NZ Logger March 2025

March 2025 | 9.50

ISSN 2703-6251

BUILT TO LAST

The case for two-stage trucking

Selective harvesting in action

850 750

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contents

MARCH 2025

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FOREST TALK Revivals and job cuts for New Zealand’s mills: Good news; Logs on board to Napier; Log transport safety alert; AI for remote forestry management; 55 years and 21,000 machines; Crown Research Institute changes encouraging; Scion supports gene tech bill; Planting on Nelson slopes overdue; Bridge no longer safe for vehicles; A good day’s work; Conference coverage: Forestry sector sets sights on high-value bioproducts.

SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST In this month’s Iron Test, Tony Hill tests Forest Pro’s John Deere 3756G – with a rear-entry cab and running a

26 Woodsman Pro 850 processor – in the mighty Mangatu Forest. We last looked at a 3756 in 2019, so it’s high time for a check in on how things are going with development at John Deere.

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FOREST ENGINEERING Logging has always been defined by a complex balance between innovation, cost management and environmental stewardship. Among the strategies gaining traction within this balancing act is two-stage trucking – a system that introduces an intermediate transport stage between initial log extraction and final load-out. We take a look at some case studies.

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HARVESTING In 2022, and then again in 2024, the Northland Tōtara Working Group harvested small volumes of tōtara from the same property in Northland, using single-tree selections and low-impact felling and extraction techniques – demonstrating that small-scale, low-impact, selective harvesting can be viable.

DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 38 fica 42 top spot 45 Greenlight New Iron 46 classifieds

March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 1

from the editor March 2025 | 9.50

ISSN 1176-0397

PHOTO: TIM BENSEMAN

BUILT TO LAST

The case for two-stage trucking

Selective harvesting in action

Iron Tester, Tony Hill, brings around another stem for processing in Forest Pro’s John Deere 3756G which boasts a Woodsman Pro 850.

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Signs of improvement 2025’s CHINESE NEW YEAR MARKS THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE. NOT JUST ANY snake mind you – it’s the year of the Wood Snake, symbolising not only the adaptability of the snake but the strength, stability and growth that comes from our wood. Does this bode well for our industry which is so reliant on the Chinese market? Well, it can if we want it to, and so far there are certainly already positive signs for the new year.

Te Uru Rākau-New Zealand Forest Service has published its quarterly Forestry industry insights (for the three months to October 2024) with export revenue for forestry showing improvement and volumes of wood product manufacturing and domestic log prices more stable than they felt at the time.

While domestic log prices decreased slightly, “We may see a positive change in prices if the slow and steady increase of building consents continues,” the report says. A mix of better exchange rates, lower inventories at Chinese ports and lower shipping rates should positively influence export log prices too.

While the supply and demand balance is variable, as FICA CEO Rowan Struthers, says, back home there are positive signs of increased residential building activity as interest rates ease and domestic sawmills get back in action. Of course, there’s never a dull moment with our mills – as one cuts its losses, another is resurrected. Turn to our Forest Talk pages for the full story.

The Wood Products Manufacturers Association is happy to report on a new Bill that should see amendments to resource consents quickening and smoothing the process – something they have been lobbying for for some time. Besides cutting resource consent timelines, the new Bill is aimed at incentivising investment in renewable energy, supporting infrastructure development, and facilitating the development and efficiency of ports, says the WPMA. More good news for the industry!

And, as New Zealand’s forestry sector faces increasing pressure to balance profitability with sustainability, two-stage trucking represents an approach worth thinking about, say the University of Canterbury’s Dr Trevor Best and Professor Rien Visser in our Forest Engineering feature. By reducing environmental impact, enhancing safety and optimising operations, this system holds promise for challenging harvesting and roading conditions.

Of course, before you can move the wood, you’ve got to harvest it. When it comes to low-volume, low-impact, selective harvesting, it’s essential to match the right crew to the right machinery and to ensure the timber is of a high enough value to cover costs. We take a look at a tōtara harvest that does just that, making it all worthwhile.

Until next time, stay safe.

Official Magazine of

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forest talk

Revivals and job cuts for New Zealand’s mills IN WHAT IT CALLS “SIMPLIFYING OPERATIONS”, OJI FIBRE Solutions (OjiFS) has confirmed it will proceed with transitioning Kinleith mill to a new operating model by focusing on pulp and “ceasing loss-making paper production”. The PM6 paper machine at the mill will permanently shut at the end of June 2025 and move to a paper import model for the mill’s packaging operations – taking 230 jobs with it.

Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jon Ryder, says, “After extensive work and considering a variety of options and feedback from Unions and our team, we see no feasible alternative to our proposal to simplify operations, which will keep Kinleith Mill operating, maintain jobs in the region and continue reliable supply of product to our customers.

“We know for many of our people and the local and regional community, this is not the news anyone was hoping to hear. We recognise the impact on our people and their loved ones and will be wrapping support around them.

“This difficult decision is in no way a reflection of the experience, skills and dedication of the team and leadership at Kinleith Mill.

We will now be focused on a transition plan to close the paper machine safely, ensure the welfare of our affected people, and continue sustainable pulp operations at Kinleith Mill. We look forward to working closely with the Government as we move through this period and into the future.

“We will also work with our people on a new mill structure and processes, and the outcome of that work will define role requirements moving forward.”

Dr Ryder says the decision to discontinue production of paper at Kinleith Mill will keep the mill operating while avoiding exposure to expensive saw log fibre supply and provide the opportunity for synergies with Tasman Mill through simplified product configuration.

Going for growth Meanwhile the South Waikato district is delivering ambitious growth plans with multiple major new business and housing investments that will help offset the closure of Kinleith’s paper production line and associated job losses, says South Waikato District Council Mayor, Gary Petley.

He says South Waikato District Council has created Project Phoenix to proactively support people who have been made redundant into new jobs and help contractors affected by the mill closure to find new work.

“It is disappointing the paper production line is closing and we sympathise with those who have lost jobs and contracts. Through Project Phoenix the Council is collaborating with Kinleith owner Oji, Government, the Ministry of Social Development, community organisations and educational and training institutes and businesses operating in South Waikato to help employees and contractors transition to new employment.”

He says the Council works closely with the community-owned development fund, South Waikato Investment Trust Fund (SWIFT) which supports the regeneration, development and enhancement of areas of social and economic deprivation in South Waikato.

SWIFT CEO, Clive Somerville, says SWIFT, with support from Kanoa and Trust Waikato, developed the $14 million Pūkenga Rau South Waikato Trades Training Centre where Toi Ohomai provides a range of programmes with a capacity to train and qualify 500 people a year. NZL 4 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

Good news ON A POSITIVE NOTE, GISBORNE’S TAI RĀWHITI MILL THAT RAN for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, with new Australian owners.

Close to 90 staff were affected by Japanese-owned Juken’s decision to close the mill amid financial difficulties and weak demand for Japanese housing wood products.

Now, new owner Millari Group Australia (True Blue Timber, True Blue LVL, True Blue Plywood) says it will upgrade and re-establish the 25-hectare site in Gisborne – including the sawmill, manufacturing lines for laminated veneer lumber and plywood over the coming months.

Mill General Manager, Shane Wilson, says the company will replace old equipment at the site and eventually run 24/7, which will see 80 jobs available in the first phase and about 200 jobs at stage two.

Products will go to Australia re-branded under Millari New Zealand.

Millari New Zealand plans to establish direct LVL, plywood, and sawmill production for the Australian industry, including LVL E14, E13, E10, and LVL formwork; structural and non-structural plywood panels; MGP and F-graded Radiata pine; and H2, H3, and H4-treated pine.

The company will ship LVL, plywood and sawmill products with AS/NZS standards directly to Australia’s Eastern Coast, saying this will significantly decrease Australia’s timber industry’s dependence on imports from Europe and Asia.

Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA) Chief Executive, Mark Ross, says Millari New Zealand will process 400,000 cubic metres of logs each year – while producing 220,000 cubic metres of products like veneer lumber, which are “huge” volumes.

“This is really positive both for New Zealand and the Gisborne region. We’ve had a pretty tough few months with mill closures and a drop off in demand, but this is a sign that the market is turning around “We’re looking forward to seeing the new ownership and jobs being created, also a lot more logs being processed within New Zealand and that’s the strategic direction we would like to go.” NZL

forest talk

Logs on board to Napier FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF WINSTON PULP INTERNATIONAL’S (WPI) Tangiwai Mill in the Ruapehu District, Ernslaw One has found a solution to getting its logs out of Karioi Forest, to Napier Port.

In collaboration with KiwiRail, Napier Port, McCarthy Transport and Qube Ports, Ernslaw One made its first log delivery by rail from Karioi Forest to Napier Port at the end of January.

This marked the first of a daily log train run on the Napier-Palmerston North line, five days a week directly to Napier Port. The 19 wagons, carrying 600 tonnes of logs, will remove 21 logging trucks off the road – replacing the daily freight train that used to depart from Tangiwai Mill.

Steve Couper, SNI Regional Manager for Ernslaw One, says despite the Mill closing, the company wanted to continue production and keep its contractors in work.

“The move away from road cartage to rail has many advantages. It is a safety gain for the logging truck drivers, as well as for other road users and local residents,” says Mr Couper.

“We approached KiwiRail and Napier Port to negotiate a deal that would make it feasible, and after some pencil sharpening, we’ve been able to get this agreement in place and get these logs on to rail, with the help of Andy Watson, Mayor of Rangitīkei District Council.”

Napier Port CEO, Todd Dawson, adds, “There are wins in this for everyone. It’s a great example of how export New Zealand benefits when everyone in the supply chain works together on sensible, efficient solutions that are sustainable and commercially viable for all parties”.

“Being flexible for customers is a Napier Port priority and we adjusted our landside logistics and port operations to receive Ernslaw’s logs by rail – cargo we previously received processed as timber, lumber and pulp from WPI. We have increasing volumes of freight from the Central and Lower North Island, and rail is an important part of connecting these customers with the many international shipping services that call at Napier Port.

“This is a positive move for communities in both the Ruapehu District and Hawke’s Bay, and with increasing volumes of logs coming by rail, we remind people in both regions to be careful around

increased freight activity on the line.” Mr Dawson says.

