NZ Logger April 2023

, D A O L WIDE H C A E R LONG

ISSN 2703-6251

Smooth, quick and easy

Making history: An Accidental Bushman

How much fuel do we use?

April 2023 | $8.00

contents

APRIL 2023

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FOREST TALK Scapegoats or solutions?; Two months, too short; Include forestry contractors; Help for workers?; Scion weighs in; Still mucking in; $250 million not enough for roads; It’s about the trees; Coastal shipping lifeline; From waste to green hydrogen; Stuart Nash under fire; Electric logging truck takes on South Australia; King of heavy metal; Timbersports shine at Rural Games.

SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST Our Iron Test team took a spin on Grimmer Contracting’s new

Komatsu 895.2 SpeedShift forwarder at Titoki, Whangarei.

After having a go, new Iron Tester, Tony Curle, says it’s on his shortlist for when he next gets a new forwarder.

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LOOKING BACK Here’s a taste of Ross Lockyer’s adventures as a NZ Forest Ranger: “Every scabby rat in the Wakararas decided that the only spot to be that night was Murderer’s Hut with me, Dave and Ellis’ ghost.” Turn to our LookIng Back feature for more!

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SPECIAL FEATURE: CARBON EMISSIONS With an increasingly mechanised workforce (now also on steep slopes), we know we are burning more fuel than ever. But just how much, and how does it impact on our carbon footprint?

DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 48 fica 50 top spot 55 Sweeney Townsend New Iron 58 classifieds

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 1

from the editor D, WIDE LOA CH A E R LONG

April 2023 | $8.00

ISSN 1176-0397

PHOTO: TIM BENSEMAN

Smooth, quick and easy

Making history: An Accidental Bushman

How much fuel do we use?

Iron Tester, Tony Curle, takes the second load from the landing to the load-out stacks on Grimmer Contracting’s new Komatsu 895.2 SpeedShift forwarder.

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The blame game THE BLAME GAME FOLLOWING THE WRATH OF SISTER CYCLONES HALE AND Gabrielle continues, with forestry under immense pressure on all fronts. It’s been tough enough since the COVID-19 pandemic, and this latest hurdle could be the last for some businesses financially. So, where does the blame lie? The answers don’t come easily.

The current inquiry into forestry land use has been met with mixed reactions, with no short-term solutions to a long-term problem. It’s about more than simply neglectful harvesters leaving messy land. There are historical questions too, like why and when did we stop burning slash?

Why are people still living on dry river banks within hundred-year flood plains? Where are the solutions to erodible land? Where are the different tree choices being made in response to differing topography? Why did Government not act on the findings of previous forestry slash reviews?

Then there’s the overarching question of climate change which sometimes takes us all by surprise with its intensity and consequences. The questions are endless but one answer is clear, while the forestry industry needs to do its bit to improve, the damage does not sit squarely on this industry’s shoulders.

The ngahere has always presented challenges but those in the industry know that it comes with tremendous rewards too. Our historical feature this month reminds us of the good humour and adventurous nature that typifies many of those who choose to work in forestry. A light-hearted journey into the early days of a Forest Ranger in New Zealand offers some much-needed relief after the dark days of the past few weeks.

Next we take a look at just how much fuel harvesting crews are using, and explore ways to future-proof the industry with more sustainable energy solutions for lower carbon emissions. If there’s nothing else we’ve learnt from the recent weather events, it’s that a proactive approach is always first prize.

Until next time, stay safe.

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forest talk

Scapegoats or solutions?

WHILE THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY (NZIF) WELCOMES the Government’s intention to investigate the management of forestry land use 0n the East Coast, President, James Treadwell, says, “We are concerned the terms of reference for this inquiry are too narrow and the time frame too short to find long-term solutions to the impacts of storm events in this region. The issues are challenging and complex and extend beyond just forestry. We strongly advocate this inquiry be widened to include all land use in the region, from the mountain tops to the sea.”

He adds that the goal of the review must be how to mitigate the downstream effects of land use, to help build climate resilience and avoid the catastrophic impacts of extreme weather events associated with climate change such as that caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

“This should include a review of decisions by councils on where to allow buildings and infrastructure to be built,” says Mr Treadwell.

“The NZIF is deeply concerned at the downstream impacts caused by current land use practices, including commercial forestry and pastoral farming. These impacts have been exacerbated by the increasing frequency and intensity of storm events caused by climate change. Science-based solutions are needed to mitigate these impacts and the Institute fully supports an inquiry into land use in erosion-prone catchments in the East Coast region, with a focus on increasing climate resilience.”

The environmental benefits of forest cover, exotic as well as indigenous, in reducing soil erosion were very evident following Cyclone Bola in 1988. As a result the Government introduced the East Coast Forestry Scheme in 1992 to help encourage further afforestation.

Mr Treadwell adds, “Due to the intensity of these storm events and the highly erodible geography of the East Coast, it will be impossible to stop all erosion and movement of woody debris downstream – regardless of species and forest management. We have seen large areas slip into rivers taking everything growing on them with it, be it native trees, exotic trees or grass”.

From a forestry perspective the NZIF considers the inquiry should investigate which forests are most at risk and what changes are needed to protect downstream infrastructure like roads and bridges, homes and communities, other land uses and livelihoods and to protect our threatened environments.

“In highly sensitive areas existing harvesting practices may no longer be appropriate and changes to forestry regimes and harvesting practices may be the only options. Species suitability and the restoration of permanent indigenous forest cover should be included in the review.

“It is time we stop looking for scapegoats and started having a full and frank discussion on the causes of sedimentation and wood debris, and plan solutions to mitigate downstream effects of these storms to ensure no one else is killed by future events,” he concludes. NZL

The Hawke’s Bay Forestry Group clearing land slips on State Highway 5.

4 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

falco 03 5

forest talk

Two months, too short FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION (FOA) President, Grant Dodson, says the two-month long time scale for the Tairāwhiti and Wairoa Inquiry is too brief to properly consider the intersection of all land uses impacted and the considerable science that needs to be reviewed.

“The region is unique. There is land which is some of the most erodible in the world. On the other hand, climate change is probably going to bring both more storms and droughts into the area, before anywhere else in New Zealand.

“The issues of agriculture, forestry, infrastructure and economic prosperity are complex and interlinked, and so a rush once-over look is not going to be thorough and long enough to get past a blame game,” Mr Dodson says.

“Tree planting always has been, and remains, the answer to trying to stabilise much of that highly erodible countryside and reduce silt dumps onto agricultural land, homes and businesses.

“It should not be forgotten that trees are also the greatest practical mediumterm tool to reduce net industrial carbon emissions and so combat climate change.”

But Mr Dodson says while more forestry

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Grant Dodson, Forest Owners Association (FOA) President. is one answer, the industry must take some drastic steps to stay ahead of climate change and reduce slash.

“The volumes of slash up against bridges from these events must reduce. We must do better. We have introduced environmentally-safer harvesting techniques since the 2018

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Tolaga Bay storm, such as harvesting smaller areas at a time and removing more slash from the forest. We have protected more native tree riparian strips to keep wood out of rivers. The most effective measures, such as new tree species, however take time to grow.” NZL

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forest talk

Include forestry contractors “OUR FORESTRY CONTRACTORS ARE PHYSICALLY ON THE GROUND AND have practical and valuable knowledge about what will be possible and most effective in managing woody debris,” says Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) CEO, Prue Younger, on the back of the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

“We are keen to see the industry work together and redeem our social licence to operate. Problem-solving without the input of contractors will be detrimental to the outcome.

“In this industry, contractors are not always given the opportunity to provide input. It should be recognised that forestry contractors are contracted to do a job for which they must follow best-practice guidelines, resource consents, and forest owner guidelines. These are monitored and audited by the forest owner

or manager they are contracted to.

“When reviewing the slash issue, FICA would like to see a balanced approach, taking into account harvesting knowledge and past learnings, a broad stakeholder group, but with consideration also given to this record-breaking cyclone.”

FICA members represent about 70% of the log cut in New Zealand and we know forestry is a significant employer in both the Tairawhiti and Hawkes Bay regions. In Tairawhiti alone it is estimated one in four people earn an income directly or indirectly from forestry. The service providers along the supply chain make it a huge industry employer.

“Our ultimate concern is for livelihoods. Most contractors are familyowned businesses who all employ staff and contribute to our local communities,” she says. NZL

Help for workers?

THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR ASSISTANCE for forestry workers say FIRST Union and the Forestry Industry Safety Council (FISC) after meeting with the Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI) sector engagement team for Forestry and Wood Processing, as well as the Ministry of Social Development, to discuss the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.

During the meeting, they highlighted the need for three forms of assistance: • Wage subsidies, similar to those provided during COVID lockdowns, to be reinstated immediately for forestry workers who have

been impacted by the cyclone.

• A funded work programme to redirect workers to perform road repairs and slash clearing in areas affected by the cyclone.

• Visa assistance for foreign nationals who are visa-bonded to a specific employer, allowing them to easily transfer to a new employer.

The well-being and income security of forestry workers is in question, particularly with the fallout over Cyclone Gabrielle and the resultant slash probe potentially putting workers in further jeopardy.

Louisa Jones, Secretary of FIRST Union, says that the situation is worse than the COVID lockdowns, as workers have not only lost access to their incomes, but also their homes, belongings, and ability to communicate and travel. She adds that workers had wage subsidies during COVID, and they need them even more now.

“A programme to redirect workers to perform remedial work would benefit the whole community, as no one knows the roads and windswept forests better than those who work in them,” she says. NZL

Scion weighs in SCION HAS BEEN WORKING ON OPTIONS TO PROCESS FORESTRY waste on-site. In the future, it will be possible to use portable 'mini factories' to process forestry waste on-site to create new high-value products from the slash that is currently left behind after forests are felled. In addition to reducing the current slash problems, this approach would also create new jobs for local communities.

In light of the Ministerial inquiry into land use practices and the impact of slash in Tairāwhiti and Wairoa, this distributed manufacturing work needs to be accelerated, says Scion Chief Executive, Dr Julian Elder.

6 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

“Scion has been working with government, industry, and local communities to better understand and prepare for the risks that come with managing forests and land use change in highly erodible land under a changing climate.

“It is clear that our forestry and land management practices in high-risk areas will need to change. How that transition can be implemented, while supporting local communities, needs to be a key focus of the Inquiry. We look forward to sharing insights from that work with the Inquiry panel so we can help accelerate solutions like distributed manufacturing,” says Dr Elder.

“Slash continues to be a factor in the effects of these weather events. Industry has been changing its practices to mitigate this risk. That can be further improved by evidence that needs to be collected across the region from these extreme weather events, including as part of the Inquiry. Landowners need good decision-making tools, and they are likely to need support to make the transition to new land uses or different land use practices. NZL

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forest talk

Hawke’s Bay Forestry Group delivering much-needed power generators and Civil Defence emergency containers into the isolated Patoka community.

Still mucking in AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRINT, FORESTRY CONTRACTORS WERE still mucking in to help clean up post Cyclone Gabrielle while unable to get back to work as normal.

Some forestry contractors affected by Cyclone Gabrielle remain unable to get back to work, reliant on landowners to grant re-entry to the forests. While roading accessibility and safety remain key concerns, forestry contractors still have bills to pay and staff to retain until they know when they can go back to work or not.

Forest Industry Contractors Association CEO, Prue Younger, says contractors are adapting as best they can, redeploying machinery and manpower while they try to keep staff busy and income coming in. “It will be important to understand if they are going to be supported by government, like other sectors so reliant on the land for employment are.

