FOREST TALK

Forestry registration soon underway

FROM 6 AUGUST THIS YEAR, LOG TRADERS AND FORESTRY ADVISORS

operating in New Zealand will be required to register under a new regulatory system being developed by MPI under the Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Act.

The launch of the registration system will be a significant milestone for the forestry and wood processing sector and the businesses and people who work, invest, trade, and provide advice across the sector, says Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service, adding, “It is a step forward in strengthening the integrity of the forestry supply chain and enhancing transparent and openness for those in the sector”.

The registration system aims to ensure logs grown in New Zealand are bought and sold in a transparent and professional manner. Registration will be a legal requirement for any business acting as a log trader and individuals providing forestry adviser services. People operating in these areas should be aware of the benefits of being registered, as well as their obligations.

The range of forestry matters covered in the Act include advice on the establishment, management, or protection of a forest, management or protection of land used for forestry, appraisal, harvest, sale, or utilisation of timber or other forest produce, and the application of the emissions trading scheme to forestry activities.

According to MPI, those required to register under the Act will need to pass a fit and proper person test and comply with regulations and practice standards to support a more transparent and open market for log sales and professional advice. This also aims to provide investors and forest owners with greater confidence in the forestry sector, including in the advice they receive on the management and valuation of their forestry assets.

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is currently working on developing the registration system, including building the core IT infrastructure and portal for lodging and processing of registrations.

For the purposes of the registration a log trader is a person, in trade, buying, or exporting logs grown in New Zealand, processing logs they have grown themselves, or a person acting as an agent for another person doing any of those things.

Forestry advisers are individuals who in the ordinary course of business provide advice on one or more of a range of forestry matters. They may also act on behalf of another person in relation to the sale and purchase of timber, or other forestry products, make inspections or prepare reports in connection with a forestry advisory service.

There is a one-year transition period for log traders and forestry advisers to get registered before penalties will apply from 6 August 2023. NZL

IKEA converting NZ land for plantations

INGKA GROUP, THE LARGEST FRANCHISEE OF IKEA STORES

internationally, has received consent to buy more sheep and beef farming land in the South to convert to forestry.

The Overseas Investment Office’s April decisions include a successful application by Ingka Investments Forest Assets NZ and Ingka Investments Management NZ, from the Netherlands, to acquire some 1118 hectares of land in Koneburn Road at Waimumu.

The applicants are owned by Ingka Investments BV, the investment arm of Ingka Group, one of 12 different groups of companies that own the Swedish furniture and homeware giant.

In a statement, the company stressed the property — like its other two New Zealand acquisitions — would be planted in plantation forestry, not used for carbon farming.

Koneburn, owned by Brian and Dawn Copland, has been in the Copland family for four generations. For the past 27 years, it has been leased by Mr and Mrs Copland’s daughter, Deborah, and her husband, Jon Wood.

The sale price was withheld. The decision summary said the applicant had been granted consent to acquire the land under the special test relating to forestry activities.

The summary said the company intended establishing and maintaining plantation forest — predominantly radiata pine — over parts of the land at Koneburn assessed as being best suited to forestry.

The company estimated new planting of about 977ha of the land which was best suited to planting after allowing for infrastructure (4.9ha), native plantings (52.5ha), unplantable (43.3ha) and various setbacks (31.3ha).

It has proposed subdividing and selling about 9ha, including a house and three sheds.

Last year, it got consent to buy 5500ha sheep and beef station Wisp Hill in the Owaka Valley and it acquired the 610ha Old Hill Rd property in Central Hawke’s Bay in April.

At Wisp Hill 300ha of gorse has been removed. The first 274,000 of three million seedlings have been planted — including more than 40ha of manuka with the potential to support up to 200 beehives — and 20km of new, all-weather roading have been laid. NZL

New owners for New Forests

MITSUI & CO AND NOMURA HOLDINGS

have entered into an agreement to purchase a 100% shareholding of New Forests, global investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies.

The agreement, which is subject to regulatory approval and expected to be completed by December 2022, will see Mitsui become a 49% shareholder and Nomura a 41% shareholder, with the remaining 10% shareholding retained by New Forests’ staff. Mitsui has been a shareholder in New Forests since 2016 and will increase its shareholding from approximately 23% to the 49%.

Mitsui and Nomura will provide capital to support New Forests’ strategic growth initiatives and the global expansion of its investment platform. In addition, New Forests will leverage Nomura’s global distribution network, particularly across Japan and more broadly in Asia.

