throw it off,” says Robbie. “Even the weather patterns can change a lot. So, you can have the La Nina and El Nino weather conditions that change how cold or warm the winter is and things like COVID-19 can throw things off. So, there’s a lot of different factors and that’s where the kilns come in handy really, because if there is more demand we can continue to produce dry wood. People who don’t have a kiln have to make that guess a year in advance and they have to cut it and dry it and what they’ve got, that’s all they’ve got available. So, if the demand is greater they can’t really do much other than try to sell wet wood, which reputable sellers won’t do, but there are a lot of people who do.” As to producing firewood for some extra income when times are tough, Robbie says it depends on where you live: “In Canterbury it’s obviously quite hard because there’s not as many logs. If you’re in the North island there’s an abundance of logs. The south of the South Island or the north of the South Island there’s an abundance of logs as well.
So, you can get your hands-on logs and you can process them and sell them but suppliers don’t like to shop around with people too much. Firewood people are notorious for not paying their bills, so forestry companies prefer to stay with the tried and true kind of people who pay their bills every month.” As to COVID-19, with 25% of City Firewood’s annual sales collected from its boot load bin, Level-4 lockdown had a surprisingly positive effect. “We were no longer allowed pickups and a lot of people were very concerned about the wood so we got a really large spike in orders on top of the usual pre-winter March/April rush. The day the lockdown was announced was by far the largest amount of orders we’ve ever received in one day,” says Robbie. On the downside though, COVID-19 created an instant four-week delivery delay. Normally trigger events to buy firewood might be a snow announcement or a shortage announcement, says Robbie. “Pickups were good but efficiency was down for deliveries with pre-loading and switching vehicles problematic under the restrictions. The initial demand then slowed down, though that’s not unusual for that time of year,” he says. And the expected mid-winter demand should still
A stockpile of logs at City Firewood in Christchurch, approximately three to four weeks' production. be around the corner. On the processor side, John says there was “a huge influx of enquiries” on firewood processors when COVID-19 hit. There are a number of reasons for that, he says: “Everyone was buying firewood, there was panicked buying out there. A lot of suppliers were flat out delivering. A bit like the toilet paper problem. People were getting worried they couldn’t get heating if COVID-19 caused havoc. “It was an essential business too, which meant firewood operators could carry on doing their job. That flowed through to an increase in enquiries about firewood processors and prompted operators to do a bit of research.” And the firewood industry was deemed essential for good reason as more than 100 homes of Hauraki Iwi in need were provided with firewood over the COVID-19 lockdown. Amelia Williams, Executive Chair of Ngati Tara Tokanui Trust responded to concerns expressed by local kuia, Nancye Gage, about many families living in cold, damp homes and unable to source firewood at the time. “Many Maori whanau struggle to stay warm over winter. Usually firewood is collected from farms or roadsides but this year, we were emerging from isolation straight into the colder winter months,” says Amelia. She wrote to the Prime Minister, Department of Conservation (DOC) and Andy Warren of forestry company Rayonier Matariki Forests during lockdown to see if an arrangement could be put in place to support whanau. A plan was developed to access
non-merchantable wood from Rayonier Matariki Forests’ plantations in Tairua and Athenree Forests – the trees that had to be left on the forest floor during Level 4, unable to be processed into higher quality products, due to degradation. Andy organised with Coromandel Contractors to recover the shortlength wood. The wood was distributed to families in Thames, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Waihi and Te Puru,
and Andy also joined forces with forestry company counterpart, Ernslaw One, in order to supply Manaia, Whitianga and Wharekaho families from the Whangapoua Forest. “There are some families in desperate situations and the 10-15 truckloads of wood brought out of our forests should go some way to helping a large number of people,” he says. Still think the firewood industry is forestry’s poor cousin? Think again. NZL
City Firewood’s purpose-built firewood kiln and wood-fuel processing facility. July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 35
NZ Timber
A King Country sawmilling legend Story: Trevor Coker
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OHN (JOCK) WEIR WAS BORN IN PORT GORDON BANFFSHIRE Scotland in 1893. He was orphaned at the age of six years and emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 18 in 1911. Little did he realise that in the future he was to become a leader in the King Country’s great native timber industry.
