NZ Logger May 2023

May 2023 | $8.00

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T E K C PO T E K C O R

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d Compact an powerful

The science of slash

Historic log shoot

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contents

MAY 2023

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FOREST TALK No silver bullet; A difficult enterprise; Small-scale woodlot owners weigh in; Hastings rail line up and running; Peeni Henare takes on Forestry; Proposed ETS cost changes ‘extreme’; NZ climate emissions reduce; Strong result for Lyttelton Port Company; ‘Locals helping locals’; Permanent New Zealand yard for Ritchie Bros.; Forestry estate purchase; Autumn health check for Hunua Ranges’ Kauri; 1080 is not the answer; New industrial rubber track; Niche skidder; Technology firsts for Wood Transport & Logistics 2023; Goahead for Residues2Revenues 2023.

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SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST The cyclone-damaged forest at Gaddum Construction’s site proved no challenge for the Hyundai HX145 excavator.

34

SPECIAL FEATURE: THE SCIENCE OF SLASH Extreme weather events have put the heat on forestry. Jim Childerstone investigates alternative forest management systems and approaches to slash.

42

LOOKING BACK Historian, Ron Cooke, presents a pictorial history of a log shoot that worked at Kakahi in the early 1900s during the construction of the Main Trunk Railway.

DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 48 fica 52 top spot 56 Sweeney Townsend New Iron 58 classifieds

May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 1

from the editor May 2023 | $8.00

A

POCKET ROCKET

ISSN 1176-0397

PHOTO: TIM BENSEMAN

Compact and powerful

The science of slash

Historic log shoot

Operator, Steve Drower, loads up one of Gaddum Construction’s rock trucks with the Hyundai HX145 excavator, ready to end-haul slip material.

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Finding solutions NOW THAT THE DUST HAS SETTLED, THE FOCUS FOR FORESTRY post-Cyclone Gabrielle is on future-proofing the industry with practical solutions that work for those on the ground, while calming its critics. Easier said than done, you may rightly think. Well, this month we offer a plethora of opinions, hands-on approaches and potential paths forward from all sectors of forestry.

Our Forest Talk pages cover a number of viewpoints from the main players. In the thick of it, Eastland Wood Council’s Philip Hope points out that forestry “has lost its social license to operate” and vulnerable land and at-risk areas need to be high on the agenda, as we anticipate increasingly severe weather events.

In our Special Feature, Jim Childerstone takes a scientific approach, gathering the research that has (and is) being done in the area of slash to identify the best ways forward – from dealing with residue on steep slopes to using slash as fuel – and which approaches are most cost-effective and feasible, while polishing forestry’s tarnished image.

Loggers more than anyone know this is more than just a public relations exercise. It’s about mucking in and getting the job right.

Something our Iron Test team knows all about. They get down to business this month, using Gaddum Construction’s new Hyundai HX145 forest roading excavator to clear slip material. Already, the machine has been hard at work clearing driftwood and debris off the road following flood damage strong enough to blow out the concrete slab bridge on the Oparau River. It littered the surrounding farmland with driftwood, rocks and silt as it found old floodplain pathways to Kawhia Harbour. The repaired bridge approaches are still settling in when our team arrives.

As with all great historic events it comes down to a battle over land, sometimes even wrestling with the land itself. Good loggers have always known how to use the earth to best advantage and that it comes with both risks and rewards. Our Looking Back feature this month highlights an impressive Log Shoot at Kakahi in the early 1900s. Talk about steep slopes!

Until next time, stay safe!

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forest talk

No silver bullet THE EASTLAND WOOD COUNCIL’S (EWC) SUBMISSION TO THE Ministerial Inquiry into forestry and other land use in Tairāwhiti, outlines a number of mitigations member forestry companies will be implementing in the short term. Longer-term, the EWC (representing some 80% of plantation forestry in the region) has called for a detailed risk assessment process to be undertaken to identify land that should be converted from its current use, or retired altogether.

EWC CEO, Philip Hope, says: “There is no silver bullet that will immediately solve the issue of slash and sediment in Tairāwhiti, however we recognise that forestry has lost its social license to operate, and we are committed to fixing this and being part of the solution.”

The EWC’s submission outlines a range of options that need to be considered as part of a proposed detailed risk assessment of land across the region, as well as measures to be taken to support a transition in land use in the highest risk areas.

“It is clear that in some places, we need to change what we do with our land, particularly the highest risk hillsides, with skeletal soils that are most at risk of failure. Cyclone Gabrielle caused damage to plantations and associated landscapes at levels not previously seen inside forestry gates, and the extent of debris movement from the collapse of younger aged trees during recent storms is unprecedented.

“While the extremely vulnerable soils are widely acknowledged as a challenge unique to our region, the increasingly severe storms we are experiencing are not, and yet they are becoming more common. It is time to take another look and reassess how we use some of our land,” Mr Hope says.

The scientific risk assessment proposed by the EWC would consider, on a catchment-by-catchment basis, the inherent risk of the land and identify those slopes where failure cannot be mitigated. Risks proposed for consideration include: • skeletal soils, • areas impossible to harvest without the adequate management of debris and slash, • areas that would never be harvested for safety or access reasons, • areas where soil strength would fail under a heavy crop, • areas that have a very high susceptibility of land-sliding and connect to waterbodies.

The EWC recommends that those areas identified as at risk should be mapped and resilience building, or alternative uses identified. Some options proposed include: • retirement and managed transition to indigenous vegetation, • transition to alternative non-production species, • conversion to natural capital regimes, including biodiversity and carbon, • relocation of dwellings or infrastructure, • development of engineered and vegetative mitigation measures (eg, wetland development, living slash fences, engineered debris nets).

“While the forestry industry can provide some mitigation measures, at the same time it will be necessary to look at what is allowed to happen downstream as well. That includes identifying 4 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

the infrastructure that is vulnerable and redesigning that, not building on high-risk flood plains and overland flow paths and developing community-based responses to support the transition in land use, including new employment opportunities, and fair compensation for landowners,” Mr Hope says.

“Managed retreat is a subject that has been widely discussed in the wake of New Zealand’s most recent storms. Given the increasing severity of storms and our changing climate, we need a plan for managed retreat of some of the most vulnerable land including that which is currently in production forestry. However, we are clear that forestry still has an important role to play in Tairāwhiti, bringing economic, social, and environmental benefits to our whānau and communities.

“In many cases, the majority of plantation forests in our region were established by the government or under Government-funded schemes in response to past significant land erosion and slope failures. The forests were established for soil and land conservation purposes as well as to bring long-term economic wellbeing, and in many cases, this has been achieved. In the face of increasingly severe weather, it is now clear that we cannot continue as we have been, and we need to take another look at what is happening on the most vulnerable land.

“For any land conversion to be successful, this will need to be reinforced by mechanisms to support a sustainable transition to alternate land use, and long-term plans to manage the retired land.

This won’t be a short-term fix, but the Eastland Wood Council is committed to collaborating with central and local government, iwi, Gisborne District Council, mana whenua, Trust Tairāwhiti and other stakeholders, to help establish reasonable expectations for the ongoing management of these highly erodible and unstable lands, especially as plantation forestry will continue to be a land use option for Tairāwhiti in the medium and long term,” he adds. NZL

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forest talk

A difficult enterprise THE FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION (FOA) HAS RELEASED ITS submission to the Ministerial Inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti, saying it’s looking to solutions to the wood and silt damage to downstream areas from Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle earlier in the year.

It says the region’s future has to include more trees for land stability but that forestry practices also have to improve with increasing land use risks from climate change.

FOA President, Grant Dodson, says technical assessments show that the two cyclones shifted 100 million tonnes of soil in the region, with half of that then getting into waterways.

“Foresters lost areas of healthy growing trees up to ten years old in landslides. We’d not experienced that before. Climate change has altered the rules.

“The FOA, and the Eastland Wood Council in particular, are focussed on solutions in our submissions, and these must provide incomes for people in the region. We’d expect the future of Gisborne and northern Hawke’s Bay for a long time to come will continue to be based on forestry and farming.

“Let’s make it clear though, that the terrain and remoteness make both forestry and hill country farming in this region a very difficult enterprise. Accelerating climate change make it even more difficult.

“Stabilising the landscape to prevent woody debris flows will take decades, and it’s unrealistic to expect it to ever be completely achieved.

“But there are short term hopes that both land uses will be able to process more of their raw material output in the region itself, using wood fuel which would otherwise cause risk left on the harvest sites,” Mr Dodson says.

“So long as the economics can be worked out, we could eventually get to where no energy source needs to be imported

into Tairāwhiti ever again.

“For forestry itself, we would anticipate a relocation away from where some of the higher risk plantation forests are.

“On one hand, we expect a government-supported managed withdrawal of forest harvesting in the more vulnerable slopes and weaker soil geologies.

“On the other hand, the same increase in slip vulnerability on farmland would most likely lead to planting pine forests and other land stability plantings on much of that land, so long as harvest risk was reduced.”

Mr Dodson says he’s cautious about the enthusiasm to plant large areas in native trees.

“Without doubt, there will be native tree planting for land stabilisation and biodiversity.

“But it has to be realised that indigenous tree establishment is expensive, and it’s difficult for slow-growing native trees to become established, with the region predicted to have more droughts and ongoing storm damage from now on.

“And, unlike with plantation forestry and farming, planting native trees doesn’t produce an income product. Even their carbon sequestration capacity is also insignificant until many decades into the future.”

Mr Dodson says he hopes the Ministerial Inquiry will set up a structured and wide-ranging plan for reform of land use, the downstream economy and more resilient transport infrastructure in Tairāwhiti, which will compel future governments to give their support too.

“Land users themselves can only do so much. There are two other vital components in making these ambitions work. One is committed engagement by central government. The other necessary factor is the close involvement and support of the local communities.” NZL

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forest talk

Small-scale woodlot owners weigh in OUTGOING PRESIDENT OF THE FARM FORESTRY ASSOCIATION, Graham West, says it is vital for farm foresters to directly address the Ministerial land Inquiry too.

“All the media attention since the cyclones hit the region has been on harvest residue and the role of the larger forest growers, but there are farmers in the region, and also small institutional investors, who will want their local forest interests represented as well,” he says.

“These would range from wanting to be consulted about any regulations which might be introduced, through to compensation for managed retreat.

“For instance, we hear forest owners will not be compensated by the government’s reconstruction package. Why isn’t this primary sector supported in the national interest as farming and horticulture is?

“Any recommendation from the Inquiry, or a resulting regulation, might be insignificant for a larger company but it could create real difficulty for a woodlot owner.

“We want to see small-scale forestry expertise used in the solutions, particularly if it relates to tree species other than radiata pine,” he adds.

Latest figures from the National Exotic Forest Description show there are more than 30 thousand hectares of woodlot forests smaller than 50 hectares in Gisborne and Wairoa.