“We’re hearing stories of contractors getting stuck in and helping out in their communities, whether that’s volunteering or seeking alternative revenue through short-term clean up jobs,” she says.

“As the workforce on the ground within the wider forestry industry, they’re doing us proud, looking for opportunities to pitch in and help, while also keeping their staff busy.”

Chrystal and Gavin Edmonds run Stirling Logging based in Wairoa and Gisborne. They employ about 20 staff and have more than half their team out and about helping to clean up.

“We’ve got about 11 of our guys out clearing silt in Gisborne with four diggers we’ve hired. We are just going house to house, trying to give a hand and help out wherever we can,” they say.

Although at the moment the cost to help is mostly coming out of their own pocket, Gavin says either way it’s got to be done, especially with the increasing hygiene health risks. But he says it’s also good to be busy.

“We know we’re stronger together. We’re keeping our guys employed and busy and keeping good morale going till we can get back to work.”

Hawkes Bay’s Amy Satherley from ATS Logging employs 23 staff and is redeploying machinery and staff to help with clean-up jobs.

“We’ve got our bucket diggers and grapple diggers helping with recovery and clean-up. We’ve been doing everything from placing rocks out at Awatoto Beach to clearing under bridges, clearing trees and opening up roads to help get people out of inaccessible and remote areas where they’re still cut off,” she says.

“Our machine operators are doing their best, even though it’s work they probably never expected to be doing.

“A lot of the farming community is still cut off and when we get through to them they’re all really stoked to see us out there getting their roads open and houses cleared. There are so many people out there grateful for our help.”

Rob Scurr from DG Glenn is also on the ground in Hawkes Bay. DG Glenn is one of the largest contractors in the region employing 150-plus staff.

“We’re using our machines to distribute supplies and gain access on different roads and networks to reach isolated people.

Companies like Mainfreight and Shaw’s have been in the background supplying stuff and we’ve been helping to distribute it,” he says.

“We were able to get a 20-tonne generator into Patoka – from our work in the bush we knew a different way to get in there using our machine, so we just got in there and got it done.”

Ms Younger says all contractors are focused on keeping their staff and their livelihoods, while trying to keep some income coming in to stay afloat while doing their bit to help with clean-up efforts.

“FICA has an initiative in place, Moving our People, coordinating the redeployment of contractors to clean up jobs and forestry work such as windthrow tree falling that is available in other regions,” she says.

“Like other parts of the food and fibre sectors that are challenged and debating their futures, our contractors as service providers to landowners are in the same boat. They seek clarity around support and around their livelihoods so they can keep their staff and their businesses.” NZL

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forest talk

$250 million not enough for roads THE AFTERMATH OF CYCLONE GABRIELLE HAS GIVEN US THE much-needed impetus to separate roading infrastructure away from politics, creating a funding model that allows us to plan for the future and create sustainable roading solutions that will stand the test of time,” says National Road Carriers (NRC) Transport and Logistic Advisory Group Chair, Simon Bridges.

He adds that Government’s announcement of $250 million for assessing and fixing the roads is a great start, but the final number is going to be significantly higher.

“Funding is just one of the challenges the re-build faces,” says Mr Bridges. “Sourcing enough qualified road contractors, engineers, surfacing operators, labourers, foremen, and the list goes on – is going to be a huge challenge.

“Also, what changes to construction methods will be needed to ensure roads are fit for purpose?”

The NRC CEO, Justin Tighe-Umbers, says recent changes announced

by Government to allow a seven-day turnaround for visas relating to the re-build is a start but does not go far enough.“New Zealand businesses are already in the midst of a worker shortage epidemic.

If we are to, quite literally, dig our way out of this hole we need to be far more progressive, so we not only attract the right talent but also the best delivery expertise.”

The NRC says the Government should prioritise five critical roads as part of the post-cyclone infrastructure re-build. Mr Bridges says the five key roads across the North Island have been severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. “They are national highways that are essential for connecting communities, moving freight and ensuring our country’s economic viability.”

10 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

The five roads are: • SH1 Auckland to Northland • SH25A Kōpu-Hikuai access to the Coromandel • SH2 Hastings to Gisborne • SH5 Napier to Taupō • SH35 around the East Cape from Ōpōtiki to Gisborne SH1 through the Brynderwyns is closed for an indefinite period, forcing heavy freight to detour via SH12 and SH14 adding an hour each way to travel between Whangārei and Auckland, with other vehicles diverting through Mangawhai and Waipū.

The Kōpu-Hikuai road, SH25A, in the Coromandel is one of the most significantly damaged roads in the network.

Mr Tighe-Umbers says, “Heavy rain combined with a lack of maintenance over recent years has led to a complete collapse of the road, leading to diversions that add hours onto residents’ travel times in the eastern Coromandel. Heavy freight is now traversing SH25 from Waihi to Whangamatā, to access the eastern side of the peninsula, putting increased pressure on a road that is

forest talk

already in a poor state of repair.”

On the East Coast, closure of SH35 has disconnected communities from Gisborne leaving them without access to the basic necessities such as medical care, food and fuel. Damage to SH2 has meant access has been limited between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki, with severe damage taking out the road between Napier and Wairoa.

SH5 between Taupō and Napier experienced catastrophic damage that closed the road entirely, leaving communities isolated and facing a five-and-a-half-hour diversion through Palmerston North.

Mr Tighe-Umbers says a 50-year roading infrastructure plan that is locked-in out of political reach will give roading contractors surety around a pipeline of work, and the confidence to invest in New Zealand, delivering economies of scale for road building and greater network resilience.

Taking ownership Meanwhile, the NRC and New Zealand Trucking (NTA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to work closely together to address common road transport issues and goals. Together the Associations represent over 3,000 members, who collectively operate 30,000 trucks nationwide. NRC and NTA support their members with legal, financial, employment relations, Health & Safety, workplace relations, business, and environmental advice. They advocate on behalf of members and work with Central and Local Government on road transport infrastructure and regulations.

David Boyce says, “The partnership will see the Association’s maintain their separate entities while coming together to collaborate on

key transport initiatives to share knowledge and support their members’ needs. Together the focus is on providing services and solutions to real-life issues faced by our members, working collaboratively with Government agencies to effect positive change, and maintaining social license to operate efficiently and productively.”

Mr. Tighe-Umbers says, “The agreement allows us to act as ‘affiliate associations’, working in good faith to benefit the wider road transport, freight, and logistics sector across New Zealand. We are already working closely on critical work including responding to the recent adverse weather events across the North Island which have laid bare the sorry state of our road network.”

Mr. Boyce adds, “Contributing to a safer transport industry is a key focus and initiatives such as HARMfree Transport, which is launching later this year with the support of funding from the ACC Workplace Injury Prevention Grant, are set to make a positive impact on how the industry operates.

“With health and safety, a top priority we are also excited to be bringing the Australian TruckSafe accreditation programme to New Zealand. This programme is well recognised as a leading business risk and safety management system. With no encompassing industry guidelines or code of practice for the Road Transport Industry in place currently, this is a great opportunity for the industry to lay down strong foundations for a safer future.

Mr. Tighe-Umbers adds, “We have a window for industry to take ownership and shape what best practice and continuous improvement needs to look like for the New Zealand transport industry.” NZL

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forest talk

It’s about the trees THE MINISTERIAL INQUIRY INTO LAND-USE ACROSS TAIRĀWHITI, NEEDS to look closely at the tree options for shoring up vulnerable farm and former forest land in the region, or it will leave a legacy of mistakes long into the future, says the Farm Forestry Association.

President, Graham West, says it is no longer just a simple matter of deciding between production pines and native trees.

“With climate change, forests need to be multifunctional in response. They need to intercept rainfall with deep crowns. They need to root graft to link together the tree roots across the hillside, and they need to sequester carbon and hold it for long periods.

“Many forest systems only do one or two of these three things.”

Mr West adds that in the face of increasing regulation to manage water quality, soil erosion, and farm emissions; trees are the most benign option farmers and other landowners can take to adapt to a new era of environmentally aware markets and changing climate.

“The recent climate damage experienced in the North Island from Cyclone Gabrielle has highlighted the need to adapt and

accept this is possibly a new normal for all the primary sectors.

“While some may claim Cyclone Gabrielle was historically unexceptional, although infrequent, my concern is we can’t afford to be wrong about that.

“Can we afford the loss of production and mounting infrastructure costs, not forgetting the loss of life? Will ‘normal’ keep changing and is worse yet to come?” he asks.

“The right trees are part of the solution. But we need to derive enough wealth from them to cover the costs.

“Adequate tree planting on farms, and riparian zones, takes time and money. Trees need to be well established to endure the challenge of a cyclonic downpour, especially on the steep mudstone slopes common in Tairāwhiti.

“On some sites we are going to have to rethink what the purpose of the forest is and how we maximise that objective.

“Clearly, we don’t have all the answers in farm forestry. But we have been working with a variety of species and forest systems for decades. Farm foresters have many diverse practical examples to study.” NZL

Coastal shipping lifeline THE RANGITATA VESSEL HAS BEEN CHARTERED for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for the route to be extended to Tauranga and the South Island. Funding has been approved by Regional Economic Development Ministers as a lifeline for the primary sector in cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti.

“Our regions are the backbone of Aotearoa and this Government investment will ensure our hardest hit regions can get back on their feet quicker,” says Regional Development Minister, Kiri Allan.

“Cyclone Gabrielle has significantly damaged key roads and rail routes. Currently the transportation of products from Gisborne to Napier is more than nine hours by truck.

“Agriculture and horticulture is vital to the East Coast economy and this investment will respond to the critical need to get products – timber, vegetables, meat, wool and wine – out of Gisborne and to the market.

“In 2022, Coastal Bulk, the owner of Rangitata, was one recipient of the Government $30 million Coastal Shipping fund, which co-invested with four costal shipping companies to improve domestic shipping services and efficiency, transport resilience, reduce emissions, and upgrade maritime infrastructure.

“Without Government support, this 12 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

coastal shipping capability between regional ports would not have been available to New Zealand.

“This investment in the blue highway will also speed up recovery efforts, allowing for the swifter delivery of construction and rebuild materials into the East Coast.

“The Government is providing a $500,000 grant and $2.25 million underwrite to

Eastland Port for the charter of the Rangitata for three months.

Eastland Port Chief Operating Officer Regional Infrastructure, Andrew Gaddum adds, “We’ve heard from our customers that the current road freight alternative to Napier is costing them thousands of dollars, so it’s great we can keep the money in the pockets of our local people”. NZL

forest talk

From waste to green hydrogen UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY (UC) PHD STUDENT, CHICHI ZHANG, is developing technology and relevant metal oxide materials to help produce green hydrogen from New Zealand’s abundant supply of woody biomass.

The technology and materials developed in this project could help solve the slash problem. A PhD student in Chemical and Process Engineering, Zhang’s research centres on how to convert the woody biomass into a hydrogen-rich gas product with increased hydrogen yield. The thermochemical process adopted in her research is known as chemical-looping biomass steam gasification.

“We’ve been using temperatures of up to 1000°C in the process, and by adding metal oxides, we can enhance the hydrogen yield by over 50%. These metal oxides can be used numerous times in the chemical-looping biomass process,” she says.

The hydrogen-rich gas produced from the research will be further processed to convert other gases, such as carbon monoxide and methane, to hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

While the concept of this technology has been proposed in previous studies, Ms Zhang has developed a new metal oxide that has a longer active life.

“Metal oxides are the key for developing this technology but the common issue is that their lifetime is often short, which limits the practical application if they can’t be used again,” she says.