Jock attempted to enlist when WW1 broke out in 1914 but was rejected on medical grounds. He then travelled back to England to enlist with the Gordon Highlanders, only to be rejected again on medical grounds. He returned to New Zealand again in 1916 to the King Country and went into partnership with a friend in a store at Mananui.
Mill area map, 1966.
36 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
He then went into a store venture at Kakahi which at the time was a thriving town with a large timber company, Watkins Brothers, based there. At Kakahi Jock met and married Miss Gladys Robertson, a Kakahi girl. They left Kakahi to take up farming at Okoroire. There was an economic depression in 1921 when Mr and Mrs Weir returned to the King Country, first settling in Raurimu and then moving to Kakahi where, in 1926, Jock went into partnership with Ray Weir, first in post splitting and then saw milling – their first mill being built at Te Rena near Kakahi in 1927. After the success of this venture another mill was built, and after this a third mill at Mangatepopo, 15 miles from Waihi (Tokaanu) in 1929. In 1937 Jock was successful in acquiring a freehold block of 800 acres of mainly good quality T otara near Waihi from Ellis & Burnard. The price paid for this block was 37,000 pounds. A mill from Mangatepopo was relocated on this block and Jock commenced milling in 1938. This mill was known as the WaihiPukawa mill. Also purchased in the same area was the mill of Hopkins, Speirs and Winger (Hoppy’s Mill). Jock managed this mill from 1940. Shortly after Jock took over there was a massive jump in profit. So much in fact that the Maori owners of the block almost doubled the royalty price on the logs. In 1946 a partnership of Mr A.M. Collier, Mr Weir and his two sons formed the Taumarunui Timber Company. Jock died on 30 October 1970. He was predeceased by his son Neil in 1947 and his wife in 1962. He was survived by his sons Roy and Ian. Some Turangi area sawmills In the 40’s and up to the late 60’s there were several sawmills cutting within 20 miles of Turangi. All of these mills drew their log supply from Maori-owned blocks. Banks would not lend against undeveloped Maori lands so the only way to get any income for the owners was to sell the logging rights. For example the logging rights to the Waipari were sold to Fletchers in the early 60’s for one million pounds. This money was used to develop a large farm.
John (Jock) and Gladys Weir. This is by no means an exhaustive, complete list but it gives some idea how many mills were near the Turangi area in the period: • Jack Bishara’s Hauhungaroa Sawmill 1940’s-50’s. • Bishara’s Mill Mangahouhou (also known as Cherry’s) closed 1962. • Boon Bros. Te Aputa Mill 1950’s. • Hutt Timber Co. Mill Moerangi. • McKee’s Mill Otukou 1941-45. • McKee’s Mill Turangi 1953-58. • McKee’s Mill Waituhi 1945-49. • Perrett’s Mill 1944-54 became Fletcher Timber Co Te Rimu 1954-61. • Joe Rees Moerangi. • Smith and Co. Lake Timber Co. Parakaumanga. • Smith and Co. Lake Timber Co Ruamata 1938-49. • Smith’s Lake Mill No 2 Ruamata 1938-49. • McKee’s Mill Turangi 1953-58. • McKee’s Mill Waituhi 1945-49.