Mr West says there are likely to additionally be more than four thousand investors who have bought a direct stake in forests in the region.

“Local farmers have planted large areas of trees on their properties in Tairāwhiti. Numbers of ordinary New Zealanders have invested as well. Iwi have a huge forestry stake.

“Rants in the news media endlessly repeat the same 6 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

misinformation about pines, such as that it is not a productive land use. The truth is, that on hill country, many forest plantation species, and not just pines, have about twice the biological production of pasture.

“Wood is now being used for thousands of products that substitute for unsustainable fossil fuel consumption.

“Bioplastics, biofuel, heat energy, earthquake resilient structures, are just a few. Wood is used in food as a filler, and to add healthy fibre to products in many parts of the world.”

“It doesn’t require fertiliser on most sites. It doesn’t leak nitrates and doesn’t need milking twice a day.”

“Without intensive inputs, plantation species continue to grow for at least 70 years and silently absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide.

“Global heating from carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide is the real issue. The physics of gases reflecting the radiated heat back to earth has been known for more than 50 years.

“With the right expertise, trees reduce water run-off, bind hill soils with their roots, and create wealth. Trees are also the low-cost solution to our international emissions commitments and provide a proven medium-term solution.

“I suggest if we don’t act with some urgency, the continual change in climate will reduce the economics of all primary production to the extent we will begin to have a real decline in New Zealand’s living standards.

Biological sequestration of carbon dioxide through trees is currently the only technology we could deploy at scale to cool the planet.

“Our strategy should be to get us quickly to carbon zero or carbon negative. This may impact on our economy – but so will doing nothing.” NZL

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forest talk

Hastings rail line up and running IN A SIGNIFICANT STEP FOR HAWKE’S BAY’S CYCLONE RECOVERY, the rail line to Hastings reopened last month. It will help move cargo to and from the region’s trade gateway, Napier Port.

A temporary rail and container terminal was established in Hastings at the Team Global Express freight depot, allowing import and export cargoes to be trucked to and from Napier Port as the line between Woodville and Hastings reopened to trains.

“Like many roads, businesses and homes in Hawke’s Bay, the rail network was badly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle. Our track teams have been working hard over recent weeks to repair the 130km of damaged rail line, including repairing flood-damaged rail bridges, so it could open to Hastings,” says KiwiRail Chief Executive, Peter Reidy.

“The rail network is a crucial part of the Hawkes Bay’s supply chain, with around 350 wagons worth of goods moved in and out of the region each week. Despite the emergency, cargo has to keep moving, with much of it currently going by road.

“Reopening the line to Hastings is an important milestone in the region’s recovery. It supports New Zealand’s vital and productive export economy to have the most efficient and cost-effective means to reach the port and final domestic or international destination.

It will allow us to resume moving freight to and from Hastings and enable most of the distance to Napier Port to be covered by rail.”

Napier Port Chief Executive, Todd Dawson, welcomed the development.

“It’s another positive step forward in the region’s recovery efforts. Napier Port and other Hawke’s Bay businesses have import

and export cargo that flows through to the central and lower North Island. Getting rail back on track is a good result.”

With some 30 return truck trips per day likely between the temporary rail and container terminal in Hastings through to Napier Port, he adds: “The cyclone has highlighted more than ever the importance of resilient road and rail connections between regions.

Not only for the movement of people, and transporting goods and supplies for local use, but it’s critical for an export economy like New Zealand. We need to ensure primary sector producers, who earn a significant proportion of the country’s income, have reliable, efficient landside connections to international gateways like Napier Port.

“One of the opportunities we now have is to future-proof and rebuild our transport infrastructure in a way that is planned and coordinated between our regions, with road, rail and ports connected in the most efficient, cost-effective ways.”

While the line to Hastings is open, it will take time to reopen the sections between Hastings and Napier Port.

The 20km stretch of line between Hastings and Napier Port was badly damaged in the floods, including the Waitangi rail bridge, which lost spans and a number of concrete piers. Line repairs are underway but it is expected to be a number of months before this section of the line can be reopened.

The Napier-Wairoa section experienced major damage in Eskdale and up the Esk Valley to Tutira. KiwiRail is still working to assess the damage and is unable to estimate how long it will be to re-establish this connection through to Wairoa. NZL

Peeni Henare takes on Forestry FOLLOWING STUART NASH’S SWIFT demotion and then departure from Government under a cloud of questions, new Minister of Forestry, Peeni Henare slipped quietly into the role last month.

Politics and public service is in his blood: his father was Erima Henare, who was head of the Māori Language Commission; his grandfather was Sir James Henare, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Māori Battalion, member of Te Rūnanga o te Tiriti o Waitangi, and held the Order of the British Empire; and his great-grandfather Taurekareka (Tau) 8 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Henare was also a Member of Parliament, for the former electorate Northern Māori from 1914 to 1938.

Mr Henare is the Member of Parliament for Tāmaki Makaurau, and is of Ngāti Hine and Ngāpuhi descent. He has taken on the roles of Minister of Defence and Minister for Whānau Ora, as well as several Associate Minister roles. Prior to politics he worked as a businessman, broadcaster and teacher.

We watch with interest as he tackles his new role. NZL

New Minister of Forestry, Peeni Henare.

forest talk

Proposed ETS cost changes ‘extreme’ TE URU RĀKAU – NEW ZEALAND FOREST SERVICE (TUR) RECENTLY released a discussion document proposing a roughly tenfold increase in cost recovery for ETS-related government services and overhead costs. If implemented, the proposal would see the taxpayer contribution to operating these services drop from 94% to 37%.

“Overhead costs for the average forestry-sector ETS participant, on the other hand, would likely more than double. The proposed changes are in addition to a first tranche of already significant fee hikes, which were implemented in January,” says PF Olsen ETS consultant, Felix Brandt.

The current proposal sets out fees for 22 services that were previously provided free of charge and a new, area-based annual charge to cover TUR’s overhead costs. The service fees range from $165 to $7,425 and the annual charge is $30.25 per CAA hectare.

TUR’s rationale for the proposed changes is that taxpayers shouldn’t have to majority-fund a system that benefits private entities.

“We agree that a degree of cost recovery is appropriate. However, the proposed changes are so extreme that they threaten to dampen forestry sector participation in the Emissions Trading Scheme, and thereby CO2 removals – and this at a time when New Zealand is already anticipating having to spend billions of dollars on buying in overseas carbon credits,” says Mr Brandt.

“We further contend that CO2 removals are a valuable public service and that the proceeds from NZU sales are not ‘free money’ but come at the expense of asset values, long-term commitments and costs, and considerable exposure to natural and regulatory risk. PF Olsen strongly opposes the proposed changes and has expressed its concerns to Te Uru Rākau in a formal submission.” NZL

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

forest talk

NZ climate emissions reduce DATA RELEASED LAST MONTH CONFIRMING A REDUCTION IN NEW Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 shows the government’s actions are working, says Climate Change Minister James Shaw.

New Zealand’s official Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows that gross emissions declined by 0.7 percent in the 12 months to the end of 2021 to 76.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This follows a 3 percent decline in 2020, mostly due to COVID-19.

“It is good to see that government action is starting to reduce our climate emissions. We just need more of it,” says Mr Shaw.

“One of the reasons emissions fell in 2021 is the change in landuse driven by our Government’s freshwater reforms. It suggests that we will start to see further reductions as the impact of other policies start to show up in the inventory. This is particularly true of the policies included in the Emissions Reduction Plan we released last year.

New Zealand’s biggest emitting sector in 2021 was agriculture, at 49 percent. This is a similar proportion to previous years. Agricultural emissions did decrease by 1.5 percent in 2021 compared to 2020 due to a reduction in dairy cattle and sheep numbers, and a fall in synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use.

The next biggest emitting sector in 2021 was energy (including transport) at 41 percent. Since 1990, road transport emissions have increased by 85 percent.

“Because official emissions data takes over 12 months to prepare, it is always running behind where we currently are. As such we have yet to see the impact of more recent policies such as the Clean Vehicle Discount scheme, introduced in mid-2021, which has helped to push up electric vehicle sales across Aotearoa, and the Clean Car Standard, which encourages more low-emission imports,” says Mr Shaw.

“Early indications are positive, however. Recent quarterly data from Stats NZ shows that emissions declined by 3.5 percent in the three months to September 2022, their lowest level in eight years.

“A few weeks ago, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued its starkest warning yet that there are only a few years left to take the necessary action to limit warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

“While this data shows we are taking the right steps to get where we need to be, the steps will need to keep getting bigger,” says Mr Shaw. NZL

Strong result for Lyttelton Port Company LYTTELTON PORT COMPANY (LPC) LIFTED ITS OPERATING REVENUE by 9.7% for the six months to 31 December 2022 despite a slowdown in the market.

LPC reported operating revenue of $91.03 million for the interim period to the end of 2022, up $8.07 million from last year ($82.96 million).

LPC Chief Executive Officer, Kirstie Gardener, says the strong revenue result is pleasing given the challenging economic environment.

“While certain trades have been negatively impacted, and we have seen increasing inflation pressures, the overall result reflects positively on our diversified revenue streams, including the return of Cruise vessels,” she says.

LPC’s net profit after tax (NPAT) for the six months at the end of December 2022 was $12.1 million, ahead of budget, but down 2.6% on the equivalent period last year ($12.4 million).

A market slowdown and the economy tightening saw container imports fall while exports remained strong. Container volumes were lower than budgeted.

Marine, Cruise and Bulk revenue remained upbeat due to increased vessel visits, boosted by the return of large Cruise ships.

“We expect the second half of this year to be similar to the first half,” says Ms Gardener.

“Our focus remains on delivering key infrastructure projects, managing a challenging environment around increasing operating costs and playing our role in supporting the return to normality and schedule for the container side of our business,” she adds.

LPC delivered an interim dividend of $6.6 million to be paid to Christchurch City Holdings Limited (CCHL), 100% owner of LPC, the wholly-owned investment arm of the Christchurch City Council.

10 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

LPC’s half-year highlights include: • Large-scale Cruise vessels returned to Whakarapō/Lyttelton Harbour for the first time since the Christchurch earthquakes on October 27 2022. LPC received 27 Cruise ships in the six months to 31 December 2022 and is expected to receive another 55 Cruise ship visits total of 82 for the season.

• The Safety Reset was launched in July 2022 with eight Life Saving commitments.

• Continuing to deliver the Workplace Culture Action Plan enabling everyone to do their work while feeling safe and supported.

• The Eastern Development Programme to expand the container terminal continues with new truck lanes, refrigeration towers, and electrical work to be completed by April 2023.

• The new workshop project is progressing well and will be completed by the end of the 2022/23 financial year.