KiwiRail Executive General Manager Freight and Rolling Stock Operations, Paul Ashton, says the benefits to the region are huge: “Removing so many trucks from this road, which is complex to maintain due to its many bends and steep grades, will greatly reduce road deterioration. The more freight carried by rail on long journeys, the lower New Zealand’s total transport emissions, and the lower the carbon footprint of KiwiRail’s customers.”

Mike McCarthy, Managing Director, McCarthy Transport, adds: “McCarthy Transport is pleased to be operating the Tangiwai rail yard working alongside Ernslaw, Kiwi Rail, Qube and Napier Port. With the Napier-Taihape Road deteriorating due to the increase in heavy vehicles carting wood across since the WPI mill closures, the Tangiwai rail is a good solution to continue to move the same amount of volume.

We are in full support of this and look forward to getting started.”

Andy Watson, Mayor of Rangitīkei District Council agrees, saying, “The Rangitīkei District Council was concerned about having additional logging trucks on the roads, impacting roading wear and tear, and initiated discussions with all parties involved to assist in reaching a solution.” NZL

Log transport safety alert THE LOG TRANSPORT SAFETY COUNCIL (LTSC) has issued a Safety Alert following a serious log transport incident on SH30 Atiamuri in the South Waikato earlier this year, involving the trailer of a self-loading truck detaching while driving on a public road.

An investigation has been conducted involving the New Zealand Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team, New Zealand Transport Agency, and members of the LTSC including a self-loader specialist.

The investigation identified that the truck was fitted with an electronic ring feeder system to assist with attaching and detaching the trailer remotely from the cab of the self-loader crane. The system had been installed with a simple switch.

During the journey a recently installed RT became dislodged and struck the electronic ring feeder switch, releasing the ring feeder and allowing the trailer to detach while the truck was moving.

LTSC has identified that there are five self-loader trucks in the country running this system. The other four trucks were recalled immediately by the installer for inspection and any necessary modification required.

The Safety Alert recommends that any electronic release system for a ring feeder must have safety redundancy incorporated.

It is recommended that a two-step switch is installed, and that the switch is only enabled when the PTO of the crane is engaged. NZL

SAFETY ALERT Electronic ring feeder

• • • •

release system

On Tuesday 21st Janu ary, a self loading log truck became detached from its trail er on SH30.

Inspection of the ring feeder and tow eye found them both in good workin During the investigation it was revealed that g condition. the truck was fitted with feeder release system an electronic ring , operated from the cab of the crane.

This system had been installed with a simple switch.

During the journey a recently installed RT had become dislodged thus releasing the ring and has struck the switch feeder. ,

Key Learnings • •

Any electronic releas e system for a ring feeder – must have safety redun incorporated. dancy It is recommended that a two-step switch is installed and that the when the PTO is engag switch is only ed.

enabled

March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 5

forest talk

AI for remote forestry management NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA’S FLINDERS UNIVERSITY experts have deployed artificial intelligence and 3D laser scanning to accurately map planted radiata pine forests for most of New Zealand’s North Island.

The results, which distinguish planted large estates, small woodlots and newly established stands as young as three years old, showcase a new way of using remote sensing with other technology to reveal forest growth and update growth information.

“In New Zealand, where radiata pine plantations dominate the forestry sector, the current national forest description lacks spatially explicit information and struggles to capture data on small-scale forests,” says Dr Grant Pearse, Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Flinders University.

“We combined deep learning-based forest mapping using high-resolution aerial imagery with regional airborne laser scanning data to map all planted forest and estimate key attributes.”

The spatially explicit forest description provides wall-to-wall information on forest extent, age, and volume for all sizes of forest. This facilitates stratification by key variables for wood supply

forecasting, harvest planning, and infrastructure investment decisions – applications equally valuable for other forestry industries.

The research, with New Zealand timber industry researchers from Rotorua, Christchurch and Auckland, was carried out on planted forests in the Gisborne region, which has publicly available aerial imagery and airborne laser scanning data.

This region is particularly significant following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023, which caused widespread landslides and forest debris flows.

For such vulnerable terrain, knowing exactly where forests are located in the landscape, their age and condition is key to managing the risks of harvesting operations on the region’s steep slopes.

“We propose satellite-based harvest detection and digital photogrammetry to continuously update the initial forest description.

This methodology enables near real-time monitoring of planted forests at all scales and is adaptable to other regions with similar data availability,” researchers say.

The forest map derived from artificial intelligence can be viewed at: www.forestinsights.nz NZL

55 years and 21,000 machines 2025 MARKS 55 YEARS SINCE FOREST machine entrepreneur, Einari Vidgren, founded a forest machine factory in Vieremä, Finland.

The anniversary year started on a high note as the 21,000th Ponsse forest machine has been manufactured and was delivered to Scheff Logging & Trucking from Minnesota, USA last month.

Scheff Logging & Trucking is a family-owned business established in 1977. Jhace Pearson, the company’s representative in the third generation, took delivery of his new Ponsse Buffalo: “It is an honour to receive Ponsse’s 21,000th forest machine. We are a threegeneration harvesting and transport company employing more than 40 professionals.”

Throughout its history, the Finnish family-owned Ponsse has focused on the 6 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

development and production of cut-tolength forest machines and the provision of maintenance services for them. While all forest machines are still manufactured in Vieremä, Ponsse is at home in forests around the world, as the company currently operates in the logging sites of almost 40 countries.

“Since the earliest days, Ponsse’s driving force has been the belief that only the best people, in cooperation with customers and stakeholders, can develop and manufacture the best forest machines in the world. Still today, forest machines are developed and manufactured in the same way by more than 2,000 Ponsse employees. As a result of long-term cooperation, Ponsse has grown over the years to become the world’s leading manufacturer of cut-to-length forest

machines,” says Jarmo Vidgren, Chair of Ponsse’s Board of Directors.

In keeping with the theme of the anniversary year Logging together worldwide, Ponsse is celebrating the milestone by going on a worldwide tour to meet customers and stakeholders. The anniversary tour starts in Finland this month and continues throughout the year. NZL

forest talk

The NZIF wants to see gene technology implemented responsibly.

Crown Research Institute changes encouraging THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE OF FORESTRY (NZIF) SAYS Government’s proposed amendments to the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) are potentially beneficial, particularly with the introduction of a focus area on the bioeconomy. These changes align with numerous recommendations outlined in the Chief Science Advisor’s recent report, although not all recommendations have been implemented, says NZIF President, James Treadwell.

“The NZIF supports the removal of the ban on gene technology, provided it is implemented responsibly. This modification offers substantial potential to advance innovation in forestry and related sectors, ensuring New Zealand’s continued leadership in sustainable and cutting-edge practices,” he adds.

“Furthermore, the proposal to retain intellectual property (IP) in commercialised outcomes has the potential to drive technological advancements and foster innovation. However, this approach may also lead to the neglect or underfunding of long-term, critical research areas, such as environmental sustainability and climate resilience, which are essential for the forestry sector and the broader ecosystem.”

The NZIF raised concerns last year regarding the inadequate funding for science, which has adversely affected forestry research.

“We support a merger approach which aims to address this issue. However, NZIF remains concerned about the absence of additional funding accompanying these structural modifications.

8 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

Restructuring initiatives often requires substantial resources, time, and staff attention, potentially diverting focus from critical research priorities. This is particularly concerning given the recent Long-Term Insights briefing prepared by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), which highlights the risk of the forestry sector being overlooked in the short-term priorities of bioeconomy science,” says Mr Treadwell.

“While we perceive opportunities in these proposed alterations, particularly with the focus on the bioeconomy and advancements in gene technology, we must ensure critical areas such as environmental and climate research are not compromised. The forestry sector plays a pivotal role in New Zealand’s future, and it is imperative its needs are adequately addressed in these strategies.

“The NZIF strongly advocates for the continued prioritisation of the forestry industry within the development of bioeconomy strategies. Long-term investments in forestry-related research are crucial to fortify the sector’s contribution to New Zealand’s economic growth, environmental sustainability, and climate objectives.

“The NZIF remains steadfast in its commitment to collaborating with the Government, Crown Research Institutes/Public Research Organisations, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the proposed changes deliver tangible benefits for the forestry sector and the nation as a whole.“ NZL

forest talk

Scion’s Dr Alec Foster.

Scion supports gene tech bill

SCION SAYS GENE TECHNOLOGY IS KEY TO DELIVERING significant benefits for New Zealand, and it supports proposed regulatory changes to better enable its development.

In its submission on the government’s proposed Gene Technology Bill, the Crown Research Institute says the changes will help New Zealand remain competitive on a global scale.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently announced plans to ease restrictions on gene technologies by the end of 2025 to enable research and product development. This change is said to boost New Zealand’s productivity and innovation across healthcare, climate solutions and export markets.

“Other countries are already adopting gene technologies to generate economic benefits and protect human and environmental health while developing cleaner and more sustainable processes,” says Dr Alec Foster, Scion’s acting General Manager – Forests to Biobased Products.

“To remain competitive, New Zealand needs a regulatory framework that enables collaborative, advanced technology development while honouring our unique cultural heritage and environmental stewardship responsibilities.”

The Bill’s purpose is to enable the safe use of gene technologies and regulated organisms by managing the risks they pose to people and the environment. Mr Foster says it will facilitate a collaborative, co-ordinated science approach that will give New Zealand a pathway towards economic prosperity, social

advancement and environmental innovation.

“These proposed regulations lay the foundations for New Zealand’s future bioeconomy – where advances in food and fibre production and sustainable technology drive economic growth and tackle global challenges.”

“New Zealand has historically relied on imported gene technology products, while our regulations have constrained domestic research and innovation,” Mr Foster says. “Now, as technologies advance and global regulations evolve, New Zealand is modernising its regulatory framework to capitalise on these opportunities.”

As New Zealand’s leading institute for industrial biotechnology and forestry, Scion is pioneering multiple gene technology projects. This research is in delivering sustainable solutions across biofuels, bioplastics, high-value chemicals and nutraceuticals, using waste biomass and greenhouse gases as feedstocks.

