NZ Logger October 2024

October 2024 | 9.50

ISSN 2703-6251

Pumping

From soldier to bushman

East Coast women step up

850 750

Introducing the all new Woodsman Pro 560

NEW 560

COMPACT, AGILE AND EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED FOR THINNING AND HARVESTING SMALLER WOOD Joining the 850 and 750 in the lineup, the new 560 delivers all the performance you'd expect from a Woodsman Pro harvester in a lighter, more compact package.

Designed for base machines of 25+ tonnes, the 560 features three heavy-duty delimb arms and a top floating knife, providing a maximum delimb opening of 600 mm and full delimb coverage of Ø510 mm. The arm shape is optimised to work with the top knife, ensuring full wrap-around knife contact against stems. Additionally, the lower knife enables the 560 to delimb right down to the saw cut, reducing wasted log handling.

SALES: 07 348 1286 E: INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZ WOODSMANPRO.CO.NZ ENGINEERING SERVICES ROTORUA LTD 73 Biak St, Waterford Park, Rotorua, New Zealand.

contents

OCTOBER 2024

16

4

4

16

FOREST TALK “Forestry and farming can coexist”; From pine to redwoods; New operator for Waingawa log yard; Surviving and thriving; Best of the best; Spotlight on remote sensing; The battle for Gisborne; Restoring consistency to standards; Recognising forestry excellence.

IRON TEST The Eltec FBL277L B working at Ocean View Logging slips through the gaps in the trees with ease, stable even with big sticks on board.

30

30

LOG HAULAGE The military and logging trucks have been dual career paths for Napier-based Platoon Sergeant Storm Harrison. His log trucks are as distinctive as he is.

38

EAST COAST WOMEN STEP UP Upskilling is what it’s all about for Rā Whakapono Logging’s Tania Gibb and a cohort of other East Coast women, thanks to Eastland Wood Council.

38

DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 42 fica 46 top spot 50 Greenlight New Iron 52 classifieds

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 1

from the editor October 2024

Pumping

ISSN 1176-0397

PHOTO: TIM BENSEMAN

| 9.50

From soldier to bushman

East Coast women step up

The zero tail Eltec FBL277L B, working at Ocean View Logging, glides through the gaps in the trees with ease.

ADVERTISING, ADMINISTRATION, SUBSCRIPTIONS POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 112 062, Penrose, Auckland 1642 STREET ADDRESS: 172B Marua Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051 PHONE: 09 571 3544 WEBSITE: www.alliedpublications.co.nz SUBSCRIPTIONS: $95 (incl. GST) for one year (11 issues) within NZ. Overseas rates available on application.

Trudy Woolston: 0274746033, admin@trucker.co.nz PUBLISHER: Trevor Woolston, 027 492 5600, trevor@trucker.co.nz ADMINISTRATION: Trudy Woolston 0274746033, admin@trucker.co.nz EDITOR: Hayley Leibowitz, 027 211 5048, hayley@trucker.co.nz ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT: Olivia Beauchamp, 0276855066, sales@nzlogger.co.nz DESIGN: Luca Bempensante Zarko Mihic PRINTING: Bluestar DISTRIBUTION: ARE Direct Distribution NZ Logger is published on the second Tuesday of every month except January. NZ Logger is published by Allied Publications Ltd. CONTRIBUTIONS: Editorial contributions are welcomed for consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for loss or damage of submitted materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc…).

If the return of material is required please include a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. Please contact the editor by mail or email prior to submitting material. NZ Logger reserves the right to edit submitted material.

COPYRIGHT: Articles in NZ Logger are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher or editor.

NZ Logger Magazine

Net circulation – ended 30/06/2015

3,271

www.nzlogger.co.nz Official Magazine of

NZ LOGGER MAGAZINE AN ESTIMATED

30,000 READERS THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA

2 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Back to basics I ALWAYS SIGN OFF THIS COLUMN WITH THE WORDS, UNTIL NEXT TIME, stay safe. But what does that sentence actually mean on the ground? Is it just another glib platitude? Lip service with no real meaning behind it?

The forestry industry’s social licence has been questionable at best lately, with the word most commonly associated with forestry likely being slash. It’s the bad headlines that people remember but those in the industry know that storms pass, weather changes and trees keep on growing.

Clean-ups happen – well, we make them happen – work resumes and in the public’s mind, forestry gets relegated to being a bit of nice scenery they pass on the way to a seaside bach. But those in the bush know their daily bread comes with the sort of bad headlines that continue to niggle – ‘Logging victim lucky to be alive’, ‘Inquiry underway into death of forestry worker’ – those don’t go away.

While a chef might cut himself on a knife too sharp, the tools of our trade are big, they’re bad and we love them – but boy do we need to use them with extra care. Experience sometimes comes with overconfidence and carelessness, so it can never harm to go back to basics.

Don’t take shortcuts. Look up! Maintain equipment. Use it correctly.

Don’t skimp on PPE... the list could fill a hundred magazines. More platitudes? I hope not. As Rā Whakapono Logging’s Tania Gibb says in our Women in Forestry feature, “Forestry health and safety can be a scary thing if you don’t do it right”. Her training was generously funded by the Eastland Wood Council, after joining forces with WorkSafe, Competenz and various industry stakeholders.

And that’s a lesson in the ultimate safety tip too. Look out for your mates, because in the hazardous environment that is the forest, you’ll want them looking out for you.

Nobody knows that better than the focus of our Log Haulage feature, Platoon Sergeant Storm Harrison. Between his family, his faith, his fellow soldiers and other operators, he knows that it’s not only safety that comes from being there for one another, but success too!

Until next time, stay safe.

forest talk

“Forestry and farming can co-exist” INCREASING AREAS OF EXOTIC PINE FOREST AND DECREASING areas of sheep and beef farming would be the most viable way of improving New Zealand’s environmental performance while achieving an acceptable level of economic return in future, according to the controversial report Why Pines?.

Produced by Our Land and Water (Toitū te Whenua, Toiora te Wai) National Science Challenge (OLW), the report details the results of four research programmes which looked at future land use under the current economic incentives and policies.

New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) Chief Executive, Dr Elizabeth Heeg, says while the sector welcomes the science and modelling behind the report, a more critical examination of land use evidence is needed.

“The recommendations lack scientific evidence and the narrative fails to frame forestry as an important land use,” she says.

Water quality was a core focus of the research programme, with forestry found to outperform other land uses, particularly where farmland had been converted to pine.

“Well-managed pine is hugely beneficial to water quality, improving water nutrient levels and sediment yields,” Ms Heeg says. “The report’s findings mirror years of credible science analysing water quality in pine forests.

“Paradoxically, that evidence doesn’t seem to be the outcome the OLW were looking for, with the authors raising more concern over forestry’s water quality than other land uses detailed in the report.

“It is disappointing to see the results interpreted in such a dramatic way when pine is evidently a tool New Zealand can use in its policies and practices tool kit.”

She says concerns over a loss of biodiversity from conversion to pine are also unfounded.

“New Zealand’s pine forests house incredibly rich and healthy ecosystems that should be considered a valued part of the country’s landscape,” Ms Heeg says. “They’re home to many invertebrate communities and 120 native fauna species which have been documented using pine forests as habitat, including species such as the kiwi.

“Pine forests support a rich mosaic of biodiversity, including 4 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

protected areas of indigenous forest within the estate and riparian planting.

“A mosaic approach to land use will be increasingly important given modelling indicating that around half the sheep and beef farming area will convert to forestry by 2050. New planting is also expected to expand the forest estate to an estimated 3.5 million hectares.

Expansion of the estate won’t be as exponential as the report suggests however, she says, noting that the OLW’s modelling is at odds with the Climate Change Commission’s 1.4-million-hectare prediction.

“Transport costs, energy costs and a range of other factors have caused a downturn in new planting in recent times. These inputs don’t appear to be accounted for in the modelling.

“While expansion of the forest estate will be inevitable if New Zealand is to meet its climate change targets, forestry would need to multiply its new planting area by at least 25 to achieve that sort of growth by 2050.”

She adds that the report’s emphasis on forestry’s expansion needn’t mean other land uses won’t be accommodated.

“Forest owners are generally supportive of integrating a range of tree species on land, not just pine, to improve the landscape while returning benefits to the community.

“Planting more trees – be they native or exotic species – helps diversify farmland, improve environmental performance, provide timber for construction and reduce emissions.

“Landowners looking to exit sheep or beef farming or wanting to diversify their land by planting more trees should have the mandate to do so.

“Forestry provides landowners with options, particularly for hillside landscapes that are ill-suited to other land uses. This integration benefits the community through jobs and generation of regional GDP too.

“It needn’t be a one or the other approach as the report implies.

Forestry and farming can co-exist.

“What we wouldn’t want to see is a restriction of land uses and growing activities to slow conversion where there is a lack of science to justify it.” NZL

forest talk

From pine to redwoods IN A CONTENTIOUS MOVE, A 20.5 HECTARE AREA OF STEEP LAND in the Matai Valley, previously used for commercial pine forestry and harvested in 2022, is being planted in redwoods as the first step in implementing Nelson City Council’s Long Term Plan to transition its commercial forestry into amenity continuous canopy forests.

Council says it adopted the Right Tree Right Place (RTRP) Taskforce’s recommendations in November 2023, and through the most recent Long Term Plan, consulted with the public on moving away from commercial forestry over time and managing its forest estate in a way that is “better for the environment”.

“Council paused forestry operations at the beginning of 2023 as it undertook the review of its commercial forestry and established the Right Tree Right Place Taskforce,” says Nelson City Council Chief Executive, Nigel Philpott.

“We are replanting these areas now because we do not want to incur significant Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) costs and because each year we leave them unplanted increases the potential for erosion and landslips. The Chair of the Taskforce specifically requested these areas be planted in 2024.”

If these areas are not replanted, Council could face a substantial financial penalty under the ETS, potentially close to a million dollars, he says.

Councillor Aaron Stallard says he was surprised to learn about the move from Council staff, only three weeks beforehand: “It is unfortunate that we are replacing one monoculture of exotic species with another.”

The taskforce report clearly recommended planting natives in the Maitai catchment, he says.

Mr Stallard says many people who supported the council’s proposed commercial forestry exit, were also under the impression it would mainly be replaced with indigenous forest.

While indigenous trees support native biodiversity, redwoods don’t serve indigenous wildlife at all, he says.

Co-chairperson of Forest and Bird Nelson branch, Craig Potton, says he is flummoxed and dismayed by the council‘s decision to plant an area in redwoods.

“Californian redwoods do not contribute one iota to the ecosystem’s re-wilding and our natural biodiversity health.

“They used to be conceived as aesthetic elements in forestry planting, but that perception has long been altered to acknowledge that they do not belong in our native biodiversity, and furthermore create a relatively sterile under-storey.”

Residents group, Friends of the Maitai, says it is “incredibly troubling” that a monocrop is being planted above the Maitai raw water pipeline on forestry stands that had slipped after being clearfelled, sweeping away part of the critical infrastructure.

The redwoods are the “wrong tree in the wrong place”, spokesperson

Steven Gray says. “If you want erosion control, then plant natives.”

The group was actively engaged in the RTRP taskforce process, and the council should have consulted them and other stakeholders about the replanting, he says.

Countering, Mr Philpott says redwoods are particularly suited to these steeper areas, have a sturdy root system, establish more quickly than natives and are not as susceptible to effects of weeds. Redwoods also have a stronger chance of success despite being planted late in the season, he says.

The 12 hectares of adjacent lower lying areas will be planted in winter 2025 in a mix of native species including totara and manuka.

“This is just the first step in the implementation of the taskforce’s recommendations to transition its 600 hectares of commercial forestry into amenity continuous canopy forests of mixed species.” NZL

TUFF Superseal

CHAINS DESIGNED BY OUR FORESTRY EXPERTS FOR:

Tigercat 855-880 SH240-SH350 TLFS Sumi SH240-SH250 John Deere 959 + O T H E R M O D E L S 0800 654 323

sales@west-trak.co.nz www.west-trak.co.nz

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 5

forest talk

ents, for the diameter. This heavy

at set it apart from New operator for

s, for the Waingawa log yard ameter. This heavy set it apart from THE CENTREPORT WAINGAWA LOG YARD TOOK ON A NEW operator last month, following a competitive tendering process.

The Waingawa User Group (WUG), the partnership of CentrePort, Forest Enterprises, Farman Turkington Forestry, Forest 360, China Forestry Group, Wairarapa Estate and Log Distribution, has appointed McCarthy Transport in conjunction with Qube Ports NZ, to the role, coordinating the transfer of logs by rail to the port in Wellington.

“We’re looking forward to the future with McCarthy Transport and Qube leading operations at the Waingawa hub,” says CentrePort Chief Executive, Anthony Delaney.

“On behalf of the WUG, I’m keen to see the new innovation and expertise that both parties can bring into servicing the wider Wairarapa area.”

Managing Director of McCarthy Transport, Mike McCarthy, says the company fully endorses the current operations between the Wairarapa and Wellington, recognising the vital connection they provide to the region.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with Qube, KiwiRail, CentrePort, and the Waingawa User Group to streamline operations and achieve our shared strategic objectives.”

Mr McCarthy says McCarthy Transport Contractors (MTL) began its journey with a “simple yet ambitious” vision: to provide innovative distribution solutions to New Zealand’s forestry industry.

“Our story traces back to 1949, when Rex Burgess and Arthur McCarthy laid the foundation stone with just a single truck and a commitment to excellence. From those humble beginnings, McCarthy Transport has steadily expanded its operations and currently employs 230 staff across the lower North Island, handling 1.2 million tonnes of logs per annum.”

He says family values are what make McCarthy’s who they are –

“Proud People, Loyal Service”.

“Our people are proud to wear that as their patch because Proud People Loyal Service is at the heart of everything we do – the decisions we make, the people we employ, how we service our customers and how we support our communities.”

Mr Delaney says McCarthy’s values are closely aligned with CentrePort’s, making them a positive match.

Qube Ports NZ Wellington Regional Manager, Gene Kingi, says the company is excited to support McCarthy’s at Waingawa.

“This new operation gives us an opportunity to provide a professional and efficient service to local Forest Owners, Managers, KiwiRail and CentrePort.”