Her project is the first part of an integrated process to produce green hydrogen from woody biomass. Eventually, the hydrogen and carbon

dioxide mixture will be separated to produce pure hydrogen and pure carbon dioxide. The latter parts of the process are being investigated by other members of UC’s research team, led by Professor Shusheng Pang.

Ms Zhang says high purity hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, but it doesn’t exist naturally on earth. “So, it’s important to produce green hydrogen to help curb carbon emissions. To date, the main technology to produce hydrogen is methane steam reforming, but methane is not renewable.”

This research is part of a larger research programme evaluating the overall technical, economic, and environmental performance of hydrogen production and its commercial viability. NZL

PhD student, Chichi Zhang, pictured next to a fluidised-bed reactor for chemical looping biomass steam gasification.

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forest talk

Stuart Nash under fire WHILE FORESTRY IS ON EVERYONE’S hit list following the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle, rogue Forestry Minister, Stuart Nash, isn’t doing the industry any favours.

“He interfered, he boasted about it, and then he doubled down on it. That’s three strikes and Stuart Nash should be out,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Under Chris Hipkins’ watch a Minister can show complete disregard for the Cabinet Manual, boast about it on primetime radio, double down on it and laugh it off, and still remain a Minister.

“I asked him in Parliament how he can have confidence in a Minister who broke one of the most sacred rules in the Cabinet Manual, went on the radio and boasted

about it, and then refused to apologise for it. The PM said that Nash has ‘paid a price’.

“Shouldn’t the Prime Minister be less worried about people ‘paying a price’ like a naughty schoolkid, but instead ensuring all Ministers are competent and have high integrity?

“He thinks he can laugh off a serious breach of constitutional conventions by saying he was ‘chewing the fat with a mate’. Actually he was breaking the law and the Cabinet Manual while he was doing it.”

While stripped of his Police portfolio, Minister Nash retains his position as Minister for Economic Development, Forestry and Oceans and Fisheries. NZL

Forestry Minister, Stuart Nash.

Electric logging truck takes on South Australia RUNNING ENTIRELY ON ELECTRIC POWER, logs will be transported across the Green Triangle forestry region in South Australia.

The first of its kind in Australia and only the second worldwide (the first in Sweden), the project was commissioned by Fennell Forestry from Janus Electric.

The truck has been converted from an existing diesel vehicle and is powered by a 720-horsepower electric motor.

The electric vehicle will undergo two years of testing to check its performance and to see if maintenance costs stack up against traditional internal combustion engines.

Range, costs and durability will be key.

The Electric Vehicle has a predicted range of 400 to 500 kilometres on a full charge, but its capabilities will be tested during the trial.

A full battery charge takes four hours, but with a swap-and-go system only five minutes is needed to change the batteries using a forklift.

With only one location for this swap to take place, however, the truck will have to travel within the region.

No government funding was provided 14 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

for the project. South Australia Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, says she would need to see the results before committing to any future investment.

Janus Electric Chief Executive, Lex Forsyth, helped develop the initial concept in 2019 saying it was an opportunity to help the

transport industry decarbonise and also get some control of costs back with using electricity as an energy source.

The original truck was sourced from an Australian company to allow feedback during the trial, and because imported technology may not be up to operating in Australia’s harsh, remote environments. NZL

To an 13 pe

Reliable equipment is essential in New Zealand’s thriving yet challenging forestry industry.

High altitudes, rough terrain and extreme weather conditions put pressure on your people as well as your machinery. An environment where the right oil or lubricant is key to a safe, uninterrupted and profitable forestry business.

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forest talk

King of heavy metal OTAGO’S TROY CALTEAUX HAS EMERGED as ‘top dug’ at the 2023 Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) CablePrice National Excavator Operator competition, showing the weight of his mettle to defend his national title against a formidable field of 12 regional finalists.

The Milton local and Andrew Haulage 2011 employee dug deeper than ever before, securing the win and becoming the

first ever three-time national champion.

Mr Calteaux’s success this year follows national titles in 2018 and 2021, making him the most successful operator in the competition’s history.

“I put everything into it this year. I focused on each task and it just went mint.

That was the best performance I’ve had at the nationals.

“There was a massive crowd, it was so

Troy Calteaux of Milton won a historic third title at the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Competition.

16 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

awesome and a great bunch of guys, real camaraderie this year. It just feels like family now.”

The competition saw regional champion excavator operators manoeuvring their 13-tonne Hitachi excavators through a series of high-stakes challenges, including crowd-pleasing tests of skill such as uncorking a champagne bottle, pouring the perfect cup of Earl Grey tea, painting or slam-dunking a basketball using the buckets of their machines.

The runner-up this year was Northland champion Steven George, of Steven George Contracting, who put in an impressive showing at his first shot at the nationals.

The 2021 runner-up, veteran Waikato competitor Mike Bowe, of Bowe Brothers Excavating, placed third.

Mr Calteaux says the standard of competition was high and the newcomers this year were “sharp”.

This year a new award was included to commemorate Geoff Duff of Carterton – a nationals judge and truck driver who passed away last year due. The Geoff Duff Memorial Trophy goes to the person demonstrating the best scores across the truck-loading challenges featured in the competition and was won this year by Jarrod Hoskins of Fulton Hogan.

CCNZ Chief Executive, Alan Pollard, congratulated all the competitors for taking

forest talk

part, and Mr Calteaux on his victory.

“Mr Calteaux put in a tremendous performance – not everyone is able to perform at the top level under such pressure against the best of the best. He showed that nothing and no one could throw him off track.

“All the competitors are heroes in my book – both for triumphing at the regionals plus the critical work they do day-to-day maintaining and developing New Zealand’s infrastructure and being front and centre of the response to the recent serious weather events. The operators should be well proud of themselves – I take my hat off to all of them.”

He also congratulated the CCNZ Manawatū Whanganui Branch for 28 years of delivering the competition, originally conceived by local Manawatū contractor Graeme Blackley of Blackley Construction.

The Platinum Sponsor for this year’s competition was CablePrice, which has been a longstanding supporter of the industry and the competition. CablePrice also provided and serviced the Hitachi excavators the competitors operated

Troy Calteaux nailing the excavator painting challenge at this year’s national finals. during the event. Other major competition sponsors included Attach2, BeforeUDig, Connexis, First Gas, Hirepool, Humes, Z Energy, Milwaukee, Civil Trades, Contractor

Magazine, and Doug the Digger.

The CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition has been running since 1994. NZL

forest talk

Timbersports shine at Rural Games THE FORD RANGER NEW ZEALAND RURAL GAMES RETURNED TO Palmerston North last month after a year-long hiatus thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-day event at Te Marae o Hine, Palmerston North’s The Square, attracted an impressive crowd of about 45,000 people, making it the largest of the games yet.

The weekend was packed with thrilling competitions in various rural sports such as wood chopping, coal shovelling, sheep shearing, gumboot throwing, and egg throw and catch.

According to New Zealand Rural Games founder, Steve Hollander, the quality of sportspeople on display was world-class.

One standout performer was Jarna Mihare from Dannevirke, who set a new Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games record in the Stones category of the Sir Eion Edgar Southern Hemisphere Highlander Championship. Mihare’s time of 25.43 seconds smashed the previous record by over 15 seconds.

Other highlights included: • Taumarunui’s Jack Jordan took out the Stihl Timbersports Men’s Championship – the morning after being named the Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards Supreme winner.

• Queensland’s Anne Paterson won the Stihl Timbersports Women’s Championship, with Tokoroa’s Cleveland Cherry taking out the Stihl Timbersports Rookie Championship.

• Team Waikato, Noel Galloway and Steph Dryfhout, took out the New Zealand Speed Tree Climbing Championship.

• Whanganui’s Daniel Purcell won the inaugural Golden Loader Championship.

• Central Hawke’s Bay’s Tony Bouskill took out the Speed Fencing Championship, pipping his son at the post and ending his competition-winning streak, which lasted well over a year.

• Marton’s Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Samuels won the Men’s Speed Shearing Championship, while Gore’s Sacha Bond won her first battle against Megan Whitehead.

• Palmerston North’s Adam Miller is the Sir Eion Edgar Southern Hemisphere Highlander Heavy Champion.

• Ashburton’s Craig Manson is the New Zealand Men’s Gumboot Throwing champion, while Taihape’s Kristin Churchward is the Women’s Champion.

• Reefton’s Richard Banks Snr. won the Men’s New Zealand Coal Shovelling Championship. NZL

Other winners included: Stihl Timbersports New Zealand Championships Mens

Women’s

Rookie

1st: Jack Jordan – Taumarunui

1st: Anne Paterson – Blackbutt, Queensland, Australia

1st: Cleveland Cherry – Tokoroa

2nd: Jason Wynyard – Auckland

2nd: Emma Riddell – Nelson

2nd: Sam Bellamy – Stratford

3rd: Shane Jordan – Stratford

3rd: Raewyn Windley – Rolleston

3rd: Matthew Gower – Whangamomoa

The Forestry Growers Levy Trust Golden Loader Forestry Championship thanks to Southern Northern Island Wood Council, John Turkington and McCarthy’s Transport 1st: Daniel Purcell – Whanganui

2nd: Shaun Allen – Kaitaia

3rd: Colin Bush – Hawke’s Bay

Speed Tree Climbing Championship (pairs)|Te Taumāhekeheke Piki Rākau ā Ira in association with Guardian Tree Services and Husqvarna 1st: Team Waikato – Noel Galloway and Steph Dryfhout – 158.04 points

2nd: Team Auckland – Sam Turner and Brianna Uivel – 139.54 points

3rd: Team Wellington – Sam Smith and Sam Fraser – 136.89 points

4th: Team South Island – Dominik Ritter and Ruby McNabb – 134.08 points

Foot lock 1st Man: Sam Smith – Wellington – 18.21s

Foot lock 1st Woman: Steph Dryfhout – Tauranga – 28.74s

Work climb 1st Man: Sam Smith – Wellington – 69 points

Work climb 1st Woman: Steph Dryfhout – Tauranga – 64.67 points

18 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

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forest talk

Right: Timbersports shone at the Rural Games.

Below and below right: Whanganui’s Daniel Purcell won the inaugural Golden Loader Championship.

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Iron Test

, D A O L E D I W H C A E R G N LO : Tim Benseman

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Iron Tester, Tony Curle, loads Grimmer Contracting’s Komatsu 895.2 SpeedShift forwarder at Titoki, Whangarei. Conditions are cramped on the landing with log stacks hanging over the bird’s nest, hence the two-stage operation.

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Iron Tester, Tony Curle, and regular operator, Jason Sime, discuss the Komatsu’s wider bunk.

SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF TREES DOWNED BY CYCLONE Gabrielle litter the roadside into Grimmer Contracting’s Whangarei hauler pad, and it is still shrouded in mist and mystery as the Iron Test team drives down and edges past the hauler towards the container for induction.

The advantage of having a forwarder on site is immediately obvious as all the blown down trees on the access road have already been processed at stump and forwarded to the skid for loading out.

We can just make out the swing yarder mast of the Madill 124 through the mist and hear the Detroit growling as it pulls another drag of cyclone windthrow wood up the slope. This was the first Madill 124 that Porter Equipment had brought in as Madill dealer, and it has done over 10,000 reliable hours so far. Jordan and Mark Grimmer went over to Canada to check that out before they bought it. On the tailhold is a fairly new Sumitomo SH300 with a rock bucket on it.

There is a Cat excavator filling the role of mobile hauler anchor, two Hitachi Zaxis 250 grapple machines and a Hitachi 400/Waratah processor with colour marking. There is quite a lot going on in this crew.