“We’re advancing research on enhanced carbon sequestration in trees and conducting world-first field trials of gene-edited conifers designed to improve forest productivity and enable future biorefinery applications,” he says.

“These and other initiatives help showcase the direct benefits of gene technology in addressing complex environmental and economic challenges, particularly across the forestry and industrial sectors.” NZL

Planting on Nelson slopes overdue A NEW RESIDENTS’ GROUP HAS FORMED IN NELSON TO ESTABLISH what Council’s plan is for the deforested hills in the Barnicoat Ranges.

Though the group has several priorities, the deforestation and bare hills around the popular recreational track of Glider Road are high on their agenda.

Pine harvesting in the Marsden Valley started in 2021 following a windthrow event.

Grass seeding has since occurred as cutover areas opened, and selective weed spraying has been ongoing.

But the bare slopes are worrying residents, who are concerned about the lack of living tree roots to stabilise the hillside.

The memory of the destructive August 2022 storm is still fresh in their minds, and they worry that if another significant storm occurred, new homes in the area could be damaged by flooded streams.

They also have environmental concerns with slips around Glider Road, as well as increased erosion and sedimentation harming the

Poorman Valley and Orphanage Streams.

Nelson City Council agreed in late 2023 to shift away from clear-fell commercial forestry to create a well-managed continuous canopy across its 10,000 hectares of forested land.

As a result, much of the council’s 600 hectares of commercial forestry land is expected to be replanted in a mix of native and exotic trees.

Council’s Group Manager Infrastructure, Alec Louverdis, says that transition plans are still being finalised, but that some planting is scheduled for this winter. Seventy hectares are currently planned for planting.

However, Council has yet to hire a forestry systems manager to oversee the replanting and forest management efforts.

“To mitigate potential negative environmental impacts of the deforested slopes, we have implemented grass seeding to address short-term risks and used poplar pole planting to stabilise the soil to mitigate slip risks,” Mr Louverdis adds. NZL March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 9

forest talk

Bridge no longer safe for vehicles WHANGANUI DISTRICT COUNCIL HAS closed a bridge to vehicles on a busy rural road in Whanganui East because of safety concerns, with a significant number of wooden beams “showing considerable decay”.

A safety review has determined Wakefield Street Bridge is no longer safe for vehicles of any weight (NZTA).

The bridge crosses a key railway corridor and links rural Okoia and Whanganui East.

Council says it will seek funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency to replace the bridge. In the meantime, it will be closed to vehicles for at least 18 months.

Council closed the bridge in January to allow for a safety inspection after damage was seen in the timber bracing.

Council Transportation Manager, Mark Allingham, says Council reallocated funding 18 months ago for Wakefield Street Bridge to Erni’s Bridge.

“Both bridges were deteriorating rapidly but with Erni’s Bridge in a more critical location – providing the only access to Kauarapaoa Road for residents and trucks transporting logs from forestry blocks – it was decided to build that one first.”

He says Council completed geotechnical detailed design work for Wakefield Street Bridge to “get it to shovel-ready project stage.

The council then intended for Wakefield Street Bridge to be the next cab off the rank for construction but the funding landscape changed”.

Mr Allingham says with Wakefield Street Bridge no longer fit for vehicles, Council could now apply to a Waka Kotahi fund specifically for structures that have reached the end of their life.

“The approval process on Waka Kotahi’s end can take some time. If funding is confirmed, Council would receive 62% of the required funding and construction would take at least 18 months, taking into consideration the consents and coordination required with KiwiRail.”

The bridge was built in 1954 using secondhand timber for the major components, including sills, studs and beams. Recent testing identified a significant number of beams with “considerable decay”.

A bridge of this type would normally have a material life of 50 years and regular testing over the last 20 years had confirmed it was at the end of its service life.

10 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

Waihopai Valley bridge.

The report estimated the cost of replacement at around $3 million, split 60/40 between Waka Kotahi ($1.8m) and the council ($1.2m).

The bridge has a posted weight limit of 4500kg gross – light vehicles only – but recent traffic surveys showed larger vehicles using the bridge on a regular basis.

Opening access to Waihopai Valley Meanwhile, a new $4 million bridge was opened in the Waihopai Valley in Marlborough last month, retiring the temporary bailey bridge established following flooding in 2021.

Members of the local community celebrated its opening with councillors, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi representatives, Marlborough Roads staff and contractors.

The completion of the project “futureproofed” road access to and from the Waihopai Valley, says Marlborough Mayor, Nadine Taylor.

“This new structure is impressive and a vast improvement on the one we lost.

It will be of benefit to all users and its completion marks a final return to normality for the community.

“The new road downstream of the bridge is also more resilient, with it now higher up on the terrace to protect it from future flooding. The bridge is expected to have a 100-year life,” she says.

“A mighty storm washed the previous bridge away and the council has worked

consistently to get the consents it needed to rebuild and reconnect this community.”

Shingle and logs had built up on the old bridge, and it is hoped the new bridge will resolve this.

NZTA Waka Kotahi senior project manager, Andrew Adams, says options for the new bridge location were confirmed in 2022 and geotechnical investigations concluded by mid-2023.

The contract was awarded to Egypt Ltd, a Nelson-based bridge contractor with a yard in Havelock, in November 2023.

Their designer, Thelins, completed the detailed bridge design by early 2024 with construction starting in April last year.

“The reinforced concrete bridge beams were precast in Nelson – each weighing 24 tonnes – and were delivered on lowloader and placed by crane from the riverbed.”

The bridge was completed in December with finishing works on the 800m of road alignment to and from the bridge completed in early February.

Taking away the temporary Bailey bridge and the remains of the old bridge was also completed.

The Bailey bridge, a portable, prefabricated truss bridge, had been in place since August 2021.

The project cost was approximately $4m and came in $1.1m under budget. This included design and construction, road realignment, surfacing and drainage, geotechnical investigations, alignment design, land and consents. NZL

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forest talk

A good day’s work NOTHING GIVES GLENCOE NURSERY’S Vicki Thiele more satisfaction than seeing the full plantation timber cycle in action – the tiny seedlings she once tended decades ago becoming fully grown trees, then transforming into timber.

What was once “just a casual job” has evolved into an accidental career for her.

Just 16 years old when she showed up for her first day’s seasonal work at OneFortyOne’s Glencoe Nursery in South Australia, four decades later, she has risen up the ranks to become the facility’s Production Supervisor.

“This job has been my whole working life,” says Ms Thiele. “What I love about this job is I’ve got the pleasure of being in and out. I’m nearly 57, but I don’t think I’d ever do an inside job. I do a little bit of office work but when I choose, I can go outside.”

Experience in virtually every job and activity possible at the nursery, from cutting and setting to long days mowing and spraying on the tractor, has paid dividends when it comes to her supervisory role.

“I’m the sort of person who has to have an understanding of the job,” she says. “I think it’s really important that when the crew come in and I supervise them, I’ve done that job, and I know how hard it is. So, I like the fact that I’ve got that behind me to guide everyone.”

Above all, she says she feels that experience is valued by the nursery crew and wider OneFortyOne team.

“Because at the end of the day, I haven’t got a certificate – I’m not a forester, but I have got the experience. And you earn that, I think, as the years go on. No university degree is going to give you that.”

12 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

Main: Glencoe Nursery Production Supervisor, Vicki Thiele.

Inset: Before major upgrades to the facility, the nursery seasonal crew often worked in wet, muddy weather.

Positive changes Throughout her time, the two biggest workplace changes have been in safety and technology, with the nursery undergoing a major AU$8 million upgrade over the last few years.

The brand new undercover automated handling line, installed in 2024, has revolutionised the role of workers, streamlining processes, placing their work at bench height and also, giving them shelter from the cold winters and hot dry summers she says.

When Ms Thiele first started, in the years before Personal Protective Equipment was required, she recalls the nursery crew were at the mercy of the Limestone Coast’s infamous weather conditions.

“Wet weather gear is never foolproof. So you’d be in all your overalls, your jacket, your gloves and your hat. But sometimes you’d come back in for smoko and your bras and your knickers were drenched!”

Although she says a day in the fields is preferable to a day working undercover, the crew agrees that the major advances in safety and technology at the site are a positive change.

“It’s one hundred percent for the better when it comes to safety,” she says.

Despite periods of time away from the nursery, to have children and try other jobs, she says the relaxed nursery environment kept calling her back.

“There were plenty of jobs out there, but I kept coming back here, so I must’ve enjoyed it,” she says, tipping a wink.

A good feeling Constant advances in technology mean output has increased dramatically, from 3,000 - 6,000 cuttings annually in the 1980s, up to a current total of 1.2 million for OneFortyOne, plus an additional 800,000 for contractors.

Statistics aside, she says a sense of pride is always behind the nursery team’s work: “It’s the pleasure of seeing a little seed, when you first sow them and you’re waiting every day checking to see if they’ve actually come out of the ground.

“As soon as they pop their heads up, then you get to watch them grow. It’s a good feeling when nine months later you see them leave the nursery as a tree that’s going to get planted out in the bush.”

Come September, when the season finishes and the work slows, the 40-plus crew dwindles down to just a handful.

A good day at the nursery, Ms Thiele says, is when the team have worked together to send the best possible product out the gate.

“For me, it’s getting my jobs done, to a good level and walking out feeling I’ve accomplished what I needed to do,” she says. “Feeling like I’ve put in a good day’s work.” NZL

2025 Forest Bioeconomy Innovations Conference

Main: Worldwide biofuel plants using wood chip feedstock are now commercially viable.

Inset: Biofuels from wood are being developed by large forest companies for a range of energy users.

Forestry sector sets sights on high-value bioproducts WHILE THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE been difficult for some forest products companies, a new conference in May will bring new technologies from Europe, Canada and our own Scion, that are set to transform the use of wood fibre into higher-value bioproducts. Innovatek is hosting the 2025 Forest Bioeconomy Innovations Conference on 20-21 May in Rotorua.

“Recent pulp and paper mill closure announcements are set to be replaced by more positive news for forest owners.

