April 2021
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ISSN 2703-6251
Easy on, easy off
Scion brings down the fence
Towards mechanising silviculture
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contents APRIL 2021
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FOREST TALK NZ manufacturers left behind; Whakatāne Mill closure ‘devastating’; Where’s the spending on road freight?; Native trees to boost Awhitu Peninsula; New Chair for FISC; Taking on new challenges; Māori trades and training set to benefit; ACC backs Robotic scaling tech; Woodland warrior; Investing in the future; Get forestry recruits out of school; Sawmill feed system gets a makeover; New generation harvester head. SHAW’S WIRE ROPES FOREST FOCUS When Southland logger, Andrew Pratt, spied a website about a self-contained,
38 bolt-on winch-assist unit that can easily be removed from the end of an excavator to allow the base machine to work without any hindrance between tethering operations, it immediately piqued his interest. 32
NZ TIMBER Reimagining Scion’s Rotorua headquarters to showcase timber use in commercial construction, with emphasis on the innovation and research reflecting the essence of Scion as an organisation, was no mean feat. Turn to our NZ Timber feature to see the results for yourself.
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SILVICULTURE Over the years mechanised silviculture has been attempted many times in New Zealand, some methods successful for their time and conditions and others not. With labour supply and quality always a factor, perhaps the time to adopt new techniques has finally come.Z
DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 44 fica 46 top spot 48 new iron 53 classifieds
April 2021 | NZ LOGGER 1
Iron Test
Story & photos: John Ellegard
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The Timbermax winch-assist unit, fitted to the arm of the Sumitomo SH300 base machine to tether the Tigercat LS885E down the hill.
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April 2021 | NZ LOGGER 17
NZ Timber
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Story: Hayley Leibowitz
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HIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP. We are effectively taking down the fence that’s been around Scion for quite some time,” says Scion CEO, Dr Julian Elder, of the Crown Research Institute’s new building named Te Whare Nui o Tuteata. “It was a real eye opener to me to come to Scion and learn all of the wonderful things
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that happen here. Now we are no longer an ‘invisible, secret, science establishment behind the trees’. The fence is coming down.” In collaboration with Irving Smith Architects, RTA Studio was commissioned to reimagine Scion’s Rotorua headquarters. The project allows the workforce from around the campus to collaborate in
a central space which will be the new public face of Scion in the community. The design showcases timber use in commercial construction, with emphasis on the innovation and research reflecting the essence of Scion as an organisation. Julian explains that the timing of the creation of the new building is crucial,
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Scion’s new building, Te Whare Nui o Tuteata.
given that around the world, “we are taking significant steps to move away from a linear, petrochemical-based economy to a circular bioeconomy, which is what makes this building so important”. “We talk about all the work we do here and our core purpose, to drive innovation and growth for the economic,
environmental and social benefit of New Zealand. That means us helping others through our science, our research, our technology and taking up new state-of-theart or alternative ways of manufacturing products, as well as sustainable approaches in the environment. With Scion so involved with forestry, processing of wood and all
the benefits and products we get from trees, it was high time to reflect that,” he adds. With some 600 000 visitors a year to the Redwoods, Te Whare Nui o Tuteata incorporates a public cafe as well as an experience centre that will tell the complete forestry story. The name was gifted by
April 2021 | NZ LOGGER 33
top spot
Safety/performance/quality
While you wait NOW THAT WE APPEAR TO BE BACK TO SOME sense of normality with COVID-19, we can kick back into the 2021 competition. We appreciate last month’s changes to COVID-19 levels has meant some presentation of 2020 awards has had to be delayed which, in turn, has meant commencement of 2021 assessments has also been delayed. However, this doesn’t take away from the achievements of participants. So, while you wait, we have included a few photos of top individuals and crews from 2020, including our top yarder crew, Hauraki 91, top ground base crew, Bluewood Thinning and top thin to waste crew, X Men Forestry.
Logging, Forest View Logging, Kimberley Logging, Dewes Logging, Manaia Logging, Storm Logging, Eastside Logging, Veal Forestry, McHoull Forestry, Pride Forestry, Bay Pine, Penetito Forestry, FM Silviculture, Forest View Forestry, Wayne Cummings, Rodco Forestry, Johnson Forestry, Pro Forest Services, Eastside Logging. Hayes Logging, Swain Logging, Lumberjack Logging, Ernslaw One, Blue Wood Logging, Mike Hurring Logging, McCallum Harvesting, Whisker Logging, Kaha Logging, Lahar Logging, Dempsey Logging, Moutere Logging, JBD Harvesting, McDougall
Into safety? Into performance? Into quality? Contact Shane Perrett on 0274 781 908, 07 3483037 or at primefm@xtra.co.nz. NZL
Sponsors – they don’t have to do this but they choose to! Awesome companies, awesome people and awesome support! They back you and your workmates to succeed as professionals, so why wouldn’t you support them? They believe in what we do and what you do. So a big ongoing thank you to our Strategic Partners – STIHL and NZ Logger and sponsor SWAZI. The best way to keep our industry working is to get out and support those businesses that support New Zealand. Participating Companies This competition wouldn’t be what it is without our participating companies. We understand the commitment it takes from them to be part of Top Spot and value their ongoing support and feedback. Our ongoing thanks to Rayonier/Matariki Forests, Wenita Forest Products, Port Blakely, Crown Forestry, Brand Logging, CMH Logging, Hauraki and Moehau Logging, Thomassen Logging, Te Waa Logging, Inta-Wood Forestry, Otautau Contractors, Heslip Forest Contracting, Waikato Forestry Services, Atamira Ltd, Makerikeri Silviculture, XMen Forestry, Central Forestry Services, Mangoihe Logging, Kohurau Contracting, Kuru Contracting, Dennis E
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Hauraki 91, Top Yarder crew for 2020.
Safety Breakfast and Top Spot presentation.
top spot
Safety/performance/quality
Phil De La Mare and Nigel Hutchinson.
Contractors at Ernslaw One Safe Start 2020.
Devon Stewart.
David McKenzie.
Phil De La Mare and Marty Blythe.
Devon Stewart, Nigel Hutchinson (Bluewood Thinning top ground base logging crew), JR, Russell and Kalib Te Ngahue (top Thin to Waste crew).
Jareb Verdoner.
Stephan Hose.
Walter Beamsley.
James Sell.
Kelvin Stratford and Phil De La Mare. April 2021 | NZ LOGGER 47
Improved flexibility S631G2_final.pdf
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