The benefits of the Waingawa log hub expand beyond simply filling the gap between getting a log from forest to port. It also means CentrePort can maintain its focus on emission reductions.

“The hub enables us to transport logs by rail rather than road.

That means we’re avoiding more than 20,000 truck trips between Masterton and CentrePort. That will be welcome news to residents of Carterton, Featherston and Greytown and create less impact on the highway network.”

Mr Delaney says moving logs by rail from the hub to port also reduces potential CO2 emissions by more than 3,000 tonnes.

“As an organisation that is actively working with customers and partners to reach net zero emissions by 2040, the hub is key,” he says.

The change in lead operator comes as a result of C3 stepping away from the operator role.

“The WUG wants to take this opportunity to formally and publicly thank C3 for its service. They have played an important part in the Wairarapa’s logging industry through the log yard over the past 11 years,” Mr Delaney says. NZL

ents, for the 6 NZ LOGGER | October 2024 diameter. This heavy at set it apart from

C

QB3500

STANDARD CONFIGURATION

WEIGHTS & DMS

FIXED FELLING HEAD

METRIC

IMPERIAL

Weight

2,450 kg

5,400 lbs

Height

2,150 mm

85”

Depth

1,962 mm

77”

Width (Arms Closed)

1,422 mm

56”

Width (Arms Open)

1,856 mm

73”

Rotate Motors

2 x MCR05

SAW

GRAPPLE SECTION

Degree of Rotation

IMPERIAL

Weight

3,300 kg

6,820 lbs

Height

2,692 mm

106”

Depth

2,478 mm

97”

Width (Arms Closed)

2,045 mm

80”

Width (Arms Open)

2,191 mm

86”

Rotate Motors

SAW

GRAPPLE SECTION

Degree of Rotation

Minimum Closing Diameter

140 mm

5.5”

Maximum Opening Diameter

1,100 mm

43.3”

Cutting Capacity

870 mm

34”

Bar Lenght

1,092 mm

43”

Saw Motor

F12-40

Motor Size

60 cc

3.66 in3

Chain Size

19.05 mm

3/4

Saw Bar Rotation

HYD.

METRIC

225°

Pressure

300 bar

4,350 psi

Maximum Flow

250 lpm

66 gpm

Valve Bank CARRIER REQS.

WEIGHTS & DMS

STANDARD CONFIGURATION

Continuous 360°

M4-15

Carrier Size

24 – 28 ton

3 x MCR05 Continuous 360°

Minimum Closing Diameter

170 mm

6.6”

Maximum Opening Diameter

1,400

55”

Cutting Capacity

1,000 mm

39”

Bar Lenght

1,270 mm

50”

Saw Motor

QB4400

FIXED FELLING HEAD

F12-60

Clean hose through design Motor Size

60 cc

3.66 in3

Chain Size

19.05 mm

3/4

HYD.

Saw Bar Rotation Pressure

300 bar

4,350 psi

Maximum Flow

250 lpm

66 gpm

Valve Bank CARRIER REQS.

225°

Carrier Size

M4-15 30 - 35 ton

Clean hose through design 0800 784 787

www.quadco.com

Main control valve

LG34467

Southstar Equipment New Zealand, 03 View Rd. Rotorua

forest talk

Logging accident survivor, Ian Sime, visits the hangar with partner Roni to thank the crew.

Surviving and thriving

AFTER ALMOST LOSING HIS LIFE AND LIMBS IN A HORRIFIC logging accident, giving back to Hawke’s Bay’s rescue helicopter through volunteering whenever he can is the least that Ian Sime says he can do.

Driving trucks and logging is in his blood, a career that had become “second nature” for him and spanned 25 years. That all ended three years ago when a one tonne log was knocked off a stack before being loaded at a skid site near Te Pohue, pinning him underneath.

At 3:40am amidst the noise of machinery and in the dark, he regained consciousness and started screaming for help.

“I remember coming to and trying to pull my legs out from under this six metre log and knew straight away that I was in serious trouble. I saw my hat almost completely embedded in the mud next to me and thought, this is it. I’m going to die,” Mr Sime says.

After seven painstaking minutes that he recalls “felt like an eternity”, the next truck arrived and the loader driver caught sight of him. Hawke’s Bay’s rescue helicopter was radioed and arrived on site 35 minutes later. When the log was craned off, he immediately phoned his family.

“I rang my partner Roni to say goodbye to her and the kids, in case I didn’t make it. I knew my legs were pretty banged up, but I could still breathe okay. The best sound I’ve ever heard was the sound of that chopper arriving. It gave me hope of survival and I 8 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

knew at that moment that help was on its way and I had a fighting chance.”

After four months in hospital (six weeks being in rehabilitation), he made an almost full recovery from his injuries which included: compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula, right femur fracture below the hip, triple fracture to his pelvis and liver lacerations.

A total of three surgeries that extended to his ankle, knee and shoulder have left him with a slight limp and the devastating news that he’s unable to drive trucks again. Yet despite losing the ability to do what he loves, he remains optimistic about the future.

“I’m alive aren’t I! My body might not be a hundy but I’m alive and I’m grateful for that.”

Nowadays, volunteering for the lifesaving service has become Mr Sime’s new driving force - helping donate his time at events to help promote the work of Hawke’s Bay’s Rescue Helicopter.

“This is my chance to give something back to the service, it was my lifeline when I critically needed it and has been saving countless other lives for years. My Mum was a huge supporter and that has certainly rubbed off on me. Only now have I felt ready to tell my story but I feel it’s important to share what I’ve been through so others realise that these things can happen to anyone, at any time.

“There’s no doubt in my mind, if the chopper wasn’t there that day, I wouldn’t be here. What they do is simply amazing.” NZL

Best of the best THREE NEW ZEALANDERS HAVE TAKEN OUT TOP HONOURS AT THE fourth annual John Deere Technician of the Year Awards in Brisbane, Australia, last month.

Liam Gee took out the Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year category, Marcus Vine was named New Zealand’s Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, and Daniel Stoneley won the award for New Zealand Parts Technician of the Year.

John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, acknowledged the value they bring to their local communities: “Marcus, Liam, and Daniel represent the best of the best in customer service, technical proficiency and problem-solving skills, and thoroughly deserve their awards.

No two days are the same for Liam Gee working at the Drummond & Etheridge dealership in Blenheim on the South Island.

“One day I’ll be in the workshop carrying out repairs, the next I’ll be two hours away in the middle of a forest repairing a machine,” he says.

“My job takes me to some really cool locations, and I get to work on the great product that John Deere produces.”

Now mainly specialising in forestry equipment, he grew up around machinery and always had a keen interest in figuring out how things worked.

He approached the Service Manager at his local John Deere dealership about the chance to undertake work experience after he finished school. That developed into an apprenticeship, and six years later, he is now the leading Construction & Forestry Technician in the country.

“The Tech Awards have been great, I’ve met some cool people and

forest talk

learned new things as well,” he says.

“The ultimate goal is to take out the title, so I’m stoked!” Mr Chandler adds, “The calibre of each of this year’s finalists is a testament to the value we place on providing the best possible service to our customers and communities. They came to Brisbane with a proven track record of supporting forestry and construction businesses and farmers to increase their productivity and get the most out of their investment in John Deere equipment.

“I would also like to acknowledge the Australian winners, Bradley Skinner, Andrew Moat, Tracy Hogan, Kirsten Rush and Daniel Barnes.”

More than 130 nominees from 69 dealership locations were put forward for this year’s event. NZL

From left: Top technicians, Liam Gee, Daniel Stoneley and Marcus Vine.

ForestSAT 2024

Attendees on the opening day of ForestSAT 2024 in Rotorua.

Spotlight on remote sensing GLOBAL FORESTRY EVENT, FORESTSAT 2024, ATTRACTED EXPERTS from NASA and remote sensing specialists from nearly 30 countries to Rotorua last month.

Crown Research Institute Scion hosted the conference on the application of remote sensing technologies for forest monitoring and modelling. The 10th edition, held in Australasia for the first time, united more than 300 specialists over five days.

Scion’s General Manager for Forests to Timber Products, Dr Henri Bailleres, says the conference was a chance for forestry practitioners to hear the latest research, and for scientists to share their knowledge and learn from each other.

Dr Bailleres adds that the presence of experts from NASA provided a unique opportunity for New Zealand-based users of remote sensing tools and technology to engage with world-leading agencies.

At the official opening of the conference, Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell, said it was exciting to see the industry come together, and she thanked Scion for its contributions to Rotorua which she described as the centre of excellence in forestry and wood processing.

“The diversity of the special sessions showcases the breadth of innovation and critical challenges we are addressing in our field,” said conference Chair, Dr Michael Watt.

The conference featured two keynote speakers. Dr Crystal Schaaf, a Professor Emeritus and Research Professor at the School for the Environment at the University of Massachusetts Boston has been involved in two NASA satellite missions for more than 25 years. The second keynote was Pablo J. Zarco-Tejada, a Professor in Remote Sensing in the faculties of Science and Engineering, University of Melbourne.

Data analyst, Melanie Palmer, was among 10 Scion staff who delivered presentations, with many more who facilitated sessions, attended workshops and contributed to the overall success of the international conference.

Ms Palmer updated attendees on the progress of Forest Insights, a prototype for a new interactive tool that provides the forestry industry with powerful inventory information.

10 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Developed by Scion in collaboration with Indufor Asia Pacific, Forest Insights leverages deep learning and high-resolution imagery to identify and map forests. This precision is crucial for understanding the composition of New Zealand’s forests, including small-scale forests.

The AI model can accurately differentiate between various tree species, including Radiata pine, Douglas-fir and eucalypt, making it a powerful tool for forest managers seeking to monitor specific species across regions.

Forest Insights started last year by mapping forests in the East Coast and Bay of Plenty. The prototype is on track to have the North Island fully mapped soon, with parts of Northland, Auckland and Wellington the only regional areas outstanding.

With Radiata pine less prevalent in the South Island, the next phase will focus on expanding the dataset to include other exotic species, ensuring forest monitoring across the entire country. The integration of LIDAR will provide even more detail, allowing for more comprehensive canopy insights.

In a wildfire-focused research session, Dr Laura Kiely from Scion’s Fire and Atmospheric Sciences team, provided an overview of wildfires in New Zealand. She highlighted the importance of smart firefighting, using data and models to predict and suppress fires sooner. The New Zealand Wildfire Risk Map research project underway at Scion aims to create a spatial map of wildfire risk, incorporating ignition probability and fire spread models.

The team’s goal is to run 500,000 model simulations to develop a better understanding of wildfire risk that covers all of New Zealand.

Once developed, it will be useful for landowners, environmental managers, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and councils.

During a field trip conference participants also got to see technology in action with demonstrations of how organisations such as Interpine Innovation, are using backpack-mounted LIDAR scanners to capture data and create 3D duplicate views of forests.

The conference included 44 general and special sessions, around 220 presentations and 37 posters covering topics ranging from groundbreaking missions to emerging areas. NZL

t

w t

take harvesting to the extreme Built to handle whatever’s next. Part of our all new HX line, the redesigned 624HX delivers trusted performance with increased responsiveness, accuracy and efficiency. Get reintroduced to your favourite workhorse - with the durability, reliability and speed to maximise every minute of work.

NZIF Conference 2024

The battle for Gisborne THIS YEAR’S NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY (NZIF) conference in Nelson titled Sowing Tomorrow’s Forests – Sustainable practices for a resilient future, had plenty to offer as always. From a choice of enlightening field trips ranging from slash recovery to the place of alternative species in commercial forestry, to a wide range of engrossing speakers, the programme was full.

One speaker who challenged conventional thought was Forest Enterprises’ Warren Rance asking, Plantation forestry in Tairawhiti – Where to next?.

Speaking about “the battle for Gisborne” he emphasised that the problem in the region is “extremely complex with significant, allconsuming pressure over the past few years”.

“With forestry as relevant today as ever, we make heaps of mistakes, but we do realise how important finding solutions in Gisborne and all New Zealand is,” he said.

“We all know the benefits of forestry, but we will never get away from the debris problem. Council rules are good for a third or fourth rotation forest but it’s really challenging practically and financially in a first rotation forest when we haven’t yet built the roads,” he explained.

The solution? Well, contrary to popular belief, collaboration, communication and advocacy don’t work, said Mr Rance. “The problem is still there.”

He emphasised though that there has been a significant step change since the Queen’s Birthday in 2018 with forestry “cleaning up its act” and adapting as lessons were learned.

Main: Tasman Pine Forests field trip showing damage from the 2019 Pigeon Valley fire in the background with new planting in the foreground.

Below: Forest Enterprises’ Warren Rance.

12 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

The amount of poor practice woods ending up in creek’s is negligible, he said, with the vast majority of wood that does end up in rivers coming from mid-rotation forests.

So, considering it’s not just about Cyclones Gabrielle or Hale – with 14 to 16 months of long wet weather first – there are a number of challenges, he said. These include age class distribution, resources, operating costs, proposed rules, product value, relationships, mechanisation, terrain and the fact that “there is no low-risk land in Gisborne”.

There is no viable plan, he said with the industry preoccupied with battling for its social licence. If collaboration doesn’t work, then what?

“Foresters have to be part of the plan. Stop whining. What an opportunity we’ve got. Forests are relevant and we’re relevant. We’ve got to find the solutions. Got to try and collaborate, and talk, to everyone, those against and in support.”

Where to for the future then? Areas to focus on include improved operational outcomes, site specific risk management, harvest scheduling, land transition, operating costs, alternative species, longer rotations, product value, relationships and social licence.

“Collaboration doesn’t work but we have to keep trying and hopefully can bring the right plan to the table, then maybe one day collaboration, advocacy and communication will work,” he said.

“Come visit us. See how tough it is. Bring your skills. Tell people about it and be proud of the service forestry does for the land.” NZL

NZIF Conference 2024

Restoring consistency to standards

SPEAKING AT THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY (NZIF) conference last month, Forestry Minister, Todd McClay, said Government will revise settings within the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF).

The reform will look to change the clause giving effect to regional freshwater management rules and remove the afforestation clause which allows councils to impose different planting rules on production forests from those stated in the NES-CF. New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) Chief Executive, Dr Elizabeth Heeg, says the reform will reduce the regulatory complexities faced by growers and streamline forestry’s environmental controls.