• Separate projects are about to get underway to improve the Inner Harbour and City Depot container hub in Woolston. These projects will provide better facilities for customers and enhance these sites’ safety and environmental performance. NZL

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forest talk

‘Locals helping locals’ TDX HAS PARTNERED WITH WELLNESS CENTRE, BrainTree, as part of its mandate of ‘locals helping locals’ since its relaunch in May last year.

Each of the 18 TDX branches around the country that make up this 40-plus year old Kiwi business, have a mandate to engage with local community groups and provide support to these organisations. As part of this initiative, the TDX Head Office in Christchurch embarked on the latest collaboration.

“We aimed to raise a significant amount of money for BrainTree, to support the outstanding work they do as a local wellness centre addressing the neurological needs of the community. It’s a great cause and one which resonates with the TDX team,” says CEO, Colm Hamrogue.

“Through April we auctioned off more than 30 lots with proceeds going to BrainTree. All items were generously TDX CEO, Colm Hamrogue. donated by TDX and our suppliers.

Headline items included a Yanmar Vio17 excavator signed 2023 Canterbury Crusaders rugby jersey. with Attach2 attachments (retail $39,500+gst), a Volvo “Key to being part of our community is that we want to build 2,000 hour service plan and an F1 mini helmet – signed by Charles on our four decades of helping locals, and this initiative with Leclerc.

Other items included a Volvo dig experience for the auction BrainTree is a great way for TDX to support such a worthwhile local winner and five friends; a Shell 1954 Bowser Replica Fridge and a facility,” says Mr Hamrogue. NZL

Inset: TDX BrainTree Auction page.

Main: BrainTree Wellness Centre.

12 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

forest talk

Permanent New Forestry estate Zealand yard for purchase Ritchie Bros.

RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST permanent yard in New Zealand, providing a platform for New Zealanders to sell their machinery to a global audience, opening up new opportunities for international trade.

The yard, located at 25b Tegal Road, Drury, Auckland, was already host to the first New Zealand IronPlanet Auction of the year last month.

“We are thrilled to launch our first permanent yard in New Zealand,” says Regional Sales Manager at Ritchie Bros, Dom McGlinchey. “This facility will provide a convenient location for buyers and sellers to transact machinery, while also allowing us to expand our presence in the local market.

“By offering a wide range of machinery for buyers to inspect onsite and bid online, we are making it easier than ever for sellers to reach a large pool of potential buyers and get the best possible value for their assets.

“With our online platform, buyers can bid from anywhere in the world, making the purchasing process simple and convenient.” NZL

NEW ZEALAND RURAL LAND COMPANY LIMITED (NZX.NZL) HAS successfully completed the acquisition of a forestry estate located in Manawatū-Whanganui in the North Island.

The estate comprises five individual properties with a total area of approximately 2,400 hectares, and was purchased at an acquisition cost of approximately $63 million. The entire estate has been leased to New Zealand Forest Leasing (NZFL) for a period of 20 years, with the first year’s payment being approximately $5m.

The lease then has annual CPI-linked rental adjustments.

Co-founder and New Zealand Rural Land Management Director, Richard Milsom, says the purchase was funded using a combination of debt and equity. Debt has been provided through an increase in borrowings from Rabobank of $25.2m.

“The equity component has been funded from the proceeds of NZL’s recent capital raise offer and from the proceeds of a $12m convertible note issued to an entity associated with NZFL. “This forestry estate acquisition means NZL now owns 14,1101 hectares of rural land with a 12.1 year weighted average lease term (by value), and 100% occupancy across eight tenants. It adds materially to the scale and diversity of NZL’s asset and tenant base.” NZL

Grooved Drums and Sleeves

DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER

forest talk

View of the Hunua Ranges.

Photo: Alastair Jamieson.

Autumn health check for Hunua Ranges’ Kauri A SURVEY OF KAURI HEALTH TO CONFIRM the forest is still free of the deadly kauri dieback disease is underway in Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui/Hunua Ranges.

It is the third large-scale survey of the ranges, in an area where the soil-borne pathogen, Phytophthora agathidicida, the cause of kauri dieback disease, has not yet been detected.

The Hunua Ranges is a stronghold against the disease, making it one of the most significant disease-free kauri forests in the country.

Planning, Environment and Parks Committee Chair, Councillor Richard Hills says the ecological value of the Hunua Ranges is immense.

“It’s more than a population of trees growing on land, it’s a population of culturally significant taonga that have survived historical land clearance and logging. It’s also home to the threatened Hochstetter’s frog species and one of the largest populations of kōkako in the country. Protecting these taonga is imperative.”

14 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

The survey is being carried out in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC) and ngā iwi mana whenua o Te Ngāherehere o Kohukohunui (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Tamaterā).

Biosense, the company partnering Auckland Council and ngā iwi mana whenua on the project, recognises the importance of mana whenua as kaitiaki of the ngahere. Director Lee Hills says his field team is looking forward to working alongside kaimahi during the field survey.

The area to be surveyed will include the forested area of the Hunua Ranges encompassing Auckland Council regional parks, public conservation land and a few neighbouring private properties.

The survey will combine mapping of the kauri population from aerial imagery and findings and data gathered from the 2021 Watakere Survey to understand kauri health in the Hunua Ranges.

Seven hundred kauri will be surveyed; 500 selected at random, and 200 chosen based on risk. Ground-based surveys

recording tree health will be undertaken along with soil samples from each of the 700 trees.

“The random selection of 500 trees will give us a baseline understanding of tree health and whether the pathogen is present or absent. The further sample of 200 riskbased trees will maximise our ability to detect the pathogen where we think it is most likely to be, if present,” says Auckland Council Kauri Dieback Manager, Lisa Tolich.

“This will create a cohort of monitored trees that can be consistently re-measured to understand change in tree health.

“We also aim to undertake a pilot study to see if Phytophthora agathidicida can be detected in streams, which would enable early detection surveillance for catchment areas,” she adds.

Testing of samples from soil and stream water will be carried out using more innovative and sensitive DNA-based technology that is expected to increase the chances of detecting the pathogen.

Findings from the analysis of the Kauri Health Survey will be published in June 2024. NZL

The Waratah H212 designed and purpose built for small hardwood debarking and softwood thinning operations. High quality delimbing with the efficiency to be mounted on any 13 - 15 ton tracked or wheeled carrier.

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forest talk

1080 is not the answer THE NATIVE PARROT THE KEA IS UNDER SIEGE FROM AERIAL spread 1080 poison drops says West Coast forester and wildlife advocate, Laurie Collins of Westport. While it is accepted that a good proportion of New Zealanders are opposed to aerial 1080 poison drops used as an “animal control” tool in New Zealand, several aspects detrimental to wildlife, are ignored he maintains.

“Virtually totally ignored is the ‘carbon footprint’ of the helicopter that is flying over very ecologically sensitive areas,” he says. “Nor is the public made aware of how many highly poisonous pellets actually end up on the ground.”

As a young forestry trainee in the late 1950s, Mr Collins worked on the first trials of 1080 in the Greenstone valley, Lake Wakatipu and with the subsequent use of the toxin. Following NZ Forest Service employment he was engaged in “pest” control work for many years and was a possum trapper other times. He still frequents the mountains, particularly in the Lewis Pass area and has witnessed numerous 1080 drops and effects.

Mr Collins says the amount of 1080 pellets is staggering.

To illustrate, he used the example of aerial 1080 poison drops in the Kahurangi National Park, ie, north west Nelson, for some basic sums.

“There are eighty-three (83) 1080 pellets in each kilogram of delivered bait. The normal consent for aerial 1080 operations is no more than 5kgs per hectare. Consider that the Department of Conservation has no logical reason for using aerial 1080 poison for

‘pest’ control, then it can be assumed that the maximum allowable amount of poison is, in fact, what will be used.”

Multiplying 83 pellets by 5kgs gives 415 pellets per hectare. The Kahurangi poison drop covered 113,699 hectares.

Then 113,699 multiplied by 415 gives 47,185,085 (47 million) pellets of 1080 poison on the ground.

“To reiterate, that is over 47 million – a mind boggling figure,” he says. “If one in every ten thousand pellets kills one native bird, the Kahurangi aerial drop will kill 4,718 of our precious native birds.”

The maximum number of surviving Kea in New Zealand is about 5,000 birds according to the Department of Conservation.

“If the population inside Kahurangi National Park is 1,000 Kea, then if each Kea eats just one of the 47 million pellets which would be available to them, the total Kahurangi Kea population will disappear,” he explains. “If this is added to the other huge West Coast aerial drops of 1080, then the Kea will become extinct.”

Mr Collins says there is too much secrecy shrouding 1080 drops on public lands.

“I believe the public should be made aware of the absolute dishonesty of information as regards pest control and the use of 1080 in New Zealand that is put forward by the department. Two West Coast 1080 drops that took place in late 2022 were over New Zealand’s main Kea habitat. It would appear that Kea’s survival has no place in DOC’s 1080 agenda.” NZL

New industrial rubber track GLOBAL TYRE PLAYER BKT, HAS launched its new industrial rubber track, Multiforce BK T91.

Rubber tracks have proven to be very effective in certain applications, since they are able to improve the mobility and stability of machinery and vehicles in difficult and demanding situations.

Multiforce, BKT’s new series of rubber tracks for the industrial and construction sectors, is designed to withstand harsh conditions, especially on difficult surfaces such as aggressive asphalt, mud, rocks, debris and rough terrain. Made of abrasionand-wear-resistant materials, the new track series ensures a long product life. At the

16 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

same time, the line provides a comfortable and safe ride for operators, reducing fatigue and vibration-related problems.

Multiforce BK T91 is its first industrial track pattern, designed for compact track loaders (CTL) in material-handling applications and harsh operating conditions. The tread is made of a high-performance compound to ensure maximum resistance against cuts, tears, and abrasion – factors that can affect durability and product performance. The special compound formulation combines resistance features with durability, making the track suitable for daily usage in rough industrial environments. In addition, Multiforce BK T91 has been reinforced with high-tensile steel cords for enhanced performance compared to traditional products, thus reducing downtime and maintenance costs in relation to the replacement of worn tracks.

It features a C-shaped tread pattern with a high number of edges

that provide strong grip on the terrain in addition to top traction performance. As a result, the track is particularly suitable for a variety of surface conditions on and off the road, such as clay, mud, asphalt, gravel, and sand.

Another distinguishing feature of Multiforce BK T91 is its precise handling performance even in narrow spaces, without compromising goods or the surrounding environment – a crucial factor for all materialhandling operations, which results in enhanced operating efficiency and increased productivity.

It is currently available in five sizes 450 x 86 x 52, 450 x 86 x 55, 450 x 86 x 56, 450 x 86 x 58 and 450 x 86 x 60. NZL

Niche skidder TIGERCAT’S NEW 612 DUAL WINCH SKIDDER IS SPECIALLY designed to operate in selective harvesting applications, extracting high-value timber in steep or sensitive terrain conditions.