NZ Timber
• Taringamutu Mill Waipari. • Hauwai Mill Pukawa. • Summit Mill Te Raina 1956-67. In its 11 years of operation, this mill produced over a hundred million board feet of sawn timber at an average of 31,000 board feet a day. • Waihi Pukawa Mill 1938. Hopkins, Speirs and Winger (also known as Hoppy’s Mill, also at Pukawa). • Waimanu Timber Co. Otukou. • Weir and Kenny had a mill at Waihi (Tokaanu) December 19381945. • Weir & Kenny’s Otukou 1945-1966. Weir & Kenny Otukou: 1945-1966 This mill was situated 23 miles east of National Park off the present road between Turangi and National Park. It was built in the Waimanu Block on the edge of what is now Rotoaira Forest off Waione Road. The Waimanu Block was 997 acres and had mainly good quality Matai trees along with some Totara and Rimu trees. Jock Weir paid 46,000 pounds for this block in 1945. Logs were also sourced from freehold land, and Maori blocks which included Oraukura No2 B1 and Oraukura 2A B1.
John (Jock Weir) in the Taumarunui Company Yard.
38 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
LG30625
Logging arch.
Mill power source The mill was very much a ground breaker as regards the power source. Most mills of the period were powered by steam engines. Weir & Kenny’s Otukou mill was powered by a diesel engine from the start. The engine was a D 13,000 of 100 horsepower imported from America in 1948. It arrived in Taumarunui on a Friday and was installed and ready for operation on the Monday. Jock Weir told the Taumarunui paper that these modern power units were proving to be highly efficient. They could be installed very easily and speedily and were in almost general use amongst saw millers in Canada and America. They gave no trouble and were economical to operate. Mill staff and their jobs Information supplied by Brian Neilson (ex-employee). Tractor drivers: Jim Loveridge, Frank Inglis, Don Brewer These men were responsible for the construction of the log skids, (when required) although in most cases the bulldozer and arch dragged the logs directly to mill breaking down skids and any required roading or tracking.
Otukou mill site, Tongariro National Park, 19 February 2006. Gary and Geoff Danvers with Don Brewer who has lived there since 1963.
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Mill area.
Mill house, 1965.
The milling process Once trees had been felled and brought down to the mill and been through the mill proccess to convert the logs to sawn timber, the finished product had to be taken to the market. In the days the mill operated there were no roads or trucks that are seen nowadays. The only way Weir & Kenny’s could access these markets was by rail. This entailed the use of two GMC trucks which carted the sawn timber to National Park and the fording of three river crossings as there were no bridges in those days.
Stacked timber drying.
Jock Weir couldn’t get over the labour savings by using an arch. There was no more “deeing and sniping” of logs required as the arch kept the end of the log off the ground. Consequently the logs arrived at the mill much cleaner. Cross cutters: Brian Brewer, Don Brewer, Nugget Rosker This job entailed the felling of selected trees and preparing them for the bulldozer and arch to drag down to the mill skids. Logging truck: Malcom (Kauri) Neilson (Leyland Hippo) Malcom was once asked to cart some pine logs and refused. “I’m not carting matchsticks on my truck” was his reply when asked. Timber truck: Jimmy Nelson This job entailed the cartage of sawn timber from the mill to either the local market or up to National Park to load on the rail. A back-breaking job as the timber had to be loaded and unloaded by hand. At National Park it had to be loaded into railway wagons. Tuwharetoa rep log scaler: Kaho Hepi This job entailed measuring the logs on the mill skids so the royalties due to the Maori owners could be calculated.
40 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
Mill house.
Mill manager/saw doctor: Jack Mantle, Charlie O’Brien The mill’s production and quality depended on these two men. Normal practise was for the saw doctor to give the saws a touch-up during lunch time. A spare set of saws was kept on hand and after the day’s work the saw doctor would spend time checking and sharpening the saws for the next day’s work. The normal mill ran a double saw rig for the initial breaking down of logs, a breast bench saw on which the finches were cut down to required size, and a goose saw which cut timber from the breast bench to length as well as docking and cutting out any defects. Cookhouse: Morris and Mrs Bell Probably one of the most important jobs in the mill. If the cook didn’t prepare good meals the workers liked, the mill boss soon knew about it. It wasn’t unknown for workers to leave when the cook moved to another mill. Mill workers: Paddy and Frank O’Brien, Tiny and Darkie Caruthers, Mick Isherwood, Heta Konui, Jock Morgan, Morris Bell, Turanga, Les Brewer, Terry Brewer, Roly Allen, John Inglis. When Trevor Coker, the writer, worked there 1959/60: • Skiddy – Sonny Tupara • Breaking down – Dean Eynon, Brian Neilson • Bench – George Pine • Tailing out – Jimmy Konui, Laurie Pine • Slabby – Eddie Pine • Goose – Joe Moana, Peter Pine • Runner out – Hori Pine • Yardman – Fred Brewer NZL
Mill scene.