“The departure from the National Standard and introduction of various councils’ environmental rules has created conflicting standards and confusion among growers as to which takes precedence,” she says.

“These rule variations have placed significant pressures on growers, many of whom have had to apply for resource consents for new planting in low or no-risk areas, without any demonstrable need for these new rules.

“This announcement is a promising step towards addressing the issue and creating more consistent and outcome-based environmental regulations for forestry across the regions.”

The NES-CF provides a nationally consistent set of legal obligations that aim to maintain or improve environmental outcomes related to commercial forestry activities.

Not only will growers have greater certainty that the

environmental rules set out under the NES-CF are appropriate for use across the country, but the reform will also address the issue of rules being introduced without justifiable evidence that more stringency is needed.

“The reform will ensure forest owners are operating to the same environmental rules across New Zealand irrespective of which jurisdiction they fall under.

“Councils will be bound to deal with stringency through the NESCF first and foremost. Forest owners want to see the foundations of the NES-CF remain evidence-based.”

Reform of forestry’s resource management system will undergo consultation before any formal changes are made. NZL

NZFOA Chief Executive, Dr Elizabeth Heeg, speaking at the Women in Forestry breakfast at the NZIF conference.

Grooved Drums and Sleeves

DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER

NZIF Conference 2024

Recognising forestry excellence

THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF Forestry (NZIF) hosted its prestigious annual awards dinner at the conference in Nelson, recognising outstanding achievements within the forestry sector. The awards celebrated a diverse array of contributions, from grassroots initiatives to impactful policy development and academic leadership:

Kirk Horn Award: Bill Liley The Kirk Horn Award was presented to Bill Liley. This award recognises exceptional contributions to forestry and is steeped in history, commemorating the legacies of Thomas Kirk, a prominent botanical explorer, and Captain Inches Campbell-Walker, New Zealand’s first Conservator of Forests.

NZIF President, James Treadwell, praised Mr Liley, describing him as “down to earth, highly professional and a fierce intellect”.

In addition to his impressive professional career, Mr Liley continues to manage his own forest and operates a small sawmill to process timber from his land.

Forester of the Year: John Hura The New Zealand Forester of the Year award was presented to John Hura for his exceptional contributions to the forestry sector over the past year. Mr Hura played a pivotal role in leading one of New Zealand’s largest salvage operations following Cyclone Gabrielle, ensuring environmental sensitivity and high

1

14 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

standards of health and safety throughout the process.

Mr Treadwell highlighted Mr Hura’s leadership qualities, stating, “His strong morals and ethics have earned him respect across the industry. His refusal to bow to political pressure has only enhanced his standing, both within Māori and non-Māori forestry circles”.

Young Forester of the Year Award.

FRESTRA Young Forester of the Year: Sarah de Gouw The inaugural FRESTRA Young Forester of the Year Award was presented to Sarah de Gouw. This award acknowledges a young

forester who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to both their profession and community, reflecting the values of FRESTRA and Future Foresters.

Ms De Gouw was commended for her remarkable efforts in raising forestry awareness, particularly through outreach programmes in local schools. She is a passionate advocate for forestry, engaging with students and teachers alike, and inspiring the next generation with activities ranging from reading forestry books to operating drones and showcasing the sector’s opportunities.

Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup: Chris Ensor The Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup, established in 2017, was awarded to Chris Ensor of Nelson for his unwavering commitment to sustainable forest management. This award recognises individuals who embody the principles of sustainability in policy, planning, and practice, while also actively engaging with the public to promote forest conservation.

Mr Treadwell highlighted Mr Ensor’s selfless dedication, noting, “His commitment to sustainable management is so strong that he frequently volunteers his services, despite his salary barely covering his costs. His actions are a testament to his intent to improve the forestry sector for the benefit of all.” NZL

2

3

4

1: Kirk Horn awardee, Bill Liley.

2: CEO of Interpine, Te Kapunga Dewes (right), awarding Forester of the Year to John Hura.

3: Port Blakely’s Alfred Duval (left) awarding Young Forester of the Year to Sarah de Gouw..

4: NZIF’s James Treadwell (right) awarding the Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup to Chris Ensor.

BUY NOW, PAY LATER. Northland Mansell Ngaropo 027 445 9840

North Auckland Gary Hodgson 027 207 2474

Waikato Noel Reid 027 225 5353

3 MONTHS DEFERRED PAYMENT ACROSS OUR ENTIRE RANGE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION AND FORESTRY EQUIPMENT. Rotorua/Taupo Terry Duncan 027 285 1015

Tauranga Charlie Shephard 027 285 0582

brandt.ca/nz 0800 433 373 *Terms and conditions apply. John Deere Financial Limited. Approved commercial applicants only. Based on 15% deposit, GST back in 3rd month and a 48 month term. First repayment will be due no earlier than 1st January 2025. Fees and charges apply. Unless amended or withdrawn early, promotion expires 31/10/2024.

Hawkes Bay Nick Clark 027 411 2330

Manawatu John Southee 027 365 3603

Iron Test

g n i p m Pu ???

L L FU

Story &

n

ensema

: Tim B photos

BANNER BANNER BANNER 111

B

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 16 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

The Eltec FBL277L B working at Ocean View Logging is stable even with big sticks on board.

BANNER BANNER BANNER 1 21 W

EST EST 1909 1909

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

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 17

Above: Iron Tester, Tony Hill (left), and Ocean View Logging owner, Steve Rist, approaching the Eltec for inspection.

Right: The view from the operator’s seat.

IT’S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW ELTEC HAS designed the FBL277L B series – a compact/ zero tail version of the bigger 317 model that we tested a couple of months ago in Southland. At 47 tonnes gassed up and with the head on, this is still a big machine but Eltec has made it more manoeuvrable while retaining excellent servicing access under the clamshell.

Seeing Iron Tester Tony Hill moving through the trees in this unit, you can see it is able to slip through the gaps in the trees with ease with the shorter boom and zero tail creating a very effective machine.

Steve Rist (Risty) and the Ocean View Logging crew have been harvesting in Omataroa Forest for over 20 years. There have been a few short stints away to let the age class catch up for perpetual harvest.

With a wealth of experience, it’s clear why they are enjoying this machine.

The 8.9 litre Cummins L9 engine sits north/south beside and slightly behind the cab with access on both sides, while the fuel tank occupies the opposite corner behind the cab. The long Linde hydraulic pump

BANNER BANNER BANNER 1 31 W

stack runs north south too, up beside the cab but just across the walkway which is a good position, keeping it away from any engine heat.

Eltec has also utilised a new Linde main hydraulic block. The eight main valves are here along with the solenoid valves. This new design has allowed Eltec to reduce the number of hoses and connections, as well as to position the block higher, increasing the distance between the block and the rotation unit. A new linde pump set up on the B series machines now runs a fully dedicated 210 pump for attachments which allows for more multi functioning and all the pressure and flow you would ever need.

In a nod to fuel efficiency and speed, Eltec has introduced FRS or Flow Recovery System. Assisted by kinetic energy, this system allows faster boom and mast in-out cycles using less flow which allows better fluid distribution to the rest of the functions.

The FRS is exclusive to this B series.

The windscreen is an impressive piece of work too - great to see unobstructed views out the front in a similar vein to last month’s

issue with the 32mm polycarbonate going right across and floor to roof with no joints.

The cab sits on eight anti-vibration pads, significantly reducing vibrations felt by the operator. When the clamshell is open we can see some decent shields in place between the engine bay and the cab too.

The heated seat is going to be a bonus when you drag your wet arse inside after an out of cab mission in the rain, hail or snow.

At the full 10.2 metre reach the Eltec will lift 7.09 tonnes and has an impressive bare pin lifting capacity of 10.34 tonnes at 6.1 metres and 14.6 tonnes at 4.6 metres..

The boom just looks really staunch and when you see the manoeuvres being pulled on the felling face you see why it needs to be that way. Plenty of strength carrying stems in full upright position, balancing and, as regular operator, Ken Black, says, it’s basically a juggling act once you have

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 18 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Trusted on the world’s tracks

Trusted in the world’s trucks

Tickford Racing trusts Castrol fluids in its supercars and transporters.

When performance matters, trust Castrol in your trucks.

Let’s drive the world forward castrol.co.nz

1

2

it off the stump. You have to steer and balance that stem, exerting an extremely large amount of leverage on the boom and base. Far more difficult than a dangle, and it’s hard to see how that extra stress, on the machine and the operator, is worth it.

I ask crew boss, Risty, if it is worth it: Is there a measurable advantage? 15? 20%?

“It’s more like 30%. Everyone has noticed.

There are way more full stems showing up at the processor.”

I stand corrected! And that is going to translate into less slash in the cutover and more logs on the balance sheet for the forest owners too. Good stuff.

Heading down the hill, we watch as Tony begins laying down some good sticks and you can see the broken ground and shorter slopes will have meant quite a few broken

3

stems with a dangle. With the flatter ground in much of Kaingaroa or the long slopes of Gisborne and other areas, you’re going to get a lot bigger soft landing zones for felled trees, whereas here by the time you are halfway down the slope your stems are snapping their heads off around the three quarter mark unless you can steer them away from the change in terrain with a fixed head like this.

Troubleshooting “We have been told that going forward, most of our wood is going to be around the 1.5 tonne mark,” Risty says. “And it’s just beautiful wood with small branching, so we selected the Quadco 3500 fixed felling head specifically for that. We still retain manual fallers because there are a few swampy

areas and gnarly spots that we can’t get on the tether in this forest.

“We always thought we would never mechanically fall in this forest because of the soil structure/terrain. Our first felling machine was operated by Ben Hunt who later became our tethered operator for a good five years. He taught Ken how to operate the felling machine and Ken has taken over the felling duties for the last two years, as Ben has taken on the role of loadout operator/ skid management. It’s great having two heads to troubleshoot difficult scenarios.

Now Ken will be training Ben on the fixed felling head which is a real asset in terms of flexibility within our operation.

“Ken has a real good attitude. He is very persistent and will stick at a new machine until he has mastered it. He really did his

P

Another Watchorn Transport log truck is loaded at Omataroa Forest.

Ax

SERIOUS POWER FOR BIG TIME LOGGERS

BANNER BANNER BANNER 1 41

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 20 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

TD34732

Ger

4

1. Good service access and thoughtful storage placement.

2. Fuel tank, more thoughtful storage and the cooling package.

3. The outer edge of the grousers are trimmed to allow maximum tilt.

4. Regular operator, Ken Black, briefs Iron Tester, Tony Hill, on the Eltec’s controls.

5. Regular operator, Ken Black, discusses the Eltec’s performance.

5

Proven Performance Axles & Suspensions

TD34732

German engineered for superior performance

bpwte.co.nz

Axle and suspensions shown may differ from those used by this fleet

1

2

homework on the best methods and by day three going from dangle to fixed, he was getting better and better. One of the main issues was splitting some of the stems and there was the odd bar that went south but that is to be expected with such a major change. He is coming out of the steep end of the learning curve now and we are seeing very noticeable results as far as improving full stem recovery. He is finding that he has to walk more with this machine just because the boom is shorter but the return on that is worth it.”

Risty gets back to the Eltec: “I looked at several different brands of tilter and came to the conclusion that the Eltec suited our future work the best. This has got 16 centimetres more ground clearance than our last felling machine. It’s got the same hydraulics and same horsepower as the 317 Eltec - the biggest one… it’s basically the same, just condensed with the short tail.”

Looking at the huge tether setup there isn’t any serious wear on it and no grinding marks on the bottom of the counterweight either.

The general consensus between Ken and Risty is that the zero tail combined with the factory Eltec tether mount being quite long, means there isn’t any interaction between the rope and counterweight regardless of the steepness of the terrain. “ One of the bonuses of the fixed head is that it’s so smooth.” Risty says “You don’t have that swaying from the dangle swinging.

Everything looks slow but it’s not.”

I’m impressed with some of the wood he is cutting. The last section here is just a bit rough, some quite big wood and quite small

BANNER BANNER BANNER 1 51

3

1. Iron Tester, Tony Hill, shovels a good stem into line for extraction.

2. The zero tail Eltec glides through the gaps in the trees with ease.

3. Iron Tester, Tony Hill, felling a good sized tree at Omataroa.

4. The Eltec shovelling stems for extraction.

4

wood. Possibly a bit high stocking and a lot of road edge, so a lot of hairy edge trees too but the little head is getting through them well.

“All your pressures and everything are adjustable on this machine to suit any sort of driving style you like with just a touch of a button,” Risty adds. “One of the things we asked Alex from Quadco was if it was possible to cut our way home with the saw.

Alex and the team sorted it straight away.

The bar is a bit unusual in that it swings right out away from the head. Having it cut both ways allows some different options for getting through the bigger trees where you need to do multiple cuts.

“Our markets are quite close here. We have got Kawerau just across the river flats and there are three mills there we supply.

The Port of Tauranga is about 80km away, so also quite close. Watchorn Transport’s yard is not even a kilometre from the skid and the trucks get four or five loads a day in each plus a load to the port.”

Train hard, work easy Regular operator, Ken, started out in the bush at 17 in Houpoto Forest near Opotiki with Maungawaru Logging and was impressed by the steep hills when he looked over the edge of the landing on day one.

“They said, ‘you look like a fit young fulla,

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 22 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

REDUCE HYDRAULIC HOSE SPEND WITH BOA HYDRAULICS Mobile Hydraulic Hose Repair Unit App for Inventory Management & Reordering Yokohama Hydraulic Hose and Matched Fittings Onsite Training and Certification for your team

boahydraulics.com | 0800 20 20 20

LEARN MORE.

The boom is staunch in order to handle the rigours of fixed head felling.

The tether and Eltec factory tether mount.

The Eltec heads back up the tether for debrief.

BANNER BANNER BANNER 1 31 W

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 | October 2024

ensign_g

you’re off down there’. I said, ‘wow that’s steep, how am I getting down there?’ And they said, ‘you’re walking. Grab this gear and off you go,’ haha. I was only a boy at 17. You soon become a man working in that country. Good character-building stuff.