Several startups are now in development to use forest resources for higher-value export products both locally and overseas,” says Innovatek Technical Director, John Stulen.

“Industry leaders from across the forestry supply chain are getting behind a new initiative to support new technologies and processes for extracting high-value chemicals from logs and other forestry byproducts”, he adds.

Locally, several entrepreneurs are already developing new products from sustainable resources: 1. Making graphite using CarbonScape technology produces high-quality, sustainable biographite from renewable materials for greener lithium-ion batteries.

International forest company Stora Enso is backing them.

2. Port Blakely New Zealand Essential Oils (PBNZEO), is now a global leader in sustainable essential oil production, and

is among the first essential oil producers worldwide 3. NZ Bio Forestry is a multinational company that focuses on transforming plantation forestry biomass into biofuels, biochemicals and innovative materials.

“To bring our industry innovators together we are pleased to announce this completely new conference: Forest Bioeconomy Innovations. We are bringing international startup leaders together with forest and wood technology innovators to supercharge new processes to complement and eventually replace pulp and paper mills to some degree,” says Mr Stulen.

International speakers include: • Keynote speaker, Don G Roberts of Nawitka Capital Partners from Canada presenting on: Championing Transformation – Global Challenges and Opportunities in Using Forest Resource for High Value Chemicals.

As a respected leader in the emerging bioproducts sector, his consultancy is an investment banking boutique that raises capital and provides advice on strategic direction for companies focused on building a circular economy. He is also Chair of the Arbios Biotech board, a Canadian company in British Columbia transforming biomass into high-value biofuels, accelerating the transition to sustainable energy solutions • From Finland, Katariina Torvinen, Research Manager, from VTT is presenting on

Transforming Scientific Discoveries into Innovations in Forest Circular Bioeconomy, Case Study: Finland.

• From UPM Biochemicals in Germany, Director, Molecular Bioproducts R&D, Gerd Unkelbach, is presenting on UPM Biochemicals – The Biofore Company and how its new processes are scaling-up pretreatment, fractionation, biochemical conversion and downstream processing of renewables and related products.

“We are also working closely with officials and the Director General at New Zealand Forest Service/Te Uru Rakāu, Scion’s bioeconomy experts. With their expertise and the business experience of a number of key industry leaders, we will showcase sustainable and potential bioeconomy export products from New Zealand’s vast forest resources,” adds Mr Stulen.

“At the conference, delegates will also hear from local companies and industry groups who are working to pool capital and other key resources. There are at least two local start-ups set to foster and grow bioproducts pilot plants with expertise from Scion’s bioproducts research team and the leaders at the New Zealand Product Accelerator.”

For the programme and other details for 20-21 May 2025 where leaders in business innovation and primary industries will gather, visit: https://innovatek.co.nz/hubs/ forest-bioeconomy NZL March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 13

Iron Test

Despite limited space, the John Deere 3756G’s straight boom helps get stems around and into position for processing, with a little help from a Woodsman Pro 850.

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BUILT TO LAST Story & photos: Tim Benseman

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THE SPARROWS WEREN’T EVEN THINKING ABOUT THEIR FIRST fart when Iron Tester, Tony Hill, set off from his Tolaga Bay home base somewhere around 1AM, heading for work in the back of remote Ruatoria on the East Cape.

Around 10am he left his regular job tethered harvesting and set off on a three-and-a-half hour drive to meet us at this Iron Test in the mighty Mangatu Forest.

As for me, after traversing the frost-heaved roads of central Alaska on a recent work trip, I thought I had seen the worst roads in the first world but getting to Forest Pro’s logging site in Moonlight/Mangatu Forest near Gisborne certainly shook that idea out of me. But more about that later.

Luckily the Forest Pro processor operator has a nice new and comfortable John Deere 3756G processor with a long stable track frame to step into after all this driving in dangerous conditions.

Forest Pro has two crews in Mangatu. Its original crew is a classic European-style ground-based logging operation with processing in the cutover and forwarding logs to skids. The crew we are visiting today is its recently established crew based around a near-new John Deere/Harvestline.

The Forest Pro team is really up against it when it comes to road access. The actual forest road is mint and a tribute to the forest roading crew – barely a pothole to be seen despite challenging terrain and geology i.e., Papa mud/rock. It’s the tar seal section supposedly managed by the Gisborne District Council (GDC) that is the problem. Dozens of potholes over 200mm deep have me staggered as to how the log truck companies and loggers are going to get through this abomination without business-destroying levels of vehicle damage.

This disaster goes on for many kilometres with no signs warning of safety issues.

Forest Pro’s Lukas Krkavec and Hamish Campbell with Iron Testers, Tony Hill and Logan Williams, looking over the site before the test.

Iron Tester, Tony, says this is a common theme in the Gisborne district where the tar seal is rougher and way more destructive to vehicles than the gravel roads because of the sharp edges that the deeper potholes develop on sealed roads: “It’s definitely a safety issue and they develop quickly. I hit a new pothole that was already a foot deep, nearly flipped my truck and bent my wheel rim back past the spokes, so far that it was nearly touching my caliper.”

I tell Forest Pro crew part-owner, Hamish Campbell, it’s the first time I have seen this scenario where the forest roads are miles better than the tar seal.

“The public roads are terrible,” Hamish says. “It’s embarrassing.

The GDC seems to be really struggling.”

This writer’s view is that the GDC should be ashamed of itself for such poor support of the region’s main industry. After discussing it with GDC, it saw fit to continue the neglect for months after our visit despite being given several hundred million dollars by taxpayers via central government in September 2024.

Productive days It is a relief to get off the remains of the tar seal on Armstrong Road and into the edge of Mangatu and on a nice smooth gravel road. An empty log truck catches up to us, so we pull over and slot in

Regular operator, Freedom, processes the last log of the day before handing over to Iron Tester, Tony Hill.

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Above left: Forest Pro’s loader operator making it look easy.

Above centre: Iron Tester, Tony Hill, and Forest Pro’s Hamish Campbell and Lukas Krkavec discussing industry issues.

Above right: Lukas Krkavec opens up the cooling bay doors. behind him and start the big hill climb through Waipaoa Station with its iconic big hill country farmland.

We finally arrive at the Forest Pro skid on a junction in the road in a windswept saddle to see a pair of John Deere machines busy hauling in and processing stems from about 100 metres across a gulley. The wind is howling through here with quite a bite to it and Hamish says they had snow only a few days previously. We decide if we put the drone up it might end up at Gisborne airport about 70 kilometres away.

The crew is harvesting a medium-sized roadlining block here before following its other John Deere (a tethered 959 felling machine) a few kilometres down the road to the next block.

Today, Iron Tester, Tony, is here to test the 3756G with a rear-entry

cab and running a Woodsman Pro 850 processor. We haven’t looked at a 3756 since Clint Newland’s machine back in 2019 so it’s high time for a check in on how things are going with development at John Deere.

With an overall length of 15.37 metres, it is a big machine.

The rear-entry cab is a luxury to get into and the workstation has plenty of light and,

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accordingly, visibility due to the excellent windscreen design. A powerful LED lighting package makes for long productive days and, with operator, Freedom, starting in the wee small hours, those lights are getting well used.

This machine has longer track frames and up to 17% more lifting power than the previous model.

The cab is isolation-mounted for lower in-cab noise and reduced vibration. Plus, there’s a quite impressive 25% larger cab

A ballsy move Brandt Equipment’s Hawke’s Bay Nick Clark, says that when came to see him about a

Territory Manager, Hamish and Lukas new machine to run

Forest Pro’s Moonlight Forest site with the Scottish flag flying.

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than the previous model so it’s easier to do those regular stretches while you’re still in the seat.

Hamish says it was good to put current processor operator, Freedom, in a brand new machine.

“We didn’t tell him about the new John Deere.

We wanted it to be a surprise, so my business partner, Lukas Krkavec and I, told him we were going to do a bit of maintenance on his old machine.

We took the head off it and did some welding and then this transporter arrived with the brand new 3756G and a brand new Woodsman Pro 850 head on. He was almost in tears of joy, it was quite a special moment really.”

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Above from left: The spacious cab and big windows bring plenty of light into the cab; The nine-litre John Deere engine; The large, well-placed toolbox is being put to good use. the 850 head, he knew the 3756G was the machine for the big timber on the East Coast: “It makes light work of this big processor. We had a machine in stock and with the help of Ensign we had it plumbed up in record time. Getting the machine to their remote location had its challenges but thanks to Toki at Hawke’s Bay Heavy Haulage it was another seamless delivery. It was cool to see the surprise on Freedom’s face and good to see him get straight to work with it.

Forest Pro now has a fleet of John Deere forestry equipment and we are glad we can support them with their business.”

Both Hamish and Lukas were also new arrivals to New Zealand not too long ago, Hamish arriving from a forwarder operator job in his native Scotland where he logged in the Highlands and Lukas from a forwarder operator job in his native Czech Republic.

They both worked in New Zealand for Cox Forestry Services which was at the time a production thinnings operation working in Hawke’s Bay and the Central North Island and has since moved into swing yarders.

“Lukas and I thought to ourselves, we can do this logging business ourselves!” Hamish says and about five years ago they did just that, bringing their harvester and forwarder skills to Mangatu Forest.

It’s a ballsy move starting out on your own in arguably one of the tougher areas of forest in the country but it was astute recognising a niche opportunity in hauler country. They have since expanded into this second crew with

the John Deere Harvestline feeding it to fill the other niche in this predominantly big hauler terrain. We’ll dig into that Harvestline machine in another issue.

The 3756G processor has the tried and tested nine-litre John Deere Powertech engine that we see in the more well known 803’s and 959’s. The twin pumps combined are 608 LPM. “We’ve gone from a John Deere levelling machine as our processor to this,” Hamish says. “We used to do quite a bit of processing down in the cutover and forwarding it but this new crew is a different configuration. Using ropes is a bit new to us. We have repurposed the John Deere 959 as our felling machine with a Woodsman Pro 1350 tethered to a 250 Volvo high and wide base with Falcon tether system when required.

Our processor operator, Freedom, actually logged the first rotation in here 20 or 30 years ago and now he is doing the second rotation.