Mitsui and Nomura share New Forests’ commitment to sustainability and vision to see investment in sustainable land use and forestry as central to the transition to a sustainable future – including addressing climate change and the conservation of nature; supporting the transition to a circular bio-economy; and contributing to the prosperity of communities where New Forests operates.

As part of this agreement, founder, CEO and Chairman David Brand will continue with New Forests until 30 June 2025 and focus on strategic initiatives and growth opportunities.

Mr Brand says, “New Forests has achieved a great deal over the past 17 years, growing institutional investment in the forestry asset class and re-imagining the investment opportunities in rural landscapes. The rising need to substantially increase investment in sustainable land use, along with increasing investor interest is creating an opportunity to accelerate the growth of New Forests.” NZL

Farewell

THIS MONTH WE SAY GOODBYE TO

our Advertising Manager, Trish Barnett, after more than a decade of being part of the NZ Logger family. A familiar face to many of you, we wish her well in her future endeavours.

Feel free to contact Olivia Beauchamp at olivia@trucker.co.nz or Trevor Woolston at trevor@trucker.co.nz who will be handling advertising enquiries going forward.

Haul more from DAY 1 Haul more from DAY 1

NZ LOGGER MAGAZINE SPECIAL Purchase a Falcon HD Camera System before NZ LOGGER MAGAZINE SPECIAL May 31st & receive free installation. Purchase a Falcon HD Camera System before

July 31st & receive free installation.

California’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

NZ partners with California on climate

NEW ZEALAND AND CALIFORNIA HAVE

signed a cooperation deal on climate change. The Memorandum of Cooperation will facilitate the sharing of information, experiences and research in reducing emissions as well as working together on projects that are good for the climate.

“Taking action on climate will secure our environment and our economy, so it makes sense to partner with allies in this shared problem,” says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

“We both aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century. This agreement means we’ll work together to share expertise and experience and collaborate on projects that help meet each other’s targets.

“As the fifth largest economy in the world, California will be a significant player in the global low-emissions transition and an important partner in our efforts.

“We each have comparable, broad-based plans to emissions reduction, and know it will take every sector of our economies playing their part.

“As a result we both have ambitious policies for zero-emission transportation on land and sea, energy innovation, clean power generation, nature-based solutions and zero waste initiatives.

“The agreement provides a framework for cooperation across a range of sectors including on zero emissions vehicles, energy storage and smart grids, emissions trading schemes, and climate smart agriculture.

“No country is immune from the impacts of climate changes, so it’s just common sense to collaborate with like-minded partners to meet mutual goals,” she says. NZL

Quayside Holdings acquires chunk of PF Olsen

QUAYSIDE HOLDINGS HAS ACQUIRED 44% OF PF OLSEN AS OF 10

June 2022. Direct Capital is selling its shareholding after 11 years as a shareholder.

PF Olsen is a leading provider of independent professional forestry services and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. Across New Zealand and Australia, PF Olsen manages 372,000 hectares of forest, harvesting 5.1 million m³ of logs each year as well as planting 14 million trees per annum.

Quayside, as the investment arm of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, focuses on commercial returns for the shareholder and the wider community; supporting investments while investing responsibly for strong financial returns.

Quayside’s Chief Investment Officer, Brendon Barnes, says, “This transaction is the result of a thorough due diligence process. Quayside sees a number of compelling growth opportunities in the forestry sector and the investment in PF Olsen will be the catalyst for many of these. PF Olsen is a household name with a long legacy. We are excited to work alongside the strong management team to grow the company for the benefit of our community and New Zealand”.

“During Quayside’s due diligence phase we were impressed with their investment strategy and particularly how well it aligned with our strategy and growth aspirations. The partnership with Quayside will allow PF Olsen to maximise these opportunities and continue to provide strong service for our clients,” adds Ross Larcombe, PF Olsen CEO.

As a result of the investment by Quayside, PF Olsen will continue to focus on its key markets, customers and developing growth possibilities. There will also be further employment for the region, as well as opportunities for iwi and other community groups, with a strengthening of community relationships. NZL

Nobody stands behind your felling head like we do. Nobody stands behind your felling head like we do. Nobody stands behind your

