FREE
2026
YEAR PLANNER INSIDE
December 2025/January 2026 | 9.50
ISSN 2703-6251
An army of
On hard work and connection
From disaster response to recovery
One is good. Five is awesome.
Jensen Logging knew they were onto a good thing with their first Woodsman Pro 560. That's why it's no surprise they keep coming back for more — they’re now running their fifth 560. “We have been so impressed with the capabilities, reliability, and production improvements. From the intelligence and innovation of the designers to the excellent and thorough service of the field technicians, we are well supported and always listened to.” See how the 560 keeps earning its place in crews across NZ.
SALES 07 348 1286 // INFO@ENSIGN.CO.NZ WOODSMANPRO.CO.NZ 73 Biak St, Waterford Park, Rotorua, New Zealand.
DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY
contents
DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026
14
4
4
FOREST TALK Making amends through forestry road safety; Full farm-to-forest conversion limits now in place; Innovative use of harvesting residues; NZ forestry and wood sector takes centre stage in India; Historic Waka shaped in Omahuta Forest; Hornet eradication efforts continue; 200th machine for Finnish company; Recognising leaders in industry; Marking 70 years of infrastructure development; Conference coverage: “Think like a forest”; Turning wood into energy.
26
14
26
SHAW’S WIRE ROPES IRON TEST Gavin Wilson of Havard Logging in Masterton was so impressed when he bought the first-in-the-world Hitachi ZX400L-7G that he got busy and bought the second one in the world as well. At the top of his list of favourite things about Hitachis are reliability, cost-effectiveness and performance. WOMEN IN FORESTRY Cherie Rangiahua’s forestry history dates back to her great-grandfather. She’s female, Māori, a solo mum, and a forester of note.
32
32
SPECIAL FEATURE: DISASTER RESPONSE From disaster response to recovery and resilience, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council took on Cyclone Gabrielle guns blazing.
DEPARTMENTS 2 editorial 36 fica 40 top spot 43 Greenlight New Iron 45 classifieds
December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 1
from the editor
FREE
2026
YEAR PLANNER INSIDE
December 2025/January 2026 | 9.50
ISSN 1176-0397
PHOTO: TIM BENSEMAN
An army of
From disaster response to recovery
On hard work and connection
Operator, Matt, shovelling up to the processor with Havard Logging’s new Hitachi ZX400L-7G.
ADVERTISING, ADMINISTRATION, SUBSCRIPTIONS POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 112 062, Penrose, Auckland 1642 STREET ADDRESS: 172B Marua Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051 PHONE: 09 571 3544 WEBSITE: www.alliedpublications.co.nz SUBSCRIPTIONS: $95 (incl. GST) for one year (11 issues) within NZ. Overseas rates available on application. Trudy Woolston: 0274746033, admin@trucker.co.nz PUBLISHER: Trevor Woolston, 027 492 5600, trevor@trucker.co.nz ADMINISTRATION: Trudy Woolston 0274746033, admin@trucker.co.nz EDITOR: Hayley Leibowitz, 027 211 5048, hayley@trucker.co.nz ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT: Olivia Beauchamp, 0276855066, sales@nzlogger.co.nz DESIGN: Luca Bempensante Zarko Mihic PRINTING: Bluestar DISTRIBUTION: ARE Direct Distribution NZ Logger is published on the second Tuesday of every month except January. NZ Logger is published by Allied Publications Ltd. CONTRIBUTIONS: Editorial contributions are welcomed for consideration, but no responsibility is accepted for loss or damage of submitted materials (photographs, graphics, printed material etc…). If the return of material is required please include a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. Please contact the editor by mail or email prior to submitting material. NZ Logger reserves the right to edit submitted material. COPYRIGHT: Articles in NZ Logger are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form – in whole or part – without the permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by, the publisher or editor.
NZ Logger Magazine
Net circulation – ended 30/06/2015
3,271
www.nzlogger.co.nz Official Magazine of
NZ LOGGER MAGAZINE AN ESTIMATED
30,000 READERS THROUGHOUT NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
2 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026
“Choose your ‘ha’ ” ANOTHER YEAR AND A QUARTER OF A CENTURY ALREADY GONE. A year filled with challenges but also rewards. Looking back on this page over the months, New Zealand forestry during 2025 has been as active and innovative as ever. We have chatted about everything from questions of land use and the legislation that comes with it, to sawmill closures, carbon credits, biomass, log cartage, log prices, resource consents, strategic thinking in business, clean-ups, extreme weather events, more clean-ups, more eyes on the weather, safety and the accountability that comes with it (see our first Forest Talk story for more on that), making forestry attractive to the next generation, forestry technology, downturns, upturns, tariffs, Trump and everything in between. Then there are the softer subjects, arguably the most important ones – mental health and the importance of reaching out, building enthusiasm, sustaining hard graft, making connections and, of course, considering the man, or woman, who is on the ground or steering our mechanical beasts. If there is one person who embodies all the positivity one can take from life’s challenges, turning them into successes, it’s the subject of our Women in Forestry feature this month – Cherie Rangiahua. Born into a family of foresters, the bush is in her blood, and connecting with those who love it as much as she does is her life’s work. She doesn’t let obstacles stand in her way, both as a woman and a logger. Her mantra is one we all can learn from in our approach to life and working with others: “Are you going to be a hōhā (nuisance) or a koha (gift)? Choose your ‘ha’.” And over the page we focus on, you guessed it, clean-ups. This time, it’s a look behind the scenes though, at how Hawke’s Bay Regional Council rose to the challenge of successfully delivering an unprecedented $250 million flood infrastructure programme. Put all those subjects together and you’ve got an industry that keeps us on our toes. None of them are new. After all, we know forestry always comes full circle. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. As we move into the silly season, enjoy some lightness in your life, laugh with your whānau, hug them hard and take a moment to appreciate the ngahere and all that it gives us, because good days always balance the bad. Until next time, stay safe.