The log stacks are hanging out over the bird’s nest and a Volvo moxy type truck converted to a stems unit is two-staging from these stacks, down the well-formed gravel forestry road and doubling back to a roomier skid on the nearby flat where one of the Hitachi’s with a staunch looking Duxson grapple is swiftly unloading.

Also anchoring the yarder on that top skid is a Cat D6 R with a winch and compact fairlead. Crew boss, Mark Grimmer, is down the slope on an EMS Tractionline tethered John Deere 909MH/Duxson FX142 directional felling head doing windthrow salvage.

Further back on other skids there are two forwarders parked up in reserve, an older Tigercat and the new Komatsu 895.2 SpeedShift forwarder we are here to Iron Test.

No skidder?

“We don’t like them,”says Mark. “Having had various makes and models of skidder, both 4 and 6 wheel we’ve found there is too much clay in Northland and when it gets wet, which is a lot lately, we find

the forwarders more consistent year-round and more economic to run than skidders. Paired with predominantly processing in the cutover, we have found this to also have many environmental benefits especially in winter.”

These guys really like trucking and forwarding logs.

Cyclone Gabrielle carnage After Cyclone Gabrielle hit this block, the landing was unreachable due to windthrow. In fact, on the way in to the crew, the Iron Test team saw the remains of a Kahikatea tree that had blocked the public road before the crew could even get into the block. The Grimmer crew had to bring a quad and trailer loaded with chainsaws and fuel to get a basic, narrow-access track 4 kilometres into the machines and then move out and process the windthrow on the access road, while the new Komatsu 895.2 Speed Shift collected the logs and took them back to the skid.

Besides the trees downed on the forestry road, there was over two thousand tonnes of trees knocked over within the block plus many more trees damaged.

Tracey Gent (Grimmer Contracting Health and Safety Manager), SERIOUS POWER FORCurle BIGdiscuss TIMEthe LOGGERS Iron Tester, Tony Curle, and Hayley new forwarder.

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22 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

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EST EST 1909 1909 | TOCALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY

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1: The front/side facing LED’s.

2,3,4: Part of Flexgate – improves visibility and flexes if struck by the crane. Simplifies loading and minimises the risk of machine damage.

This block was originally supposed to be ground-based just along the powerline corridor due to frequent power outages caused by windthrown trees and branches – another job the forwarder heavy crew with a penchant for processing in the cutover is well suited to.

Due to record rainfall which the entire country seems to have had a dose of in varying degrees, the yarder was brought in because ground conditions were just too wet. Once the cyclone went through, the job got extended to salvage which the Grimmer crew is busily working through to get the wood to market before sapstain sets in.

“The cyclone hit us on Sunday night,” says Tracey Gent, Grimmer Contracting’s Health and Safety Manager. “We had already told the guys there would be no work Monday due to that, but it was Wednesday before we got back here, and the guys spent all day Wednesday actually clearing the road because there were trees everywhere. Pretty much all the trees had their tops blown out and so the carnage you can see of stumps and broken stems is nothing compared to what it was like with those treetops scattered all over the road. But we are lucky compared to some. It’s now several weeks since the event and there are crews who still can’t get to their gear up here.”

The other crew run by Jordan Grimmer is working nearby in one of Manulife’s forests doing ground-based logging. Tracey notes that the father and son team work very well together.

4

Early innovation Logging seemed like a logical next step from forest roading, gravity roller crushing and forestry land prep for the Grimmer Contracting team.

Having that background machine operator experience helped when they got into it with a Halla grapple excavator and Ranger cable skidder.

When tethered harvesting first came on the scene around 2012, Mark and dad Jordan went to Nelson to see what it was about and then got so enthused at the benefits that they got busy engineering and building their own system specifically for Northland conditions, which tend to be low to medium hills, broken ground and clay.

“They are always looking at new opportunities like that,” says Tracey.

The crew do anywhere from 10 to 17 loads a day depending on log truck staff and road closures but when things are stable it sits at around 12 loads per day in this 2-tonne piece size wood.

We find the Komatsu 895.2SS on the back skid freshly washed and looking quite awesome. The LED’s on the curved bull bar look almost like something off an MRAP. Round the back the bunk looks outrageously wide and that is one of the reasons why they chose this machine Tracey says.

“Our older machine was quite high and had narrow bolsters whereas this one has a lower, wider load-carrying capability. The bolsters can be adjusted back to narrow, I guess if you were thinning with it that

ents, for the diameter. This heavy

at set it apart from

The Volvo A30E gets plenty of work at Grimmer Contracting.

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|TOCALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 ents, for the THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY diameter. This heavy 24 NZ LOGGER | April 2023 apart at set it from

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would be good but, in this configuration, it suits us being more stable lower down and also faster to load and unload because of the lower bolsters.”

The crew started this block just before Christmas and will be here until June, then they will be moving a bit further north to a block where they have a couple of years’ work ahead of them.

All the wood from this Titoki block is going to export via Northport at Marsden Point which is about a 2.5-hour turnaround for the log trucks.

Home base for the crew is Whangarei which is only 20ish minutes away on mostly sealed roads.

When some of the crew realise a camera is on the skid they run in all directions, with one screaming about paparazzi. We manage to settle him down eventually. Not long after we hear him relating his trauma over the RT and his mate tells him it could have been worse as he might have been on live TV. Mark says that when the wind went through it

3 seemed to snap trees off wherever they had a weak spot such as the pruned/unpruned intersect. “When we arrived back here, basically all of the area around us from the top of the hill to the bottom was flattened. The trees that didn’t uproot just smashed off and hit the ground. Quite impressive how much power there is in the wind and in these big, tall trees. And prior to the cyclone it was just shockingly wet here. We would have maybe two days of fine weather then a wet week and that trend just kept going from the start. It just never dried out until now, so it is nice not to be battling mud and actually enjoy a bit of sun.”

Mark has been in the bush about 20 years while his dad has been at it around 45 years and Tracey says quite a few of their crew have been with them for over 10 years, so there must be something good going on at the workplace.

Tracey notes that they also make an effort to give young people a chance to get into the industry and this time spent training is obviously returned in staff loyalty.

Iron Tester, Tony Curle, throws on some 7.8m logs.

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EST EST 1909 1909 |TO CALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 26 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

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1: Operator, Jason Sime, likes the auto greaser for quicker and safer maintenance.

2: Iron Tester, Tony Curle, and operator, Jason Sime, check out the engine and filter bay.

3: Regular operator, Jason Sime, tops up the hydraulic fluid using the onboard suction pump.

4: The retractable steps.

5: Operator, Jason Sime, explains some of the controls as Iron Tester, Tony Curle, looks on.

6: Issac Adams, yarder operator, discusses the Waratah colour marking system.

7: Andrew Pratt, processor operator, discusses the recent cyclone.

New Iron Tester NZ Logger’s new Northland based Iron Tester, Tony Curle, started out as a sawmill hand in Northland at 18 years old. From there he went to Rotorua operating forwarders and harvesters for various crews for 10 years, then went to Gimpy in Australia for a few years on flat ground, or as he calls it, carpark logging.

Tony recently bought out Combined Logging from Pae Clark and has a

harvester, forwarder, feller buncher and a couple of load out machines along with five employees.

Tony had a Valmet forwarder for a while and currently has a John Deere with about 6000 hours on it and is looking at upgrading, so doing an Iron Test is the perfect opportunity to see if he likes this one.

Once regular operator, Jason Sime, has shown Tony the ropes, Tony backs the Komatsu up onto the landing and gets busy throwing on 7.8

Grooved Drums and Sleeves

DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER

Above left: Iron Tester, Tony Curle, sets off with the first load of logs.

Above right: Iron Tester, Tony Curle, unloading the 7.8m logs at the load-out stacks. metre A grades which don’t look out of place on this forwarder. This all looks good until Mark mentions that he doesn’t really want a full load of that length on board. “We don’t want to wheel stand it. You would generally only put half a bunk of long logs like that on. It will be more balanced if he chucks some shorter logs on behind the cab now.”

As a side note, Daniel Collett from Tenco log exporters says those 7.8 metre logs are popular throughout the supply chain due to the bulk handling advantages as it is faster for the logger and truck owner right through to quicker ship loading and unloading times. Once at their destination they are used mainly for plywood in either 3x2.6m bolts or one large bolt at 5.2m and a 2.6m.

Once Tony has loaded up, he backs the forwarder down the road using the backing camera and then unloads at the load out stacks. On the second trip one of the Hitachis loads the forwarder a bit quicker with its higher capacity grapple and bigger boom like it’s been doing with the Volvo all morning, and then Tony uses the Komatsu’s own crane to unload the second load which goes a fair bit quicker than the first as he gets the hang of the controls.

Easier maintenance One thing Jason seems to like is the auto greasing system which takes care of most of the pins except the grapple jaws, where it obviously wouldn’t be good to have grease hoses dangling everywhere. Another handy feature is the hydraulic oil suction pump which Jason uses to top up the level with a 20L of new oil. “Last time we used this it was pouring down with rain and somehow a grapple hose worked loose,” Jason says. “With water running everywhere already you are thinking, ‘Hmm is that a leak or is it just rain?’ It was a leak. This machine also has a feature for hose bursts where if it detects a sudden loss of pressure, it automatically sucks all the hydraulic oil out of the hoses and back to the tank, which is great for the environment as well as the cost of lost oil.”

Jason started out as a farm worker and then decided he wanted weekends off work, so he signed up to be a trainee tree faller. He went right through that process including windthrow salvage and was felling full-time for five years, then when mechanised felling got popular, he started getting into machines including forwarders, grapple excavators and the bulldozer which they use the winch on whenever a log gets away on them from the hauler. “The dozer is

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good fun.” Jason says. “Especially when you are sitting on it running the winch.”

Jason is in his 11th year in the crew and found the tree falling qualification probably his biggest challenge but reckons learning everything to do with machines is also quite a challenge, even if it is more of a mental challenge than a physical one.

“What I like about the new forwarder is the improved smoothness.

It seems to be something manufacturers are increasingly getting on top of. The computer is a lot easier to access and understand, and it is a lot more stable as well. Visibility is improved a bit too. What impressed me as well about Komatsu Forest was John Kosar and Pete Earle and their induction process. They spent two days here getting it set up how I like it and showing me all the ins and outs. There are a lot of buttons and stuff but once you get used to them it’s very good.

All our forwarders have the controls set up to digger specs, so basically anyone in the crew can run them which makes life a lot easier if somebody is off for the day. Traction-wise I think this one is a bit better as well, even without cleats.”

That smoothness is probably helped by the steering by wire as well as innovations in hydraulic design such as Komatsu’s MaxiXT management system which softens the controls out.

Adjustable bolsters and headboard One feature Komatsu saw fit to patent is the headboard, with a focus on maintaining maximum visibility while also providing flexibility in the event the headboard is bumped by the crane or logs. The headboard is designed to flex or absorb shock from sideways as well as up and down impacts, while maintaining operator protection.

They do this by welding flat bars horizontally on the back side of the headboard out of the load bay, improving welds on previous designs and redesigning reinforcing plates so there is less stress concentration during loading. The moveable headboard mounts are also now made of 10mm plate, upgraded from the previous 6mm.

This leads us in to Komatsu’s focus on load space optimisation, recognising the critical importance of speed in loading and unloading.

While the crane and hydraulics have a key role in this, the adjustability of the bolsters or stakes in both height and width has led to significant Tasmanian Native Timbers POWER BIG TIME LOGGERS gains inSERIOUS reducing the time andFOR cost spent per tonne of logs extracted.

By using the grapple along with button controls to twist, lift,

ALWAYS SWING A BIG STICK

EST EST 1909 1909 | TOCALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 28 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

Above left: The 20-tonne payload ready to unload.