The Tigercat 612 series skidder platform was created to manage the extraction function in challenging terrain for selective felling applications, while preserving the value and quality of the residual stand. The machine can be equipped with a dual winch, a movable back shield and fairlead system, as well as a crane, and front blade tongs.

The 612 is equipped with the Tigercat FPT N67 Stage V engine, delivering 155 kW (208 hp). Combined with Tigercat’s efficient drive system, the 612 handles adverse terrain while minimising wheel spin.

A narrow stance allows easy navigation through tight trails and rough ground conditions. The movable shield can be used as an anchor while winching. The dual winch and moving fairlead system allow the operator independent control over two separate cables when operating in tight stand conditions.

The optional heavy-duty crane and blade tongs offer even more versatility for extracting, maneuvering and sorting logs.

The operator’s cab is spacious with generous-sized windows providing clear sightlines. Creature comforts include a climate-controlled cup holder and dedicated storage. Key to ergonomics and operating the machine effectively is the Turnaround seat. Turnaround provides increased comfort, clear sightlines, and easy entry and exit from either side of the machine. The operator enjoys full control of all machine functions in any position within the 220° range. NZL

forest talk

Technology firsts for Wood Transport & Logistics 2023 IN LOG TRANSPORT, COVERAGE of an array of new innovations around electric, hydrogen and diesel-hybrid powered vehicles, truck automation and platooning continue to roll out. Right now, there’s a huge amount of interest by larger fleet operators and already, a number of firsts for fuelling log trucks in this part of the world are underway and have been planned for early 2023.

These significant changes to transportation, along with innovations around log measurement and wood scheduling are being showcased as part of a major Wood Transport & Logistics conference being run by the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA).

All key trucking associations for forestry and log transport companies along with a raft of exhibitors are supporting the event running in Rotorua on 24-25 May 2023.

Virtual registrations are also open to delegates unable to travel to Rotorua.

As well as being the first dedicated log transport event run in over five years, the event (conference, trade exhibits and preand post-conference workshops) will be covering industry technology firsts including: • the first Australasian electric log truck using exchangeable batteries, • operation of the first hydrogen powered trucks, • trial results on running diesel-hydrogen hybrid transport fleets,

• rolling out scalable hydrogen refuelling networks across New Zealand, development of the first off-road in-forest log truck platooning, • robotic and mobile log scaling measurements, • operation of new automated chain throwing and tensioning.

Registrations for this event are rolling in. In addition to the conference and exhibitions, three pre-and post-conference workshops are being run, free to all registered Wood Transport & Logistics conference delegates.

Full details on the conference and workshop programmes can be found on the event website at: www.woodtransport. events NZL

Go-ahead for Residues2Revenues 2023 RESIDUES2REVENUES WILL RUN ONCE AGAIN IN ROTORUA THIS year, on 25 and 26 July. After an eight-year hiatus, the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) ran this wood residues event aimed specifically at those supplying biofuels and the forest products industry last year.

The event was timely. Low emissions energy to replace fossil fuels with electricity or solid biofuels was top of the Government’s agenda. Large industrial-scale heat and energy users throughout the country were firmly following the Government’s lead. The move to transition from fossil fuels was already well underway, with significant conversions being made across the country. Major announcements on new investments were being made almost every month.

The focus for the 2022 event was on the burgeoning demand for biofuels. Forest owners, those involved in logging operations and those with surplus waste from sawmilling and wood manufacturing operations were looking to satisfy current and projected future demand. At a regional level, there were already discussions underway on how best forest owners and suppliers of wood residues could aggregate and coordinate the collection, transport and processing of woody biomass. As well as providing surety to those looking to convert from burning fossil fuels, there was a growing recognition that the prevailing supply model needed to change to progressively drive scale and supply chain reliability.

The follow-up 2023 event will run again in Rotorua, with live virtual registrations set up for those unable to travel.

Momentum since the 2022 event has, if anything, increased. There is an increasing demand for wood fuel from companies like Fonterra; from schools, hospitals and universities; and from Genesis 18 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Energy, an electricity generation and retailing company looking to replace coal with biomass fuel at the Huntly Power Station.

The volume of wood now being sought in the form of residues is significant. A simple analysis by the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ) shows that the Huntly Power Station alone could encourage diversion of about a quarter of low-grade logs currently being exported.

Growing demand, as it was last year, from these large customers is providing real confidence to those in the supply chain to invest in new residue-recovery practices. The economics of better-utilising forest residues, bin wood, offcuts left on landings, short length or malformed logs that won’t meet MDF, pulp-mill or chip export log specifications and sawmill residues are finally starting to stack up.

Is the forestry sector in a position to supply? The answer from the industry and those attending the Residues to Revenues 2022 event was a resounding yes.

The Residues2Revenues 2023 event has been set up again to include practical pre and post-conference workshops, a conference and trade exhibitions. Details can be found at: www.woodresidues. events. NZL

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Iron Test

Operator, Steve Drower, sets off to clear another slip with the Hyundai HX145 excavator.

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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 20 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

A

POCKET ROCKET Story and photos: Tim Benseman

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EST EST 1909 1909

THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER TO NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY

May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 21

Main: Operator, Steve Drower, scrapes slip material off the hard face, ready to load another truck.

Inset: Steve loads up one of Gaddum’s rock trucks ready to end-haul slip material.

OU KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DAY when you have to drive around eight goats sleeping on the state highway in the dark on the way to work. The older ones scampered out of the way but some of the younger ones were still rubbing sleep out of their eyes as we went past and began accelerating again.

A few hours later it was turning into a nice sunny day as we approached the Gaddum Construction forestry roading site just out of Kawhia near the Oparau Store.

The loggers around here have had quite the experience by the looks of the harvested blocks, multiple of which have been hanging over the road, stumps cut off high at two metres plus to act as rub trees to keep shovelled and skidded stems from sweeping out onto the tarseal below.

We arrive at the cyclone-damaged forest and radio in as we start through the farmland. We are told to seek out the Gaddum rock truck on site so we can follow him into the forest where we will Iron-Test the Hyundai HX145 excavator that is clearing slips.

The flood damage in here is quite surprising. What is now a nice clear Oparau River obviously took a turn for the worse during Gabrielle and has blown out the concrete slab bridge plus littered the farmland with driftwood, rocks and silt as it found old floodplain pathways to Kawhia Harbour.

The repaired bridge approaches are still settling in but are pretty

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tidy as we rumble over them and head up the hill after the truck. After a bit of Health & Safety work, regular operator, Steve Drower, shows us around.

“As you can see the make-up of the soil here is a bit broken, no real structure to it so it is well-suited to being planted in trees. Most of this forest has held up well compared to a lot of other forests in the cyclone,” Steve says.

“When we rocked up to this block to begin work the river was flowing around both ends of the bridge and debris was all over the road. We smoothed it off then carefully built up rock abutments around the approaches to the bridge with bigger rocks to make it more sustainable for the future. The Wedgelock thumb came in really handy for that rock placement as well as picking up driftwood and getting it off the road.”

So, what got Steve into forest roading?

“Logging, basically. I spent quite a bit of time running gear in Kaingaroa Forest from 1968 to 1987 logging for Waipa Sawmill’s own crew in the old days when we used cranes to load logs onto trucks.

I was an all-rounder really, but I started out on the skids. Our logs would be trucked into Rotorua to the mill at Koutu traffic lights. It’s gone now of course but back in the day it was so quiet in Rotorua that the trucks would park on one of the lanes at the lights and the logs SERIOUS BIGNo TIME would get winched POWER off and intoFOR the mill. way LOGGERS you would get away with that sort of stuff these days.

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 22 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

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Above left: Hyundai’s reputation for strong and comfortable seats continues.

Above centre: The Tait RT is well-placed and quick to change channels in this model.

Above right: The view from the operator’s seat with the rotating tilt in action.

Eighty percent cutover work The Active VMA guarding package on the HX145 includes heavier doors and upgraded latches which Steve wanted due to the nature of the role where debris in the cutover can just flick up and do all sorts of damage without the operator being aware that there is any issue.

Steve likes the rake a lot. “What a dream tool. I use it a lot to rub out

logging tracks that aren’t required or that need to be rehabbed back to their original slope to stop them causing erosion. It’s good for raking slash into rows or piles and I also use it to break up compacted tracks so the water soaks in rather than runs off.”

It was important to Steve that he got to spec out this machine.

Eighty percent of his work is in the cutover installing water controls

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where much bigger logging machines have been charging around the place making ruts.

The HX145’s blade was just going to get tangled up, so he had it removed and he really wanted a rotating tilt hitch, which has proven to be a wise decision in hindsight.

Steve says it’s appreciated that the forest supervisors often deal directly with him these days. It removes a layer of communication and makes it quicker to comprehend exactly what the customer is after. “It’s nice to be trusted to deal directly with the forest company too,” he adds.

An upward trajectory Challenge Road in the Waiotahi Valley (Eastern Bay of Plenty) was the first big job for Gaddum Construction’s owner Guy Gaddum, and it was also the first time they appeared on my radar as I drove up that road in the 2000’s and encountered an enormous 80-tonne excavator the size of a decent building, rumbling down the road after building forest roads and hauler pads.

The Gaddum brand was firmly stamped on the counterweight.

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But Guy first started out in the industry as a 14-year-old growing up on a farm when at 4 o’clock one Saturday morning his dad needed his help running diggers and Moxy’s carting rock. By the time Guy and his brothers were around 16 years of age they were driving offroad trucks carting pulp in Mangatu Forest near Gisborne.

“This was obviously pre-OSH days. We got a good grounding in the earthmoving business including drilling, blasting, running crushers and stuff like that. Nothing beats the smell of diesel and dust on a clear winter’s morning. You can’t beat it. It’s like perfume, they should bottle it and sell it,” he says.

“But Mum wouldn’t let us quit school at 16 and go working for Dad so us three boys all went off to uni and got forestry degrees or resource management degrees and we could do whatever we wanted from then on… so we went back to moving dirt.

“I did a few years working for forestry companies such as Juken Nissho in Gisborne.

Sheldon Drummond back in the day would put us through the sawmill, then tree crop and the log yard learning about value recovery

and making different products. I did my Level 4 Treefaller module with Snow Elmers in 1992-ish. I still enjoy felling trees actually. I did some roading there and breaking out for hauler crews, all sorts, including forest pest control shooting goats from a helicopter. It was a good introduction,” says Guy. “Then I went to Rotorua to work for Brian Stanaway looking after his roading operations for Fletchers. Brian was good enough to allow me to buy in to the industry. I purchased a Cat 312 and a metal truck which I then leased back to him. That gave me some equity to go and buy some more gear off Porters and Porters are awesome because it

SERIOUS POWER BIG TIME LOGGERS

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 24 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Left: Regular operator, Steve Drower, likes the strengthened panels but had the blade removed to increase ground clearance during his cutover operations.