JUST IN TIME TO GO UNDER YOUR TREE!
Waratah.com
forest talk
Making amends through forestry road safety IN A NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN WorkSafe New Zealand and Forest360, the company will fund a range of safety actions in response to a death on one of its sites. In May 2023, 59-year-old Greg Stevens was killed when his logging truck and trailer rolled while negotiating a tight bend on a Coromandel forestry road. WorkSafe’s investigation found the design, maintenance and risk assessment of the road by Forest360 was inadequate. The company’s funded response forms a binding commitment, known as an enforceable undertaking (EU), which WorkSafe has accepted. It comprises an investment of over $400,000 including: • Funding research to develop a method to assess forestry road safety. • Sponsoring software development to help forest owners and operators identify unsafe road conditions. • Promoting the software and sharing insights with the forestry sector, including at conferences and through the Forest Industry Safety Council. • Forest360 will donate to education programmes through Discover Forestry, and to Wāhine in Forestry. • Amends paid to Greg Stevens’ widow. “Many forestry roads in New Zealand are old and potentially unsafe, having been built decades ago to outdated engineering 4 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026
standards,” says WorkSafe’s Head of Regulatory Services, Tracey Conlon. “The software development has the potential to transform how forestry roads are assessed for safety. By making cuttingedge technology accessible across the industry, Forest360’s initiatives could significantly reduce risk and save lives.” Forestry is a priority for WorkSafe as it had the highest fatality rate of any sector in 2024. “Our role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities to keep people healthy and safe. This is the first time WorkSafe has accepted such a commitment from the forestry sector. EUs are a way for WorkSafe to hold businesses accountable for health and safety breaches. We monitor progress on the agreed commitments and can seek a court order if they are not upheld.” Commenting on the EU, Forest360’s Managing Director, Dan Gaddum, says, “Forest360 deeply regrets the tragic loss of a logging truck driver employed by one of our subcontractors, who was fatally injured while operating on a forestry road under our control. Our thoughts remain with his family, colleagues, and community. “We take our responsibilities for contractor safety management extremely seriously, and this incident has strengthened our resolve to lead improvement across
Main: The scene of the dramatic crash on Thames Coast Road in May 2023. Below: Greg Stevens who tragically died in the 2023 crash.
the industry. Sometimes it’s less about dwelling on what went wrong, and more about doing something meaningful to stop it happening again. “Through this enforceable undertaking, Forest360 is investing in technologies such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), machine learning, and drone-based road assessments to better identify and manage road risks. Our goal is to deliver safer outcomes for everyone working in and around our forests, and to share what we learn to lift safety performance across the wider sector.” Two other businesses remain before the court in relation to the death of Gregory Albert Stevens. NZL
forest talk
Full farm-to-forest conversion limits now in place
LEGISLATION TO PROTECT PRODUCTIVE FARMLAND BY LIMITING farm-to-forest conversions is now in place, marking “a campaign promise fulfilled”, says Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay. The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Scheme – Forestry Conversion) Amendment Act came into effect on 31 October 2025 with these changes now evident to foresters in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) system. “Through this Act the Government delivered on protecting food production, supporting rural communities, and ensuring foresters can continue to invest with confidence,” Mr McClay says. The legislation restricts exotic forests from entering the ETS on
Land Use Capability (LUC) class 1-6 land – New Zealand’s most productive soils – with certain exceptions, including for Māoriowned land and erosion-prone areas. Farmers will retain flexibility to plant some land should they choose. Transitional exemptions from the restrictions are available for those who can demonstrate both a clear interest in the land and a qualifying forestry investment made between 1 January 2021 and 4 December 2024. “Farming and forestry are both important to our regional economies and communities and this Government is supporting both sectors to create jobs and grow exports,” Mr McClay says. NZL
Now available exclusively from 3D Industrial
Universal hanger options available
For more information or to request a quote, phone 027 324 9091 or email parts@3dindustrial.nz www.cdl.nz
BUILT STRONG FOR NZ CONDITIONS
NZ MADE
UNIVERSAL HANGER OPTIONS AVAILABLE
EASE OF MAINTENANCE
POWDER COATED COMPONENTS
SAME DAY DISPATCH ON ALL PARTS
HARD FACING IS STANDARD