Grooved Drums and Sleeves
DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER
www.fica.org.nz
Reflection time from COVID-19 Forestry saw a return to work on April 28, on a Tuesday as I recall. How bizarre this feeling that now we are all pretty much operating in Level 1 - the past has been and gone. It has come with some pretty big sacrifices though and we think about those that could not get through, those that did not have a job to return to and the cost for our industry to return to work. As we heard from you all and we advised government it was not just like turning the switch on to GO! The accolades for the whanau of 5 million are certainly well-deserved and we stand out as a nation across the world for getting to this point. I pick up here on an article I read post COVID that really echoed some sentiments of mine, taking the chance to reflect, and while it highlighted some pretty sad and terrible moments - things like the panic buying of toilet paper, the racism and breaking of rules - it also highlighted some sharing and compassion that we had maybe forgotten we had inside of us all! There were plenty of positives to take from this crisis and maybe those that we have changed up already. The top 10 list went like this: 1. Many businesses are capable of allowing families to have a better work-life balance. Employers should be looking at ways to keep this going. Staff will be healthier, happier and stay in their jobs longer. 2. The workplace culture of soldiering on when you’re sick needs to be well and truly retired. 3. Our climate and wildlife will bounce back from the damage humans have done, we just have to give it a chance. 4. There is no such thing as putting too much money into healthcare. 5. The media is a vital organisation and the public needs to support its continuance. Without journalism, your source of information will be the Facebook keyboard warriors telling you essential oils will prevent you from catching a deadly virus. 6. Families can and will make homemade meals when you remove takeaways as an option. 7. We are incredibly lucky to live in a country that produces a good deal of its own food and products and has systems in place to look after its people in times of need. 8. Traditional skills such as growing your own gardens and making your own clothes still have a place in society. We need to pass on these skills down to younger generations before they are lost forever. 9. Kids love their parents playing with them and being present in their lives. It’s easy to get swept up in the rush of day-to-day living but remember what’s truly important and make time for it when we return to normality. 42 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
Prue Younger, CEO Message Prue Younger, CEO Message 10. Humans will protect and help our most vulnerable in times of crisis. This mentality needs to be carried on beyond crisis times too. For forestry I look back and compliment the work that was done on pulling the COVID-19 Protocols together for the industry, to start up in Level 3. The work as a collective to achieve this in a very short time showed that we do all have a passion for our industry, an understanding that we all bring skills to the table that can support a big piece of work, and that we do get heard through lobbying with the government when we need to. The second thing that I think was a saviour for our industry, was the wage subsidy, it did not come with too many strings, it was easy to implement and easy to understand, it saved our workforce and we applaud the government for that rapid response. The final thing I reflect upon was the opportunity to work together and meet and engage with those that worked at either end of the supply chain. The insight gained by coming together and articulating the state of the nation in each other’s world was empowering and beneficial. I trust we can continue this on other matters, although the moment we stepped back into normal life as we see it, and were confronted by other crises like the recent Log Traders and Forestry Advisors Bill, we seem to have quickly forgotten how good it can be and feel to work together. A plea to be reminded that we are one industry, what happens at one end effects the other end and, in between, those that matter holding the supply chain together can get in the crossfire too. An international pandemic should have taught us something, to walk away from this experience with some principles in mind: • If not now, then when? Crisis is the best time to build it better, it may be the only time. • All those barriers to progress? Let’s identify them and eliminate them. • We value kindness, courage, skill and we celebrate our differences. • The future is uncertain and what we need most is resilience. • We are in the age of the end of oil. • We’re all in this, so let’s be all in this together. I attribute some of this article to editorial writer Stephanie Arthur-Worsnop, Hawkes Bay Today. I think she nailed the top ten list well. Now we get on to rebuild the nation and take those lessons learnt and filter them into the way we do business today and into the future.