When you choose a Woodsman Pro Felling Head, you’re not just buying the best machine on the market, you’re joining the Woodsman Pro family. As family you’ll get looked after right from the start. Firstly we’ll make sure you get exactly the right head, and then we’ll make sure it’s set up just right. After that, no matter where, when or what happens to your felling head we’ll be there to sort it out for you. We can promise you that because the team that built your Woodsman Pro is right here in NZ, so when you need us we’re just a phone call away. When you choose a Woodsman Pro Felling Head, you’re not just buying the best machine on the market, you’re joining the Woodsman Pro family. As family you’ll get looked after right from the start. Firstly we’ll make sure you get exactly the right head, and then we’ll make sure it’s set up just right. After that, no matter where, when or what happens to your felling head we’ll be there to sort it out for you. We can promise you that because the team that built your Woodsman Pro is right here in NZ, so when you need us we’re just a phone call away. felling head like we do. When you choose a Woodsman Pro Felling Head, you’re not just buying the best machine on the market, you’re joining the Woodsman Pro family. As family you’ll get looked after right from the start. Firstly we’ll make sure you get exactly the right head, and then we’ll make sure it’s set up just right. After that, no matter where, when or what ENGINEERING SERVICES ROTORUA LTDEngineered kiwi happens to your felling head we’ll be there to sort it out for you. We can promise you that because the team that built ENGINEERING SERVICES ROTORUA LTDEngineered kiwi P. +64 7 348 1286 | E: INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZforestry solutions since 1965. your Woodsman Pro is right here in NZ, so when you need us we’re just a phone call away. forestry solutions P. +64 7 348 1286 | E: INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZWOODSMANPRO.CO.NZ since 1965. Engineered kiwi WOODSMANPRO.CO.NZ © Copyright 2022 Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Ensign & Woodsman Pro brands are registered trademarks of Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd. ENGINEERING SERVICES ROTORUA LTD forestry solutions © Copyright 2022 Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd. All Rights Reserved. P. +64 7 348 1286 | E: INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZ since 1965. The Ensign & Woodsman Pro brands are registered trademarks of Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd.

WOODSMANPRO.CO.NZ

A free pass for agriculture?

AOTEAROA’S FORESTRY SECTOR HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO A

proactive stance in the battle against climate change since it entered the ETS in 2008. In the 14 years since then there’s been a lack of real commitment from agriculture to join the fight, says New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) President James Treadwell.

The recent release of He Waka Eke Noa – Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership (HWEN) offers little hope for change, he says. He acknowledges forestry and agriculture must, and often do, work side by side. “Agriculture is a material export earner for the nation and its ongoing viability and success matters hugely, we also recognise that agriculture supports many individual farmers and rural communities.

“Unfortunately, since forestry entered the ETS over a decade ago, we have seen a lot of talk and very little action from agriculture to respond to climate change,” he adds. “This lack of action has compounded the problems New Zealand now faces, and sadly we don’t see HWEN offering any sort of decent roadmap to face the current reality we all must deal with.”

NZIF is calling for the Government to do the right thing for “NZ Inc” as a whole. “It’s time to stop buckling to the agricultural sector lobbying, and farmers with a ‘head in the sand’ denial of the real issues.”

Mr Treadwell asks, “Where’s the incentive in HWEN for farmers to seek advice or just get on with tree planting? As drafted, the HWEN proposals are no help: they’re more of a free pass for agriculture to ignore reality.”

NZIF acknowledges some positives from HWEN. It identifies forests as offset opportunities within farm systems – a positive outcome which will provide some breathing space while farm systems adapt. Mr Treadwell believes it’s exactly the sort of action plan which should have been in place for the last decade.

However, there are some deep-rooted issues with HWEN he says: “NZIF finds it unacceptable that a farmer-dominated Board will retain oversight over the HWEN, and in particular future price setting for agriculture emissions. NZIF also believes the proposed levy price, 5-10% of the current market price for an NZU (a tonne of carbon) shows little commitment to climate change. It would also enable farmers to profit from sequestration while paying little for emissions.

“A farmer could plant a small area in trees and enter the ETS selling their NZU’s for $70 or more, which under HWEN would enable them to then emit 10 tonnes of carbon for each tone they have sequestered. HWEN therefore has the potential to allow agriculture to increase its emissions.”

In the past, the farming sector has claimed it shouldn’t be captured in the ETS because there is inadequate science or options to reduce emissions. But NZIF is calling this out as fake news, he adds. “Many leading farmers are demonstrating profitable livestock farming with reduced intensity of stocking and fertiliser. Farmers also have land on which they can plant trees. A portion of their land (10-20% depending on farm type) in trees would offset livestock farming emissions.” The NZIF believes this “denial” is no longer an appropriate response. Climate resilience is vitally important for all New Zealanders including farmers, says Mr Treadwell.