Below left: One of the surround view cameras. Steve likes the zero tail as it’s much easier to not have a silver counterweight after running in tight conditions.

Above left: The stock refuelling pump and hydraulic valve bay is protected by two door panels.

Above right: Combined filter placements make for speedy maintenance from the ground.

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Above left and centre: The Wedgelock rotating tilt hitch is awesomely smooth to run.

Above right: Gaddum Construction is very impressed with Wedgelock’s PowerClamp thumb system which has been in production in New Zealand since the 1990’s.

Below: Operator, Steve Drower, uses the Wedgelock PowerClamp to hold a branch and other slip material in the bucket ready to load Gaddum’s Hino 700.

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MADE IN CANADA FOR NZ CONDITIONS

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 | May 2023

was the height of the GFC at the time and everybody I went to wanted my house, well more than my house actually, they wanted everything including my working capital which would’ve meant I had nothing to get moving. Porters were just awesome. I rocked up there and said I need a D85, I need two 20-tonne diggers, I need a grader and a roller and I need them in a month’s time. They looked me in the eye and we signed on the dotted line and a month later we were into it.

“We’ve had a good run with Hyundai’s. I started out on my own in 2009 with a couple of second-hand dash sevens and I still have them. They have both done over 30,000 hours and we have never ever touched the motors on them. We’ve done final drives and pumps and stuff like that, but those two dash sevens just go and go and go.”

“We have a mechanical safety reporting system to keep machines in top shape and the only issue we have with those old Hyundai’s is that one has an aircon fault this morning. That’s a good problem to have if that’s all we can find that’s wrong with it to be honest.”

From that start in 2009 Guy has had a steady growth path to now employing 55 staff, 30ish diggers, five bulldozers, eight dump trucks, a mix of 20 and 40 tonners, plus a few graders and rollers, crushers and screens. This includes two recent major acquisitions – Partridge’s stable of four heavy machinery transporters and Tony Elmiger Ltd, a longstanding CNI forestry business which includes 17 machines involved in spot cultivation, line raking, water controls and roading in Kaingaroa Forest.

A huge disruption Guy was born and raised in Gisborne and feels for the crews in the area facing the catastrophic effects of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Above left: The big stainless exhaust pipe emits a respectable growl, and the shovel and fire extinguisher are mounted well out of the way.

Above right: Another one of the surround-view cameras sits above the surprisingly tidy radiator bay.

“We are transporting logging crews out of Ihungia (inland from Tokomaru Bay, Gisborne) at the moment and we are having to cart those machines right up through Ruatoria, around East Cape, Opotiki and I think that crew is going to New Plymouth, so it’s a huge disruption to the normal scheme of things with all this storm damage.

Road access is out, bridges are out, it’s just hard. Bloody hard. On top of that we have a question of whether we still have a social licence to continue harvesting on the Cape, as well as the government review to consider and have input into.

“At the end of the day those trees were planted for a reason after Bola, and they have done a pretty good job over the last 30 years of holding most of the hillsides up. That soil is fragile and needs forest cover.

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Left: Operator, Steve Drower, is happy and impressed with his new machine.

Right: Steve’s favourite rake along with the repaired bridge and end-hauled slip material being unloaded at Oparau.

Below: The HX145CR loads out more slip material for end-haul.

SERIOUS POWER FOR BIG TIME LOGGERS

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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 | May 2023

Looking back through history, Bill Wheeler (Ex Ernslaw) has a film from 1949 where the beaches around Gisborne are covered in slash, from one end of the beach to the other, but it was native slash. Fast forward to this year or yesterday actually when I was at my parents’ in-laws’ property at Nuhaka and they have two rivers going through their property. One is full of pine slash and the other is full of Totara slash and willow, so to blame pine slash 100% is not right.”

A brief look into the etymology or history of the word ‘slash’ dates it back to 1887 American English in relation to Slash and Burn to clear land for farming. Seeing as the powers that be have stopped the ‘burn’ side of it maybe we should be moving away from the term ‘slash’ as well and going back to the more honest term ‘driftwood’, a term coined in the 1630’s, relating to “wood floating on water”.

Crushing rocks Another aspect of Gaddum Construction is their crushers working in the Waioeka and Motu Rivers in Eastern Bay of Plenty supplying essential rock for our roads. “We also do contract crushing and quarry stripping for the likes of Fulton Hogan and Waiotahi Contractors. While forest roading is our bread and butter we have started to do highway work for Fulton Hogan and Higgins as we are fed up with complaining about the roads, so we have decided to get in there and try and comprehend what is going on so we can try and do something about it,” says Guy, “Purchasing Tony Elmiger’s business meanwhile was a move to spread our risk. Most of our roading at the moment is in difficult and expensive terrain so we are the first to feel any change in those log markets. The wind changes direction pretty quick when log prices go south and if you are roading in steep terrain, roading costs north of $20 a tonne type terrain, you need a diversified client base to keep the business going. Kaingaroa is a more stable forest environment both in terms of terrain and markets. Kaingaroa is a lot easier work, close to town, flat-ish – it’s pumice so is not often affected by wet weather.

Down the coast, wet weather halts work fairly quickly in roading and even in the rivers extracting gravel if there is significant rain.”

So, with riverbeds filling up with gravel and busting stop banks around the place, has it made extracting river gravel for roading any easier? “No, it’s still bloody hard. We are lucky to have the Motu River consent. That allows us to extract 100,000 cubic metres of river run or

about 180,000 tonnes per year. Other businesses I am involved in have had their allocations of gravel extraction knocked on the head for a host of reasons between Whakatane and Wairoa.

“When we start roading in a new client’s forest we do try to get in on the ground floor by using our roading and mapping software to survey the road, design it and then we have a small processor that we have on standby and roading operators who can use it, so we can road-line it then road it.

“That way we can get all the roads and skids in without the expensive interaction of two different crews (logging and roading) and then the forest is sitting there waiting for the prices to come right and the clients can then strike while the iron is hot.

“I also do blasting whenever I get the chance to. Blasting dangerous trees such as big old man pines that are partly rotten and are too dangerous to fell, or floaters – large boulders that are in the way of roads and are too big for machines to move. We’ll go in and drill it and blast it and turn it into manageable bits.”

On the inflation front, Guy says having a fuel price clause in contracts is essential now and he is finding that something they need to monitor is that his staff are able to cope with the rising cost of living.

“We are also seeing problems with the supply chain for machinery parts, and I don’t know anybody who is getting rid of old gear because we all need to have spare gear sitting around ready to go, in case of a breakdown that can’t be fixed as quickly as it used to be.

“Those spare machines might be only called on to do 50 hours for a week or two while the main machine is waiting for a part to show up, but that keeps the client happy that the job is moving forward, and it keeps staff in work and bills paid.

“As far as attachments go, all of our diggers bar one have a Wedgelock PowerClamp thumb and they are just magic. We couldn’t do our job properly without those thumbs. They are absolutely bulletproof. We have even used them to shovel logs at a pinch if a grapple gets broken. You do have to be careful, but it certainly can be done and keep the job moving forward. We also use them for handling deadmen, handling stumps… just indispensable.”

Moving forward, Guy has another two Hyundai’s on the way for the Elmiger crew, another HX 145 going into post-harvest operations and road maintenance, and an HX 220 going into forest roading. NZL

iron tester: Tim Benseman

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THIS MACHINE are that this is a pocket rocket – very powerful for its size, compact, strongly built and multifunctional with the rotating tilt, thumb, buckets and rake it travels with.

The zero tail is obviously going to be a winner, pushing through tracks and clearing slips where you have to frequently change positions from bulk-out to loading for endhaul and water table reshaping.

Regular operator, Steve Drower, hopped in it to load the first truck and what a surprise, she is a growler with a throaty roar out of that big stainless exhaust pipe.

Climbing in myself soon after, it was nice not to crease my neck skin and crack a few cogs to get up into it like I would with high and wide logging gear.

The seat is well shaped and accommodating and right away I can see why Steve is happy in this machine. Nicely appointed controls, comfortable and smooth movements. And power?

Impressive! What is going on here? A quick look at the specs shows this thing is pumping 130HP. Less than 20 years ago a 20-tonner had pretty much the same horsepower as this 14-tonner.

The Wedgelock rotating tilt system is supersmooth. I was wondering just how good it would be, as each tilt I have encountered has been quite a long learning curve to get to the point where you can run them smoothly without any overruns and corrections.

This one is streets ahead of anything I have used. So much better having the tilt control under your thumb on a rocking button for left and right and no lag. The first time I tilted and dragged while graduating the tilt through slip material to get the mud out of a few metres of water table it just went right where I wanted it to. I need one of these, that’s for sure. So much easier to have a great day with a tilt like that on the job.

The conventional wisdom has been that rotating hitches are not as strong as tilting

Iron Tester, Tim Benseman. rams, but who the hell cares when it works this well? One thing Steve said was that the bucket on this new machine was 1.8m versus his old Hyundai dash 9 model with tilt rams which had a 2m bucket and I presume this is to make the set-up more durable.

200mm is a small price to pay.

That smoothness transferred to the thumb as well and although there wasn’t any driftwood within reach to relocate, I got a good feel for it opening and closing it and

Operator, Steve Drower, clears slip material out of the water table with the HX145CR.

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

IFICATION

SPEC S HYUNDAI HX145CR – SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE

ATTACHMENTS

4-cylinder, 4.5-litre Cummins turbocharged, charge air cooled, electronic controlled diesel.

Gross power 97 kW (130 hp) at 2,000 rpm 620 Nm (457 lb·ft) at 1,500 rpm Peak Torque

Wedgelock Wedgelock Buckets Rake

HYDRAULICS Type Main pumps Pilot pump

PowerClamp thumb Rotating tilt hitch Hyundai Rock and Drainage Push-pull type stick

REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES) Variable displacement tandem axis piston pumps 2 X 120 lpm Gear

UNDERCARRIAGE Center frame X - leg type Track frame Pentagonal box type Track shoe width

can see how much more dynamic it makes this machine for cleaning up debris and shifting the odd tree or log.

I thought having the shovel and fire extinguisher flying up and down next to the cab window might be a bit of an issue, but I

265 180 24 10.5

DIMENSIONS (MM) 600mm triple grouser

BOOM/ARM Model Max reach

Fuel tank Hydraulic system (incl tank) Engine Coolant Engine Oil

Hyundai 8.1m

Length Width Height Ground clearance Operating weight

didn’t even notice it. Steve prefers both of them where they are, although he did have to remove the shovel holder and take it back to the workshop for a slight tweak to get it exactly how he likes it, which is probably why I didn’t notice it. That’s decades of

7,750 2,500 2,936 440 14,660kgs

experience for you.

