Forest Talk

Clear felling of native forests had officially ceased by 1977 because the Government had realised during the 1950s that this valuable resource was rapidly being depleted and action was necessary to preserve what remained, says historian Ron Cooke. 

He adds that In hindsight he was fortunate or, to be more accurate, unknowingly on hand, to record the dying stages of an industry whose fate had already been decided.  

The date of his vis..... more

The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group has been given a national award for its exceptional efforts in creating the Te Aratia Walkway. Outdoor Access Champion Awards are presented each year by Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, the Outdoor Access Commission, to people who have made significant and lasting contributions to public access to the outdoors in New Zealand.

The Whangawehi Catchment Management Group, a collective of marae, landowners, and agencies, ..... more

Another Bailey bridge has been successfully installed in Gisborne. The bridge went up on the Makarika No.2 Bridge, Makarika Road, south of Ruatorea. It will allow contractors to clear debris and begin repairs to the abutment under the bridge and the road approaching the bridge.

Community Lifelines Director, Tim Barry, says it will make a huge difference to the community living across the bridge as the Bailey bridge means continued access while the re..... more

China has launched the first of two electric-powered river containerships. The 700 TEU pure power vessel, built for COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry, is part of an effort to use electric-powered vessels throughout the Yangtze region. 

The ship was floated at the shipyard in Yangzhou last year and is currently being referred to by its hull number of N997. Dry dock assembly began in March 2023 after the project kicked off in December 2022. It is sche..... more

While forestry bears much of the burden, New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is being let down by several critical sectors according to a new study.

If five sectors were better regulated, the impact of New Zealand’s main tool in the fight against climate change could be heightened, say University of Auckland Business School Energy Centre researchers.

The  authors say the agricultural sector’s greenhouse gas emissions rank first am..... more

New Zealand Immigration settings were changed without consultation by Government last month. The Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) says the changes have had an immediate impact on a number of members.  

Most affected are those involved in silviculture using seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands to fill gaps in the New Zealand Workforce. The main changes affecting contractors are to do with additional requirements relating to the..... more