He adds that forests and wetlands are particularly important in this era of climate change, as they help moderate the impact of severe weather events. Hillsides denuded of forest cover shed more water during intense rainfall events, leading to more extreme flood events downstream, damaging downstream infrastructure, communities, and ecosystems. Forest and wetlands ‘soak-up’ intense rainfall and prevent or at least slow and reduce the impact of flood events. Trees on farms increase soil stability, and livestock welfare (shade and windbreaks).

“Planting of trees and restoration of natural ecosystems on erosionprone land, riparian zones, and wetlands in our rural areas needs to be a priority. This will increase carbon sequestration, water quality and biodiversity values. There should be no argument from the agriculture sector about the need to plant trees on their properties: it’s not just good for NZ Inc but it will also increase farming profitability.”

In the big picture, New Zealand is risking its future and potential reputational damage, he says: “Will our overseas consumers of high end ‘Pure New Zealand’ agricultural produce decide it is no longer so pure… And shop elsewhere? Only time will tell. But the New Zealand government has the opportunity to address imbalance and accountability around emissions right now. NZL

NZ Institute of Forestry President, James Treadwell.

Māori question government climate intentions

THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING ENORMOUS

damage to the value of whenua Māori and the future of Māori around Aotearoa through their current proposal to remove exotics from the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme, says leading independent organisation for Māori business, Te Taumata.

“Our Māori forestry leaders have been highlighting a potentially transformative opportunity to see massive growth in the Māori economy – with benefits flowing through every Iwi, hapū and whanau – by using what is otherwise ‘low productivity land’ to establish fast-growing exotic trees for the permanent category of the ETS,” says Te Taumata Chair Chris Karamea Insley.

“The Government seems unable to get past the coloniser mindset of telling our whanau how to use our lands and educating us on ‘doing our bit’ through the narrow constraints of the western view of land use,” says Mr Insley. “In doing so, they are denying Māori the right to use our land as we see fit, in what amounts to one of the largest confiscations of the value of whenua Māori in recent memory.”

Māori don’t need climate education, they need the Government to stop preventing them from taking climate action, he adds.

“The Government’s latest announcements are frankly insulting at a time when the Government is proposing to legislate away Māori landowner rights, removing the single largest opportunity for Māori to engage in climate action.

“Māori landowners have a $7 billion opportunity to participate in the carbon economy. To make that possible, all the Government needs to do is… nothing.

“If our land is not tied up in red tape, we can ‘do our bit’ for climate change – as the Minister puts it – and for Aotearoa as well. And we can do it without millions in cost to the taxpayer.”

Minister Shaw recognises that “transition should be led by Māori and that will require building Crown–Māori relationships and capability to work together as equal partners”.

“At present we have seen very little evidence of a commitment to this approach, as the Government continues to try to dictate their climate agenda to us, while hamstringing the single most effective opportunity for Māoriled climate action,” adds Mr Insley.

“It is simply unacceptable to produce a raft of policies, followed by narrow focused and time-constrained processes that can scarcely be called consultation, and call it a commitment to partnership.

“We expect the Government to start from the beginning with us to show a true commitment as equal partners under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

While the Government is urging Maori to move from pine and other exotic species to native forest, many Maori have already planted pine in response to the Government’s one billion trees target and are collecting more carbon credits from the fast-growing forests than they could with natives – and they don’t want to switch.

Last month, Māori leaders and foresters met with Government Ministers about proposed changes to exclude the future permanent plantings of exotic forests like radiata pine from the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Māori say they are prepared to go to the High Court and the Waitangi Tribunal and various iwi are concerned that the change will breach their Treaty settlements. NZL

WINTER REPAIRS?

Stock shortages and price increases, sound familiar? Try our Award winning Superseal® tracks. Get FREE Track Bolts/ Nuts & FREE fitting of new shoes for every full undercarriage set ordered during June & July 2022.

Full range in stock for

• Excavators 1-50 Ton • Forestry Machines 20-50 Ton • Dozers Cat D6, D7, D8,

Komatsu D65

Tigercat fitted with Mainline Supeseal® Tracks and Undercarriage

Managing planting season disruptions

Planting in a tough site.

RESEARCH COMMISSIONED INTO TREE PLANTING IN RESPONSE to the COVID-19 lockdown and potential disruptions to the One Billion Trees planting projects and the wider sector, provides welcome solutions to problems with which foresters and planters are all too familiar, says Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service.

“The newly-published research has enabled us to come up with strategies to successfully plant trees outside of the normal planting season, and also have a better understanding of how to safely hold back trees in nurseries without impacting the quality,” says Emily Telfer, Programme Delivery Manager, Forest Science at Te Uru Rākau.