Above right: Iron Tester, Tony Curle, unloading the Komatsu at the load-out stacks. widen, narrow or lower the bolsters, a change of configuration is achieved fairly quickly from the cab. This could be useful before and after transporting to a new forest, moving from clear fell to selective windthrow salvage or thinning where you need to squeeze through a tight spot, or raising your payload height capability to account for short logs. The bolsters also have a flex component built into them to recognise that sometimes impacts happen driving past trees or logs and this flex reduces the likelihood of damage.

SpeedShift Under the bonnet, Komatsu has fitted an AGCO 6-cylinder 7.4 litre engine. AGCO is an outfit headquartered in Linnavuori in southern Finland that makes about 30,000 diesel engines a year for machines as small as gensets right up to engines powering ocean-going freighters. This Stage II engine has been performing well in the 895’s since its inception in 2017 but what is new to New Zealand is that SpeedShift transmission which is ideally suited to the moderate slopes Grimmer encounters. It can still handle steep stuff, having the same tractive effort as the original gearbox. As another innovation, Komatsu has also made an Xtreme version gearbox option which is optimised for the steep ground found more commonly south of the central plateau.

The SpeedShift is described as a stepless transition but unlike the frustrations of some automatic cars and SUV’s this transmission increases tractive effort as speed approaches zero and loads up the diesel engine right when it is required. This tractive effort is applied

via large hydrostatic components, the 210cc pump and the 250cc hydraulic motor.

The main aspect of SpeedShift is the combining of two hydrostatic motors, M1 and M2, which is basically high and low range. Once you reach 6km/h, M2 (low range) drops off and M1 then works from approximately 7-23km/h. This system offers low speed, high traction below 6km/h and high-speed, low fuel consumption in the higher range. Another plus is that this reduces in-cab noise levels.

The transmission oil cooling option is standard with SpeedShift and helps keep everything running smoothly and efficiently when encountering tough driving conditions, long forwarding distances or a warm climate like Northland has.

The SpeedShift also comes with a hydraulic retarder managed

by Komatsu’s MaxiXT system. When excessive driveline speed is detected, it basically directs the crane pump to increase hydraulic flow, which places a higher load on the diesel engine which then pulls down the driveline speed.

The crane boom and extendable stick has a reach of 8.5 metres and a lifting force of 165KnM (about the same as a 20-tonne digger) while the slewing capacity is a shade over 43knM. The grapple is Komatsu’s own design specifically for its forwarders and is optimised to each sized machine. As well as the bunching style high production roundwood grapple, Komatsu offers a clawed version for biomass gathering which is likely to pique interest as the question arises of what to do with slash that was normally burnt to waste on site until recently and is now needing a bit more management.

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iron tester: Tony Curle

Smooth, quick and easy CLIMBING INTO THIS MACHINE WAS a bit of a step up for a short fulla but I made it okay. I guess to keep a good ground clearance you have to have the steps and hand holds a fair way up.

It’s nice to see the upper end of forwarder evolution after running the older Valmets and the real old-school 4-wheel Timberjacks and moving through to my own John Deere a couple of years ago, then on to this. As I’ve got older the gear has gotten gentler on the body which is a move in the right direction.

I drove a converted moxy type dump truck with a Scania motor in it for a while as well.

That was a good machine.

At one time or another I’ve driven pretty much every kind of forestry machine except for Bells. I don’t like Bells. Too rough.

This Komatsu has heaps of reach and power in the lift. I really like the crane and the grapple on it. The frame brake is very strong at keeping the back of the machine grounded when lifting the first few grabs onto the back.

The wider bunk is also very

good. Much easier to get your weight and keep it low and stable on the ride out to the log stacks.

I lifted a couple of big bunches of logs that I thought was pushing it a bit but just took it slow and it did it easy – far outperformed the last forwarder I was on. The grip power on the grapple is awesome too and all of it together is smooth-running which also makes it fast.

Speed over the ground is up quite a bit on the other machines as well. And having that extra speed combined with a super comfortable seat and cab made a lot of difference.

The cab is spacious, Jason tagged along behind the seat for the short drive to the operational area to give a few last-minute tips before I went at it alone and there was plenty of room in there for him as well, which would make it a good machine for loggers thinking about training up new operators.

Having digger controls on it was a little bit of a challenge. I had it together on most of it but what did catch me out is the rotator being around the other way compared to

Iron Tester, Tony Curle. the usual, so a fair bit of concentration was required there but we got the job done without any mishaps.

I have a few machines that I can jump into with different controls and seem to just flick a switch in my head and I have it sorted, like going from my harvester to my Tigercat to my forwarder are all different. I can see Mark’s point about making it easier for the digger guys to run like that as well, that can make a big difference to how many loads you get out a day.

Iron Tester, Tony Curle, takes the second load from the landing to the load-out stacks.

BANNER BANNER BANNER 111

EST EST EST 1909 1909 1909

THE THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER SUPPLIER TOTO NEW TO NEW NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 30 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

IFICATION

SPEC S KOMATSU 895.2 SPEEDSHIFT – SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE

REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES)

AGCO 7.4L, 6-cylinder Stage II diesel engine with turbo and intercooler.

Power: 210kw @ 1850RPM Torque 1200Nm @1500RPM

Fuel tank Hydraulic tank Rear diffs Front diffs Engine oil Cooling system Auto Greaser

TRANSMISSION SpeedShift Hydrostatic CVT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Single circuit load sensing system with variable piston pump.

0-360 l/min @ 2000 rpm.

UNDERCARRIAGE Tracks (Optional): Tyres: Tractive effort 262kN Speed range 0-23km/h

Front bogie 915/960mm. Rear bogie 915/1023mm 780 wide Nokian Forest King TRS 2

BOOM/ARM/GRAPPLE

220 310 17 17 27 36 2

DIMENSIONS (MM) Length Width Height Wheelbase Ground Clearance Operating weight Payload

10,790 3160 4050 5900 790 23,600kgs 20,000kgs

Max reach 8.5m

Reversing camera is just awesome, a real step up. I also noticed at the back there are two very good looking LED lights which I would bet make it brilliant to run in the dark. My one just has a regular single light, and it is adequate, but I reckon those two LEDs would make a huge difference.

Aircon is great, they’ve done a good job there.

On the second load I was getting up quite a lot more speed than the first load so I would say it is very easy to get the hang of this machine and get into full production before too long at all.

That SpeedShift is definitely a plus on this, makes travelling smooth, quick and easy. I will be looking for another forwarder myself in the next year or two and from what I have seen of this one, I will definitely be keen to put it on the short list. NZL

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Looking Back

Fried possum and the g

Ross Lockyer spent his working life living and working in the forestry and logging industry in remote locations of South-East Asia and the Pacific, including Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya/West Papua, Borneo, Sumatra, Burma, Thailand, The Philippines, Kiribati and others.

With a gung-ho approach to life, Ross threw himself into his work and immersed himself in the local cultures and communities wherever he went, learning the languages and customs that helped him fit in and do his job. He had many hair-raising adventures and close scrapes, and encountered many amazing people wherever he went. He now enjoys sharing those stories with others.

The following is an excerpt from Ross’s first book (of five), An Accidental Bushman set in the early 1960s, recounting his early career as a Forest Ranger in New Zealand.

G

WAVAS FOREST IS SITUATED OVER 60 kilometres from Waipawa in Hawkes Bay, covering much of the Wakarara Range and bordering the Ruahines. Al Johnson and I were transferred together from Te Wera Forest in North Taranaki, where we had been stationed for the first six months out of our Ranger School induction course, and were joined by Bob Crook and Dave Cameron, who had transferred from Ngaumu Forest in the Wairarapa.

Gwavas was a completely different forest to Te Wera; different terrain, different soils, different planting systems, and there were deer in the forest itself and out the back in the Wakarara and Ruahine Ranges, which bordered the forest. This was my first experience of living in deer country, as there were no deer in Taranaki at that time, although we did shoot hundreds of goats and plenty of pigs. I was very keen to get out into the bush on the weekends to go hunting and to shoot my first deer.

Ranger trainees rated all forests first and foremost on the quantity and quality of the food provided by the cookhouse.

The cookhouse at Gwavas was very good, and the cook was a lot more adventurous with the menu than old Don had been at Te Wera camp.

Left: Me and Tap thinning Radiata pine at Rai Valley Forest, Nelson, 1963.

34 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

e ghost of James Ellis

As it was winter, we were straight into planting. We were planting Radiata pine, mainly at Duff Flat over the back of the Wakarara Ranges. The planting was primarily done by contractors working a Lowther planter, which was a relatively new invention for use in flat to easy country only, and it was towed by a small bulldozer.

Al, Dave, Bob and I mainly hand-planted seedlings with mattocks in the rough and steep areas that the Lowther couldn’t access. These smaller areas were many and varied, and the system of planting was rather simpler than at Te Wera. At Gwavas, we used the one-hit method of planting, which was very fast, and we could usually plant between 1,500 and 1,700 trees per man per day.

Before I left Taranaki, I had sold my motorbike, so not having my own set of wheels, I had to make do with whatever I could borrow. Andy was one of the labourers at Gwavas, and he had an

Top, from left: Me, Al Johnson, Barney and Alf from Te Wera Forest all done up for a big night out in Stratford, 1962.

Above: Dave Grant’s planting gang, Te Wera Forest, 1962. Dave is the short bloke in the middle with blue jersey.

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 35

Looking Back

old cut-down 1927 Chev sedan. It was seriously cut down too, with no cab or doors and just a couple of seats, a chassis, four wheels, and an engine. It was a great hunting brake. The only problem was that the battery was stuffed, and we always had to push it to start it. It was good for spotlighting deer at night though, which we occasionally did. One problem with the Andy-mobile was that it had no muffler, and you could hear it coming miles away.

This was a bit of a problem when you were trying to sneak up on a deer in the cutover at night. Andy’s hunting wagon frequently stopped or broke down out in the bush, which was fine on a hill as – once fixed – it could be pushed downhill in either forward or reverse gear to start it again.

Sometimes we had to abandon it out in the forest and walk home though. We would tow it back home again sometime over the next week or whenever we could borrow a vehicle for the purpose.

Andy had a dog called Moush, which was a sort of wire-haired terrier crossed with a hairy rat. Moush was one of the ugliest dogs I have ever seen, but he had a good nature. He lived on the seat of Andy’s hunting wagon, or underneath the seat if it was raining. So, invariably we had to take Moush with us when we used the car. Moush considered the car as his 36 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

home and kennel, so if we didn’t take him with us, he would run behind barking and scaring everything within hearing distance until he became exhausted, and out of pity we would have to stop and pick him up anyway.

Some weekends, a couple of us hiked

the doout to the Wakararas early on a Saturday morning to go deer hunting. But we always tried to walk back to Gwavas camp, even in the dark, often arriving home tired and hungry after midnight, rather than sleep in the old hunter’s hut on the edge of the Wakararas.

Top: Bert Garlick’s planting gang, Te Wera Forest, 1962. Bert at far left.

Above: Dave and Moush the dog, in Andy’s 1927 Chev hunting wagon.

Gwavas Forest Camp, 1962.

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Looking Back

This old, ramshackle hut was called Murderer’s Hut, and it was situated near a creek between the Wakarara and Ruahine Ranges and on the border of Gwavas Forest. Built in 1884, the hut was originally called Whitnell’s Hut after its first semi-permanent resident, a hardcase shepherd named Bill Whitnell. Bill was a high-country character who once lost his false teeth when riding his horse while drunk as a skunk (Bill, not the horse) back from the Ongaonga Pub. He later enlisted the help of his fellow shepherds and drinkers to search the sixteen-kilometre stretch of track for his missing chompers. Fortunately for Bill, the search was successful.