top spot
Safety/performance/quality
Pruners take top place THIS MONTH, IT’S ABOUT THE VALUE-ADDED end of the business – in particular, pruning. For those that haven’t tried this before, pick up a pair of pruners some time and spend a couple of days using them. You’ll have a new respect for what these guys do day in and day out. When they aren’t pruning, they generally have a planting frame strapped to their waist, out re-establishing the areas that our value recovery (yes, that's code for harvesting) folk have logged. Like other areas of this competition, these results were very close, reflecting the skill, knowledge and professionalism these folk bring to our industry. So, congratulations to the following (see table below) who have featured as our top four pruners for the first round of assessments. Sponsors – they don’t have to do this but they choose to! Awesome companies, awesome people and awesome support! They back you and your workmates to succeed as professionals, so why wouldn’t you support them? They believe in what we do and what you do.
So a big ongoing thank you to our Strategic Partners – STIHL and NZ Logger and sponsor SWAZI. The best way to keep our industry working is to get out and support those businesses that support New Zealand. Participating Companies This competition wouldn’t be what it is without our participating companies. We understand the commitment it takes from them to be part of Top Spot and value their ongoing support and feedback. Our ongoing thanks to Rayonier/ Matariki Forests, Wenita Forest Products, Port Blakely, Crown Forestry, Brand Logging, CMH Logging, Hauraki and Moehau Logging, Thomassen Logging, Te Waa Logging, Inta-Wood Forestry, Otautau Contractors, Heslip Forest Contracting, Waikato Forestry Services, Hodgson
Silviculture, Makerikeri Silviculture, NJ Simns Forestry Services, SAS Forestry, XMen Forestry, Central Forestry Services, Mangoihe Logging, Kohurau Contracting, Tohaia Forestry Harvesting, Kuru Contracting, Dennis E Hayes Logging, Swain Logging, Lumberjack Logging, Ernslaw One, Blue Wood Logging, Mike Hurring Logging, McCallum Logging, Whisker Logging, Kaha Logging, Lahar Logging, Dempsey Logging, Moutere Logging, JBD Harvesting, McDougall Logging, Forest View Logging, Kimberley Logging, Dewes Logging, X Men Harvesting, Pakiri Logging, Storm Logging, Lumberjack Logging, Eastside Logging, Veal Forestry, McHoull Forestry, Pride Forestry, Halley Forestry, Penetito Forestry, FM Silviculture, Forest View Forestry, Wayne Cummings, Rodco Forestry, Johnson Forestry, Pro Forest Services, Eastside Logging and Norwest Logging. Into safety? Into performance? Into quality? Contact Shane Perrett on 0274 781 908, 07 3483037 or at primefm@xtra.co.nz. NZL
PARTICIPANT
CREW
FOREST ESTATE
PLACING
MICHAEL SCOTT
JOHNSON FORESTRY SERVICES
WENITA FOREST PRODUCTS
1ST
NICK ALLAN
MCHOULL CONTRACTING LTD
WENITA FOREST PRODUCTS
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KEN MCHOULL
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LEO HUGHES
FOREST VIEW CONTRACTING
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44 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
top spot
Safety/performance/quality
Top pruner, Ken McHoull.
Top pruner, Nikki Allan.
Top pruner, Michael Scott.
Teamwork as we like to see it. Crew at Kaha Logging helping to chain up a load so the truck can get on its way.