“It works out good in the long run when you come from places like that and come to nicer places - it’s all worth it. Turned out I wasn’t as fit as I thought I was but after a couple of weeks breaking out I was getting quite fit. I learnt crosscutting there and then went to work for Nation Logging and a few others.

“There were a few short-staffed crews where I would be the faller and when I had enough down I would get in the hauler and haul up the wood and then go back falling again while the rest of the crew cut up and loaded out. One of the blocks we did had a river crossing at the entrance and when it was flooded we thought, ‘there is no way we could get our van across, we’ll have to go home again’. The boss jumped in the river and swam across, started the bulldozer, drove it over, hooked it to the van and towed us across so we had all our gear there for the day’s work.”

Having that solid training in how to handle the hard stuff put Ken in a good position to apply for the manual falling job when it popped up at Ocean View Logging and then, with his knack for handling complex machinery, he slid into the role of mechanical faller.

Ken likes the large storage compartment in the middle of the counterweight. There are four alloy drawers there for tools and parts storage and below that is enough room to store two 20-litre drums of oil: “I also like the fixed head for helping the machine to climb; you can hook it up around stumps and drag yourself up easy. And you can turn it upside down and use it like a spade to smooth out the terrain a little bit to get through rough areas.

“I am getting a lot more wood without the rope on with this one compared to the dangle because of that ability to push or pull with the head being rigid. But 90% of the time we are on the rope; it is better to have it than not have it. Definitely need it in here.

‘I’m still learning to use this set up and finding things that the fixed head does better and then some things the dangle does better. They each have their own

The Quadco QB3500 fixed felling head. advantages. The boys are definitely noticing the increase in full stems arriving on the landing with the fixed head.

“This machine is just pumping full blast really. Heaps of power and speed. Great traction too. Even though it’s a heavy machine it gets around the hills really good.

It has three speeds and it can boogie along and then when you need it going slow you wind it back to 1 and it will crawl around everywhere.

“I was thinking that being a short machine, when you’re slewing around and stuff it would be quite tippy but it sits solid on the hill even with stems on. I’m stoked with it.”

®

EXCLUSIVE NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTOR OF GB FORESTRY EQUIPMENT

EXCLUSIVE NEW ZEALAND DISTRIBUTOR OF GB FORESTRY PRODUCTS

ensign_gb_half_page_04024_final.indd 1

9/05/2024 2:15:16 PM

Iron Tester: Tony Hill

A perfect fit POWERFUL, STABLE, AND USERfriendly are three top things that come to mind as soon as I take the controls of this particular Eltec buncher.

Climbing up into the leveller is already user-friendly with good open handrails to grip onto, and a large outside platform as the cab entry to make plenty of room for both feet and enough room to shuffle around without feeling a risk of losing footing.

The operator layout in the cabin is very different from most machines - everything is easy to see and understand at arm’s reach.

There’s a comfortable seat with a huge cab space. The vision is pretty good out all sides and the corner post is just visible from the seat without having to lean forward. Good to see they kept with the roof window, especially with a fixed felling head. I think it’s pretty vital to see the sway of the heads.

This head is the one slightly smaller than the biggest Quadco and for the purposes of this forest where the wood is mostly normal and logged on time to a harvest plan, this head controls this piece size easily.

The short stick and boom make this machine really purpose-built, you do lose some versatility being a fixed head.

No more loading logging trucks easily or odd jobs that can be done with a dangle head. But in this case, felling and bunching for a 124 Madill is a swing yarder

operator’s dream, minimising breakages and presenting the wood in a formal way most of the time, streamlines the crew’s logging consistency, and helps meet the new, harsh environmental constraints on logging operations by leaving less broken pieces in the cutover.

The controls are relatively simple. It’s like felling with a bucket. One thing I did find hard to adapt to was that the crowd for the head was opposite to a digger crowd, reversed, so I found I was crowding the wrong way when entering a tree grab. But watching the operator, he’s adjusted fast and is sharp with it.

Being such a short boom it’s created some new challenges. Talking to the crew, they can’t reach tricky trees on razor ridges or tight spots you usually would with a normal boom, so some new planning methods and ideas with a new style of logging were made by the crew.

This machine is heavy. I was surprised when the owner said they put it on a weigh bridge and it was near the 47-tonne mark.

Machines that size in the cutover can be a burden in bad soils or wet terrain. But when operating the machine the balance is right, and it feels nimble to drive - power to weight ratio is a good match… ‘light on its feet’.

You can multifunction pretty smoothly walking and boom movements - and when you have a hold of say, a two-tonne tree it can pick it up and place it where you want it

Iron Tester, Tony Hill. without too much effort.

Having three rotate motors on the felling head makes a big difference. It will literally rotate drive a tree where you want it. The fixed heads would struggle in big wood. I don’t think we’d ever see many of the fixed heads make it to the Gisborne region where I operate because of the trunk diameter and weight.

There’s good track clearance and a solid track frame. The levelling rams are huge; no breaking those. There is plenty of track power. The Eltec gets around really easily with the short boom, heaps of power to burn when pushing or pulling yourself around and the head has a good spade type top to use on the ground .

This machine was actually quite enjoyable to drive. I didn’t really want to get out. It wouldn’t take long to adapt to operating it, and it’s perfect for this sized wood. NZL

From left: The tilt rams are huge; The long Linde hydraulic pump stack; The Cummins L9 engine with a cool Eltec muffler.

BANNER BANNER BANNER 111

EST EST EST 1909 1909 1909

THE THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER SUPPLIER TOTO NEW TO NEW NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY 26 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

2024_07

IFICATION

SPEC S ELTEC FBL277L B SERIES – SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE

BOOM / ARM

6-cylinder, 8.9L Cummins QSL9 turbo diesel 242 kW (325 hp) @ 1800 rpm Peak power

Model Max reach

HYDRAULICS

HARVESTER

Main machine pump 1 370L/min Main machine pump 2 175L/min Attachment pump 370L/min Swing speed 6.5rpm Swing torque 115,243NM Cooling Fan 1143mm/45 inch wide hydraulically driven, variable speed, reversing

Model Rotation Weight Max Opening Min Closing Max cut Bar

UNDERCARRIAGE ModelD7 tractor Track shoe width 711mm,single grouse Tractive effort 445kn/ 100,000lb/ Ground Clearance 870mm Max Speed 3.6km/hr Tilt Front =22 degrees, Side=16 degrees, Rear = 6 degrees

Eltec FB28 10.2mtrs Quadco QB3500 360 continuous 2650kg 1100 140 870mm 43 inch

REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES) 1048 284

Fuel tank Hydraulic tank DIMENSIONS (MM) Length Width Height Tail swing radius Operating weight

5,194 3,454 3,700 1422 46,820kg with Quadco QB3500 full fuel and griplug

GO ALL DAY, EVERY DAY WITH AN APEX GRAPPLE CAMERA

Scan here to watch Blue from McCormick Logging talk about his camera

Phone: Email: Website: 2024_07_23 Logger July Issue.indd 3

0800 300 434 sales@apexequipment.co.nz apexequipment.co.nz 26/07/2024 4:02:13 pm

Log Haulage

ON LOGS AND L

Scania S 730 lit up while loading at first night.

30 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

D LEA LEADERS

L

OGGERS, GODS AND SOLDIERS ARE awake early to get the day started, as we discover waiting in the carpark of the Pan Pac mill, just north of Napier, at 3.30am on a chilly Monday.

We’re meeting Platoon Sergeant Storm Harrison from the 5/7 Battalion NZ Infantry Regiment Army Reserve. And his two standout log trucks named Tāne Mahuta (God of the Forest) and Tūmatauenga (God of War).

The military and logging trucks have been dual career paths for Napier-based Storm. And it’s a combination he continues to be busy with approaching 26 years of service with the New Zealand Army.

Storm has made the early start to introduce his drivers Ben Morris and Tre Brooking. They’re taking us north on State Highway 2 to Willow Flat Road and then west into the forest in a run timed for the

Story: Colin Smith Photos: Gerald Shacklock

trucks to be loaded at first light and work their way through some rugged Hawke’s Bay scenery for our images.

Later in the morning Storm will rejoin us after a few hours at his other job.

He’s putting in some desk duty for the army before he’ll take over one of the trucks around lunchtime to cart a couple of loads and be home with his family by about 9pm.

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 31

Log Haulage

It’s a dark run north through the traffic signals controlling the single lane repairs that continue on this section of SH2 before reaching Kotemaori and turning into Willow Flat Road. It’s 5.20am and the temperature is three degrees Celcius.

I’m riding with Tre Brooking, who is back in the logging industry behind the wheel of the month-old Kenworth T659 named Tūmatauenga. Tre’s a third generation Hawke’s Bay truckie who has mixed logging stints with freight work and also time operating tractors and agricultural equipment.

The new T659 has clocked up 9000km in four weeks on the road. It’s hard to imagine any truck with much greater visual impact – it’s painted in black cherry and candy apple red with woodgrain and gold details to match Storm’s Scania S 730 Tāne Mahuta and his father’s almost year-old S 770 named Rūaumoko (God of Earthquakes and Volcanoes).

The new T659 is laden with lights and extras with the skills of Darryn Caulfield’s team being called on for the murals, air brush effects and woodgrain finish.

“I’ve driven a couple of nice trucks, and this one is right up there,” Tre says.

“My dad drives a 659 as well, for Shaun Thompson. But the only other IT cab T659 around here is Ray Beale’s one, so this is getting a lot of comments.

“It’s got a real staunch look. And the colours, and the lights really set it off nicely.”

The interior is also a treat with a leather 32 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

trim package and a PearlCraft hi-rise gearshift and steering wheel.

Another modern feature of the T659 are the ExTe auto chain tensioners fitted to the Patchell log gear and five-axle trailer.

“They definitely make the job a bit easier,” Tre says.

Tre joined Storm’s crew only the previous week, although they have known each other for several years.

“It’s the first time I’ve worked for Storm, but I have worked with him before,” he says.

It’s 6.09am when the trailer is lifted off of the T659. The S 730 is already loaded and daylight has arrived. I switch trucks and join Ben Morris for the run back to Pan Pac. Ben has been with Ngati Haulage for four years. He drove Storm’s Kenworth T909 known as The Devil’s Taxi before switching to the Scania.

“My brother and I loved trucks, and I started as a wash boy for Emmerson Transport. It was harder to get into the industry back then, but Emmersons gave me a shot,” says Ben. Ben has driven plenty of miles in the S 730 and says the horsepower and comfort are impressive.

“When we do carts over to Masterton, up to Gisborne, or over to Waiouru, it’s got the comfort and ease for the long hauls,” he says. “It’s a great looking truck but it can be a bit hard to keep clean.”

We’re out of Willow Flat Road and heading south again on the SH2 about 8.20am to meet up with Storm at Pan Pac.

Above: Jarvis (left) and Storm Harrison (right) with their father Allie, who first began working with Pan Pac in 1978.

The good old days After watching Ngati Haulage at work and shooting the photos for this feature it’s time to hear the Harrison family story and the details of the impressive trucks of Ngati Haulage and Waikawa Haulage, as well as the challenges of log transport and a dual working life in uniform and behind the wheel.

Storm’s father, Allie, worked for Freightways before becoming a Pan Pac log truck driver in 1978, and then an owner-driver in 1981.

Originally from Waipiro Bay near Te Puia on the East Coast, Allie moved to Napier about 50 years ago.

“I drove all over the country for Freightways, carting whatever they had. They were the good old days of the orange and red Internationals, Kenworths and Fiats. I worked with guys like Billy Cooper and Ned Kelly. They were real truck drivers those guys,” Allie says.

“Apart from four-and-a-half years (20082012) when I was driving between Perth and Sydney, I’ve been with Pan Pac since 1978.”

Allie firstly drove a Pan Pac Kenworth W900 and in 1989 he bought an International T-Line from Scott’s Transport at Tahuna to become an owner driver.

“Pan Pac have been awesome to work for and they’ve been really, really good to me.

I wouldn’t have been with them for 40-odd years if they weren’t,” Allie says.

Above: Storm Harrison is a Platoon Sergeant with the 5/7 Battalion NZ Infantry Regiment Army Reserve in Hawke’s Bay as well as driving his logging trucks.

Above right: Rugged Hawke’s Bay terrain as the Ngati Haulage Scania S 730 crosses the Mohaka River.

Allie Harrison remains contracted to Pan Pac, with a Western Star and the Scania S 770 running under Waikawa Haulage with son Jarvis (Storm’s younger brother) among the drivers double-shifting the duo. Storm’s S 730 and new T659 run under the Ngati Haulage banner for Pan Pac. Storm and his younger brother, Jarvis, spent a bit of time in the passenger seat of their father’s trucks, but when it came time to leave school, Storm chose the New Zealand Army.

“When we were kids, we used to ride around with Dad as much we could. Dad taught us to drive, pottering around in his T-Line,” says Storm.

“By the time I had turned 17 I decided I wanted to get away to the Army because I had a couple of cousins in there.

“I joined up in 1998. Now, when I look back at that era, I was one of the fortunate ones to deploy straight away.

“New Zealand’s last big deployment had been Vietnam and then East Timor kicked off about 1999-2000. As an 18-year-old I deployed straight to East Timor in 2000.

Because we were still teenagers we had to have our parents’ consent.

“I did back-to-back tours there. I was on the third rotation and went straight back on the fourth one a few months later.

“After that I did all my courses in the Army,

and I got sent to Sinai, Israel and Egypt in 2003. I was 21 and it was a big insight being so far away from home and seeing some of the conflict in Gaza.

“It makes you realise how lucky we are to have what we have in New Zealand.

“I managed to get to the ice as well. I did three-and-a-half weeks down in Antarctica,” he says.

“We were helping the Americans, and it was a great experience. You can only go there with the military or as a scientist.

“The trucks they had there were Vietnamera trucks. They had an old Autocar with a 13-speed Roadranger, and because none of the army boys knew how to drive a Roadranger, it was my truck.

“It was an awesome experience to be part of that team and to see what Antarctica is like, especially with New Zealand’s history on the ice.

“I was also lucky to be on the very last deployment back to East Timor as part of an ANZAC battalion. I was the Transport NCO monitoring the vehicles and I’d also tap in and out with the infantry boys from 2/1 Battalion when they needed a hand.”