In the early 1900s, Bill’s former home was renamed Ellis Hut or Murderer’s Hut and was so marked on official maps.

Over the years it acquired a sinister reputation, which was further enhanced by its dilapidated state. The renaming of Whitnell’s Hut occurred after a certain James Ellis shot dead a fellow scrub-cutter on a Wairarapa station after an argument and fist fight. He then fled into the bush, eluding the law for almost ten months before being captured at Whitnell’s Hut. He was sent to trial, found guilty, and hanged in Wellington. His spirit, so the legend goes, fled back to the hut that had been his home in the last desperate days of his life.

Strange things reputedly happened whenever people stayed in Murderer’s Hut. Weird noises and happenings were put down to Ellis’ ghost at work. All the forestry guys who passed through Gwavas were aware of the history of the hut, and the late Lester Masters, an Honorary Forest Ranger, even wrote a poem about it: There’s a haunt all right to this hut man.

It’s Ellis with knife and gun.

So watch in which corner you sleep man, or it’s you he’ll have on the run.

Above left: Me and Dick at Te Wera Forest camp ready to go goat hunting, 1962.

Left: Me, Manu and Kahu Sutherland with my dogs Misty and Brown at Johnny Horrell’s farm Wiroa Road, Kerikeri, 1965.

38 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

One Saturday morning, Dave and I went out into the Wakararas for a day’s hunt.

We didn’t take any tucker with us other than a couple of slices of bread. We ended up too far out in the bush to get back to the Forestry camp before night, and the weather was packing in fast. It was a filthy, wet, rainy evening, and blowing a young gale, but we eventually managed to find the hut just before it got completely dark.

Murderer’s Hut.

The unpainted, weathered timber cladding of the hut was grey, and battered, and blended with the bush.

The surrounding manuka scrub growing close up around it was windswept and dripping from the pouring rain, adding a further dimension of spookiness to the bleak scene in front of us. The interior was as grey and uninviting as the exterior.

The dirt floor was covered in old straw and dried leaves. Broken log-framed

Above: Bob and Al planting at Duff flat, Wakararas. Gwavas Forest, 1962.

Below left: Bob and Dave at Makahu hut, Kaweka Ranges, 1962 Below: Peter on the steps of Kahui hut, Pouakai Ranges with me skinning a kid (goat) for the evening meal, 1962.

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 39

Looking Back

Te Wera Forest camp, Farmers’ Field Day showing Forestry Landrovers and 1942 Chev 4x4 ex-army quads, 1962. bunks with saggy, half-rotten sacks slung between them were the only excuse for beds. A battered old table and a couple of rickety apple boxes for chairs were the only other furniture. There were the usual chipped enamel mugs, black billies, and a camp oven, and we found some matches,

Me in my hut at Te Wera Forest camp. My prized shoat skin on the wall, probably an angora cross, shot at the back of Whangamomona, 1962.

40 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

candles, salt, and rancid dripping. There was possum poo everywhere, but at least there was no sign of Ellis’ ghost.

We got a fire and a couple of candles burning. As we had had nothing to eat all day, we were pretty hungry. Then a possum started screeching and scrabbling

on the roof of the hut, so I crept outside and blew it off the roof with my .303 rifle, skinned it, cut it up, and threw it into the camp oven with the old dripping. Talk about tough as old boots! Yet we were hungry enough to chew through the back steaks and a couple of the legs, albeit

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Looking Back

Deer cullers’ New Zealand Forest Service hut in the Ruahines, 1964 (NZFS collection, national archives).

An Accidental Bushman: The Making of a Forest Ranger ROSS LOCKYER, NOW IN HIS LATE SEVENTIES, is retired and living with his wife near Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands.

Growing up in small town Taranaki, he just knew that he enjoyed hunting, hiking, trapping, fishing and exploring the backcountry of New Zealand, which led to a colourful career in the forestry and logging industries in New Zealand and the jungles of South-East Asia and the Pacific.

Friends had been telling him for over 30 years that he should write a book about his life and adventures, so in 2013, he put pen to paper and started writing “the book”. Ten years later, that one book has expanded into five.

The first four, An Accidental Bushman, Cannibals, Crocodiles and Cassowaries, The River is my Highway and Meanwhile Back in the Jungle… have been published and have collectively sold over a thousand copies to date. Ross’s fifth book, titled But That’s What Elephants Are For, is scheduled to be published later in 2023.

In An Accidental Bushman (featured here) Ross recounts some of the incorrigible larrikins, precarious predicaments and hairraising exploits that shaped his training and early career as a Forest Ranger in New 42 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

Zealand. There are plenty of laughs (some at Ross’s expense) and enough scrapes and shenanigans to make you wonder how Ross ever survived to write the book!

An Accidental Bushman sometimes reads like a hilarious instruction book of what not to do, with many of Ross’s ill-fated adventures stemming from what simply seems like a good idea at the time – like his disastrous introduction to boating with no experience, no safety gear, and ultimately no working engine! Ross makes a habit of crashing vehicles, manufactures cyanide possum bait (and lives to tell the tale), gets seriously lost in the bush, spends a night in a haunted hut, gets marooned on a river island amidst swirling floodwaters, contracts hypothermia and survives some memorable culinary disasters. It’s clear that without his uncanny knack of always falling on his feet, Ross wouldn’t be with us to tell these stories today.

Ross also shares yarns of the colourful bunch of larrikins with whom he trained, worked, hunted and socialised, with tales of interrupted trysts, foul revenge, forest fires, thieving wildlife, crippling hangovers, poaching, parties and motorised mayhem.

The book includes some 60 photographs from Ross’s vast collection which richly illustrate his writing.

Look out for more from Ross in coming editions of NZ Logger or, if you can’t wait, visit the author’s website at: www.rosslockyer.co.nz

with great difficulty, until our jaws ached too much to eat any more. We found a broken and rather ancient packet of Bell tea with a few tea leaves still left in it and boiled up a brew in the billy. That helped with the hunger pangs and assisted with washing the possum down. Dave was far from impressed with my culinary skills that night, and some 55 years later, over a couple of Kingfisher beers and a curry at a haveli in Southern India, he reminded me about the privations of having to eat my fried possum.

We tried to sleep on the sacking bunks, which had no mattresses or pillows, but we had just closed our eyes and blown out the candles when the rats arrived. Dozens of them! Maybe because it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale outside, every scabby rat in the Wakararas decided that the only spot to be that night was Murderer’s Hut with me, Dave and Ellis’ ghost. They ran around the walls, along the rafters, over the bunks, and over us, gnawed on the remains of the possum in the camp oven, dragged an empty billy around the floor, banged on every pot and mug in the place, and generally partied on.

Bill and Herman planting Radiata at Te Wera Forest, 1962.

I got so pissed off with them that in the end I tried shooting at them with the .303, which in the dim light of the dying fire didn’t lend itself to great accuracy but did result in a few more holes in the walls and a temporary cessation of rat activities. The booming racket of the .303 certainly scared the rats away for a while, but they soon came back. Dave was trying to hide under his bunk while this was going on. I think he thought I

had gone troppo!

Then the possums started screaming and scrabbling on the roof of the hut.

What with rats, possums, two growling stomachs, uncomfortable, saggy, halfripped sacks for beds, and the possibility of an up-close and personal encounter with Ellis’ ghost, we didn’t get much sleep that night. To add insult to injury, we didn’t shoot any deer that weekend either. NZL

DIA DG I ANGONSO E S•E D•E D S IEGS N I G•N D•E D L IEVLEI V RER

)

Special Feature: Carbon Emissions

Less fuel, less carbon With an increasingly mechanised workforce (now also on steep slopes), we know we are burning more fuel than ever, and harvesting an increasing volume of wood. Research by the University of Canterbury School of Forestry’s Simon Smith and Dougal Shepherd aimed to gain a snapshot of how much fuel we use and its equivalent carbon emissions, while exploring several ways to future-proof our industry. Their findings follow.

O

UR FOREST INDUSTRY IS CURRENTLY experiencing early stages of pressure to measure and report carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases that are generated by our actions. For most forestry activities the largest part of our carbon footprint is from our use of fossil fuels. With several large management companies already reviewing their carbon footprint, it has been highlighted how little we actually know about our carbon emissions during harvesting.

How did we do it?

A total of 55 crews from eight different companies across New Zealand participated.

44 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

Data collected included 30 ground-based, 13 swing yarder and 12 tower yarder crews.

This allowed us to get a range of values, but also provide for some comparison of different extraction methods and crew types. Emissions guidance provided by the Ministry for the Environment shaped the methodology behind the study – for example in terms of both setting the scope as well as the conversion factors used. This data was analysed to give a total carbon footprint (in tonnes of CO2 equivalent, ‘tCO2e’) per crew per year, as well as the per m3 harvested value.

Several industry representatives were also interviewed to see what future trends

might be, and also what the advantages are for reporting carbon emissions.

What did we find out?

Fuel use and emissions: Although depen­ dent on crew size and type, on average 260,000 litres of diesel is being used each year per crew. Overall, this equates to an average of 4.35 litres of diesel per m3 harvested across all sites. Ground-based crews, as one would expect, had the best fuel efficiency at 3.7 L/m3, followed by swing (4.3 L/m3) and tower (5.0 L/m3) yarder crews. A harvesting fuel use study done by Paul Oyier and Rien Visser in 2016 reported average fuel consumption

of 3.04 L/m3 for ground-based and 3.18 for cable yarder systems, supporting the idea that we are continuing to increase our rate of fuel usage as we continue to mechanise.

We should note that it is a relatively small sample size, and we did get quite a range of fuel use values. Across all the 55 crews, our data showed that the average carbon emission per crew per year was 770 tCO2e, or 12kg of CO2e per m3. Broken out by harvest system type, ground-based had the lowest average carbon footprint of 693t, then swing yarders with 782 and tower yarders (hauler) with 935 tCO2e per year. Considering the carbon equivalent kilograms per m3 of harvested wood, again, a similar trend was observed (10.7 ground, 12.6 swing, 14.7 tower).

Why measure footprint?: Currently there seems to be no pressure on harvest crews to measure or report their emissions, although a number of contractors are leading the way in proactively being engaged. For example, Paul Olsen and Blair Cooper from Olsen Forestry Management were one of the initiators of this project, to help their logging crews establish their sustainability credentials.

Many investors, owners and banks are also taking a greater interest in working with and supporting businesses that have sustainability initiatives in place (i.e., that measure and report their carbon footprint).

One such example is a ‘sustainable linked’ or ‘green/social’ loan offered by banks.

This can include a higher loan amount and/ or lower interest rate. Another example can be seen in the selection of tenders for harvest contracts – favourable partnerships may be placed on crews or businesses that measure their impact.

Future technology: So now we understand more about how much carbon we are emitting, what can realistically be done to reduce the carbon footprint of harvesting?

Several future options were considered as a follow-up to the initial investigation.

Hydrogen technology is described as ‘one to keep an eye on’ for the longer term, with the most obvious first integration being as a fuel substitute for our log trucks.

Above: The University of Canterbury’s Simon Smith.

Right: Dougal Shepherd, now with Tasman Pine.

Opposite: Mechanised yarder crew – highly productive but also fuelintensive for the contractor.

Right: Winch-assisted clambunk harvester in Europe – just one machine to fell and extract on steep slopes.

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 45

Special Feature: Carbon Emissions

With several New Zealand companies investing in hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, this is set to become more viable going forward. Although there has been some development of hydrogen in-forest harvesting equipment, it still needs to overcome a few obstacles before it is readily available.