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 45
new iron
TIMBERPRO TF 840D FOR JENSEN LOGGING BIG CAT FOR THOMPSON FORESTRY Doug and Frazer Thompson of Thompson Forestry Contractors have replaced their Cat 329DL with a new purpose-built Cat 558LL forest machine. The big Cat has been put straight to work in the Boston Forest in the central North Island. Doug immediately noticed the extra track power and longer reach of the Cat 558LL and finding the first hill to try it on, he was more than impressed! Brent Van Der Burg from Terra Cat in Rotorua sold the machine.
Russell and Margaret Jensen of Jensen Logging have recently taken delivery of a new Timberpro TF 840D forwarder for their clear fell operations in Kaingaroa Forest. Russell commented, "This is the second Timberpro TF 840 Forwarder we have purchased from Honest John. We like the big carrying capacity and they have given us a very good run with minimal down time". Denis (operator) commented to John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ) with a big smile on his face "I've been looking forward to this". Pictured from left: Denis Todd (Operator), Russell Brown, Andrew Davy, Rachael Brown and John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ), Anuru Maki, Carl Holman, Dave Hohneck, Gordon Williams. Photographer: Tinus Barnard (Komatsu Forest NZ).
FELLING FUNCTIONALITY FOR LEW PRINCE LOGGING
NEW FALCON FOR TUMEKE LOGGING
Lew Prince Logging has taken delivery of an Eltec FBL317L tilter fitted with a Pulpmate 550 fixed felling head. It will perform all the felling duties for the company’s swing yarder crew in Napier. Delivered and supported by Shaw's.
Tumeke Logging ground-based crew in the Tasman area has taken delivery of a new DC Equipment Falcon Winch Assist. From left: Dexter from DC Equipment, Dan and Lewis of Tumeke Loggers and Frankie from TDF.
46 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
new iron
WOODSMAN/SUMITOMO COMBO FOR PROGRESSIVE HARVESTING
NEW GEAR FOR H&J FORESTRY H&J Forestry has a PC300LC-8 with the latest build from EMS in Rotorua. The big rear-entry cab is quiet and well fitted out – from lights to comfort it’s got it all. It's complemented by an Ensign fixed top grapple. The big fixed top grapple is a first for the team, who have been impressed with its speed and performance. This joins the Komatsu PC400 Harvestline on the steep slopes Whanganui forests. Pictured in front of the machine is Mark Pull who fleets and loads out. Sold by Paul Roche of Komatsu NZ.
Progressive Harvesting recently took delivery of a Woodsman Pro 850/Sumitomo SH350-7 TLFS combo. Installed with the Loggic control system, it pairs with electronic callipers for measuring. Sold by Steve Mellar from AB Equipment, Taupo.
NEW TIGERCAT FOR HARPUR LOGGING
NEW GRAPPLE CARRIAGE FOR FOREST VIEW LOGGING James and the team at Forest View Logging on the Coromandel in Whangapoua Forest have taken delivery of a new ACME Grapple Carriage G23 by Shaw’s. Chosen for its proven ACME reliability, Talkie Tooter communication and Skyline clamp, it can be easily interchanged with the crew’s ACME S228 Slackpuller.
Harpur Logging owner, Robert Harpur, has just taken delivery of the first of the new E series Tigercat Levelling Harvesters into Southland. Robert’s new Tigercat is fitted with a Waratah HTH623C head and he has spec’d his machine with both Pine and Gum Rollers. Originally from a Pine operation, Robert went into Bluegum production felling and harvesting for export chip for Southwood Export out of Bluff several years ago. Although his new machine has been delivered into a Pine block, with another to follow soon, he will be back into Gum later in the year, and those steeper blocks will be a lot easier on the body now, along with plenty of power everywhere it’s needed. Climbing will be so much easier too, with those big traction motors and final drives under the new LH series machines, he says. Pictured from left: Dean Cousins, AB Sales, Robert Harpur, Chris King – Tigercat Product Support and Mark Hill – Tigercat Product Manager.
