from the editor
April 2021
A huge blow
| $7.20
ISSN 1176-0397
PHOTO: JOHN ELLEGARD
Easy on, easy off
Towards mechanising silviculture
Scion brings down the fence
The Timbermax winchassist unit, fitted to the arm of a Sumitomo SH300 base machine to tether the Tigercat LS885E down the hill.
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THERE IS GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS AS WE PUT THE MAGAZINE TO BED this month. As New Zealand puts on a proud international face, sailing away with the America’s cup, on a domestic level expressions are grim as yet another mill shuts down. The Whakatāne mill closure is a huge blow, with over 200 staff left reeling as this producer of paper and packaging products for export closes its doors. Of course, there’s the knock-on effect for contractors and the industry at large too. The decision was made after the mill lost its biggest customer, Swiss packaging company SIG, and it seems they can get the logs they need closer to home too. Forestry Minister, Stuart Nash says such closures are not sustainable for local economies: “We’ve got a reputation as one of the largest exporters of logs, I don’t think that’s a very good space. We want to be one of the largest exporters of processed lumber.” Many say for this to happen, it’s high time Government stepped in at a wider level, addressing unbalanced trade environments to support the competitiveness of our manufacturers. Others suggest a commercial entity can still transform the Whakatāne mill into a different economically viable establishment to help sustain the region (turn to our Forest Talk pages for more detail). But this is not the first commercial casualty of New Zealand’s domestic wood processing industry. Whether it is a reflection of the times or a sign of deeper rot, it’s time we sat up and took notice, so that our industry can adapt and keep up with the times. China plans to be self-sufficient in terms of logs in the next two decades, if not sooner – perhaps it’s time for NZ to be selfsufficient in related areas too. Our features this month speak to the potential of moving forward and what can be achieved when we do. Scion’s new building showcases the best of forestry, embracing the benefits of a circular bioeconomy, leaving steel and concrete behind. Then there’s a look at how far silviculture has come over the decades. Not as far as it could have it seems, but there’s nothing wrong with tried and tested, and mechanisation in this arena is starting to make its mark. As the mornings get darker, let’s hope life gets lighter. Until next time, stay safe.
K