Hybrid electric systems are an option in the short term for our harvesting equipment, with machines such as the Logset 12H GTE (pictured) using less fuel (and thus emitting less carbon). International equipment manufacturers have also developed fully electric equipment including the Ponsse EV1 forwarder. However it will be a while before these are a practical solution in our forests.

Biofuels have been described as a ‘transitionary’ step towards longer-term energy solutions because of their cost – therefore it is ‘unlikely’ that the forest industry will directly deal with a prolonged period of biofuel use. Biodegradable oils, however, can be a more practical first step, with some operators already adopting alternatives to petroleum-based lubricants.

This was a final year Forest Engineering project at the University of Canterbury, School of Forestry for Simon Smith and Dougal Shepherd, and was supervised by Prof. Rien Visser. Simon is currently a Masters student at UC, and Dougal has started his working career with Tasman Pine.

For the full report on carbon emissions, visit: https://forestengineering.org/wp-content/ uploads/2022/12/Carbon-FootprintLogging-Diss-2022-Simon_Dougal.pdf NZL

46 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

Top: The hybrid Logset 12H GTE uses an electric motor for peak power to reduce fuel consumption.

Above: Technology integration helps improve efficiency, but also requires energy to operate. (Photo: FICA) Below: Gone are the days of cross-cutting with chainsaws, but modern harvester heads are both heavy and power-hungry.

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Mike Fraser cuts the 50th anniversary cake.

Mike Fraser Logging Celebrates 50 years Loggers for life, the Fraser family has been working in the bush for five generations, starting with Mike’s Great Grandfather, Robin, who worked in forestry in Nydia Bay (Marlborough Sounds) around the turn of the 20th Century.

Mike’s grandfather, Roy, and father, Don, both carried on the family tradition. In 1972, Don and wife Doreen purchased a logging business off Bob Hunt, who Don was working for at the time.

“This was the beginning of the Fraser 03 Crew and Fraser Logging,” says Mike.

“Dad’s set-up consisted of a loader, bulldozer and five men.

They were pulling about four to five truck loads a day.”

In 1980, Mike joined his dad in the operation after working as a Diesel Mechanic.

“I was surprised at how backward the industry was. There were no qualifications or training systems in place,” says Mike.

“It was a driving motivation for change and growth for me, as I took more of a leadership role in the business.”

The Fraser family has been working in the bush for five generations.

In 1980 , Mike jo ined his dad’s o peratio n.

Working for Carter Holt Harvey in 1997, Mike received a contract termination letter as the company worked towards key supplier arrangements (which in hindsight was one of the worst things to happen to the contracting sector).

“Ross and Janet Wood were kind enough to offer us work as sub-contractors, which was a saving grace during that period really,” says Mike.

“Ross introduced us to mechanised felling, and in 1998 we had a fully mechanised operation running a CAT 325 with a Waratah processing head.”

The next period was one of growth, with Mike Fraser Logging securing a contract with Weyerhaeuser. At its peak size in the early 2000’s, the business had 10 crews including sub-contractors, machine-share arrangements and owneroperators.

In 2022 the company was successful in securing a tender for a 400,000-tonne contract on Manuka Island in the Wairau Valley. Always adapting, it’s the first time the company has taken on a roading contract as well as harvesting.

The Frasers went on to purchase their first new machine, a CAT D6D dozer, for 160k.

The company employs 37 people including a management team, with four fully-mechanised crews pulling approximately 340,000 tonnes per year working in the 141 forest.

“It was a huge investment at the time and there were a lot of sleepless nights, for Dad especially,” says Mike.

Mike says it’s been a journey and reaching the 50-year milestone is pretty special.

“We then went on to purchase our first CAT 518 skidder and fitted a grapple the following year.”

“Over the 50 years our strength has been in our people,” says Mike.

Then in 1987, Mike took a financial interest in the business before purchasing full ownership of the crew in 1990.

“Fraser Logging has been recognised over the years and won numerous awards. Through it all the motivation has been to create a better working environment for our people and develop better harvesting systems through mechanisation.”

“I bought a 1994 Hahn harvester which was our first taste of mechanised processing” says Mike.

“I remember pulling over one day, sitting on a stump and wondering what the hell we’d done,” he laughs.

Congratulations to FICA member, Mike Fraser Logging, 50 years in business – too much.

FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002 48 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

Proud sponsor of FICA

FICA Partners

Thank you to all of the organisations who support FICA, which in turn works to promote business growth and improved safety and efficiency amongst forestry contractors for the benefit of New Zealand’s Forestry Industry.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

BUSINESS PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS

TO JOIN, CALL 0800 342 269 OR SIGNUP ONLINE AT FICA.ORG.NZ

Safety/performance/quality

Top Achievers from 2022 THIS ISSUE, WE CONTINUE TO BRING YOU photographs of some of our top achievers for 2022.

No words needed to describe the professionalism of these folk as their results speak for them.

Ka mau te wehi! Awesome individuals, awesome teams and awesome people behind the scenes supporting them in what they do!!

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, Ernslaw One, OneFortyOne New Zealand, Crown Forestry, Forest View Contracting, Makerikeri Silviculture (2020), Mitchell Silviculture, Puklowski

Silviculture, Gutsell Forestry Services, Johnson Forestry Services, McHoull Contracting, Wayne Cumming Contracting, Howard Forestry Services, Inta-Wood Forestry, Heslip Forest Contracting, Otautau Contractors, X Men Forestry, Proforest Services, FM Silviculture, Tane Mahuta, Waikato Forestry Services, Rai Valley Silviculture, Thomassen Logging, Forest View Logging, Griffin Logging, Penetito Forestry, Pride Forestry, Mangoihe Logging, CMH Contracting, Kaha Logging, Roxburgh Contracting, Te Waa Logging, Mike Hurring Logging, Bluewood Logging, Storm Logging, Onward Logging, Down and Out Logging, Forest Pro Logging, Eastside Logging, Lahar Logging, Moutere Logging, JD Harvesting, Whisker Logging, Kimberly Logging, Dewes Contractors, Dempsey Logging.

Into safety?

Into performance?

Into quality?

Contact Shane Perrett on 0274 781 908 at primefm@xtra.co.nz NZL

The crew from Lahar Logging with Noel Meads (far left) and Hayden Whitehead (far right) from Ernslaw One. Smiler Katene is set on keeping this trophy at Lahar Logging – who’s coming to get it?

50 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

Safety/performance/quality

Charles Wipaki (Moutere Logging) with Steve Couper (Ernslaw One).

George Hinana (Uncle) with Steve Couper (Ernslaw One).

BEFORE

AFTER

The big difference a little guidance can make. These stumps (before and after) show the improvement in work technique that can be achieved through one-on-one training focussed on correcting poor training/habits. The operator in this case couldn’t believe how quickly improvement occurred.

James White, Hyden Smith (Mike Hurring Logging) and Phil de la Mare (Ernslaw One).

Shaquille McIlroy with Steve Couper.

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 51

Safety/performance/quality .

Phil de la Mare from Ernslaw One delivering the trophy to Bluewood Thinning.

The folk from Blue Wood Thinning receiving their trophy for top ground base crew in 2022. From left: Kath McIvor, Devon Stewart, Clint McIvor and Nigel Hutchinson.

From left: Simon Katene and Smiler Katene.

52 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

History of crews recognised as top in harvesting since 2008.

A who’s who of elite crews that have managed to top the industry.

Devon Stewart with Phil de la Mare.

Nigel Hutchinson with Phil de la Mare.

Brody Mitchell (STR Logging).

Safety/performance/quality

STR Logging, Waiotahi.

DOOSAN FOR G WHITE

CAT/WARATAH COMBO FOR GAVINS LOGGING

G White Logging Crew 12 has recently taken delivery of a new Doosan DX300LL shovel logger. The Doosan is seen here heading off into the cutover on delivery day, with operator Kylie at the controls to perform its duties in Kinleith Forest.

Kerry Gavin of Gavins Logging in Hanmer Springs has taken delivery of a new Next Gen Cat 558FM forest machine paired with a Waratah Forestry HTH624C processor head. Kerry says the machine will be a huge asset to the operation. Kerry and the crew are looking forward to getting into the work! Machine delivered by Territory Account Manager, Brad Pearcy.

SUMITOMO/WOODSMAN COMBO FOR BAIRD HARVESTING The crew of Baird Harvesting is pictured here in Kinleith Forest on delivery of a new 46/40 Sumitomo processor fitted with a Woodsman 750. They say they are impressed with the overall increased performance from the new machine, ease of operation and comfort. Seen here at the jobsite with full support crew from AB Equipment Taupo are, from left, Whippet, Dan, Aran, Mark Turner (AB Equipment Branch Manager), Foxy, Zoe Ottaway (AB Equipment Parts Manager), Garth Topless (support) operator, Reece, and Gaza Baird. Sold and supported by the team at AB Equipment, Taupo.

NEW SANY FOR C&W LOGGING Willie and the team at C&W Logging in Nelson have taken delivery of a new Sany SY330H. This beast is fitted with full Ensign guarding package and Duxson grapple. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 55

TIGERCAT/DUXSON COMBO FOR R&R LOGGING

SANY FOR JET HARVESTING

When it came time for R & R Logging to put a new loader into their operation, based on the Tigercat reputation and back-up service AB Equipment has provided to their older Sumitomo machines, it was an easy choice to purchase a Tigercat 865 log loader equipped with a Duxson 182 HD grapple. Seen here at their operation about 45-minutes’ drive from Dannevirke are, from left, Darry, Sonya, Cam, Dean, operator, Timo, (back), Shaun and Brian. Sold by the team at AB Equipment, Taupo.

Dylan and the team at Jet Harvesting have taken delivery of a Sany SY330H with a DC Falcon Winch Assist package. The machine is working around the Wairarapa-Manawatu regions, helping with tracking and winching Dylan’s Komatsu felling machine. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

WEILER/SATCO COMBO FOR NIGEL BRYANT LOGGING

KOMATSU FOR STR LOGGING

Nigel Bryant Logging’s new Weiler B758 track feller buncher was delivered to the Stag Crew in January. Tim, the operator, came out of a Cat 552 and was extremely happy that he could climb into the new machine and find everything familiar. No time was needed to get used to a new machine as he took up right where he left off!

Jayden Peek (Customer Support Account Manager and Territory Account Manager – Forestry) was on hand to give his expert barbeque skills a run for the crew. Kerry from SATCO was also on hand as a new SATCO 630H felling head was part of the package.

Territory Account Manager, Andy Bunny, delivered the machine.

Steve and Liz Rowling of STR Logging from Waiotahi have recently taken delivery of a new Komatsu PC 300LC-8. The Komatsu has been set up by the team at EMS as a Tractionline. Pictured from left: Jono (EMS), Violet Rowling, Tipene Rowling, Liz Rowling, Steve Rowling, John Kosar (Komatsu Forest NZ) and Kieran Page (Komatsu Forest NZ). Photographer: Harold Merriman.

56 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

NEW MACHINERY FOR BLACKSTUMP LOGGING Blackstump Logging in Gisborne has taken delivery of its first Sany SY330H with a DC Winch package. Sold by Jack McEwan.

Serviced by Shaw’s.

ANOTHER QS450 SOUTHSTAR FOR JENSEN LOGGING Jensen Logging has taken delivery of a new QS450 Southstar which is running the new Log Mate 510control system. The operator has commented on how easy the LM 510 control system is to use. The Southstar is preforming well on a John Deere 803 MH. Sold by Southstar New Zealand.