This machine is very smooth and powerful with good multicontrol capability when tilting and shaping dirt. Really responsive when scraping the slip debris off the face of the bank. I definitely want one. NZL

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Special Feature: The Science of Slash

Forestry image tarnished Story: Jim Childerstone

F

ORESTRY, A SIGNIFICANT NEW ZEALAND LAND-BASED industry, has become a media whipping boy in recent times.

Headlines scream: “Pastoral land covered in exotic pine trees”; “Forest harvest slash inundates farmlands, knocks out bridges, destroys buildings and a threat to life and limb”; and “Pine trees invade iconic landscapes”.

Nightly television images depict devastation due to extreme weather events in the Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay regions with comments mostly from environmental groups.

And so on, regularly featured in the mainstream media.

Our exotic pine plantations have reached the bottom rung in popularity among both urban and many rural dwellers.

Yes, many large corporate plantation forests are overseas-owned by up to 37% but there are also many local investors in large-scale plantations, including small-scale farm foresters and Māori interests.

And most do follow the rules for sustainability and good management under the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme.

But people in the industry admit they are still learning – particularly with the advent of climate change.

The main concern among pastoral farmers is the more recent advent of permanent forests or “carbon farming”.

Struggling property owners are entitled to either sell up or plant pine trees, which is proving to be more profitable than running livestock.

34 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

But it’s the recent extreme weather events and Cyclone Gabrielle that have really put the heat on forestry.

Post-harvest “slash” is in fact a mix of bin wood (offcuts) reject logs, tree tops and branches sitting on skid sites and landings. But also broken branches left on the cutover areas. In some areas this residue is processed into biofuels.

DCC City Forests’ Grant Dodson, President of the NZ Forest Owners Association, describes this as a “very sensitive” situation. “Forestry companies are working very hard to help their communities but are also suffering a backlash.”

He warns that there are literally billions of dollars at stake and significant impacts on the community infrastructure – as well as some very large investments from New Zealand and overseas. Forestry exports exceed $7 billion annually.

The future of the industry has to be carefully managed, he believes, and, “be sensitive to the considerable social hardship and damage done by the cyclones”.

Prior to the cyclone and now doubling down on the research are scientists from both universities and Crown research institutes who are working hard on solutions.

This could mean changes to forest management systems.

The NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) recommends permanent or continuous cover systems on steep slopes.

Potential biofuel residue along the roadside following wilding tree clearance at Omarama.

Mixed species of both exotic conifers and indigenous species should be part of the solution.

The University of Canterbury’s Forestry School’s Mark Bloomberg is working on small coupe and select tree harvest in several steeper areas, including in Hawke’s Bay. This allows continued timber production for local processors and stabilisation of catchments.

The Forestry School’s Campbell Harvey is working on accumulations of residues on steep slope harvest sites.

Meanwhile, a Scion Research team led by Peter Hall has been researching conversion of forest residues into a variety of products such as liquid fuels and processes for heat energy.

However, a significant percentage of New Zealand’s population remains ignorant of our forestry industry, and how it operates and manages our basic exotic forestry estate.

It has to be recognised that the resource is the most environmentally-friendly industry in New Zealand, if not the world, to mitigate climate change.

Growing trees, both short-term conifers such as P radiata and long-term native bush, sequesters greenhouse gases, GHGs. It also provides shelter, habitat for wildlife and biodiversity as well as stabilising catchments.

Most exotic plantations are grown on a rotational and

sustainable basis.

Carbon is sequestered during growth and retained in products postharvest and processing.

The variety of items, apart from wood-based products for buildings and homes, also includes biomass for energy in both liquid and solid form. And, more recently, added medical applications, such as an antioxidant (Enzogenol) for health, developed by Canterbury University (*Odt report). Projects for essential oils are ongoing.

Due to the fact wood manufacturing does not require raw material extraction, it has the lowest carbon footprint of any other industry.

Thus it is also worth noting that in the production of heat energy in joules, a unit of heat from coal emits over 80kgs of carbon compared to wood chip of under 2kgs (Scion Research).

A further development is secondary processing of wood chip into a high-energy pellet form suitable for fuel to replace coal at the Huntly Power Station. Currently pellets are imported from Canada as a trial.

It is most important that these researched facts and figures should be promoted publicly before the industry is further demonised – as a resource that provides for our shelter, heat, power, health and potential transport fuels from resins. * Lincoln Dip Agriculture and National Dip Ag Eng, hydrology, soil and water engineering, 48 years forestry business, Odt farm editor 1977-8.

May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 35

Special Feature: The Science of Slash

Science-informed, locally-driven extreme weather solutions T

HE SLASH ISSUE IS “VERY SENSITIVE” AND THE NORTH Island East Coast forestry companies are working hard to help their communities, says the NZ Forest Owners Association (FOA).

“But foresters are also suffering a social backlash,” says FOA President, Grant Dodson.

The Association’s response will change more towards presenting facts and defending the industry in coming weeks, “but in a carefully managed way” he explains. Solutions need to be “sympathetic to the impacts on local communities”.

“Forestry has clearly had impacts but it has also been overcome by the cyclones and been impacted along with farming, roads, power, phone and the like,” Mr Dodson points out.

The huge volume of forest residue washed off the slopes is

Top: Offcuts, slovens and reject log suitable for biofuel processing.

Below left: Skisite slash not recoverable.

Below right: Mix of binwood, reject log and branches.

36 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

obviously a lost resource for potential biomass and other uses, which could have been economically salvaged and processed.

Currently, and over the next six months, the Ministerial inquiry into East Coast Forestry Practices and land use is to look into the problems.

However, this could have a bearing on all steep slope forestry management systems – and it could mean lower volumes of export logs according to some researchers.

Hard at work on forest residue management and recovery systems are Canterbury University’s Forestry School researchers and Scion Research with input from the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand and forestry companies.

Graham West, President of the NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA), in stating the obvious, points out that climate change is drastically affecting our weather patterns.

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Special Feature: The Science of Slash

Firstly a “low cost solution” is needed to mitigate carbon emissions.

“The only affordable way and timely solution for New Zealand is carbon offsetting into forests,” Mr West explains.

“We need to encourage the existing forest owners on the East Coast not to harvest steep or extensive riparian areas and to convert to permanent carbon forests.

“We also need to encourage farmers to plant all Class 7 and 8 land into permanent forest which could involve mixed species such as Redwood or Cypress.”

The FFA also recommends a high-value use for low-quality radiata logs using small local processing plants.

In summary, says Mr West, “We need to show the world we have a plan to get to carbon negativity by 2050… to absorb more than we emit, and from the moral high ground, ask the big emitters of the planet to stop stuffing up our climate. We can’t afford it.”

The government’s draft Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation plan is programmed to assist with local processing.

Predicted residues suitable for biomass fuels from New Zealand’s production forestry operations had been estimated at close to 6m cubic meters. Yet hardly a sixth of that volume is currently being recovered for processing into chip for heat energy.

Managed mixed species forest showing large coupe felling in the distance on slope with lower gully growth of native bush, at Hanmer Matariki Forests established nearly 80 years ago with input from the old NZ Forestry Services

38 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Harvesting solutions University of Canterbury Forestry School researcher, Mark Bloomberg, is working on solutions for steep slope harvesting systems and has looked at several sites, including Gisborne.

This includes small coupe and select stem removal under continuous cover forestry regimes.

He points out that in the case of extreme weather damage, recovery of storm-damaged forest residue needs to be in an area “with a large user of fuel wood for space heating, or process heat or electricity generation”.

The problem is that end users in the district at this stage are not available. Big users are around 350km plus away in the Central North Island, such as Fonterra milk treatment plants, involving high transport costs.

Mr Bloomberg understands the local industry is looking for ways to sort this out.

On stabilisation of steep slope forestry, he says there has been plenty of research on alternative species for continuous cover forests.

“Redwoods, cypresses and eucalypts can grow on the East Coast, and maybe even Douglas-fir in cooler areas.

“The big problem that needs a lot of work is how to get the costs of

W

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indigenous establishment down from $30,000/ha – 10 times more than for an exotic crop.”

This makes it unaffordable. “Unless costs can be kept down this will be difficult to achieve on a large scale,” Mr Bloomberg explains.

“This applies to transition silviculture where pine forests are managed towards indigenous regeneration – which we need on the East Coast as there are thousands of hectares in forests – or that should be in forests because of erosion.

“Likewise, with alternative harvesting systems such as small coupes, selected tree harvest with continuous cover should be considered. We know these can work in radiata pine, we just need to find a way to do this at a large scale.”

Mr Bloomberg concludes that the knowledge is there, “We just need to work out how to do it in a practical way. This is no easy task, but the surest way to fail is not to try in the first place”.

He observes that a strict commercial forestry model does not work on erosion-prone land. Forest managers need to have the license to make decisions with the land and the community foremost, “and that can be hard in a purely commercial setting”.

Residue on steep slopes In the meantime, Campbell Harvey of Canterbury University Forestry School is working on the accumulation of residues on steep slope harvest sites.

He has been researching 16 recently harvested sites in a number of areas, including Nelson and Gisborne.

These include both cable hauler and ground-based landings which indicate higher volumes of residue on cable sites.

Renewable resource. Replanting on cutover post harvest at Herbert Forest, 1998, then under Crown ownership.

Mr Harvey explains that this “demonstrates the ability to investigate the bulk volume and site coverage of landing residue piles with equipment and software tools available to foresters.

“Mean values for pile areas and volume are presented to reflect the current state of knowledge, and can be a reference point for future initiatives. Presumedly this could be useful when applied to future updated recovery systems.”

Average measurement of landing residue piles is 170m3/ha harvested.

Slash as fuel Scion Research’s Peter Hall, Senior Technologist Bioenergy, explains that the future use of slash as a fuel is an obvious one.

It could be used as chip locally, but “there’s not a lot of demand in the Gisborne region”.

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Special Feature: The Science of Slash

Above left and right: Steep slope harvest woodlot in East Otago with a large residue pile handy to the ridge landing for biomass recovery.

Below: Binwood pile left after harvest six months ago at Waianakarua. Just one of many piles of slash left over the past couple of years in North Otago with the lack of boiler conversions or other end users within the North Otago area.

However, looking into further processing of wood chip for increased calorific heat, Mr Hall believes there is “no technical reason we could not have plant making torrefied pellets (black pellets) from slash in New Zealand”. This could be achieved by a mobile processing system, according to one report.

With the Genesis Huntly Power Station trials using torrefied pellets, this was being imported from Canada. Mr Hall described the trial as a success, but pellets could be processed here if this and other plants were to eliminate coal use.