With tree planting normally carried out in the middle of the year, significant work is required in nurseries leading up to winter to prepare a crop of trees and by landowners to prepare sites for planting.

“The yearly forestry planting cycle follows a sequential series of steps and is driven by biology, so the research set out to look at what mitigations can be utilised when the sequence is disrupted,” says Ms Telfer.

Managing disruptions to a planting season, site maintenance when planting is delayed, and ‘right tree, right place’ in an extended planting season were some of the topics covered in the research.

Ms Telfer says while the bulk of the research was undertaken as a response to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the outcome is a package of new understanding which will be invaluable for tree planting in New Zealand.

“Disruptions to a planting season can have major implications, especially when you consider nurseries are carrying 50-60 million seedlings heading into a planting season to meet planting demands.

“If we need to delay plants leaving the nursery, there are a number of techniques which nurseries can use to keep plants in good health until the time they can be dispatched and planted.”

The research explored innovative approaches to manage sites that are unable to be planted in a season, including ways of increasing site fertility to increase the success and health of trees once they are able to be planted.

Among the options looked at were the potential to apply nutrientrich waste like treated dairy shed effluent and wastewater, and site preparations that made the most of existing slash to protect new trees from drying wind.

The One Billion Trees Science Extension team, in partnership with the Canopy Website team has summarised the key research findings into easy-to-read factsheets. The factsheets are based on work by researchers at Manaaki Whenua, Scion and Tane’s Tree Trust, and are available at Canopy.govt.nz NZL

Planting still strong

THE MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES (MPI) UNDERTAKES AN

annual survey of tree stocks sold by commercial forestry nurseries in New Zealand following the main winter planting season. The results are aggregated to produce estimates of total national sales, and then modelled to estimate the total area of planting by species and species group.

The most recent commercial nursery survey results show that 96.5 million seedlings were planted in 2021, which corresponds to an estimated 95 thousand hectares of new planting and replanting. Survey respondents indicated their intention to plant 120 million seedlings in 2022. In 2021, twenty-nine commercial nurseries completed the survey, of which eleven supplied bulk sales of mānuka as their primary activity or in combination with sales of seedlings from plantation establishment.

The total area of forest planting in the winter of 2021 is provisionally estimated from the nursery survey data and associated modelling to be 95,000 hectares. The total area of new planting in 2021 is estimated to be in the order of 45,000 hectares. Replanting of harvested areas is provisionally estimated to be 50,000 hectares in 2021.

The 2021 nursery survey asked commercial forestry nursery managers about anticipated sale levels in 2022. All nurseries responded. Their estimates indicate that total seedling sales may increase to 120 million seedlings in 2022.

The full report can be found on the MPI website. NZL

Consider growing ‘black diamonds’

A BAY OF PLENTY TRUFFLE COMPANY IS SHARING THE

secrets of the industry in a bid to get landowners growing ‘black diamonds’ across the country.

Ohiwa Black Diamond Truffles is receiving more than $155,000 of Government funding over three years to share its knowledge with interested growers so New Zealand can grow enough truffles for a robust export industry. The business is also researching and developing new truffle products that incorporate the health benefits of truffles with traditional Māori rongoā (healing).

The business is run by Ohiwa-based couple Matui Hudson and Annette Munday. “We’d like to see Māori land trusts and farmers around New Zealand growing truffles on unproductive land. It’s an opportunity to make money out of land with poor soil, and could offer a sideline income for farmers if they planted seedlings beside trees used for riparian planting, for example.

The truffles on our Ohiwa plantation are grown beside oak and hazelnut trees, but pinus pinea trees are also suitable. To grow effectively, truffles need alkaline soil,” says Ms Munday.

“We’ve been trialling growing spores under New Zealand natives but have found their root system doesn’t support truffle growth – although we’re still experimenting.” Since partnering with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) through the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund last year, they have held three workshops on truffle growing, with more lined up over the coming weeks. “We’ve already received orders for around 10,000 inoculated truffle seedlings from several hapū, and we’ve helped a Kawhia whānau set up their truffière,” says Ms Munday. Truffles can fetch between $2500 and $3500 per kilogram, and set-up costs per hectare for growing truffles range between $35,000 and $70,000. Ms Munday says each tree is capable of yielding 200 grams to one kilogram in well-managed plantations.

“The truffle industry has significant export potential as New Zealand businesses are currently unable to keep up with overseas demand,” says Steve Penno, director of investment programmes at MPI.