Storm’s main role was operating the fleet of Toyota Hilux, Mercedes-Benz Unimog and Pinzgauer vehicles as well as armoured units.

“That was an awesome deployment. Even

though the threat level had dissipated a bit by then, you still cruised around with a pistol strapped to your thigh.

“East Timor is a very hot country. But it’s a good place to hit the weights, get a tan and do your laundry because you sweat so much. The soldiers call it GTL – gym, tan and laundry,” he says.

In the time between the first East Timor deployments and the end of New Zealand’s involvement, Storm says there were noticeable changes.

“The environment changed. We started in jungle warfare, and it changed to an urban situation in the streets of Dili.

“The New Zealand forces definitely made a difference there, especially from the early days when we first went there.”

Storm has been posted at a number of NZ Army bases during his career as a full-time soldier.

"I got posted to Papakura and was attached to the lads as a Transport NCO. Being a top-notch unit, you couldn’t slack off. Their standards are high, and it brings everybody up, even if you’re attached to them.”

It was at this stage that Storm first began to consider leaving the Army. He’d met his wife Diana in the Army, and the couple had two young boys Sonny and Rico, the first of their now four children.

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 33

Log Haulage

“It was time to look after the family,” Storm says.

“Things were a struggle because the wage in the regular force wasn’t as high as it should be, and you’re living in Auckland and things are expensive there.

“My wife has been there through the ups and downs. We met while we were in the Army, and she was actually the number one driver in the army competition.

“Diana and I talked about getting out and I went to ‘717’, which is what they call handing your notice in.

“The Army said `take leave without pay’.

So, I took a year without pay, came back to Napier and bought my house.

“My brother, Jarvis, was contracted at Pan Pac, and I jumped on with him and started to get into the groove of driving on the forest roads.

“Then I went over to Port Hedland driving the road trains for Jamieson Transport in the Pilbara. That was another massive insight on life and there are a lot of Kiwis there. I had an `07 Mack Titan, which was a cool truck.

“When my year of leave without pay was up, I said to the Army, `I’m done. I’m finished’.”

But the Army was keen to keep Storm.

“The Army spends a lot of money on you taking you through command courses and they said I could join the Territorial force. I hadn’t really thought about it till then and I said yes, because you’ve still got a foot in the door.

“I ticked that box and every time I flew home from Aussie, I’d spend some time at training and exercises.”

Storm left the full-time Army as a full

The Ngati Haulage Kenworth T659 Tūmatauenga loaded for a run back to the Pan Pac mill.

The Kenworth is a tribute to Storm's military career.

34 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Corporal and Section Commander at 10 Transport Company.

“When I left the regular force, I reverted to the infantry as a Platoon Sergeant with 5/7 Battalion in Hawke’s Bay.” Storm continued with the fly-in, fly-out job in Australia until December 2017.

Home for good “Then I came home for good, and I needed a job. I looked around and Harvest Logistics was just coming online here in the Hawke’s Bay. “Ray Beale was a big help to my brother and I. He helped us find trucks and Jarvis bought his Kenworth 104 back and I bought an ex-Pacific Haulage T950 from Waiuku.

“The guy had two. One was still in Pacific Haulage colours and the other one had been painted up old-school – classic candy apple red and cream. I fell in love with that truck, and I bought it.”

That was the beginning of Ngati Haulage and more second-hand Kenworths were added, building up to five trucks including the well known Devils Taxi T909 and Angel’s Share T950, a couple of K104s and a T904.

“I think it was easier commanding troops than owning trucks. There was a bit of stress.

Diesel was going up. RUCs were going up and the R&M on the older trucks was killing me.

And I had ordered the Scania, and Jarvis had bought his T909, The Renegade.

Storm decided to sell the older trucks and concentrate on a Pan Pac contract with the Scania.

“The hardest thing was selling the 950 which was my first truck. It’s got a curtainsider now and its hauling kiwifruit out of Gisborne.

“Things were tough for a while, but I was fortunate. James Drummond at Pan Pac said `come in under your dad’. We ran under Waikawa Haulage for a few months and then I got a contract as Ngati Haulage.

“We slogged away double-shifting, and the Scania has got us back on track. It’s been reliable, easy to drive and it’s setup so you can cart any wood.”

Storm’s military training and leadership would be called into action, literally on his doorstep, in the early hours of February 14, 2023. The Cyclone Gabrielle flood waters surged through the Esk Valley and surrounding areas.

“We got the call early in the morning and my team was in the flood waters and the silt. We nearly drowned in that cyclone,” says Storm.

“We went from house to house. It was continuous bashing doors down, searching for people and marking houses as clear.

“For all of my deployments overseas and after the Christchurch Earthquake, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done because you’re at home and you know how the people are affected.

“To be honest I thought I could handle it, but I couldn’t go through there (the Esk Valley) without it triggering something and it’s always in my mind that we could have been earlier.

“It was kicking my arse, and I needed to have some counselling.”

And nearby at the Pan Pac mill, multiple logging trucks had been swamped by the flood waters.

“I didn’t know about the flooding at Pan Pac till later that afternoon. By the time I got to the Esk River bridge, the water wasn’t far off the

bridge. When it had dissipated a bit, we could get going in the Unimog and we tried to get to Tangoio. On the way I shot into the mill and saw all my mate’s trucks under water.”

Storm says Pan Pac’s response to the disaster was impressive: “I take my hat off to them. They still paid their staff at the mill and on the transport side they went out and found work for the boys.

“They asked ‘who wants to stay away and who wants to stay here?’. They found work down south with Drummonds and with the trees getting blown over at Turangi, the iwis and forest managers needed help, and everyone dispersed.

“Pan Pac has been awesome. It’s consistent work and they are family-oriented.

I know it’s been tough for some of the guys on the outside of Pan Pac. “Without Tim Sandall (GM Forests), James Drummond (Distribution Manager), Andrew Eddington (Distribution coordinator), Paul Dornan and Matt Barraclough (dispatchers) there wouldn’t be numbers 354, 355, 212 and 291 for Ngati and Waikawa Haulage.”

Storm says he’s had plenty of guidance and advice from other Pan Pac operators.

“I’ve been lucky that I’ve also been surrounded by good people in civilian street as well as in the Army,” says Storm.

“If it wasn’t for my Dad, Jarvis and I, and our whānau wouldn’t be where we are. He has paved the way for us and he still bosses Jarvis and I around.

“And I’ve had some good advice. Alex Hayes helped us with servicing when we got started and when things were tough, he told me to ‘have one truck and make it successful’. He was right.

“I’ve been able to talk to Shaun Thompson and Mark Pittar about business and they have helped guide us. They are the kaumātua in the Pan Pac realm. They are our chiefs, and we look up to them.

“Alan Rigby from NZ Finance has been a good man. He helped us sell the trucks through his connections.

“And my guys do the māhi every day and treat the gear like it’s their own. They are well looked after, and they look after me.

“Benny has been with me for a few years and it’s good to have Tre join us who I have known for a while.”

Flexibility is also a big part of Storm’s operation.

“Benny, Tre, Dad, Jarvis and myself, are all ticketed self-loaders. When we first got into the industry, we were with Jason Taylor on a crane truck. Jason and Aaron Lake taught us how to run that and the next phase was to jump in the digger and load yourself.

Above: The Ngati Haulage team - Tre Brooking (top left), Ben Morris (top right) and Storm Harrison (above).

Below: Murals and signwriting on the Ngati Haulage trucks are the work of Caulfield Signs.

“The rules in Pan Pac require you to always work in pairs, so one driver does the loading and the other stays in the truck.

“It means our guys can start early and finish early. By the time it’s Friday we can be a couple of loads ahead and you can pull the truck off the road and get your servicing done.

Or the guys can be finished early so they can get to an appointment in town.”

Take the risk For most people the first impression of the Ngati and Waikawa trucks are the custom paint, murals, detailed finish and the names.

“Our Gods are key to what we do,” says Storm.

“Tāne Mahuta, God of the Forest – that explains itself. And Rūaumoko is the brother, the God of Earthquakes. Being a 770 it’s going to be shaking the ground.

“And then Tūmatauenga, God of War. That’s to represent my miliary people.”

A close look at the T659 reveals a red diamond on its flanks. It’s a reminder to Storm of the gruelling three month infantry course for which soldiers are awarded a red diamond badge on completion.

“It’s Hell on Earth and you live hard, but you learn how to survive,” says Storm.

Inspiration for the colour scheme has come from other trucks Storm has seen.

“I’m always looking at things I like on other trucks. Cherry black and candy apple red goes back to Dad’s trucks.

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 35

Log Haulage

“The woodgrain came from Aaron Hamilton’s green Freightliner Argosy and Kenworth at Pan Pac. Jarvis had it first on his T909 and I liked that.

“Darryn Caulfield and Joe Fox have been the main men on how the trucks look and I’m rapt with how they have turne d out.”

There’s also meaning in the company name.

“The significance of Ngati is that it means you belong,” says Storm.

And there is heritage in two of the Pan Pac truck numbers.

“When I had the Devil’s Taxi it was 354 and we’ve kept that number as a tribute to the Mackersey whanau. Robin Mackersey passed away a couple of years ago and it’s his truck number. The other Scania is 355 and they are always together.

The new T659 is truck number 291.

“Dad’s very first truck number at Pan Pac was 91 when he had the old Kenworth 900 Gull Wing. When he became an owner-driver, he tried to buy that truck, but Pan Pac said it was too old.

“So, he went out and found the T-Line and they put a 2 in front of all the numbers. So, 291 came into play with the old T-Line.

“Dad had the contract for carting timber and pulp from the mill to the port. From there Jarvis took over and he was 291 Pulp. Then Emmersons took over the pulp run, and Pan Pac offered Jarvis a logging truck so there

Above: The heritage of the original Pan Pac 91 (left) is continued today with the new T659 number 291. Among the trucks previously in the Ngati Haulage fleet was the ex-Robin Mackersey Devil’s Taxi. was a 291 Log and 291 Pulp. Jarvis was the youngest contractor at Pan Pac at the time.

“291 had been with the whanau a long time and then when Jarvis and Dad finished with Pan Pac the number floated around and ended up with Paul Tahere. He’s another guy I respect who has been in the Pan Pac system a long time.

“Then Pan Pac gave me his dad’s old number 218. So, I rang Paulie to see if we would like to swap numbers. We talked to James Drummond who made it happen and we ended up getting 291 back.

“The number has a long history with the Harrison whānau and significantly it’s back on a Kenworth. I’m glad we got it back. It means a lot.

“I said to Tre; ‘you’re lucky, you’ve got a bit of history there brother’. And for Tre, his grandfather was in the Army, so it’s for his Papa as well.”

Storm says he’s getting towards the close of his Army career.

“Unless there is WWIII I don’t think I will ever deploy again,” he says.

“I’ve done my time. Now I help plan things here with the other senior NCOs. We've got good ex-regular force soldiers who have come home to the Hawke’s Bay.

The Ngati Haulage Scania S 730 Tāne Mahuta, driven by Ben Morris, making its way through the tight and twisty Hawke’s Bay forest roads.

“That’s why I work for our military during the day to help our soldiers and drive my truck at night.

“The Army job is mainly sitting behind a desk getting a dad bod. I do a lot of planning and every now and then if an exercise comes up, I’ll get out and hump around with the lads.

“I’m lucky. It’s usually a few hours in the morning doing admin and planning, and about lunch time Benny or Tre will ring and say they’re about an hour out and I’ll check with dispatch and take the truck that gets back first.

“It’s usually a 12-hour day from starting in the office in the morning to getting home about 9.30pm.

“It’s good for my head to spend time with the Army and not think about business.”

“I’m coming up 26 years and I want to train up more solders and pass on the knowledge before I leave. I’ll slowly fade out and that will be my military career done.

“I’d like to encourage guys who want to join the army part-time to give it a go. And I think guys who leave the Army for civilian life have a lot to offer in the transport industry.

“And for the young guys I’d say. If you think something is going to be of benefit to you, then take the risk and get stuck in. It comes with hard work but just get stuck in.

“Whether you join the army or set up a business you have to work hard to get the reward.”

One of those young guys could be Storm’s oldest son.

“My older boy, Sonny, is 15 and he’s truck mad. And my younger fella Rico hates trucks but he’s an awesome rugby player and he loves the outdoors. So, he’s like the military side. We’ve also got two little girls and the older one likes to come for a ride in the trucks.”

But Storm won’t rush the third Harrison generation into the log truck industry.

“I’ve told my oldest boy to get a skill or a trade. These trucks will always be here later.” NZL

Vo

Vo for att loa wi ou saf

36 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Holden

Volvo Forestry Carriers - Designed for New Zealand Conditions.

Volvo Tracked Forestry Carriers are specially designed from the ground up for the demanding forestry work in New Zealand, suitable for a wide array of forestry tasks. With a variety of forestry attachments available, these machines are versatile, capable of handling harvesting, processing, loading, stump harvesting, trenching, scarifying, planting, and forest road construction. Equipped with a reinforced undercarriage, full-length track rock guards, and the Volvo Forestry Care Cab, our Volvo Factory-Built Forestry Carriers offer ease of operation, advanced comfort, reliability, and safety. All backed by nationwide TDX branches, with full service and parts support.

Scan to learn more about our Forestry Excavators.

0800 848 267 | TDXLTD.CO.NZ Holden Gibbs_NZ Logger.indd 4

19/06/2024 4:57:13 pm

Women in Forestry

EAST COAST WOMEN STEP UP

I

F WE WERE LOOKING FOR A REASON NOT to have started our business two years ago, health and safety compliance would have been it. Forestry health and safety can be a scary thing if you don’t do it right,” says Rā Whakapono Logging’s Tania Gibb.

Tania is thankful that she and her husband, Irvin ‘Smurf’ Gibb, forged ahead with starting their Gisborne contracting business in 2022. While the couple committed to rolling out best practices for Rā Whakapono’s health and safety processes, Tania went a step further in her learning and recently graduated with a New Zealand Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice Level 3 this month.

Her training was generously funded

by Eastland Wood Council (EWC), after the council joined forces with WorkSafe, Competenz and various industry stakeholders to create a course aimed at empowering women working in the region’s forestry industry, to enhance the safety standards in their organisations.