For plants some distance away from users; densification of “white pellets”, possible with heat treatment torrefied into “black pellets”, would probably be cost-effective to supply Huntly. Also known as “black coal”, pellets could be stored outside for long periods, Mr Hall points out, suitable for Huntly’s supply.

Mr Hall was at Huntly during Stage 2 of 3 of the trial and had discussions with Genesis staff, some of their consultants and the torrefied pellet supplier.

He explains that Scion had done, and is doing, more work on this issue. “We have some models for working out costs of residue harvesting, pelletising and supply chain etc.”

Other processing actions include biochar and activated carbon.

“The key point – why wait until we have a storm event?” he asks.

“Collect it as it is made and solve the problem properly. Including

40 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

the cutover residues.”

He says Scion has done work on forest residue supply in Gisborne for the Tairāwhiti Trust and Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group a few years ago but he is unable to share those reports as “they were done on contract”.

“We have also done work on the cost of collecting forest residue and delivering to a processing plant”, but also done on contract.

Due now to rising costs, most of the cost-based stuff is now out of date, he says. “Anything over six months old is probably going to no longer be applicable.”

Departing from the vexed issue of slash and general adverse publicity against forestry, one-time Scion researcher, Nic Ledgard, observes that where trees are planted can cause controversy. Aka pine trees covering pastoral land, iconic landscapes, suppressing indigenous vegetation etc.

“The NZFFA promotes the wise use and (informed) integration of trees/forests onto farmland. The problem with (certain areas) is that the public views much of the high country to be at the extreme end of what we should farm in New Zealand – and therefore controversy is inevitable.

“It’s much more to do with visual landscape values. In that respect, beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder, and that will vary with every location and viewer,” says Mr Ledgard. NZL

Looking Back

42 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Facing page: This impressive view graphically shows three bushmen putting the finishing touches to their magnificent labour of love using nothing more than their trusty timber jacks. There was no mechanical machinery available to assist with construction but two of the men are proudly posing with their timber jacks although their axes would be close at hand also. It is worth taking a minute to ponder whether these men started building the shoot from the top down, or would it have been easier from the bottom up? Turn the page for further clues...

Above: This “open-air” sawmill is thought to be the very first to operate in Kakahi. According to Dick Barnett, when interviewed in 1971, this sawmill was put in before the Government built the first of their two State Mills and was used mainly by the Public Works for squaring sleepers for the railway. He thought the date was about 1904 or 1905 and the man standing to the right was Gavin Weir, later manager of the State Mills. Notice the Mãori ladies and children eyeing out this strange new machinery.

e t o n f o t o o h s g Lo at

i h a k a K

Photographic examples of genuine log shoots in New Zealand are difficult to locate but historian Ron Cooke of Taumarunui found two images of the same shoot that worked at Kakahi in the early 1900s during the construction of the Main Trunk Railway...

W

HILE THE RAILWAY WAS BEING PUSHED THROUGH the King Country from the turning of the first sod at Puniu in 1885, it was not until around 1904 that sawmill contractors were starting to cut timber for sleepers at Kakahi.

The Public Works Department (PWD) was responsible overall for constructing the railway for the Government and had decided that

Kakahi would be an ideal site to establish a sawmill to cut and supply timber for bridges, culverts, station buildings, sleepers and other necessary requirements.

A progress report of the Main Trunk in 1904 stated that “a sawmill is being arranged for at Kakahi to cut sleepers and other necessary timber” followed in 1905 by another report that said, “a May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 43

Looking Back

Public Works sawmill has been started at Kakahi”.

The chimneys of two stationary steam engines can be seen in the photo on page 43. The one on the right looks to be driving a vertical breaking down saw while on the left a single saw is being driven. Another report claimed about 9000 to 10,000 superficial feet per day would be produced after all the machinery was installed.

This view of the log shoot will add further speculation to those who are still pondering the up or down question. Readers will notice that there’s only one of the three base logs in position so this means the photo was taken earlier with the remaining logs arriving to the skids from below. It also seems logical that the chute logs were felled from the standing bush on the site. By the way, this photo was published in The Weekly News on 3 May 1906 with the caption: “A timber shoot and skids in the Government Bush, Kakahi, where sleepers for the Main Trunk Line are obtained”.

44 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Prior to this, getting the logs to the mill would have initially involved timber jacks, bullock teams and skidding roads to assist delivery. Depending on the steepness of the terrain it would have been necessary to occasionally construct a “log shoot” to speed up the process.

This fact has been confirmed in a booklet The Kakahi Sawmills first published in 1978 by The Lodestar Press when the tramway

A really excellent view of the bustling sawmilling village of Kakahi in 1908, a few years after the Railways Department established two sawmills bearing the uncomplicated titles of State Mill No.1 (seen top left) and State Mill No.2 connected by a short tramline, a good mile or so to the right, at a site known by locals as “Bulltown”. The tramline in the foreground climbs steeply from the mill to the forests along the route later named Waitea Road. The houses and whares of the mill hands are prominent, with the growing township of Kakahi seen beyond the main trunk railway viaduct. Unseen in the distance is the mighty Whanganui River.

Looking Back

to the bush was being described. Basically, the tram ran from State Sawmill No 1 located in the railway yard along the present Waitea Road out to SH4.

The narrative had mentioned a “runaway siding” that was provided to catch and stop a runaway train out of control on the steep descent into the mill yard when these vital words were recorded.

“Further up the hill is an old Public Works timber shoot, long since fallen into decay. This was in use in the very early days of the mill when it was in the hands of the PWD and before the tramline up the hill was in existence.”

The quote continues: “The logs were dragged by bullocks to the top of the ’shoot’ then shot down it. Arriving at the bottom they were loaded on to trucks and hauled along the tramline to the mill.”

Remains of the tramline formation and cutting can still be seen and, amazingly, the site of the original log chute remains largely untouched, apart from long grass, blackberry, a few pungas and a stormwater run-off. While the area is on private property there’s probably a few secrets still hidden that will be protected by the owners from further destruction. * Photos sourced from the Taumarunui & Districts Historical Society. NZL

46 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

LG33372

A classic timber milling scene deep in the State Mill Forest during the peak years of its operations at Kakahi. This remarkable old 1911 photograph has everything – a bush tramway and old lokey, the contrasting horse team, a load of logs just loaded from the bush skids, the steam hauler and mobile water tank in background and, of course, the bushmen strategically placed by photographer A W Bathgate.

LG33372

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FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

Wood, the Ideal Biomass Fuel A MESSAGE FROM PRUE YOUNGER, CEO, FICA

There is no end to the learnings in our industry as we progress through more and more sustainable practices and the country is prompted to meet the Paris Accord and our own emissions trading system (ETS). There is also no better prompt than the recent cyclones and the crisis debate around “slash or woody debris”, preferential terminology dependant on how well educated you are in the forestry sector.

Simple analysis indicates that there can be adequate biomass for a wide range of engineered wood products AND energy products because wood fuels are produced from the residues which otherwise would be wasted. The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan provides a roadmap on how this can be achieved.

Greater volumes of engineered wood products results in greater volumes of residues.

We wanted to take you through the 101 on why pine trees are a great source of biomass for fuel alternatives and provide some good information on volumes for demand and supply. The relationship with the Bioenergy Association NZ (BANZ) is something that we as an industry need to get closer to. Working together can see real benefits to resolve a few challenges we as New Zealanders have around climate change and sustainability.

New Zealand has a well-established, quality, wood fuel base with processing including hog fuels, chips and pellets.

There are accredited suppliers with BANZ accreditation and supported technical guides for best practise.

The other party important to this discussion is the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). The EECA has a new fund which could be of assistance to FICA members wanting to make a start in the biomass business or increase production of an existing business. EECA’s role is to decarbonise New Zealand. There is now a new fund open (Biomass Supply Chain Investment Fund) to deal with the supply side of biomass. This fund is designed to assist any organisation which can contribute to increasing the supply of biomass fuel (chip, hog fuel, pellets). The fund can provide grant assistance throughout the value chain from forestry companies, contractors and aggregators to those producing boiler ready fuel like pellets. The fund for the South Island has opened now and will open for the North Island in June.

Growth in New Zealand’s bioenergy and biofuels sector is starting to drive an increased demand for greater quantities of biomass, whether it is high quality wood fuel, biomass for transport fuels, or production of biogas. New Zealand’s landowners are very well placed to meet the demand and take advantage of these emerging revenue-gaining opportunities.

Wood fuels from forestry and wood processing residues can be the answer for the future. New Zealand has an established network of wood fuel suppliers aggregating and processing residues from multiple wood sources into fuels including 772,000 tonnes of forest landings byproducts and 1 million tonnes of forest cut-over byproduct. Plantation forests are in abundance and managed sustainably to provide logs for wood and export log industries. Residues from these can be fuels as we as an industry harvest 30 million tonnes per year.

The source of wood fuels is competitive and adds value to heating operations, is sustainable and environmentally-friendly and has reduced costs in disposal of the ash as fertilisers.

48 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Wood fuel is considered to be carbon neutral and environmentally-friendly as clean burning produces low particulate and CO2 emissions, reduced liability for greenhouse gas emissions and reduced disposal of ash with reduced organic waste to landfills.

With the Ministerial Inquiry taking place or about to complete its tenure, hopefully all this information is considered in the facts and figures.

Details on eligibility of the EECA Fund can be found at https://www.eeca.govt.nz/assets/EECA-Resources/ Co-funding/Biomass-Supply-Chain-Investment-ROI.pdf or contact rob.mcbrearty@eeca.govt.nz or 0274534846 The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It also aims to strengthen countries’ ability to deal with the impacts of climate change and support them in their efforts.

An emissions trading system, also known as emissions trading scheme and abbreviated as ETS, is a market mechanism that allows those bodies (such as countries, companies or manufacturing plants) which emit (release) greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, to buy and sell these emissions (as permits or allowances) Woody debris can be defined as any dead, woody plant material, including logs, branches, standing dead trees, and root wads.

In forestry, slash, or slashings are coarse and fine woody debris generated during logging operations or through wind, snow or other natural forest disturbances.

Prue Younger CEO, FOREST INDUSTRY CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

Pine trees are a Good Option 101 Biomass energy is a renewable source of energy derived from organic matter such as plants and trees. In New Zealand, pine trees are a significant source of biomass supply. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using the residues of pine tree harvesting as a biomass energy source in New Zealand and how it can help reduce carbon emissions.

New Zealand has an abundant supply of pine trees, which are grown for the forestry industry. Pine is a softwood that grows quickly and efficiently. This makes pine trees an excellent choice for biomass energy production since they can be grown and harvested on a continuous basis using best practices without depleting the natural land resources.

Biomass energy from pine trees is generated through a process called combustion. The wood is burned in boilers to generate heat, which can be used to produce electricity or to heat homes and buildings. In New Zealand, many households and businesses use wood burners to heat their homes and buildings, which reduces the need for fossil fuels such as coal and gas.

