editorial

May 2021 | $7.20

One ‘L’ of a skidder

Power aplenty

Bushmen are born, not made Probing woodlot roading

There’s plenty of power in the new John Deere 684L-II skidder, but you do need to be careful how and where you use it.

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SUBSCRIPTIONS: $70 (incl. GST) for one year (11 issues) within NZ. Overseas rates available on application. Sue Woolston: accounts@trucker.co.nz PUBLISHER: Trevor Woolston, 027 492 5600, trevor@trucker.co.nz ADMINISTRATION: Sue Woolston, accounts@trucker.co.nz EDITOR: Hayley Leibowitz, 027 211 5048, hayley@trucker.co.nz ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT: Trish Barnett, 021 925 600, sales@ nzlogger.co.nz DESIGN: Luca Bempensante, Zarko Mihic PRINTING: Bluestar DISTRIBUTION: Ovato Retail Distribution NZ Logger is published on the second Tuesday of every month except January. NZ Logger is published by Allied Publications Ltd. CONTRIBUTIONS: Editorial contributions are welcomed for consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for loss or damage of submitted materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc…). If the return of material is required please include a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. Please contact the editor by mail or email prior to submitting material. NZ Logger reserves the right to edit submitted material. COPYRIGHT: Articles in NZ Logger are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher or editor.

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A matter of debate

I SEEM TO BE STARTING THIS PIECE WITH THE WORDS ‘AS WE GO TO

print’ a lot lately, however with the ever-changing political and economic landscape it seems a prudent choice so… As we go to print the Trans-Tasman bubble has just opened up, along with some cautious optimism. Log export prices are at a three-year high and COVID vaccines are being disseminated around the world.

While that is good news for exporters and wood traders, of course the scales always find a way of balancing out. On the flip side are exploding freight prices and then there’s the stagnation of value-add wood exports and the shortage of domestic lumber which is making itself felt. A perfect storm of reasons has emerged for the shortage, with many blaming our reliance on China for export and the lure of those same high export prices. Others say it’s got little to do with construction in China and a lot more to do with construction at home.

Between the Whangarei mill closure and Carter Holt Harvey’s subsequent controversial decision to cut timber supplies to Mitre 10, Bunnings and ITM in the midst of the COVID-induced residential building boom, industry players are butting heads. Some say the short supply is not an export-related issue but more about the supply chain and long term underinvestment in wood processing. For others, well, it’s all about China. Turn to our Forest Talk pages for a round-up of opinions.

Controversy and difficult times are not new to this industry. It’s perseverance and hard work that always shine through. Our Tall Timber feature this month is testament to that. It should be titled ‘Tall Forest’ as we take a walk through the Green family’s six decades in the forestry industry, with no sign of breaking the family tradition anytime soon.

Also in this issue you’ll find a company that is breaking boundaries in the field of bioenergy, land use, biodiversity and carbon. From generating secondary biomass from wilding tree residue to using native reforestation to enhance water quality, it’s no coincidence that Ahika Consulting is named for the Māori concept of sustaining our home fires.

If you’ve ever looked around a woodlot and wondered how much forest roading it would take to harvest it, you’ll find our feature on just that offers some interesting revelations.

Lastly, this month’s Iron Test puts one of the first John Deere L-II series skidders in the country to the test. The one thing you need in a skidder is plenty of power and it doesn’t disappoint.

Lots to get your teeth into these chilly autumn evenings.

Until next time, stay safe.

The MARKET Leader…

Komatsu 875 & 895

Komatsu Forest have maintained a very strong market position with their two most popular forwarders being the Komatsu 875 (16 tonne) which really compliments the 895 (20 tonne). These two current models have been further refined to meet expectations and to cover all the contractors’ extraction requirements with the latest developments in these key areas.

• New transmission system for greater traction and control. • Improved crane performance with a large bunk area. • Introducing Maxifleet to provide the ultimate service and production tool. • New electric engine hood and new access panels for much improved serviceability • Stylish and modern cab with central locking and remote key.

The latest Komatsu forwarders have been taken to another level in lifting the overall standards for forwarding which make them the best in their class.

Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 15C Hyland Cres Rotorua, New Zealand John Kosar M: 0274 865 844 E: john.kosar@komatsuforest.com Paul Roche M: 021 350 747 E: paul.roche@komatsuforest.com