He starts processing at three in the morning so he is quite keen to get out of here about one o’clock in the afternoon so he can get home and rested for the next day.”

We sit in Hamish’s Landcruiser out of the wind and observe the workings of the operation.

“It’s been windy and cold here like this for over a week. I came all the way from Scotland to get away from weather like this,” he says.

Freedom runs through the stems smoothly, showing his decades of experience.

The Forest Pro skid is compact due to the terrain.

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There is also a maestro on the Cat loader. He swings around from the truck he is loading and the grapple goes straight into a bite of logs, and away it goes onto the truck in one fluid movement. Nice to see.

“That guy on the loader has also been at it a long time and is thinking about retiring to go fishing, like we should all be doing,” Hamish says.

Hamish was a firewood contractor as a sideline for eight years in Hastings so has a bit of an affinity with wood: “I had the only firewood kiln in town for a bit… it could dry radiata pine overnight to 12% in the middle of winter. That cured the problem of people wanting dry wood when it’s too wet and cold to make dry wood.

Log trucks would deliver firewood-grade logs, Oldman pine and macrocarpa and it was chainsawed up and then split by a machine we built ourselves. We also bought plantation gum from Poronui and ran it through a Palax processor for a bit of variety.

My son is doing Kanuka firewood now so we’re building a double drum winch for him to use to extract.”

Being a Gisborne crew, the environment is obviously front and centre, perhaps to a few more degrees than in other regions and Forest Pro takes this seriously with its own slash grapple permanently on site. It is also developing the idea of a 40-tonne grapple excavator with a telescoping arm for clearing waterways with a 35-metre reach on it.

“The rules keep getting tougher so we have to change how things are done to keep ahead of it,” Hamish says.

That will be an interesting machine that we look forward to testing in future.

The other John Deere – a 959 operated

by Forest Pro’s Lukas Krkavec.

DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER

Iron Tester: Tony Hill

BIG TIMBER, BIG IRON IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE Mangatu area for a change and to see what the guys at Forest Pro are dealing with. This machine is a big one and certainly looks the part.

A rear-entry high-rise cab to start the day makes everything a lot more homely and userfriendly, from climbing up and in, to storing your jackets, boots and the like behind the cab area. Certainly a welcome addition up here in this windswept, high rainfall country where you have to keep working through it, so it’s good to have a spot to put your wet gear so the air con can get busy drying it out.

There’s a lot of hand rails and handles on this machine just in the right places, so it’s certainly ergonomic. Also, there are smaller steps from the track frame and room to move on the steps too.

Having a big toolbox like this on a processor is handy, knowing there’s a lot more risk of something going wrong on these machines with all the moving parts, and potentially needing tools to sort the issue. I like where they have put this toolbox, tucked in where the fuel tank would normally be on a standard excavator. Good thinking. Plenty of room for bar oil, hand tools, grease and a few spare 20-litre drums of hydraulic oil in reserve.

The cab is laid out really well. Sitting down, the seat is really comfortable and the controls fall to hand very nicely. The aircon is great with frigid air coming out of the vents just in time for summer and the sounds are good quality too.

1. The view from the operator’s seat.

2. Heaps of room in the rear-entry cab.

3. The big windows and narrow pillars make for great visibility when processing.

4. The Woodsman Pro 850 head ready for action.

Heaps of room for the processor screen and being Woodsman Pro it is super easy to use as far as accessing the cutplan etc. The cab doesn’t feel closed in like smaller sideentry cabs. In the brochure I see John Deere has increased interior cab space in this new model by a quarter which is a good move.

It does have really good visibility for a logger boom type machine, especially out the left-hand side where the Harvestline is at close quarters with our other Iron Tester, Logan Williams (testing for a future story), busy burying the skid in stems. Not having a door or door pillar on the left there makes a huge difference to visibility and comfort – you are not having to lean forward to see around the pillar because you are literally already right there. That makes a big difference to your day.

This John Deere has a lot of reach. It needs a good big area to really let this beast use its full potential. The skid they are on here is cramped and it’s hard to actually open it right up and throw some wood around but I guess that is the niche the Harvestline crew fills – often landing space is minimal.

There’s good track power there, typical of John Deere. Being a new machine it may need a couple of flow changes between main boom and feed rollers, to have that more purpose-built for processing, but this machine has the power there with the big engine and big pumps.

The Woodsman 850 head works really well with this base. It does everything fast and smooth – obviously this big kit will spit the

Iron Tester, Tony Hill. big East Coast wood through it without any real hard work.

Forest Pro’s Hamish Campbell notices that we are actually here to put these machines through their paces and do some work. I’m running out of reachable wood so he jumps on the Cat loader and starts passing stems from the Harvestline over to me so I don’t run out. This goes to show how easy the John Deere is to get used to. The controls are very accurate, so a small movement on the controls is a small movement out there on the head where accuracy matters when passing stems between machines.

Log quality isn’t too bad here, probably 1.4 tonne piece size.

The counterweight on this machine feels pretty good. It is stable at full reach and lifting right out far it doesn’t rock around and buckle. Really smooth hydraulics.

This combination seems like it’s built to last, and you’d get a good long life as you’d expect with a big purchase like this. I also noticed in the brochure that the undercarriage and mainframe have been redesigned to deliver up to 67% longer life in the forest.

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IFICATION

SPEC S JOHN DEERE 3756G – SPECIFICATIONS John Deere PowerTech PSS 9.0 L Litre turbo diesel.

Peak power 202 kW (271 hp) at 1,900 rpm HYDRAULICS. Main pumps Max flow Swing speed Max Swing Torque

2x304LPM 608 LPM 11rpm 148 462 N-m

UNDERCARRIAGE Factory High Wide Drawbar pull Ground Clearance Max Speed

3,630mm 36,102 Kgf 740mm 3.9kph

BOOM/ARM John Deere Factory Max reach

They have also made a more robust boomfoot base with larger pins – this strengthens the boom connection which can be a high stress point in our industry. And bushings have been added to the boom tower and boom tip to improve joint integrity and make

11.63 metres

REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES) 1080 195 39.7 27

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

15,370 3,630 3810 3710 48471kg plus Woodsman Pro = total weight 53,734kg

PROCESSOR Woodsman Pro 850 Weight Max Opening Max Cut (Main saw) Max Cut (Top saw) Feed Speed

repairs and maintenance a lot quicker and less expensive.

Overall the 3756G is a very sharp looking and moving machine and is well paired with the Woodsman Pro 850 processing head.

I ran this in the full power mode.

5,263kg 874mm 930mm 590mm 3.5MPS

The paint marker is real easy too. With restricted space here on this little skid it makes it much safer because the paint marker means no man on the ground marking logs. Without that you would struggle to run this skid safely really. NZL

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Forest Engineering

Logging has always been defined by a complex balance between innovation, cost management, and environmental stewardship. Among the strategies gaining traction within this balancing act is two-stage trucking – a system that introduces an intermediate transport stage between initial log extraction and final load-out.

The modified Bell 30E operated by Bryant Logging in Nelson working in Denckers Block, Rai Forest.

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Story & photos: Dr Trevor Best and Professor Rien Visser, University of Canterbury

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EN PERCENT OF ALL LOGGING operations in New Zealand now involve some form of two staging.

This has prompted Forest Growers Research (FGR) and the University of Canterbury to partner in exploring the benefits and challenges of two-stage trucking, offering insights into its viability as an approach that could prove useful in promoting more sustainable logging.

What is two-stage trucking?

Two-stage trucking refers to a harvesting system that uses an intermediary step between the primary extraction of logs and their transport. This intermediary phase often involves transporting modified stems or logs from smaller, remote landings to centralised processing and/or storage

skids across roads that are steeper and constructed to a lesser standard. While the additional step adds complexity, it can unlock significant benefits in specific contexts, especially those characterised by steep slopes and limited access.

The case for two-staging Research by both the University of Canterbury and Scion highlights multiple advantages of two-stage trucking: 1. Reduced infrastructure costs: By enabling smaller landings and shorter, lower-standard roads, two-stage trucking can minimise the cost of road construction and maintenance. For example, one researcher demonstrated a 27% reduction in roading length and a 47% decrease in skid area requirements.

2. Environmental benefits: Smaller landings and fewer roads translate to reduced environmental impact. Twostage systems can mitigate erosion risks and avoid encroachment on sensitive areas, such as riparian zones.

3. Operational flexibility: Intermediate trucks provide the ability to process logs at centralised skids, optimising sorting and loading. This separation can boost productivity and allow for a broader range of log grades, potentially increasing profitability.

4. Enhanced safety: By separating extraction and loading activities, two-stage trucking lowers the risk of accidents associated with congestion and improves overall operational safety.

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Forest Engineering Examining real-world applications The FGR/University of Canterbury research project has now completed three case studies that examined two-stage systems using modified six-wheel drive (6WD) dump trucks. These trucks demonstrated versatility and effectiveness in diverse settings.

$42$ $42$ $42$

Case Study 1: Denckers Block, Nelson

Above and below: The modified Bell 30E working in Denckers Block, Nelson.

• Set up: This operation, run by Bryant Logging, used a Bell 30E articulated truck modified to transport logs across the deck and carry binwood and slash using attachable bin sides (pictured here).

This was transporting logs 430 meters from a small processing landing to a central storage skid. The haul track had a maximum loaded grade of - 17%.

• Productivity: The operation achieved 42 tonnes per productive machine hour (PMH) for sawlogs with utilisation of 73%.

• Key insight: Using the truck increased the area that could be harvested using ground-based machinery. That made the operation cheaper, and it was easier to keep the boundary riparian area free of slash while reducing damage to an adjacent area of ecological significance.

The truck’s modifications, including hydraulic legs for easy unloading and the bin sides increased its utilisation, particularly as the skidder’s haul distance was out to 320 metres.

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bra br bra br bra br 28 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

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Northland Mansell Ngaropo 027 445 9840

Rotorua/Taupo Terry Duncan 027 285 1015

Hawkes Bay Nick Clark 027 411 2330

Forest Engineering Case Study 2: Corbett Family Woodlots, Kerikeri • Set up: Contractor, Wise on Wood used a Hydrema 922G to transport logs over a 350 meter intermediate track that had a maximum grade of 11% and an average of 9%. The modifications included a headboard, and short bolsters added to the original bin tray (pictured right).