TIGERCAT FOR THOMASSEN LOGGING

ANOTHER SUMITOMO FOR THOMASSEN LOGGING

Thomassen Logging has upgraded an older feller buncher with the new Tigercat combination of L855E and Tigercat’s 5185 fixed felling head. As the unit arrived complete from the factory it was out to work in no time. After only a couple of hours in it on delivery day, operator, Malcolm Sutton, was slaying trees.

Thomassen Logging has added another Sumitomo SH300-6LF to its stems crew fleet for general duties. Operator Anaru, seen here, says he is mighty impressed with his new machine, bunching, sorting and loading with ease. Sold and supported by the team at AB Equipment, Taupo.

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 57

SANY FOR RICHARDS HARVESTING

The next generation of Cat motor graders in the Kaingaroa Roading Contractors fleet are delivering even more for owner Jan Bolton, with the recent arrival of three new Cat units into the fleet. The two 140 motor graders and 150 motor grader will be kept busy maintaining the roads in the forest for the company’s many log trucks. Jan says the new Cat graders put power to the ground, have low fuel burn, and are comfortable and easy to operate. Machines sold by Terra Cat Territory Account Manager, Brent Van der Burg.

Richards Harvesting has taken delivery of a Sany SY330H with full Ensign guarding package and 1730 grapple. Currently contracting to Stokes Logging in the Waingaro region, the machine will be performing shovelling duties, fleeting and loading. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

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www.drdiesel.nz

IN-FIELD HYDRAULIC HOSE EMERGENCY REPAIR KITS

LG33288

IN-FIELD HYDRAULIC HOSE EMERGENCY REPAIR KITS

Delivering the solutions

BUCKET & BLADE PROTECTION

BUCKET TEETH & ADAPTERS

Are you digging for a new Bucket? Boost productivity with a tougher rock or cleaning Bucket on your machines! Available for all brands of 20-100 tonne size Excavators!

Are your Buckets & Blades Protected? Armour up your gear to protect from wear & tear, with our large range of pin-on & weld-on wear protection products for Buckets & Blades!

Are you having Bucket Teeth issues? G.E.T them fixed forever with the world’s safest, most trusted MTG Starmet Tooth System. Available in stock for Excavators & Loaders!

CRUSHER WEAR PARTS

CUTTING EDGES & END BITS

RIPPER PRODUCTS

Are you crushing it? We offer a large range of wear products for all makes & models of Cone Crushers, Jaw Crushers, Impact Crushers, Hammer Mills & Screening Plants!

Have you got the edge on your machines? Sharpen up & cut through the clutter with our weld-in & bolt-on Cutting Edges for Excavators, Dozers, Graders, Loaders & Scrapers!

Are you ripping into it? You’ll need tough ripper solutions to get the job done! We stock a range of Rippers for all makes & models of Excavators, Dozers, Graders & Tractors!

RUBBER TRACKS

STEEL PLATE & PROFILES

UNDERCARRIAGE PARTS

Are you on the right track? Keep your rubber on the road with our huge range of Rubber Tracks for all brands of mini Excavators, CTL & ASV Compact Track Loaders!

Do you need tougher wear steels?

We’ve got the largest range of abrasion resistant steels & profiles in NZ! Available in various grades & thicknesses to suit your needs!

Are you making tracks? We’ll help you stay on track for longer with our huge range of Track Gear in stock, to suit all makes & models of Excavators & Dozers!

BUCKETS

West-Trak DPS_Logger.indd All Pages

you need to stay productive

CNC PROFILE CUTTING

DRAWING & DESIGN

MACHINING & LINEBORING

Do you want faster steel plate processing? We’re experts at profile cutting the heaviest & hardest steels to any shape or size, using Plasma & Oxy-fuel CNC cutting!

Need help with improving your wear parts? Our team of mechanical design engineers can interpret your drawings & templates using SolidWorks software to make it better for you!

Do you need precision machining services? We can cut, drill, mill, bevel & tap the hardest wear steels with our 6-axis CNC Machining Centre, CNC Lathe & Line Boring unit!

FREE ONSITE SUPPORT

ROLLING & PRESSING

TRACK GROUP BOLT-UPS

Finding it hard to measure your wear parts? We come to you with our experienced engineers who have the tools & techniques, to measure & make solutions to suit your needs!

Need your steel plate pressed?

With our 500 tonne CNC Press Brake we can form the hardest & toughest wear steels to suit any curve or shape up to 6000mm wide!

Save yourself the hassle of bolting Track Shoes to your Chains & get them ready to roll on your machine. We have the gear & expertise to ensure correct shoe fitment & bolt torque settings!

TRACK WEAR REPORTING

TRACK PRESS & REBUILDS

WELDING & FABRICATION

With our 400 tonne hydraulic Track Press, we can service & rebuild any make or model of Excavator & Dozer Chains that need pin & bush turns or other track repairs!

We’re experts at heavy engineering wear products from the toughest steels. Our team of qualified welders have the skills & know-how to work with these specialized steels!

Our Undercarriage technicians can monitor & measure your Track Gear for upcoming replacements to help prevent unexpected breakages & downtime!

CALL US ON 0800 654 323 TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS Head Office: 32 Robertson St, Westport Auckland Branch: 14 Hobill Ave, Wiri

...........................

Visit our Website west-trak.co.nz

...........................

Email us at sales@west-trak.co.nz

...........................

Phone us on 0800 654 323

...........................

Contact us:

27/02/23 9:15 AM

NZ LOGGER classified

PROTECT YOUR POLYCARBONATE WINDOWS

Polycarbonate windows have safety qualities, but they are susceptible to scratching and damage when in the bush causing severe reduction in vision for the operator and creating health and safety issues.

We lower the requirement for polycarbonatereplacementby applyingprotectivefilmtoyour machine windows either in the bush or at the yard.

This will assist extending the life of the polycarbonate.

Forestry contractors get the benefits of not replacing the polycarbonate - only the film when necessary.

MOBILE SERVICE NATIONWIDE

AFTER

CONTACT: SHANE 027 626 2231 extremewindowtints@xtra.co.nz

@ExtremeWindowTints Extreme_Window_Tints

LG33039

BEFORE

STRONG & RELIABLE GRAPPLES STRONG && RELIABLE RELIABLE GRAPPLES GRAPPLES STRONG Made in NZ

Grapplesand andall allspares sparesinin Grapples stockwith withovernight overnightdelivery delivery stock

LG31252

SERIES852 852and and864 864 MMSERIES STRONG&&RELIABLE RELIABLE STRONG GRAPPLES GRAPPLES

62 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

Knight Logging Ltd

• M SERIES 852 AND 864 – STRONG & RELIABLE GRAPPLES • GRAPPLES AND ALL SPARES IN STOCK WITH OVERNIGHT DELIVERY • PROVEN AFTER SALES SERVICE

ProvenAfter AfterSales Sales Proven Service Service

ContactMarty MartyororBruce Bruce Contact Ph027 027324 3249091 9091 Ph 79Chambers ChambersStreet, Street,Tokoroa Tokoroa 79 enquiries@cdlloggrapples.co.nz enquiries@cdlloggrapples.co.nz

A DIVISION OF

NZ LOGGER classified

Swing Units for Madill’s & Kenworth Logging Trucks Large Stocks of Heavy Alloy Cores & Completes Full Custom Build Service Fast & Efficient

sales@bopradiatorspecialists.co.nz

RADIATORS

2017 Sumitomo SH 240-5

2015 Active 60 Hauler

(10,000 hrs)

$165,000.00 (+gst) High & Wide. Ensign 1530 Grapple Machine is presented in immaculate condition with excellent service history.

(9000 hrs)

$525,000.00 (+gst) Comes with all rigging, blocks, carriage and 6 electronic chokers. Machine is in excellent condition, ready to go to work. Excellent service history.

Contact Rob bushlinefh@outlook.co.nz 027 5555 192

LG33290

Madill Komatsu CAT Thunderbird John Deere Hyundai Tigercat Sumitomo

CHARGE AIR COOLERS

WE CUSTOM BUILD -STOCK, OVERHAUL & REPAIR WE MANUFACTURE THE BEST HEAVY DUTY CORES IN NZ

OILCOOLERS

BOP Radiators Te Puke 07 5739109 Heat Exchanger Services Hornby Chch 03 3729240

LG32968

INTERCOOLERS

OILCOOLERS

RADIATORS

April 2023 | NZ LOGGER 63

EXPOSE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

www.chains.co.nz

Clark Tracks from Scotland Single tracks Bogey Tracks 30.5x32 750/55-26.5 35.5x32 780/50-28.5

LG31497

Trygg Ring Lug Chains from Norway are available from 16mm to 25mm 23.1x26 30.5x32 24.5x32 35.5x32 28Lx26

Chain Protection Services Ph: 03 338 1552 • E: chainpro@xtra. co.nz • www.chains.co.nz

Powerful Value. Delivered.

AP32758

GET THE RIGHT EXPOSURE THROUGH NZ LOGGER MAGAZINE AND CAPTURE THE FOREST INDUSTRY BUYERS DIRECTLY.

ENGINEERED WITH EXPERIENCE...

Chain Protection have been selling these brands of forestry Chains & Tracks for 20+years.

We also have chains for cars, trucks through to graders.

CONTACT OLIVIA TO ADVERTISE 027 685 5066

Get the right exposure through NZ Logger magazine and capture the Forest industry buyers directly.

EXPOSE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

NZ LOGGER classified

CONTACT OLIVIA TO ADVERTISE 027 685 5066

Sc o

$695,000 + GST

$195,000 + GST

$390,000 + GST

John Deere 1910E Forwarder

John Deere 948L-I Skidder

TimberPro TL765c

(Selling OBO)

2020, Only 873hrs!

Excellent Condition Suit new buyer.

2018, 9,500 hrs.

Near new rear tyres.

Ready to go to work.

Very tidy harvester with SouthStar QS600 head.

brandt.ca/nz Rotorua Construction and Forestry: 0800 433 373

Nor Mec 64 NZ LOGGER | April 2023

Blen Ons

FL100 Felling Head Suitable for carriers in 30 tonne + range.

Priced from $110,634.00 For more information contact: Karl 021 1926 567 North Island Gerard 0274 794 664 South Island

Waratah FL100 Felling Head

Waratah 626 Currently under rebuild POA

Waratah 626

Waratah 625C

Refurbished - Full rotation, Parker valve, H16 or TimberRite $212,000

To be refurbished - currently on hire. POA

Refurbished

5% 5% OFF

OFF

5% OFF

Delimb Covers Scan for Best Practice Guidelines of Working around Attachments

Cab Safety Labels

Head Safety Labels

10%

10%

10%

OFF

OFF

Joystick Window Labels

OFF

10% OFF

Delimb Covers Grease Nipple Kit

Electrical Kits

Uptime Kit

Northland Mechanised logging services

CNI, Waikato, Wairarapa Waratah Forestry Services

Hawkes Bay Forestry Maintenance HB

Nelson Tasman Heavy Diesel

Blenheim Onsite Mechanical

Greymouth SM Hydraulics

Dunedin Heavy Diesel support

Southland Heavy Equipment Repair

Hydraulic Cap Kit

Komatsu 895.2 SpeedShift

New Intelligent Transmissions for Increased Productivity The new Komatsu 895.2 Forwarder offers increased productivity with two unique transmission options; • SpeedShift … gear change “on the fly” with high 262 kN torque • Xtreme … severe/steep conditions with very high 307 kN torque • New Maxi XT Control System

Komatsu Forwarders lead the way in production

Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 15C Hyland Cresent Rotorua, New Zealand John Kosar M: 0274 865 844 Paul Roche M: 021 350 747 E: info.au@komatsuforest.com