Using pine trees for biomass energy can help reduce carbon emissions in several ways. Firstly, when the trees are growing, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as part of the process of photosynthesis. This means that the carbon is stored in the tree’s biomass, rather than being released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas.

Proud sponsor of FICA

When the pine trees are harvested and used for biomass energy, the carbon that is stored in the biomass is released as carbon dioxide when the wood is burned. However, this is carbon-neutral because the carbon dioxide that is released during combustion is equivalent to the carbon dioxide that was absorbed by the tree during its growth. This means that using pine trees on a continuous rotation for biomass energy does not contribute to a net increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, making it a sustainable and lowcarbon energy source.

Another benefit of using pine trees for biomass energy is that this provides an economic incentive for sustainable forestry practices. By growing and harvesting pine trees for a range of biomass products such as lumber, with the residues for energy, forestry companies can earn a profit while also maintaining a healthy and sustainable forest ecosystem. This can help to prevent deforestation and land-use change, which can be significant sources of carbon emissions. However, some harvest residues should not be collected but left on the forest floor as a nutrient for future plantings.

In conclusion, using pine trees for biomass energy in New Zealand can help to reduce carbon emissions by providing a low-carbon and sustainable source of energy. By using pine trees for biomass energy, New Zealand can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, support sustainable forestry practices, and contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change.

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

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eceivecrciveivrsere ,sgs,ng,ig kncnikoikctco sotsttsrsastrptarap epveisevnvise isnhneeehrheperm prpm om CooCC stiskstie tkikm eem itm pituiptpu ,sut,isk,stitkik

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“ FICA is doing a fabulous job…they know issues that we have and ensure they are shared. is strength nidneinnduiedDThere neunDuD htuhotm hutoyuem orm yGeyreGrGin numbers, miemhm ineeiheso lnBhenleBlB troptrpoturposppluepssuelseilDseesyiveDaiDyevHyaveaHeH scilsucsaicrludilayurHadrM ydHSyHMM SS lacilnalacahicncianehaMcheecMteiM senteOistinsOnO collaboration is critical.” – FICA Member

nosnleonNsolselNeN yaBysayeBakBswesakeH wkw aHaH apaarpaarpiraaW rraiar,oiWataW,ok,tioatW kaika,IiW NaW C,IN,ICNC dnadlnhdatnrloahlNthrotrNoN leseleilDseesyiveDaiDyevHyavenaHaem Hnasnam aTm sasTaT BH BeHcBnHeacennceantnaeinateM ntinayiM ratM syerytrsorteFsreorFoFsecsivesrceicvSiryverStesySerytrsorteFsrheoraFothFaarhataaWtraarW saeWcsivesrceicvsirgvernseigsgngoingligdgogelosdilnedasehisncianehaMchecMeM dnadlnhdatnulaholtShutouSoS ieum pqiEpuyiquvEqayEevHyaveaHeH 827828792472920490408080080secsiesvcereicvSirveyrSertSysreytrstoesFreohrFoaFthaahrtaatWraartW acW attctnacotaCntonCoC riapreiarRipatepnReeRtmntepnm

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Safety/performance/quality

Felling heads – mechanical and human WHILE WE WORK ON THE FIRST SET OF results through to the end of April, we thought some continued awareness on felling heads, both mechanical and human was worthwhile.

Mechanical heads are pretty straightforward.

However, we continue to see examples of incorrect training or inconsistency in application of safe techniques to isolate/ secure these when undertaking maintenance.

More often it is a case of “you only know what you know”.

Human heads – these are the ones in control of chainsaws, here we are typically talking about observations in thin to waste operations.

The photos we have included show some simple but very effective habit changes – Incorrect position of saw when carrying as it can spin round behind the leg, catching the knee/leg or chaps. Note that often the chain is still spinning. Incorrect application of cuts into wood with branches which can act as a brake in the hinge, affecting the ease of fall and direction.

Again, a lot of what is observed relates to good training and application of skills.

One thing is very clear – ongoing and consistent interaction with folkin all operations is the key to uplifting and maintaining a high level of skill and application.

In this sense, competency is far more important than qualification.

As I have said to a number of people,

there are a lot of qualified lawyers and accountants who end up in jail due to a lack of competency!!!

As always, happy to debate.

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

Left: Assessor Mike Bruce talking with Inta-Wood Forestry’s Adrian Watson as part of the assessment process.

Right: Observing work technique.

52 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

Safety/performance/quality

Saw positions These photos highlight issues observed from thinning to waste.

1

2

3

4

1: Note the position of the saw while being carried (No.3 position). Should be in the No.1 position.

2: Again, note the position of the saw in relation to the operator’s legs. The chain had just stopped spinning.

3: Again, note the position of the saw in relation to how it is being carried.

4: The No.1 position for carrying a chainsaw.

Branches in hingewood These photos show branches in the hingewood of the tree being felled and the impact this has on getting the tree down safely.

Basically, the aim is to apply cuts into clean wood, as branches in hinges can prevent the tree from felling as intended.

May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 53

Safety/performance/quality .

Safe maintenance positions These photos show what we believe are safe positions for undertaking maintenance on a mechanised head.

Hauler guarding There is a lot of discussion about machine guarding. Here’s an example of the steps Brian and Sonya Rosewarne have taken.

54 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

SOUTHSTAR/KOMATSU COMBO FOR BALCO LOGGING

TIGERCAT FOR JDL CONTRACTING

Balco logging has taken delivery of a new Southstar QS630 running the new Log Mate 510 control system working on a Komatsu machine.

When Jarrod Lowe of JDL Contracting needed to go bigger and update his 4-wheel skidder to a 6-wheeler, the new Tigercat 625H was the perfect fit for size and horsepower. Operator, Rakana Takerei, says the new H series cab offers comfort and good production. Sold and serviced by AB Equipment, Taupo.

FOURTH SANY FOR SPEIRS LOGGING

TIGERCAT/WOODSMAN COMBO FOR THOMASSEN LOGGING

Speirs Logging has added a fourth Sany to its fleet. The SY330H has a full Ensign guarding package with a Doherty quick hitch and Ensign FTR1865W fixed top grapple plus Sany bucket. This machine will be working between Speirs’ logging job and roading operation on the East Coast. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

56 NZ LOGGER | May 2023

When Thomassen Logging needed another large processor to help clean up the windthrow in the Turangi forests, the Tigercat 890 with Woodsman 850 Pro was an obvious choice. Seen here on set-up day are operator, Brett Wilkie and John from Woodsman inside the spacious cab loading the cut plan. Sold and serviced by AB Equipment, Taupo.

CAT 330GC FOR GOODMAN LOGGING

NEW TIGERCAT FOR L & F LIMITED

This Cat 330GC is a new addition for Goodman Logging, with owner Nick Goodman putting the machine to work in the Kinleith Forest, Tokoroa with operator Bruce. The team is stoked with the performance of the new Next Gen platform, with the unit also featuring a PFS guarding package and a Duxson 172 grapple.

Machine sold by Shaun Hunter, Terra Cat, Rotorua.

Leasing company, L & F Limited, has purchased a new 620H Tigercat skidder to be put to work cleaning up the Turangi forests.

Sold and serviced by AB Equipment, Taupo.

ELTEC/WOODSMAN COMBO FOR STOKES LOGGING

NEW TIGERCAT FOR THUNDER LOGGING

Steven Stokes from Stokes Logging has added another Eltec FHL317L tilter with a Woodsman Pro 1350C felling head to his fleet. The Eltec is paired up with his Sany DC tether winch and is working in his Waingaro crew, felling and shovelling for his yarder operation. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

Thunder Logging has recently updated its Tigercat LS855E to a new one with a Tigercat felling head to keep tackling the demanding falling requirements of the forest. Seen here is Brook Van Heuven on delivery day as the machine take a break from its first run in the bush. Sold and serviced by AB Equipment, Taupo.

May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 57

Delivering the solutions

BUCKETS

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!

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

www.drdiesel.nz

IN-FIELD HYDRAULIC HOSE EMERGENCY REPAIR KITS

LG33288

IN-FIELD HYDRAULIC HOSE EMERGENCY REPAIR KITS

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

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

@ExtremeWindowTints Extreme_Window_Tints

LG33039

AFTER

BEFORE

Hauler Engineering Ltd 021 365 812

Brightwater yarder parts + servicing – 70 main/tail shafts in stock Sept – genuine Witchita 19kk parts in stock Sept – Gears all engineered parts available

Brightwater yarder grapples + parts

LG29851

LG33288

NZ LOGGER classified

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Engine + trans setups with chaincases

Yarder Rebuilds

Yarder clutch convertions with BFG clutches thunderbird 155, 255, 355, TTy70, TMY70-50

SPECIALISING IN BRIGHTWATER YARDERS May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 61

NZ LOGGER classified

Powerful Value. Delivered.

CALL FOR CURRENT PRICING

CALL FOR CURRENT PRICING

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John Deere E380 Forestry Excavator

John Deere 1910E Forwarder

Cat 545D Log Skidder

New forestry conversion. Your choice of attachment. Ready to work today!

2021 1910E with roatating leveling cab.

Near new, only 850 hrs.

Includes Band tracks

2016 Cat 545D. 4200 hrs Includes a winch and is on 35.5 tyres.

brandt.ca/nz

Terry Duncan: 027 285 1015

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 | May 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

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#207813

Sumitomo SH370 TLFS

CAT 584HD Forwarder 11000 hours $135,000 Contact Lyndon Sayers - 027 214 6599

with 626 Bigwood, new pins and bushes 2018, 3657 hours $480,000 Contact Lochin Smith - 027 204 7623

#207835

#208530

John Deere 1910E Forwarder

with Hultdins super grip grapple 2014, 12200 hours $240,000 Contact Lochin Smith - 027 204 7623

John Deere 848L Skidder 2018, 6050 hours $310,000 Contact Mark Blakemore - 027 201 1031

#208526

CAT 330DL

with Waratah 625C 20391 hours $125,000 Contact Lyndon Sayers - 027 214 6599 #208212

John Deere 909KH Harvester

with Trinder FL95 felling head.

2011, 13805 hours $275,000 Contact Mark Blakemore - 027 201 1031 ALL PRICES EXCLUDE GST

View our full range online

www.dne.co.nz May 2023 | NZ LOGGER 63

NZ LOGGER classified

FOR SALE

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

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Madill Komatsu CAT Thunderbird John Deere Hyundai Tigercat Sumitomo

Large Stocks of Heavy Alloy Cores & Completes Full Custom Build Service Fast & Efficient

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$25,000+GST PH 03 216 7475

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Blen Onsi

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

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Northland Mechanised logging services

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Nelson Tasman Heavy Diesel

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Greymouth SM Hydraulics

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Auto Tension 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