• Productivity: Productivity averaged 44 tonnes per PMH with utilisation of 75%.

• Key insight: The truck’s wide tyres and six-wheel-drive eliminated the need for any roading beyond the farm’s established roading network.

Case Study 3: Greenridge Forest, Auckland • Set up: This Terex TA30 (below) was operating on a 1,265m haul road that had a maximum loaded gradient of 19% for contractor, Rosewarne Logging.

• Productivity: It delivered 34 tonnes per PMH with utilisation of 78%.

• Key insight: Using the truck meant the hauler could be placed where it would achieve maximum productivity without being constrained by access for on-highway trucks.

Factors influencing productivity Loading time and haul distance appeared to be the two most critical factors that determined the efficiency of two-stage trucking systems.

Above and right: Modified Hydrema 922G working on the Corbett property in Northland.

All three trucks were carrying a maximum of two grades per load with the truck using the standard log bolsters being 50% faster to load than the next fastest, but its unloading time was twice that of the trucks able to dump their loads. However, with the difference in unloading times being two-anda-half minutes and loading times being six minutes, it is arguable whether the ability to dump improved efficiency – particularly as it made for more difficult fleeting.

As expected, productivity decreased as the haul distance and slope increased.

However, with operational delays such as machine interferences and waiting for

The modified Terex T30 loading up in Greenridge Forest.

30 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

loads or unloading making up most of the lost time, the trucks were not the cause of the bottleneck. That suggested that greater utilisation through longer haul distances was possible.

Challenges and trade-offs While two-stage trucking offers compelling benefits, it is not without its challenges: • Cost considerations: The introduction of intermediate trucks adds to the daily operational expenses, with each truck and loader costing approximately $1,500 per day. However, these costs can be offset with significant reductions

in roading and landing costs and improvements in the productivity of the other machines, particularly where space is constrained, or the road accesses relatively small areas of forest.

• Coordination complexity: Ensuring smooth operations across multiple stages requires precise planning and effective communication among crew members.

Future opportunities As New Zealand’s forestry sector faces increasing pressure to balance profitability with sustainability, two-stage trucking represents an approach worth thinking about. By reducing environmental impact, enhancing safety and optimising operations, this system holds promise for challenging harvesting and roading conditions.

However, capturing that potential depends on taking a whole-of-system view on where the benefits will come from, along with careful planning and investment in suitable equipment.

With the support of FGR, the University of Canterbury team is continuing this study with a focus on eight-wheel log trucks in the coming year to provide a comparison in off-highway truck types. NZL

Harvesting

SMALL-SCALE SELECTIVE HARVESTING IN ACTION Story & photos: Paul Quinlan

In 2022, and then again in 2024, the Northland Tōtara Working Group (NTWG) harvested small volumes of tōtara from the same Pāmu (Landcorp Farming) property in Northland.

Both harvests involved single-tree selections and low-impact felling and extraction techniques, (in accordance with the Sustainable Forest Management Plan approved under the Forests Act). Both harvests demonstrated that small-scale, low-impact, selective harvesting can be viable, but a good crew and matching the right-sized machinery to the job is important.

32 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

This big tree had spiral grain and a relatively short bole. Keeping it longer would not increase its timber value. Michael Harrison felled it uphill to avoid damaging good trees around it.

March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 33

Harvesting Different harvests different machinery The 2022 harvest generally targeted smaller trees and focussed on production-thinning amongst dense stands of pole-sized trees.

There, portable sawmiller, Li Legler, used a small 45-hp four-wheel-drive tractor with a PTO-mounted forestry winch to great effect.

In comparison, the 2024 harvest targeted some much bigger trees (see table below).

Bigger machinery would be needed. But would that still be economic for a smallvolume harvest?

Sustainable harvests – little and often The regenerating tōtara forest areas of the property total 27.7ha and the approved SFM Plan allows for a total annual harvest of only 8.6m3. This equates to a harvest rate of only 0.3m3/ha/yr. For practical reasons, several years’ worth of allowable harvest volume may be applied for in each logging plan. However, the actual harvest volumes are still small.

Selection harvesting in this forest requires frequent but small-scale harvest operations.

This has implications for harvest economics.

Harvest tree management

selection

and

forest

In both operations, harvest was largely used as a production-thinning intervention – or silviculture, to try to improve the stand in the long term. This means a single-stem selection process, with the focus on removing poorer (but still merchantable) trees from the forest to the benefit of adjacent and better trees which are left to grow on – to become even more valuable.

Manawhenua determined the harvest date according to maramataka and graced the occasion with karakia.

Two good trees together – take the shorter, branchier one, leave the one with taller, cleaner bole to grow on. This harvest tree was selected for a particular carving project.

Big trees The 2024 harvest involved some much larger trees. One tree was dead, but still standing, and with 100cm diameter at breast height (DBH) and a 12m bole. Other live trees included several with DBHs between 75 and 95cm, and approximate log volumes between 4.2 and 6.5m3. These were located on steep terrain beneath the adjacent paddocks. Such logs were far too large for Li’s small tractor and winch. Therefore, Tom Harrisons Future Limited was engaged and used a 12-tonne DH4 tracked skidder with a powerful winch.

Low impact extraction Avoiding damage to the residual forest during felling and extraction was another key criterion of tree selection. Harvested trees were generally within 50m of the 34 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

A 12-tonne DH4 TSK winching a tōtara log from the paddock edge.

Harvest volumes and mean log sizes Harvest operation

No. of logs extracted

Mean DBH

Mean log lengths

Mean log volume

Total volume of logs harvested

2022

20 trees (22 logs)

40.5 cm (range 30-71cm)

5.7 m

0.71 m3

15.72 m3

2024

10 trees (10 logs)

63.83 cm (range 39.7- 100cm)

8.3 m

2.34 m3

23.4 m3

Harvesting

1

2

3

forest edge and where a machine could get close enough on the adjacent paddocks.

The machinery did not enter the forest. The fence was cut in several places to pull the logs through but the skidder stayed on the paddocks. It used the winch rope to assist with directional felling and extract the logs.

Top logs were not separated from the butt logs, and despite the steep terrain, the powerful equipment managed to pull the

whole logs up and out, without even sniping the log ends.

Once again, a low-impact selective harvest was well-executed by an experienced crew.

Small-scale and high costs Overall, the high costs of selective harvesting are exacerbated by the poor economies of scale. Only 10 trees were harvested in the 2024 operation. Felling and extraction

costs included getting the machinery on site, directional felling, and skidding logs (some of them quite small) to a site on the farm accessible to a portable sawmill.

Other costs associated with managing the operation include preparing and submitting an Annual Logging Plan to MPI, site visits and harvest planning with manawhenua, the contractor, MPI forest inspectors, farm manger and landowner, tree selection,

New waharoa for Mātihetihe marae

TIMBER FROM THE 2024 PĀMU HARVEST also went to a carving project at Mātihetihe marae, Mitimiti. But it wasn’t just a case of supplying timber. Kaiwhakairo, Tristan Marler, and a strong contingent from the marae trust, were present in the ngāhere to see the trees being felled. Project lead, Kyla Campbell-Kamariera, blessed a selected tree with karakia, adding great

dignity to the day. Tristan says: “The harvest was incredibly meaningful, from the whakawhanaungatanga to the karakia to the felling of the rākau. I think it made all of us feel so much more connected to the material knowing where it had come from, and that it had been harvested respectfully, sustainably and with the intent to create a legacy for our mokopuna.”

Photo: Tristan Marler.

The project involved replacing a carved waharoa that had weathered beyond repair. This is a sensitive task, Marler explains: “The old waharoa contained the kōrero of our marae and hapū and it was important to include some of this kōrero in the new waharoa, as well as relating to our taiāo and allowing for future carving projects inside our wharenui which will relate more of our peoples’ kōrero/history/ whakapapa.”

Michael Dunn was the other talented kaiwhakairo on this project and they hope that future carving projects at the marae will involve rangatahi in a learning capacity.

Marler wanted to use tōtara for its durability qualities and its ability to hold carved details well. However, sourcing tōtara was not easy. Salvage timber from other regions was prohibitively expensive.

The option of a sustainably harvested tōtara from Northland, appealed – although it meant having to use the timber before it had time to properly season. He expects it will check and crack, as it dries.

This special feature work of art was unveiled and celebrated with a hākari late last year. Long may it stand and speak!

36 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

ensign_g

1: Placing a choker around a tree for winch-assisted directional felling.

2: This tree had a higher proportion of heartwood than many regenerated ‘second-growth’ trees have, as well as a thin band of transition wood between the heartwood and the outer sapwood band.

3: Debbie Martin and Kyla CampbellKamariera from the Matihetihe marae inspect one of the harvested trees.

4: Logs skidded to the 2024 portable milling site, a short distance across the paddock from the harvest area. record keeping during and post-harvest, and reinstating fences. These all needed to be spread over the 23.4m3 of recovered logs – many with serious defects. Then there were milling costs on top.

Nevertheless, the value of the tōtara timber should make this a viable operation.

Some of the timber was milled to order and sold ‘green off the saw’ for $3,500/m3.

That timber has gone to prestigious carving

4

projects. The remainder of the timber was milled and filleted to air-dry for later sale Conclusions Sustainable indigenous forest management and harvesting is very costly – especially for small volume operations.

However, the harvests of tōtara from this property highlight two significant points.

First, is the importance of matching the

right crew and machinery to the job.

Second is that the timber value needs to be high enough to cover the higher costs of low-volume, low-impact, selective harvests.

Fortunately, regenerating tōtara is being recognised as an excellent timber. This can make well-executed selective harvests viable – even when only small quantities are involved. NZL

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FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

FICA in Gisborne GISBORNE DISTRICT COUNCIL hears contractor’s voice FICA hosted a field trip with a number of Gisborne District Councillors at Stirling Logging in-forest near Wharerata (located just in the Hawkes’ Bay) on 11 February. There was good engagement with the Councillors, who seemed sympathetic to forestry.