“Growers could potentially earn significant sales revenue from the eventual harvest of truffles on often marginally productive land.”

Truffle hunting season began last month, using trained dogs to sniff out the truffles. Members of the public are invited to join in the fun at one of Ohiwa Black Diamonds Truffles’ public hunts. NZL

Forestry Congress focuses on youth

FUTURE FORESTERS NEW ZEALAND IS SUPPORTING A GLOBAL

effort to unite forestry young professionals to promote, grow and raise awareness of the importance and opportunities of the forest sector.

At the recent World Forestry Congress in Seoul, Republic of Korea which called for a halt in deforestation and forest degradation and the promotion of sustainable forest management, New Zealand Future Foresters was a key part of the launch of the Global Network for Forestry Young Professionals (ForYP).

A statement issued at the Congress called for “meaningful reforms in the area of sustainable forest management, and building a green, healthy and resilient future with forests, which can only be successful with the full engagement of all stakeholders, particularly the youth.”

Executive Member of Future Foresters New Zealand, Alfred Duval, says this was the first World Forestry Congress with a substantial youth focus and youth-led sessions.

“The Congress recognised that forests are long-term solutions to an array of the world’s problems and therefore engagement of young professionals is essential in setting forest objectives because these will be the sector’s future leaders,” he says.

“In New Zealand, we are not experiencing the issues of deforestation the way the forest industry youth of some countries are, since our plantation forests have been established to prevent harvesting of native forests and are highly productive.

“Future Foresters was asked to showcase to the Congress the success of our Young Forester’s initiative so that others from around the world could witness the benefits of uniting and promoting youth for careers in forests.

“All young forest professionals at the Congress agreed on the need to protect and enhance the natural environment while providing the most sustainable resource the world has to offer. Even though we all experience forests differently, we are all on the same page.

“We are making both production and environmentally enhancing decisions now which won’t be realised for decades to come. That gives me huge passion for forestry in New Zealand, and around the world,” he says.

“Communications technology makes it easy to interact with forestry colleagues in different parts of the world, and we’ll be on a learning Executive Member of Future Foresters New Zealand, Alfred Duval, with a delegate at the World Forestry Congress.

curve to appreciate the priorities, methods of working and issues in other parts of the forest world.”

Mr Duval says the likely priorities for Future Foresters’ involvement with ForYP is to showcase the far-reaching career opportunities regardless of an individual’s background.

“We want to showcase to young Māori, young women and men, from all backgrounds, that a future in the forest industry is one that is diverse, rewarding, and sustainable where you can find your own passion and niche.”

CEO of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, David Rhodes, who also attended the ForYP launch says it’s vital to give voice and encouragement to the next generation of the industry.

“They are in tune with the issues of tomorrow and for our policies and positions to be robust we must include their voices. This network will help achieve that”

Chairperson and Founder of ForYP, Elaine Springgay, of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, adds, “Youth bring energy, innovation and are change makers. Yet youth feel excluded from the forest sector.

“They would like more employment opportunities, mentorship and career development. At the same time, we need to ensure that we are not fostering generational division: the ‘young’ versus the ‘old’.

“Each generation brings value to the proverbial table. In order to build a green, healthy and resilient future with forests, the different generations need to recognise the strengths of the others and empower and support each other.” NZL

NZIF award and scholarship applications open

APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR THE AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

offered by the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) Foundation for 2022. The total value of awards offered is $24,700.

The awards open for application are: • A Future Forest Scholarship for post graduate research of up to $10,000. • The New Zealand Redwood Company Scholarship of $5,000 for an undergraduate scholarship at the University of Canterbury School of

Forestry. • One or more Otago Southland Awards up to a combined total of $5,200 to assist a project or projects of relevance to forestry in the

Otago/Southland region. • A Mary Sutherland Scholarship of $1,000 for a polytechnic student. • A University Undergraduate Scholarship of $1,000. • A Frank Hutchinson Postgraduate scholarship of $1,000. • Student poster prizes at the NZIF Conference (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes of $800, $500 and $200).

Further details and an application form are available on the Foundation web page (https://www.nzif.org.nz/about-us/nzif-foundation/ )

Applications must be received no later than 22 August 2022. The awards will be announced at the Awards Dinner at the NZIF conference being held in Auckland from 11-13 September 2022. NZL

Marlborough inland port taking shape

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONSOLIDATED HUB TO SUPPORT

logistics for the primary industries of the Marlborough region is taking shape with the announcement that QuayConnect, the logistics division of Port Nelson, will develop an inland port at Riverlands, south of Blenheim.