Twelve Gisborne women have completed the Level 3 health and safety programme, with 10 stepping up to the Level 4 programme.

Eastland Wood Council Health, Safety and Training committee Chair, and Acting Head of the Women in Tairawhiti Forestry group, Jessie Bourke, says the collective commitment of the group stakeholders to launch the course highlights the industry’s commitment to fostering inclusivity, professional development, and a culture of safety.

Right: Jasmine (Jaz) Kuru runs her own contracting business in Hawke’s Bay, contracting to ‘Dad’(Ricky Kuru of Kuru Contracting). The former Competenz apprentice of the year (2016) runs a crew of 10 and has invested in her own forestry gear including three machines.

Jaz says, “Currently I’m the only woman in this crew, all 10 crew members are male. If there are women out there interested in the industry, I’d give them a go!”.

38 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

“By giving so many women the opportunity to attend, we have instantly driven up the health, safety and wellbeing knowledge within small businesses in our community – arguably the most high-risk industry here on the East Coast. That has to be a win for women and for our communities,” she says.

She says there was an enormous response to the EWC’s call for applications, and every spot was filled with a waiting list at hand.

“These courses have not been run in Gisborne for several years so it has been great to offer them and know that the cost burden to small businesses would be alleviated through the funding.

“The courses are staged and flexible to work around the demands of running a small business. If more courses could be offered in a variety of different manners, it would go a long way to break down the access barriers for women. Spending several thousand dollars for one person to attend is a lot to ask of small businesses hit hard by COVID19 restrictions, cyclones and the general downturn in the log market.”

Opening doors Tania agrees that the programme has farreaching impacts for other women working in forestry: “Women are underutilised in

Rā Whakapono Logging’s Tania Gibb. forestry. I was already running the health and safety in our business, if a little blindly. I know there are other forestry businesses in the same boat – female employees and co-owners who are also the health and safety reps who can fill this gap in their business. More women could be empowered and recruited into these programmes.

“Health and Safety training opens the door for women in forestry. Some may prefer to work hours that are suited to family life – not getting up at 4am when the crews start – and, for me, the programme has allowed me to do my bit for our family business, as I can’t drive the machines.”

Tania believes crew behaviour changes for the better when there is a female influence in the team. She says, “This applies from management to the forest,” and that she has seen a welcome shift in how health and safety is perceived in the industry.

“Over the last five years, operating sustainably and prioritising health and safety have played equal parts in our decision-making and how other contractors run their businesses. Before we started our business, we could see contractors accepting jobs without a full understanding of the health and safety risks involved with them. Now people are more open to talking about what is working, what possibly needs improving and how to put in place the necessary building blocks that will provide a safer working environment.

A safer working environment is key.

“The sector is bringing in experts with the right knowledge to change how we do things. There is a transformation happening and the industry’s improved safety data reflects this.”

Competenz Training Advisor, Steven Jones, organised the courses. He says he has witnessed significant changes in forestry safety: “As a former forestry contractor for 30 years and a trainer and

CDL Log Grapples Now available exclusively from 3D Industrial Universal hanger options available For more information or to request a quote, phone 027 324 9091 or email parts@3dindustrial.nz www.cdl.nz

BUILT STRONG FOR NZ CONDITIONS

NZ MADE

UNIVERSAL HANGER OPTIONS AVAILABLE

EASE OF MAINTENANCE

POWDER COATED COMPONENTS

SAME DAY DISPATCH ON ALL PARTS

HARD FACING IS STANDARD

Women in Forestry

assessor for 10, I have seen a changing shift away from an outdated acceptance that workplace accidents are the nature of the job to the whole industry opening its eyes to the health and safety risks being too high without knowledge.

“The women completing the course have their eyes open to understanding the entire health and safety process, from preparing their teams to be aware of their surroundings to not having laces on their boots, to doing the paperwork if an incident investigation is required.”

He says the professional development programme equips women for career advancement, while positioning them as valuable contributors to the industry.

“They are gaining the tools to improve safety in their workplaces and long term, they can move from one organisation to another, carrying over what they have learnt while lifting the health and safety standards in a new work environment.”

Tania says Rā Whakapono has a team of 11 staff, and she has already earmarked a team member for the nationally recognised Level 3 and 4 training.

“We already have someone on our team who I would like to put through the same training. They have long experience in forestry and already take health and safety very seriously. The qualification will enable us to keep the high standards in the bush, as I am not there.

“It’s important to lead our team to build an understanding of the changing health and safety legislation – because everyone is more open to following the rules if they understand why we are doing it.”

She says the business has always been focused on work-based learning.

“We currently have 60 to 70% of our staff in training through Competenz. With 20 years of experience as a logger’s wife and hearing stories from the sector, we have been able to reflect on what’s important in the sector – training and retaining staff is at the top of our list and comes before profit.

“It’s important to ensure our people have a Plan A and a Plan B. We don’t want our tree feller to be doing his job at 60; we want him to keep his expertise, which doesn’t mean he always has to work in the woods.”

She welcomes more industry-driven initiatives like this one.

“Training our people, especially women, inspires positive change and drives meaningful impact for forestry.” NZL 40 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Women are underutilised in forestry, says Whakapono Logging’s Tania Gibb.

Insurance solutions from experienced brokers Best fit now and for the future New Zealand wide - Kaitaia to Bluff

Longstanding supporters of the NZ forestry industry

Call Brenden or Steve today

• Wherever you are in the chain, we can help you • Standing timber, forestry consultancy, silviculture, saw-milling, harvesting, forestry loading, log transport • Cover for your assets, business interruption and liability

LG33637

Working with the forestry sector across New Zealand

Brenden: 021 853 840 Steve: 029 348 1634

0800 55 54 53 www.greenlightinsurancebrokers.co.nz

FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

latest from fica Falling From Heights Removed from WorkSafe Top Harms

Tairawhiti – Forestry Contractor (TFC) Meeting

The sector plan for forestry has now been signed off by the WorkSafe Board and is available on the WorkSafe website.

FICA has been appointed to the Woody-Debris Action Group – Tairawhiti now renamed Tairawhiti Forestry Action Group.

It is notable that Falling From Heights (FFH) has been removed from top harms and hence priorities. We commend WorkSafe for engaging with industry and modifying the plan and priorities accordingly.

The purpose of the group is to:

The next challenge is ensuring that the plan is implemented correctly through inspectors and there is consistency across the country.

FICA continues to engage with WorkSafe to provide input and discuss how best to accomplish this. We look forward to working closely with WorkSafe as a partner to work towards this.

See more: www.worksafe.govt.nz/about-us/who-we-are/ our-priorities/

• make recommendations and develop a clear plan to accelerate the clean-up of woody debris (both in situ and remaining in catchments) within this financial year and ensure transparent prioritisation of clean-up activity, and • identify remaining risk and provide recommendations for how this risk should be managed now and in the future.

The group met with the Forestry Minister, Todd McClay, in late August. Todd outlined his expectations for the group and made a press release the same day.

In preparation for the next scheduled meeting, Rowan and Dale Ewers (FICA Board Member) attended a meeting with Tairawhiti Forestry Contractors in Gisborne on 5th September. It was a great turnout with an estimated 80% of contractors represented. There was much constructive discussion, with some clear actions to move forward. Thanks to Ricky Kuru for setting up the meeting.

It’s time we got together for a contractor shindy. FICA Members are invited to get amongst it At Rotovegas 2024...

THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER 2024 • Optional Red Stag Tour - 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm • Casual beers at a pub from 5.00 pm

FRIDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2024 • Rolling Roadshow - 8.30 am - 4.00 pm

2 0 2 4

31 OCT + 1 NOV

• There will be an AGM in here at some point • Shin Dig at Terrace Kitchen - From 6.00 pm

TICKETS / RSVP $100 + GST / PER PERSON

www.fica.org.nz/events 42 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE + RSVP/GET TICKETS

FICA.ORG.NZ

Ask the Big Insurance Questions It has been a tough year for a lot of operators in the forestry sector so everyone should be thinking about the following with regard to insurance and risk.

The questions that you need to ask yourself and your insurance professional: 1. Is your Insurance professional a specialist in the Forestry/Log Transport and wider forestry sector ?

Does your insurance professional have good industry links with all the major suppliers and providers that you deal with?

2. What are your options for cover for your plant and vehicles? Have you reviewed coverage with all Insurers that provide cover in the insurance market and is the coverage bespoke for your business? Have different cover options been explored and excess limits been considered?

3. Make sure you understand your Liability Programme; review it in terms of the policy coverage and the limits. Understand the policy triggers and the endorsements, extensions and be aware of the specific exclusions. Ensure your Liability Programme includes Statutory Liability (H&S at Work Act & RMA Acts). Don’t just focus on the limits of indemnity but ensure they are adequate.

4. Issues to consider: Does your insurer offer higher limits of cover for the following: Windscreens, Tyres, Consequential Loss, or Loss of Revenue?

Do they offer a parked up/laid up cover if you are not working? Do they offer a death by accident coverage?

5. At claim time are you getting the right advice?Are you dealing with an assessor who understands machinery and the implications of not having the gear working?

6. Finally, Cost - are you getting good value for money as insurance is a large component of a contractor’s overall costs for the year ?

We would recommend that you discuss your Insurance with Greenlight insurance brokers as it costs nothing to review the existing cover and we can provide you with a ‘warrant of fitness’ for your insurance.

This article is a general commentary and does not constitute financial advice.

Talk to Brenden or Steve or the team at Greenlight Insurance Brokers.

Phone: 0800 55 54 53 www.greenlightinsurancebrokers.co.nz

Health and Safety Minister visits Blackstump Logging With Brooke van Velden (Minister for the New Zealand Workplace Relations and Safety) earlier announcing a review of the Health and Safety at Work Act, she has been in the field seeking industry feedback.

She recently visited Blackstump Logging in Gisborne in September, “to listen to their thoughts on what changes they would like to see in the Health and Safety Reform.”

Wayne McEwan, Director and Owner of Blackstump, says the Minister was well-engaged and very interested in the lengths they go to ensure health and safety in their business.

Wayne says Brooke was pleasantly surprised by the level of technology and mechanisation in the business and the need for the industry to communicate this more effectively.

The next step in the review is that the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) will be lodging a submission on behalf of the industry. In addition, FICA may also be making its own submission (these close 31 October 2024).

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 43

FICA.ORG.NZ

PaySauce comes out on top for Forestry Contractor Payroll Women in Forestry and FICA have been working on a payroll project to research the best payroll option for forestry contractors. PaySauce has come out on top and is offering a special joining deal for FICA and WIF members.

After trialling four different payroll systems, PaySauce stands out as the best option aligned to the needs of forestry contractors.

WIF General Manager, Sarah Davis, says, “Forestry contractors generally have different needs to standard/typical business, especially around the complexities of different allowances we pay.

“Having had experience running other systems for a number of years, I understand the benefits to the simplicity they offer but there are also drawbacks with some not being cloud based and in real time, especially for pay day filing. Plus some competitors are not known for their customer service and it can be difficult to get through to a real person on the phone.”

Pictured: PaySauce CEO, Asantha Wijeyeratne and team pictured with WIF Manager. Sarah Davis (second from left). system, so we have strived to find the best system that will make it as painless as possible,” she says.

“The team at PaySauce have assured me that the switch is seamless and all they require is your payroll reports. Then they can load everything for you.

“With the added benefits of PaySauce running through an app, you can process payroll anywhere in the world off your phone.”

Key features and benefits of PaySauce include: • functionality suitable for complex allowances forestry contractors pay, • cloud base/real time updates, • local/real people in the customer service team, • app based system meaning you can process payroll from anywhere, • competitive pricing with a special three-month joining offer for FICA and WIF members, • no set-up fees (some other competitors charge $50pp), • pain-free set up – all they need is your payroll reports.

Dale Rutgers from Loggabull in Taupo completed a PaySauce pilot/trial as part of the research process WIF undertook.

“I want to thank Dale from Loggabull for taking the time to demo this payroll. She was very diligent with her questions and feedback,” says Sarah.

After trying out PaySauce Dale has committed to switching Loggabull over to PaySauce.

“It will be good to start using a web based system that has a lot of different capabilities. It’s great that it is a New Zealand company and you can speak to a real person in New Zealand if you need any support,” says Dale.

Sarah acknowledges that switching payroll systems is not always simple and easy.

“I understand the drama of having to change over a payroll 44 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

SPECIAL OFFER FOR FICA AND WIF MEMBERS Sign up for a PaySauce ‘Standard’ plan before 31 December 2024, and it’ll be free until the end of 2024.

You’ll also get 10% off your monthly subscription until 31 December 2025. T&Cs apply. www.paysauce.com/pricing/

To see PaySauce in action and sign up, scan the QR code.

F

S

FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

Nobody stands behind your felling head like we do.

ENGINEERING SERVICES ROTORUA LTD P. +64 7 348 1286 | E: INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZ

WOODSMANPRO.CO.NZ Engineered kiwi forestry solutions since 1965.

FICA FICAPartners Partners STRATEGICPARTNERS PARTNERS STRATEGIC

© Copyright 2024 Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

The Ensign & Woodsman Pro brands are registered trademarks of Engineering Services Rotorua Ltd.

Thank who support supportFICA, FICA,which whichininturn turnworks workstotopromote promote Thankyou you to to all all of of the the organisations organisations who business safety and and efficiency efficiencyamongst amongstforestry forestrycontractors contractorsfor for businessgrowth growth and and improved safety thebenefit benefit of of New New Zealand’s Zealand’s Forestry the Forestry Industry.

Industry.

BUSINESS PARTNERS BUSINESS PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS GOLD PARTNERS

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

Safety/performance/quality

Photos, photos, photos THIS ISSUE, ITS SIMPLY ABOUT PUTTING faces to names of those who have achieved top results.

So, here are the first set of these, showing those who were in last month’s Harvesting results table.

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 who have all participated in or continue to influence the way in which we operate.

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, Aratu Forests, McCallum Harvesting and Swain Logging.

Into safety?

Into performance?

Into quality?

Contact Shane Perrett on 0274 781 908, 07 3483037 or at primefm@xtra. co.nz. NZL

Mangoihe Logging

Kasey White.

46 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Russell Gibbins.

Tim Paxton.