Key messages were: • Forestry is a significant contributor to the economy in Tairawhiti.

• Forestry employees are highly skilled people that are well paid.

• Under the current National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES CF) rules, contractors are pulling a lot of unmerchantable volume that poses little risk.

• To operate efficiently contractors need roads and skids constructed well in advance of operations. This means they need consents in a timely manner.

Thank you to Gavin, Chrystal and the Stirling Logging crew for hosting and to FMNZ and Aratu for allowing access to their forests.

38 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

FICA.ORG.NZ

Tairawhiti Contractors Meeting FICA Board meets in Gisborne The latest FICA board meeting was held in Gisborne on 11 February to coincide with the Gisborne District Councillors’ field visit and the latest Tairawhiti Forest Contractors meeting.

The location of the meeting was to support the considerable work FICA is currently doing in Tairawhiti and is the first of three FICA Board meetings this calendar year that will be held in the regions; the next is in the deep South, followed by the Southern North Island.

A Tairawhiti Contractor Meeting was held with Tairawhiti Contractors in Gisborne on 11 February to coincide with the Gisborne District Council (GDC) field trip.

The general mood in the meeting was that while there has been good engagement between contractors, the GDC, the Mayor, Forest Managers and other stakeholders, the changes at the coal face have been glacial, with a small tinge of green shoots. We hope more can be done in 2025 to get things moving. Thank you to Waratah for sponsoring the food and drinks.

Immigration NZ Settings FICA submitted a joint submission with FOA to Immigration New Zealand on 11 October 2024 and the Government announced changes to Immigration Settings on 22 December. The changes move the needle in the right direction for a lot of employers, but these won’t go far enough for the forestry sector: 1. Two years of experience will still be problematic.

2. They are not proposing to remove the English language requirement.

3. The home country stand-down (12 months) will still apply.

The government is not going to change its position on 1-3 above. Understandably they don’t want people entering the country and being endlessly on work visas with no pathway to residency.

Therefore, contractors are going to have to balance their worker capacity with a combination of New Zealand workers, those on three-year work visa as AEWVs (with conditions 1-3 above) and use the existing SPWV until it is replaced by the Seasonal Work Visa that is best suited to the planting.

FICA is currently working through process with INZ (MBIE Policy team) on how to get forestry roles on the Green List.

This is a long shot, but it is the only way under existing settings to retain migrant workers for more than three years and give them a pathway to residency.

March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 39

FICA.ORG.NZ

ACoP progress stalls In mid-January WorkSafe released an updated draft of the ACoP with a plan to have the new Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) rolled out by March 2025.

There were several major changes: • It was written for PCBUs rather than employers, contractors and workers; • There was a big shift away from mandatory instruction to recommendations; • There was a significant shift away from the current format and a plan only to have it available electronically and not as hard copy.

• This was at odds with industry’s expectation that the current ACoP required tweaks to align it with the new legislation rather than completely rewriting.

FICA members have been actively involved with other industry players and WorkSafe and, as a result, the current process has been stalled. All parties are committed to getting an ACoP that is fit for purpose and taking the appropriate time to do this.

FICA, FSC and FOA are currently working together with WorkSafe to agree on a plan going forward.

Insurance designed by FICA contractors, for FICA contractors Starting out as a family-owned New Zealand business 26 years ago, TLC Insurance has had a strong connection with forestry from the start.

Original owner and TLC Insurance founder, Keith Penny, had played rugby with logging contractor Paul Olsen (Olsen Forest Management - OFM) in their earlier years, and had built a friendship that lasted beyond the rugby field.

Wanting to provide the forestry industry with insurance that catered to the needs of contractors throughout New Zealand, Keith engaged Paul to provide feedback in the development of policy that was tailored and specialised to the unique needs and risks of the forestry industry.

While the company has grown to be part of a broader group, that specialist forestry industry knowledge and understanding carries through today.

“TLC is committed to delivering an efficient claims turnaround, a diverse product range and continued product innovation,” says Executive Director, Andrew Reid.

“We have access to key people with vast experience and expertise and a commitment to premium stability.”

As more competition enters the New Zealand market, TLC is encouraging FICA members to reach out.

40 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

Paul Olsen (OFM) and TLC Insurance Founder, Keith Penny, at the 25-year celebration of TLC Insurance.

“As we embrace this new competition entering the NZ market, we want to assure FICA members that we will look to continue to support them as they have supported TLC,” says Andrew.

“Our commitment extends to remaining competitive with Thank you to all of the org any offering that may be presented and continuing to offer a consistent approach business growth and impro to FICA Members’ insurance renewals the benefit of New Zealand and the service they receive at claims time.

FICA Partners

“We’d like to take this opportunity to STRATEGIC PARTNERS thank all FICA members for their loyalty over the years and we look forward to seeing what the future holds.” www.tlcinsurance.co.nz Andrew Reid andrew@tlcinsurance.co.nz

FICA.ORG.NZ

your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

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See how the team from Big Dog Fencing in Wellington use ProCOM to speed up their process here:

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FICA Partners STRATEGIC STRATEGIC PARTNERS PARTNERS

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

Industry.

BUSINESS BUSINESS PARTNERS PARTNERS

ll of the organisations who support FICA, which in turn works to promote th and improved safety and efficiency amongst forestry contractors for New Zealand’s Forestry Industry.

BUSINESS PARTNERS

GOLD GOLD PARTNERS PARTNERS

TO TO JOIN, JOIN, CALL CALL 0800 0800 342 342 269 269 OR OR SIGNUP SIGNUP ONLINE ONLINE AT AT FICA.ORG.NZ FICA.ORG.NZ March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 41 GOLD PARTNERS

Putting faces to n Safety/performance/quality

THIS ISSUE IT IS SIMPLY ABOUT PUTTING faces to names and crews.

So, here they are…!!

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.

Swain Logging – Top Ground Base Crew 2024.

42 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

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

Safety/performance/quality

o names and crews

Shane Griffin Logging 1 – Runner Up Yarder Crew 2024.

Shane Griffin Logging 2.

Alec Cassie of Wenita Forest Products with Stewart Logging's Matthew Stewart and Caleb Beets-Ruruku.

Damian Mikaere and Rodger Mathieson of Roxburgh Contracting 1 with Wenita Forest Products’ Alec Cassie.

Roxburgh Contracting 2 Top Yarder Crew 2024.

March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 43

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

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SUMITOMO/ WOODSMAN COMBO FOR RIDGE HIGH LOGGING Ridge High Logging in Gisborne recently took delivery of a Woodsman Pro installed on a Sumitomo 5040. The machine features the latest Loggic control system along with electronic callipers.

NEW MACHINERY FOR BLUE MOUNTAINS LOGGING Dave Johnston from Blue Mountains Logging has added a new Weiler B758 to his mechanised harvesting operation in the Omataroa Forest. Featuring a Woodman FH1350 processing head, the Cat-powered track feller buncher has strong ground clearance and lift capacity with full reach. Machine sold by Rotorua-based Mark Costello from Terra Cat.

NEW VOLVO FOR VOLCANIC PLATEAU LOGGING

LG33637

Steve Yeoman from Volcanic Plateau Logging in the central north island has added a new Volvo L90H wheel loader to his crew, taking over the loading duties from his previous L90F. The new Volvo was factory log loader spec’d and equipped with a set of Ensign TR2C log forks. Machine sold by Ewen Satherley of TDX. From left: Steve Yeoman, Jody Tonga and Pauly pictured with the new machine.

FIFTH JOHN DEERE FOR JENSEN LOGGING

NEW CAT FOR FIRSTCO HARVESTING

Jensen Logging recently took delivery of its fifth John Deere 803MH, this one fitted with a Woodsman Pro 560 head. It has been put to work for crew #090 working in Kaingaroa Forest doing production thinning. Machine sold and serviced by Brandt Rotorua.

Firstco Harvesting recently took delivery of a Next Generation Cat 538 forest machine. Featuring an Ensign 1730 grapple, the new Cat has been put to work by Pete Smith in Kaingaroa Forest, fleeting and loading as well as shovel logging. Machine sold by Terra Cat Territory Account Manager, Mark Costello.

March 2025 | NZ LOGGER 45

$180,000 $180,000++GST GST

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

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TERRY TERRYDUNCAN DUNCAN

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TERRY DUNCAN

LocatedDUNCAN in Rotorua.

TERRY TERRY DUNCAN

2012. 17981 hrs. Located in Rotorua.

TERRY DUNCAN TERRY DUNCAN

brandt.ca/nz brandt.ca/nz

027 285 1015 027 285 1015

2013.

12400 hrs.engine.

With Satco felling head. Ready to freshly rebuilt Located in Hastings. be put to work. Workshop checked/serviced and had NICKrebuilt CLARK 027 411 2330 freshly engine. Located in Hastings.

NICK CLARK

WHG 09 438 7228 HAS PUK 0909438 2377228 0043 HAS MTU WHG PUK 09 237 0043 MTU

027 411 2330

06 879 9907 06879 350 9907 0042 06 06 350 0042

2019. 8000 hrs. Set up with band tracks. Located in Rotorua.

TERRY DUNCAN 027 285 1015

ROT 07 345 5490 ROT 07 345 5490

027 285 1015

2010. 15700 hrs. 1910E John Deere Forwarder.

027 285 1015 027 285 1015

h

051 1

15

es.

15

15

Full Custom Build Service Fast & Efficient

sales@bopradiatorspecialists.co.nz

For new forestry equipment RADIATORS

Got a need for it?

Put your name on it!

CONTACT OLIVIA TO ADVERTISE 027 685 5066

Got a need for it?

Put your name on it!