Jaron McLeod, QuayConnect General Manager, says, “Marlborough Importers and exporters will be better served with a facility on their doorstep offering container and product storage and warehousing connected to an established logistics service.”

The Marlborough Inland Port will be located immediately adjacent to New Zealand’s largest wine bottler, WineWorks Marlborough. This will enable the efficient transfer of stock to and from the bottling plant and the use of electric tugs to reduce emissions. The Inland Port will also have storage capacity for empty and full containers, tanker and tank container (ISO) wash facilities and repairs.

The key requirement in any logistics supply chain is to remove waste. The supply chain established by QuayConnect moves empty wine bottles in trucks from Port Nelson, after they have been devanned from containers to Blenheim bottling facilities, and the trucks return with a full load of export wine. This system, established in 2017, saves approximately 1,600 tonnes of carbon a year from reduced truck movements.

The initial phase of the Marlborough Inland Port is on a 1.4-hectare site with 2.6-hectares immediately adjacent reserved for future development. The Inland Port will contain 5,000m² of warehousing for storage and packing and a facility for container operations and storage. The facility is planned to be completed by the end of 2023.

For Port Nelson, this development is part of a wider supply chain strategy to further build efficiencies and responsiveness for Marlborough’s importers and exporters so they can continue to be price-competitive on the global market. NZL

Aerial view of the site.

DESIGNED FOR HEAVY DUTY CLEANING

Unleash the power of the NEW STIHL Petrol Waterblaster range. For professional service and expert advice, contact your local STIHL Dealer

On workplace culture and safety

Story: Hayley Leibowitz Prue Younger.

AS ALWAYS, THE FICA AND SAFETREE

conferences did not disappoint with the combination of motivation, industry developments, skills and regulatory overviews (plus good-old fashioned humour). Despite being postponed twice, the Queenstown-based event was as professional and efficient as ever for the audience of forest owners, managers, contractors, policy makers, government representatives and workers.

Starting with Safetree, the ethos of the conference was that good leadership and good workplace culture are prerequisites for good health and safety outcomes, and that all workers have a right to come home to their whãnau and feel engaged with and fulfilled in their work – the idea that the way we think drives our actions and behaviours. While Fiona Ewing was missed, moving on after close to a decade with the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC), John Lowe replaces her as National (Acting) Safety Director for FISC.

The first speaker, Callum McKirdy spoke on leading culture by stepping into the leadership role. He emphasised the importance of tapping into difference rather than similarity. While a values fit is good when choosing employees, he said divergence as well as convergence help figure out risk, planning and strategy.

He explained the need to design, harness and tweak cultures within organisations for people to thrive. Rather than catering to the bell curve, ask the question: “Am I as a leader making the best use of the uniqueness/difference/diversity that is in my team?”

The gold lies in the valleys not the hills, he said, and where difference lies, lies the ability to make a difference.

Forever evolving and changing, culture is about caring, kindness, nurturing and trust, he added.

Callum said neurodiverse people with ADHD and other dysfunctions are often drawn to practical industries like ours and leaders should tap into that innovation. Who are your outliers and fringe dwellers? Are you harnessing their uniqueness?

The takeaway of the presentation was three key leadership questions: • What are you working on? • How’s it going? • How can I help?

“Leadership is about creating an environment where everybody thrives. Every conversation you have with your staff is an opportunity to build or erode trust. Leadership is about stepping into a void. It should be uncomfortable. You need to give more. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” he said.

“Nurture culture to make it safe for people to be themselves. How safe is it for your people to be themselves?

Next came some perspectives directly from industry players. Allan Laurie gave an overview of Forest Manager Certification looking at what’s good, what we can improve, how we’re tracking and key recommendations. Alan Paulson then took delegates through the process of tree jacking. This alternative to machine-assist has a lot to offer. Watch this space for a detailed look at the process.

Next came Wayne Dempster with an overview of the Plant & Structures Regulations as well as Safetree’s new Winch-Assisted Harvesting Best Practice Guide (pictured opposite, below).

On the lighter side, Keynote Speaker, Nigel Latta spoke about the psychology around health and safety. His colourful talk highlighted some important home truths. Training, experience and time add up to complacency, he said. Complacency combined with overconfidence, fatigue, stress, not saying sh*t, summit fever, panic and bullsh*t “will F you up” said Nigel. The antidote to all of those? Pause, Breathe and Think.