Pineta Richards-Wari.

Safety/performance/quality

Wenita Forest Products

Blair McColl and Peter Murry.

Jacob Jenkins and Chris Cousins.

Caption

Aaron Buchan.

Caption

Caleb Beets-Ruruku.

Glenn Cochrane.

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 47

Safety/performance/quality

Wenita Forest Products

James Agnew.

Mark Hunt.

Caption

Luke Stanton.

48 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

Caption

Marty Glassford.

Michael Aitkin.

Safety/performance/quality

Wenita Forest Products

Jeremy Hills.

Matthew Stewart.

Caption

Orisi Driu.

Caption

Phil Jones.

Rodger Mikaere.

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 49

NEW MACHINERY FOR MCCALLUM HARVESTING SANY FOR FAST AND HILLTOP HARVESTING Fast and Hilltop Harvesting has taken delivery of a Sany SY305H fitted with a DC winch. This machine will be tethering an Eltec FHL277L for the team’s harvestline operation in Kinleith. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

McCallum Harvesting’s new PC300FX has been delivered to Southland’s Otautau forests. Dave (Daggy) McCallum checked out the new FX and decided that was the way forward – good cooling, quiet cab, good guarding package. Southland, contrary to popular belief, does run hot in summer, he says. Jackson McCallum, Daggy’s son, is the operator on the PC300FX with the Woodsman Pro750 head getting through the stems with ease. Delivered By Paul Roche, Komatsu Forests South Island product support, Hamish Hessilen, product support from the North Island and IQAN guru Tinus Barnard.

NEW TIGERCAT FOR GILLION LOGGING Gillion Logging of Herbert has taken delivery of a new Tigercat LS855E in combination with a Tigercat 5195 felling head. It replaces an existing Tigercat LS855E. Operator, Tony, says he highly rates the machine’s stability and track power on steep terrain. There are currently four Tigercat machines in the company’s fleet. Machine sold by Hayden McCulloch, ABE Forestry.

NEW MACHINERY FOR TAINUI

NEW MACHINERY FOR MIKE HARRIS

Shane Hemopo from Tainui Logging has taken delivery of a new LH855E with the first new Waratah 624HX, having replaced an existing LH855E and Waratah 625. Shane says he is impressed with the new combination and is looking forward to many more thousands of trouble-free hours' running. Sold and serviced by AB Taupo Forestry Centre.

Mike Harris has put another EC380DL VFC to work in his Benedale crew. This is the fourth EC380DL VFC for Mike alongside his EC300 and L120H Volvos. The new Volvo has gone to work in Benedale, working under the EC380DL harvestline, processing stems. It is fitted with a Satco 3L2T head. Machine sold and delivered by Ewen Satherley, TDX.

50 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

NEW MACHINERY FOR JOHN FODIE

FIRST-EVER WOODSMAN PRO 560 FOR JENSEN LOGGING

John Fodie has taken delivery of a SAT 316HD fitted to a Hyundai 235.

The SAT 316HD features the SATCO Logmaker control system, automatic chain tensioning and a bottom delimb arm. Working in the Twizel area, this machine will be harvesting a burnt forest which is delimbed and cut to length for a chipper.

The Jensen Logging team has taken delivery of the first-ever Woodsman Pro 560 tree harvester. This model, with its lighter weight and compact dimensions, is being optimised for production thinning and the harvesting of smaller wood. It has been installed on a John Deere 803MH.

NEW MACHINERY FOR JAZZED UP LOGGING A great day out in Hawke’s Bay delivering a new addition to Jazzed Up Logging’s fleet.

This PC300HW Tractionline has the short boom and arm option.

NEW SANY FOR CREW 908

CAT 330GC FOR BURSON LOGGING

Crew 908 in Tarawera Forest has taken delivery of a new Sany SY415H fitted with a Woodsman 850 processing head. Sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

This Cat 330 GC is a new addition to Burson Logging’s fleet, working in the Nelson region. The crew say they love the reach, lift power and fuel economy of the big new Cat. Machine sold by territory account manager, Jayden Peek.

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 51

C S

O

Ge

Phil 554 52 NZ LOGGER | October 2024

08

Current Used Current Current Used Used Stock For Sale Stock Stock For For Sale Sale October 2024 October October 20242024 2015 2015 Tigercat Tigercat LS855C LS855C Feller Feller Buncher Buncher hrs, 5195 Felling Head new 20159,400 Tigercat 2015 Tigercat LS855C LS855C Feller Buncher Feller&&Buncher 9,400 hrs, Tigercat Tigercat 5195 Felling Head new

2013 2013Tigercat Tigercat635D 635DLog LogSkidder Skidder hours.

25 Grapple, large fuel 201313,424 Tigercat 2013 Tigercat 635D Log 635D Skidder Log Skidder 13,424 hours.

25ftft Grapple, large fuel

NOW $220,000.00 NOW $220,000.00 + GST + GST

$90,000.00 $90,000.00++GST GST $90,000.00 $90,000.00 + GST + GST

9,400 undercarriage. hrs, 9,400 Tigercat hrs, 5195 Tigercat Felling 5195 Head Felling & new Head & new undercarriage.

Ex Device undercarriage. undercarriage.

Ex Christchurch.

Christchurch.

Device##D128219 D128219 Ex Christchurch.

Ex Christchurch.

Device #Device D128219 # D128219 NOW $220,000.00 ++ GST NOW $220,000.00 GST

Komatsu Komatsu PC300LC-8 PC300LC-8 With 11,700 hrs, Track Komatsu PC300LC-8 WithKomatsu 11,700 hrs,PC300LC-8 Track Gear Gearstill stillhas haslife lifeininit,it,

tank &&30.5 Tyres.

Oil 13,424 hours.

13,424 25 hours. ftRear Grapple, 25 ft Grapple, large fuel large fuel tank 30.5 Rear Tyres.

Oilsamples samples tankavailable. & 30.5 tankRear &Ex30.5 Tyres.

Rear OilTyres. samples Oil samples available.

ExRental.

Rental.

Ex Device available. available.

Ex Rental.

Ex#Rental.

ExTaupo.

Taupo.

Device #D107543 D107543 Ex Taupo.Ex Device Taupo.#Device D107543 # D107543

2012 2012Tigercat Tigercat630D 630DLog LogSkidder Skidder 14,778 hours, 19ft Grapple, Winch, New 2012With Tigercat 2012 Tigercat 630D Log 630D Skidder Log Skidder With 14,778 hours, 19ft Grapple, Winch, New

NOW $80,000.00 NOW $80,000.00 + GST + GST

3,100 hrs ago, worn front Good With engine 14,778 With hours, 14,778 19ft Grapple, 19ft Winch, New Winch, New engine 3,100 hrshours, ago, wornGrapple, fronttyres, tyres, Good Rear Tyres, Maintained.

ExExfront Rental engine 3,100 engine hrsWell ago, 3,100 worn hrs ago, frontworn tyres, Good tyres, Good Rear Tyres, Well Maintained.

Rental Device D112163 RearEx Tyres, Rear WellTyres, Maintained.

Well## Maintained.

Ex Rental Ex Rental ExTaupo.

Taupo.

Device D112163 Ex Taupo.

Ex Device Taupo. # Device D112163 $60,000.00 + GST $60,000.00 + GST # D112163

2012 2012 Hitachi HitachiZX290LC-5 ZX290LC-5Log LogLoader Loader 20129,780 Hitachi 2012 ZX290LC-5 Hitachi ZX290LC-5 Log Loader Log Loader hours, new sprockets, idlers 9,780 hours, new sprockets, idlersand andsome some

2018 2018Sumitomo SumitomoSH300-5TLFS SH300-5TLFSExcavator Excavator 2018With Sumitomo 2018 SH300-5TLFS SH300-5TLFS Excavator EnsignSumitomo Grapple & Heel.

6.5m Arm,Excavator

NOW $50,000.00 +GST NOW $50,000.00 NOW $50,000.00 +GST +GST

$165,000.00 $165,000.00++GST GST $165,000.00 $165,000.00 + GST + GST

Ensign 1530 Grapple but heel’.

With 11,700 With hrs, 11,700 Track hrs, Gear Track still‘no has Gear lifestill inhas it, life in it, Ensign 1530 Grapple but ‘no heel’.

Taupo.

Device #D133530 EnsignEx 1530 Ensign Grapple 1530 but Grapple ‘no heel’. but Ex Taupo. Device #D133530 ‘no heel’.

NOW $80,000.00 GST Ex Taupo.

Ex Device Taupo. #D133530 Device+ NOW $80,000.00 +#D133530 GST

hydraulic bonnet & 1730 9,780 rollers, hours, 9,780 new hours, sprockets, new sprockets, idlers andidlers some and some rollers, hydraulic bonnet &Ensign Ensign 1730 Nelson. rollers,Grapple. hydraulic rollers,Ex hydraulic bonnet &D132529 bonnet Ensign 1730 & Ensign 1730 Grapple.

Ex Nelson.

D132529 Grapple.

Ex Grapple.

Nelson.

Ex D132529 Nelson.

D132529 NOW $50,000.00 +GST

2019 2019 Tigercat TigercatLS855E LS855EFeller FellerBuncher Buncher With 5195 Tigercat Felling Head, 7,900hrs, 2019 With Tigercat 2019 Tigercat LS855E Feller LS855E Buncher Feller Buncher 5195 Tigercat Felling Head, 7,900hrs,

NewWith Chains ago, New Tigercat Final With 5195 51953,500hrs Felling Tigercat Head, Felling 7,900hrs, Head, 7,900hrs, NewTigercat Chains 3,500hrs ago, New Tigercat Final Drives 3,000hrs ago, Oil Samples available.

New Chains New 3,500hrs Chains ago, 3,500hrs New ago, Tigercat New Final Tigercat Final Drives 3,000hrs ago, Oil Samples available. late model machine.

Taupo. D140289 DrivesTidy 3,000hrs Drives ago, 3,000hrs Oil Samples ago, OilEx available.

Samples Tidy late model machine.

Ex Taupo. available.

D140289 Tidy late model Tidy$280,000.00 late machine. model machine.

Ex+GST Taupo.Ex D140289 Taupo. D140289 NOW

$60,000.00 $60,000.00 + GST + GST

With Ensign Grapple & Heel. 6.5m Arm, shoes, 9,328 hours, Machine, ExEx With 700mm Ensign With Grapple Ensign & Grapple Heel.

6.5m &Tide Heel.

Arm, 6.5m Arm, 700mm shoes, 9,328 hours, Tide Machine, Rental.

ExEx9,328 Taupo.

Device #D140331 700mm shoes, 700mm shoes, hours, 9,328 Tide hours, Machine, Tide Machine, Ex Ex Rental.

Taupo.

Device #D140331 Rental. ExRental.

Taupo.Ex Device Taupo. #D140331 Device #D140331

2018 2018Tigercat Tigercat1085C 1085CForwarder Forwarder 20189,500 Tigercat 2018 Tigercat 1085C Forwarder 1085C hours. Fully serviced andForwarder ready

9,500 hours. Fully serviced and ready go9,500 toFully work.

Includes band tracks.

9,500to hours. hours. serviced Fullyand serviced ready and ready to go to work.

Includes band tracks.

Ex Taupo.

Device #D131614 to go Ex to Taupo. work. to go Includes to work. #D131614 band Includes tracks. band tracks.

Device Ex Taupo.

Ex Device Taupo. #D131614 Device+#D131614 NOW $220,000.00 GST

NOW $220,000.00 + GST NOW $220,000.00 NOW $220,000.00 + GST + GST

NOW $280,000.00 +GST NOW $280,000.00 NOW $280,000.00 +GST +GST Tigercat LH855D Tigercat LH855D Harvester Harvester With 8,668 hrs, Woodsman Pro 750 Processing Tigercat LH855D Harvester Harvester WithTigercat 8,668 hrs, LH855D Woodsman Pro 750 Processing

Komatsu KomatsuPC300 PC300Feller FellerBuncher Buncher With 6,603 hrs, 1350 Woodsman Head, Komatsu PC300 Feller PC300 Buncher Feller Felling Buncher WithKomatsu 6,603 hrs, 1350 Woodsman Felling Head,

NOW $250,000.00 NOW $250,000.00 + GST + GST

NOW $150,000.00 NOW $150,000.00 + GST + GST

Head.

With 8,668 With hrs, 8,668 Woodsman hrs, Woodsman Pro 750 Processing Pro 750 Processing Head.

Ex Taupo. Device # D125653 Head.Ex Taupo.

Head. Device # D125653 NOW $250,000.00 +D125653 GST Ex Taupo.

Ex Device Taupo. #Device D125653 # NOW $250,000.00 + GST

2006 Waratah 624B Processing Head 2006 Waratah 624B Processing Head Head that was rebuilt 5,500 hours ago 2006Tidy Waratah 2006 624B 624B5,500 Processing Head Tidy Head Waratah that wasProcessing rebuilt hours agoHead

Hydraulic Bonnet.

With 6,603 With hrs, 6,603 1350 Woodsman hrs, 1350 Woodsman Felling Head, Felling Head, Hydraulic Bonnet.

Ex Taupo. Device #D136966 Hydraulic Hydraulic Bonnet.

Bonnet.

Ex Taupo.

Device #D136966 NOW $150,000.00 GST Ex Taupo.

Ex Device Taupo. #D136966 Device + #D136966 NOW $150,000.00 + GST

Tigercat LS855E Shovel Logger Tigercat LS855E Shovel Logger With a Tigercat 5195 Felling Head, 6,898 Tigercat LS855E LS855E Logger Shovel Logger WithTigercat a TigercatShovel 5195 Felling Head, 6,898

NOW $15,000.00 NOW $15,000.00 + GST + GST

hours, Undercarriage still ok, Straight & tidy, With ahours, Tigercat With a 5195 Tigercat Felling 5195 Head, Felling 6,898 Head,&6,898 still ok, Straight tidy, CurrentUndercarriage Model. hours,Current Undercarriage hours, Undercarriage still ok, Straight still ok,&Straight tidy, & tidy, Model.

Ex Christchurch.

Device # D138381 Current Current Model.

Ex Model.

Christchurch.

Device # D138381 $320,000.00 + GST Ex Christchurch.

Ex Christchurch.