For new forestry equipment

For new forestry equipment

GOT A NEED FOR IT? PUT YOUR NAME ON IT! FOR FORESTRY EQUIPMENT

LG32496

TMY70 THUNDERCHICKEN HAULER

48 NZ LOGGER | March 2025

KOMATSU XT430L

FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.TDF.NZ Frankie 021469678 Scott 0273163796

NEW NEW USED& NEW S&TREBUILT RREBUILT AP TNEMHCA TTA USED NEW USED & REBUILT ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS

NEW NEW NEW W EN NEW GRAPPLES GRAPPLES

Largeyour Stocks ofname Heavy Alloyon Coresit! & Completes Put

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CHARGE AIR COOLERS

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OILCOOLERS

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LG32968

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NZ LOGGER classified

noita noita

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

Distributors of:

Safety Boots $117.00

001WARATAH LF HATARA624HX W 624HX 001wWARATAH LWARATAH WARATAH H 624HX W 624HX oF N Available elA baTlA iaR vAANow

625C 40 inch Bar $774.67

Main Saw Motor $3425.00

Safety Covers $1200.00

912WARATAH H HATARA626HX W 91w 2WARATAH HWARATAH WARATAH H 626HX W626HX 626HX o N Available eA lbTaA liaRvA ANow

XH62WARATAH 6 HATARAH219 W WARATAH H219 XHw 62 6WARATAH H AaTlA H219 WH219 oWARATAH N Available elb iavRAA Now

XH4WARATAH 26 HATARAFL100 W WARATAH FL100 XHw 4WARATAH 2 6WARATAH H AaTlA FL100 WFL100 oN Available elb iavRAA Now

WWEENN TLTLIUIUBBEERR&&DDEESSUU SSTN TNEEMMHHCCAATTA TA SSTN TNEEMMHHCCAATTA TA

NEW NEW USED& NEW RREBUILT AP TNEMHCA TTA USED NEW USED &Sc&T.REBUILT REBUILT ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS m o h a t a r a w . g o l a t a c strap ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENTS

Prices exclude GST and limited time for the month of this publication

Available Now Available Available Now e0lAvailable b,a4li4a1v$ANow Now Available lAvailable b7a,5li7a1vA Now e9lAvailable b e3lAvailable b7Available a,5li6a2vA TSGFrom +w0o0N.Available 0$265,734.48 0 m or+FGST TSGFrom +w9o7N.$ 3e6 276,293.52 $Now mNow or+FGST TSGFrom +w2o5N.Available 3$175,763.79 2 ,a6li7a2vA $Now mNow o +rFGST TSGFrom +w8o4N.Available 4$144,000.00 $Now mNow orNow +FGST From $265,734.48 From + From GST TSGFrom GST TSGFrom + From 00.0$265,734.48 0$265,734.48 0,441$ mor+F+GST +GST GST TSGFrom + From 97.$3$ 6276,293.52 $7276,293.52 276,293.52 ,571$ mor+FGST + GST GST TSGFrom + From 25.3$175,763.79 9$175,763.79 2$175,763.79 ,672 $ mo+rFGST ++GST + From 8From 4.4$144,000.00 3$144,000.00 7,$144,000.00 562$ mor+FGST ++ GST

New 624C Pro Edge set $1861.00

625c Drive Roller Kit $5500.00

Single CMS Tank $1300.00

Grease Nipple Kit $145.00

)72SWARATAH ( 626 HATA626 RAW (S13) )42S( WARATAH DH C426 H625C ATARA (S28) W )8WARATAH 2S( C526 H624C ATARA HD W (S24) )31SWARATAH ( 626 HATA626 RAW (S27) )72SWARATAH (wWARATAH 6o2 626 R 626 AW (S13) (S13),y)l4no2dS DWARATAH WARATAH A 625C A (S28) )8Fully 2aS (Refurbished C 624C A624C A HD HD (S24) )31SWARATAH (wWARATAH 6oWARATAH 2 626 R 626 A626 W (S27) (S27) WARATAH 626 (S13) 625C WARATAH HD (S24) (S27) N6 Available elH baA liaTvA A Now Fully a(eWARATAH H ,H Refurbished DHCC4 42266deHh625C s625C, ibT rA ufeRRHead yW ll(S28) uF only ylno dWARATAH eWARATAH H ,C5 52 266 dH eh sT i624C b624C ruR fHD, eA RW yHead llu F(S24) only, N6 Available elH baA liaTvA A Now N0Available eAvailable Now Now TSw Go+$65,000.00 0lb .Available 0a0li0a,v0A91 +Now $GST TSG +$65,000.00 0$65,000.00 0.000,091++ $GST +GST GST $65,000.00

S02300RS 5

S0002.300RS TSG +$6914.00 050300RS 0,3+1$GST TSG +$6914.00 0$6914.00 0.0300RS 00,3+1$GST + GST $6914.00 + GST $65,000.00 + GST Available Now

WARATAH 626 (S13)

$8839.00 + GST

360RS

S02360RS 4

S0 2360RS TSG$8935.00 + 00 .49360RS 388+$GST TSG$8935.00 + $8935.00 00.9360RS 388+$GST + GST $8935.00 + GST

Available Now $190,000.00 + GST Fully Refurbished 625C, Head only

WARATAH 625C (S28)

420S

SR06420S 3

TSGS $8839.00 +R0006.420S 533420S 98+$GST TSG$8839.00 + $8839.00 00.53420S 98+$GST + GST $8839.00 + GST

Available Now, $190,000.00+GST Fully Refurbished 624C HD, Head only,

WARATAH 624C HD (S24)

$13,000.00 + GST

520S

SR00520S 3

S+R0000.520S TSG$13,000.00 431520S 96$+ GST TSG$13,000.00 +$13,000.00 00.419520S 6$+ GST + GST $13,000.00 + GST $190,000.00 + GST Available Now

WARATAH 626 (S27)

SSTR TRAAPPTN TNEEMMHHCCAATTA TA mmooc.ch.haatatararaww.g.goolalatatacscstrtarapp

ATTACHMENT ATTACHMENT PARTS W E N ATTACHMENT TLIUPARTS BPARTS ER & DESU ATTACHMENT PARTS partscatalog.waratah.com STNpartscatalog.waratah.com Epartscatalog.waratah.com M H C A T T A S T N E MHCATTA partscatalog.waratah.com

$8935.00 + GST

300RS

WWEENN SSEELLPPPPAARRGG

NEW NEW NEW W EN NEW GRAPPLES GRAPPLES SGRAPPLES E L P PARG GRAPPLES

$6914.00 + GST

,ylnToSdFully aFully H0Refurbished 49216$ d,$190,000.00 s625C, ibe625C, r625C, Head lu+FGST only yTonly only lS noGFully d+aAvailable Fully e 5,206Now, d$ ehw 624C soibN 624C r624C uefHD, elbRaHD, FHead only, only, N e0 lbAvailable l0ia0v,5A6Now G Available +eFully 0H0.,Refurbished 0D0Refurbished ,C0Now weohN lubfaeliRaHead vyAlHead 0H 0Refurbished .0,C 0Refurbished 0 91 $190,000.00+GST lyHead iallvuHead A + Available 0 .a 0Available $+ Now GST Fully Refurbished HD, only, TSwGo$190,000.00 Now TSG Available +Available Available 00.000,0Now 9Now 1Now $ ,$190,000.00 wo$190,000.00 $190,000.00 N elbaliavA + GST + GST GST TSG + Available 00Available .000,0Now, 91Now, $Now, w $190,000.00+GST o$190,000.00+GST N$190,000.00+GST elbaliavA TSG$190,000.00 + $190,000.00 0$190,000.00 0.000,56$+ GST ++ GST + Available GST

00New .541$624C tiK ePro lppiEdge N esaset erG$1861.00 00.0625c 031$Drive knaTRoller SMC eKit lgn$5500.00 iS 00.005Single 5$ tiK rCMS elloRTank evirD$1300.00 c526 00.1681$Grease tes egdNipple E orP CKit 426$145.00 weN 00New .5New 41$624C ti624C K ePro lppPro iEdge N eEdge saset erGset $1861.00 $1861.00 00.0625c 03625c 1$Drive knDrive aTRoller SMRoller C eKit lgKit n$5500.00 iS$5500.00 00.005Single 5$Single tiK rCMS ellCMS oRTank evTank irD$1300.00 c5$1300.00 26 00.1681$Grease teGrease s egdNipple E oNipple rP CKit 42Kit 6$145.00 w$145.00 eN New 624C Pro Edge set $1861.00 625c Drive Roller Kit $5500.00 Single CMS Tank $1300.00 Grease Nipple Kit $145.00 From $265,734.48 + GST Available Now

WARATAH 624HX

00.002Safety 1$ srevBoots oC yte$117.00 faS 00.002Safety 1$Safety srevBoots oCBoots yte$117.00 faS$117.00 Safety Boots $117.00

From $ 276,293.52 + GST Available Now

WARATAH 626HX

00.52625C 43$ ro40 toM inch waBar S nia$774.67 M 00.52625C 43625C $ ro40 to40 M inch winch aBar S nBar ia$774.67 M$774.67 625C 40 inch Bar $774.67

noitacilbup siht fo htnom eht rof emit detimil dna TSG edulcxe secirP noitacilbup siht fo htnom eht rof emit detimil dna TSG edulcxe secirP

24/7 phone 0800 492 728 24/7 24/7 phone phone 0800 0800 492 492 728 728 or +6 47 343 1550 or or +6+6 47 47 343 343 1550 1550492 728 24/7 phone 0800 or +6 47 343 1550

From $175,763.79 + GST Available Now

WARATAH H219

76.47Main 7$ raBSaw hcnMotor i 04 C$3425.00 526 76.47Main 7$Main raBSaw hSaw cnMotor i 0Motor 4 C$3425.00 52$3425.00 6 Main Saw Motor $3425.00

:fo Distributors srotubirtsiD of: :fo Distributors srDistributors otubirtsiD of:of: Distributors of:

From $144,000.00 + GST Available Now

WARATAH FL100

00.7Safety 11$ stoCovers oB ytef$1200.00 aS 00.7Safety 11$Safety stoCovers oBCovers ytef$1200.00 aS$1200.00 Safety Covers $1200.00

Prices exclude GST and limited time for the month of this publication Prices Prices exclude exclude GST GST andand limited limited time time for for thethe month month of this of this publication publication

Prices exclude GST and limited time for the month of this publication

827 294 0080 enohp 7/42 827 294 0080 enohp 7/42 0551 343 74 6+ ro 0551 343 74 6+ ro

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