“We are social creatures and leaders should think about how they make people feel, ‘he said.’ “Building culture is a vital aspect of health and safety. Making people feel safe and included is really important. Expressing vulnerability is really important. People must be comfortable to make a mistake or to say Stop the bus. Make it okay.

“This all takes intention, focus and effort. Model and encourage other people to pause, breathe and think. Do everything you can to make it easy for people to feel active and involved in health and safety without making it feel onerous. There is no place for ego in a team. Work on it. Every day make people feel safe, part of the team and that they can talk about it and keep them focused on the mission, to go home safe every day,” said Nigel.

Next came two enlightening workshops by Lance Burdett and Shelly Davies. Lance spoke about adapting to our busy world. The brain looks for negative things, for differences, not similarities, he said – because that’s where the risk is. When holding things inside and not getting them out your head, you start catastrophising. This spirals and the thoughts become overwhelming. 80% of our memory is of bad things because that’s where the risk is, he explained.

What can you do about it? Three things – read, write and talk. Plus there’s sleep, being grateful and focusing on the spiritual.

“Debrief your day by talking about it. Get the emotion out. Review it. Dig deeper. Go over what you did well and what you would do differently. That’s when you learn from your past,” he said.

Lastly, Lance suggested, “Slow your

Callum McKirdy. Nigel Latta. Shelly Davies and Lance Burdett.

breathing, your heart, your thoughts. We are more similar than dissimilar. Go with your heart, not your head because your heart knows best.”

Shelly got right to the point with her talk on Lessons in Badassery. “It starts with saying thank you to compliments, reframing our weaknesses as strengths, having boundaries and setting expectations,” she said.

“You don’t have to be everyone’s cup of tea – don’t give your power away by making choices based on what other people will think… be someone’s margherita.”

Reiterating the theme of the previous speakers, she emphasised, “Show up as me. To become a rockstar, be a rockstar – If you want to be something, show up as that thing. The world only knows what you show them! Life is not what’s going on around us. It’s how we respond to it. We are in control of our feelings. You are inside your head, not them. Pause, question and reframe what you tell yourself.”

Focus on FICA

Day 2 began with the FICA end of the conference. FICA Chair, Ross Davis and CEO, Prue Younger spoke first. Ross highlighted the importance of promotion, education and getting the word out there, helping the public to understand what the forestry industry does and how we operate.

Prue highlighted what many of the previous days speakers had said about creating psychological safety in the industry and “starting the conversation”. She took a look at the organisation’s new Strategic Plan incorporating partnerships, vocational education and strengthening contractor certification. Now refining the view of two years ago, the plan lays out the best of who we are, how we work and what we are working towards, she said.

She pointed out that there are two primary pillars: • Promotion – strengthening social licence, encouraging people into the workforce and growing the voice of contractors, along with support. • Education – upskilling contractors, prioritising safety in the workspace and increasing safety.

“COVID has been a bit of a b*tch. The last few years have been challenging but forestry has navigated pretty well through the restrictions and traffic lights. Providing information and keeping the industry well-informed was good. We can’t stop China shutting down to isolate or the Ukraine war but there will be sunshine. There will be travel again. It’s a changing world and we must move on with it,” said Prue. Mental Health, bringing in new workers, a micro innovation challenge and a new website are all on the cards.

Simon O’Grady then gave an overview of the Safetree Certification revamp. Last year a tactical group engaged with the industry and seven recommendations came out of that, namely: • A new Industry Charter • A new Governance Model • A new software platform • A new Certification Model • More resources for certification • Improved audit resource and framework • Clearer, more regular communication

“We will never stop this,” he said. “Participating in the process framework”, performing and the need to partnership are constantly developing.

No stranger to NZ Logger, Rien Visser then offered an interesting input with his look at 12 years of tracking logging costs and productivity in New Zealand. This overview of changes in mechanisation, costs and crews over the years held delegates’ attention.

Finally, Julian Kohn focused on the National Contract Template Update. One of the key drivers of the project is to address the imbalance between contractors and forest owners/managers, he said.

At the project stage an industry advisory group spoke to stakeholders regarding issues with contracts, gathered in contracts and reviewed them in terms of format and usefulness/practicality. They also reviewed the standard NEC contract with a view to adapting it to forestry standards and developing a set of standard clauses that are easier to read and understand.

Now at the pilot stage, Julian said it’s time to test, iron out wrinkles and present an option to the industry to use when developing and negotiating contracts with clients

Next came a day of fun and a night under the stars of the Skyline Gondola in the snowy mountaintops. NZL