July 2020 | NZ LOGGER 47
new iron
NEXT GENERATION CAT 336 PROCESSOR FOR BROLLY LOGGING
KOMATSU FORWARDER FOR REED CONTRACTING
This new Next Generation Cat 336 processor is the latest arrival for Brolly Logging. Owner, Gerard Brolly, says the 336 is “a beast of a machine” and since replacing its old processor, the company has seen a massive improvement in production figures, along with significant fuel savings from the Next Gen Cat. He says the operation should have done this years ago, as the fuel bill has halved in this machine! The unit was delivered by Brent Van Der Burg from the Terra Cat branch at Rotorua.
Brian and Scott Reed of Reed Contracting Nelson, who run a ground based operation, recently took delivery of a new Komatsu Forest 895 forwarder. Pictured, from left: Indi Chapman, crew manager, Brett Williams, co-owner Scott Reed, Layton from Nelson Machinery Repairs and Tremain Bonner.
WAIMA LOGGING GETS WOODSMAN/CAT COMBO
TWO SANYS FOR FAST LOGGING
Waima Logging in Gisborne has taken delivery of a Woodsman Pro 850/Cat 336 GC machine. This is the first Woodsman Pro 850 fitted to a Cat New Generation excavator. It was installed with the Loggic control system and sold by Terra Cat’s Heath Stewart.
Fast Logging has taken delivery of two Sany Forestry 305H machines in Tokoroa, fully guarded by Engineering Services. One of the machines sports a high-volume Ensign grapple while the other is fitted with a cut-off saw Ensign grapple. Delivered and supported by Shaw's.
48 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
new iron
JOHN DEERE FOR SIKA LOGGING
NEW FALCON FOR G WHITE LOGGING
Sika Logging Taupo has taken delivery of a new John Deere 953M feller buncher fitted with the first SATCO 630FH fixed felling head. Pictured from left is Roger Ferguson, one of the owners of SIKA Logging with Digby who will be operating the new machine.
Another one commissioned! Ben Addenbrooke, DC Equipment North Island Sales rep, commissioned this brand new Falcon Winch Assist on a ZX400 fit-out for G White Logging in Kinleith Forest.
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50 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
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Engine + trans setups with chaincases
Yarder Rebuilds
Yarder clutch convertions with BFG clutches thunderbird 155, 255, 355, TTy70, TMY70-50
SPECIALISING IN BRIGHTWATER YARDERS
56 NZ LOGGER | July 2020
New Product Call Nelson for more information 021 536 265 Priced $100,000.00 + GST
Waratah FL100
NEW ATTACHMENTS NEW
NEW
NEW
NEW
Waratah FL85
Waratah FL95 SII
Waratah 622B SII
Waratah 618C
With Install Kit Priced $59,000.00 +GST
With Install Kit Priced $79,000.00 +GST
Priced $181,800.00 +GST
Priced $150,000.00 +GST
USED
USED
USED ATTACHMENTS USED
USED
Waratah 625C
Waratah H414
Waratah 622C 4x4
Waratah 622B
Refurbished Unit Priced $130,000.00 +GST
With H16 Cabin Kit Priced $141,500.00 +GST
Head only Priced $53,800.00 +GST
Head only Priced $43,500.00 +GST
Waratah Grapples
Rotators
O-ring Kits
Electrical Kits
From $3,867.87 + GST
From $3,160.00 + GST
$166.82 + GST
PARTS
$602.00 + GST *prices exclude GST and are valid for a limited period.
Northland Mechanised logging services
Nelson Waimea Engineering
Contact Waratah Forestry Services on 0800 492 728
Dunedin Progressive field services
Southland Heavy Equipment Repair
Maximise rope life 3 steps.pdf 1 18-Jun-20 9:31:48 AM
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Larger blocks BriLube
TALK TO THE TEAM THAT KNOWS THE ROPES