Device #Device D138381 # D138381 $320,000.00 + GST

2021 Sumitomo 3740 Excavator 2021 Sumitomo 3740 Excavator EnsignSumitomo 1530 Grapple, 4.98m arm & 2021With Sumitomo 2021 3740 Excavator 3740 Excavator

2019 Tigercat LS855E Feller Buncher 2019 Tigercat LS855E Feller Buncher Woodsman 1350 Felling Head, 2019With Tigercat 2019 Tigercat LS855E Feller LS855E Buncher Fellerok Buncher

$375,000.00 + GST $375,000.00 $375,000.00 + GST + GST

$200,000.00 + GST $200,000.00 $200,000.00 + GST + GST

when $100k was spent on it.

Tidy Head Tidy that Head was rebuilt that was 5,500 rebuilt hours 5,500 agohours ago when $100k was spent on it.

Ex Taupo.

Device # D139775 whenEx $100k when was$100k spentwas on spent it. on it.

Taupo.

Device # D139775 NOW $15,000.00 +#GST Ex Taupo.

Ex Device Taupo. #Device D139775 D139775 NOW $15,000.00 + GST

With Ensignboom.

1530 Grapple, 4.98m arm & 7m straight 2,958 hours, Ex Rental.

With Ensign With 1530 Ensign Grapple, 1530 Grapple, 4.98m arm 4.98m & Rental. arm & 7m straight boom.

2,958 hours, Ex Ex Taupo. Device #D126058 7m straight 7mboom. straight 2,958 boom. hours, 2,958 Ex Rental. hours, Ex Rental.

Ex Taupo.

Device #D126058 Ex Taupo.

Ex Device Taupo. #D126058 Device $375,000.00 + GST #D126058

$320,000.00 $320,000.00 + GST + GST

With Woodsman Felling Head, condition although1350 chains worn.

Ex ok With Woodsman With Woodsman 1350 Felling 1350 Head, Felling ok Head, ok condition although chains worn.

Ex Taupo. Device #D140557 condition condition although chains worn. chains Ex worn. Ex Taupo.

Devicealthough #D140557 Taupo.

Device Taupo. #D140557 Device $200,000.00 + GST#D140557

Get in touch with your local AB Equipment Branch today.

Get in touch with your local AB Equipment Branch today.

GetPhil in Get touch in touch with with Island your local027 local AB AB IEquipment Branch Branch today. today.

McKenzie Upper your North 565Equipment 3956 Ben Kendrick Lower North Island 021 658

Phil McKenzie Upper North Island 027 565 3956 I Ben Kendrick Lower North Island 021 658 554Phil I Hayden McCulloch South Island 027 1952 Phil McKenzie McKenzie Upper North UpperIsland North 027 Island 565027 3956 565 I288 Ben 3956 Kendrick I Ben Kendrick Lower North LowerIsland North 021 Island 658021 658 554 I Hayden McCulloch South Island 027 288 1952 554 I Hayden 554 I Hayden McCulloch McCulloch South Island South 027 Island 288027 1952 288 1952

0800 30 30 30 30 90 90 I abequipment.co.nz abequipment.co.nz 0800 0800 0800 30 3030 9030 I90Iabequipment.co.nz I abequipment.co.nz

$65,000 $65,000++GST GST

$190,000 $190,000++GST GST

$125,900 ++GST GST $125,900

$389,000++GST GST $389,000

HYUNDAI 290LC-9 HYUNDAI 290LC-9 o REFREF No.N513610 . 513610

CASE CASE2050M 2050MXLT XLT o REF REFNN.o.513318 513318

DOOSAN DX340 DX340 DOOSAN REF NNoo.. 513555 513555 REF

JOHNDEERE DEERE959MH 959MHTRACKED TRACKED HARVESTER JOHN HARVESTER REFNNo. o513350 . 513350 REF

2012.

12650 hrs.hrs.

2014 ROBEX290LC-9 2012.

12650 2014 ROBEX290LC-9with with Forestry Certified guarding.

Devine Grapple.

Forestry Certified guarding.

Devine Grapple.Near Near newnew undercarriage.

Located in Rotorua. undercarriage. Located in Rotorua.

TERRY DUNCAN TERRY DUNCAN

027 027285 2851051 1051

2015.

2015.3430 3430hrs. hrs.232 232HP. HP.AAvery verytidy tidymachine. machine.

Equipped Equippedwith withaa3.4m 3.4mSemi-U Semi-Ublade, blade,rear rear rippers. rippers.

6.7L engine.

Located in Feilding.

6.7L engine. Located in Feilding.

JOHN JOHNSOUTHEE SOUTHEE

027 027 365 365 3603

2010. 4556 4556 hrs. hrs.Fitted Fittedwith withananAttach2 Attach2quick quickhitch hitch 2010. and GP GP bucket. bucket.Well Wellserviced servicedand andwell wellmaintained maintained and by the original originalowner. owner.Located Locatedatatour ourPukekohe.

Pukekohe.

STEPHEN COLLIN COLLIN STEPHEN

027222 2221128 1128 027

2018.10039 10039hrs.hrs.Southstar Southstar FD750 attachment.

2018.

FD750 attachment.

Readyforforwork workwith with a full undercarriage rebuild.

Ready a full undercarriage rebuild.

LocatedininFeilding.

Feilding.

Located

JOHNSOUTHEE SOUTHEE JOHN

$220,000 $220,000++GST GST

$70,000 $70,000++GST GST

$220,000 ++GST GST $220,000

$251,600+GST GST $251,600+

JOHN DEERE 948L JOHN DEERE 948L o . 685933 REFREF No.N 685933

CATERPILLAR336L 336LME ME CATERPILLAR REFNNo.o.513674 513674 REF

JOHN JOHN oDEERE DEEREE210 E210 o. 513397 REF N REF N . 513397

JOHN JOHNoDEERE DEERE909MH 909MH REF REFNN. o513620 . 513620

2018.

9600 Grapple skidder, completewith with 2018.

9600 hrs.hrs.

Grapple skidder, complete 6,000 series winch 35.5 tyres.

Justbeen been 6,000 series winch oninon 35.5 tyres.

Just serviced.

Located Rotorua. serviced. Located in Rotorua.

TERRY DUNCAN TERRY DUNCAN

027285 2851051 1051 027

684 684 hrs. hrs.Located LocatedininHastings.

Hastings.

19248hrs. hrs.Located LocatedininHastings Hastings 19248

NICKCLARK CLARK NICK

027 411 411 2330 2330 027

NICK NICK CLARK CLARK

027 365 3603 027 365 3603

9306 in in Hastings.

9306hrs. hrs.Located Located Hastings.

027 027411 4112330 2330

NICK NICKCLARK CLARK

027 411 2330 027 411 2330

$280,000++GST GST $280,000

$80,000++GST GST $80,000

$210,000 $210,000 ++GST GST

$102,900 $102,900++GST GST

CATERPILLAR 568 CATERPILLAR 568 REFoNo. 513267 REF2017.

N .11000 513267 hrs. Cab w/ AC. Harvester Config Track

HITACHI ZX250 HITACHI REF No o. ZX250 513410 REF N 9600 . 513410 2011. hrs. Hitachi ZX250-3 EMS built log

JOHN DEERE 909KH JOHNNoDEERE 909KH REF . 513538 o REF N .

513538 2013. 16098 hrs. South Star Head. Some rollers

DOOSAN DX300 DOOSAN DX300 REF No. o513554 REF N .

513554 6088 hrs. Fitted with an Everdigm quick hitch and

TERRY DUNCAN

NICK CLARK

MANSELL NGAROPO

STEPHEN COLLIN

Type.

CAT 568FM Southstar QS630.

Located 2017.

11000 hrs. Cabwith w/ AC. Harvester Config Trackin Rotorua.

Type.

CAT 568FM with Southstar QS630. Located in Rotorua.

TERRY DUNCAN 027 285 1015

027 285 1015

loader, Ensign MachineEMS in good 2011.

9600 hrs. Grapple, Hitachi ZX250-3 builtworking log order. Ensign LocatedGrapple, in Hastings. loader, Machine in good working order.

Located in Hastings.

NICK CLARK 027 411 2330

027 411 2330

replaced, Torsion Changed and tracks 2013. 16098 hrs.Dampers South Star Head. Some rollers adjusted. in Whangarei. replaced, Located Torsion Dampers Changed and tracks adjusted.

Located in Whangarei.

MANSELL NGAROPO 027 445 9840

027 445 9840

GP6088 bucket. serviced well maintained by and hrs.Well Fitted with anand Everdigm quick hitch the Locatedand in Pukekohe.

GPoriginal bucket.owner.

Well serviced well maintained by the originalCOLLIN owner. Located in 027 Pukekohe.

STEPHEN 222 1128

027 222 1128

$95,900 + GST $95,900 + GST

$298,000 + GST $298,000 + GST

$250,000 + GST $250,000 + GST

$500,000 + GST $500,000 + GST

KOMATSU WA320 REF No. 513553 KOMATSU WA320 o 10331 hrs. Well serviced and well REF2011.

N .

513553 maintained by the original owner. Comes with

CAT 555D SKIDDER REF555D No. 513432 CAT SKIDDER o4400 hrs. Grapple skidder with turn around 2019.

REF N .

513432 seat. Low hours, will have new rear tires fitted.

TIGERCAT 625E SKIDDER REF No. 513433 TIGERCAT 625E SKIDDER o hrs. Grapple attachment. Set up with 2019.

8150 REF N .

513433 band tracks. Located in Rotorua.

KOMATSU D155AX-8 REF No. 513401 KOMATSU D155AX-8 o hrs. Low hour Tier 4 engine, single 2014.

6600 REF N .

513401 shank ripper, ready for work. Located in

TERRY DUNCAN

band tracks. Located in Rotorua.

TERRY DUNCAN 027 285 1015 TERRY DUNCAN 027 285 1015

MANSELL NGAROPO

2011.

10331L2180 hrs. Well serviced and Loadrite scales.

Located in well Pukekohe. maintained by the original owner. Comes with STEPHEN COLLIN 027 222 1128 Loadrite L2180 scales. Located in Pukekohe.

STEPHEN COLLIN

brandt.ca/nz brandt.ca/nz

027 222 1128

2019.

4400 Grapple skidder with turn around Located in hrs.

Rotorua. seat. Low hours, will have new rear tires fitted.

TERRY DUNCAN 027 285 1015 Located in Rotorua.

WHG 09 438 7228 HKB 09 06438 8797228 9907 WHG HKB 06 879 9907

027 285 1015

HAM 07 847 0425 MTU 07 06847 350 0425 0042 HAM MTU 06 350 0042

2019. 8150 hrs. Grapple attachment. Set up with

ROT 07 345 5490 ROT 07 345 5490

2014. 6600 hrs. Low hour Tier 4 engine, single Whangarei. shank ripper, ready for work. Located in MANSELL 027 445 9840 Whangarei.NGAROPO

027 445 9840

ENGINEERED WITH EXPERIENCE...

Clark Tracks from Scotland Single tracks Bogey Tracks 30.5x32 710/45-26.5 35.5x32 750/55-26.5 780/50-28.5

30

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

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

We carry spare joining links and tensioning tools We also have chains for cars, trucks through to graders

Chain Protection Services

Ph: 03 338 1552 E: info@chainpro.co.nz www.chains.co.nz

LG31497

603 3

INTERCOOLERS

d.

WE CUSTOM BUILD -STOCK, OVERHAUL & REPAIR WE MANUFACTURE THE BEST HEAVY DUTY CORES IN NZ Madill Komatsu CAT Thunderbird John Deere Hyundai Tigercat Sumitomo Swing Units for Madill’s & Kenworth Logging Trucks Large Stocks of Heavy Alloy Cores & Completes Full Custom Build Service Fast & Efficient

sales@bopradiatorspecialists.co.nz

RADIATORS

OILCOOLERS

OILCOOLERS

www.chains.co.nz

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

CHARGE AIR COOLERS

RADIATORS

LG32968

STER ER

NZ LOGGER classified

FOR SALE

T HESE MACHINES NEED TO GO MAKE AN OFFER

nd y

28

Sumitomo sh240 5600 hours has quick hitch and bucket.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

jasondevery@icloud.com or 027 209 4719

LG34738

40

Doosan dx300ll 1200 hours has xtra oil cooler added can be sold with 325t harvester head or 630E felling head or both also has a teather hitch attached.

October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 55

NEW TD34700

PAIHIA, BAY OF ISLANDS

REGISTER ONLINE NOW: www.nztruckanddriver.co.nz/truckers-loggers TOURNAMENTSPONSORS:

ATTACHMENT PARTS

THURSDAY 20th – SATURDAY 22nd MARCH 2025,

NEW ATTACHMENTS

WARATAH 624HX

WARATAH 626HX

Available Now $299,883.65

WARATAH H219

Available Now $310,235.60

MOIPU 505 RC

Available Now $227,931.04

Available Now $66,171.60

D

WARATAH 624C (S24)

WARATAH 626 (S27)

WARATAH 626 (S13)

WARATAH 626 (S12)

Rebuild, Available August 2024 $205,000.00

WARATAH 625C (S28)

Available Now $140,000.00

ATTACHMENT PARTS partscatalog.waratah.com

Rebuild, Available Now, $205,000.00

Available Now $210,000.00

USED AND REBUILT ATTACHMENTS

L SO

Available Now $115,000.00

Hose Kits 625C $5000.00

625C Hanger Pin $1000.00

626 Delimb Edge Kit $1400.00

Measuring Wheel Kit $985.00

Remote Grease Line Kit $60.00

624C Full Edge Kit $1420.00

Single CMS Tank $1100.00

OSR & Dowtey Kit $250.00

Prices are less GST and limited time for the month of this publication

24/7 phone 0800 492 728 or +6 47 343 1550

Distributors of: October 2024 | NZ LOGGER 57

Komatsu

PC400HL

Xtreme Excavators

PC400HD

The Komatsu Extreme models have been developed by collaboration between Komatsu Forest & Komatsu Osaka Factory to meet our tough forest conditions.

Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 15C Hyland Cresent Rotorua, New Zealand John Fisken M: 027 771 5254 Paul Roche M: 021 350 747 E: info.au@komatsuforest.com