NZ Logger December 2025

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From disaster response to recovery

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DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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!

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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

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forest talk

Innovative use of harvesting residues Story: Hamish Scown, Pan Pac Forest Products FOREST GROWERS RESEARCH (FGR) ASSISTED HAMISH SCOWN of Pan Pac Forest Products with recent trials of using shredded wood from forestry debris as temporary roading aggregate. Three test roads were built using shredded wood in layers half a metre deep (500mm) to see how it would stand up to heavy logging truck traffic. Initial results have shown that shredded wood can work surprisingly well as a temporary road surface.

The early trials proved successful with initial traction issues on steep grades when laid uncompacted, but compaction by heavy traffic or roller after laying alleviated these issues. Wheel rut depths were measured at specific log truck pass frequencies, and it was found compaction occurs primarily within the first 20 vehicle passes and then slowly increases to a much more stable and stiffer road surface over time. Rehabilitation of the roads was much easier and cheaper than for a metalled road, especially during the winter as the roads were permeable and able to diffuse water, reduce sedimentation and runoff, and resist mud punching.

The trial also investigated using 65mm crushed and 100mm crushed aggregate as a running coat on two of the roads and it was found that 100mm crushed performed better for aiding traction. Road metal punched down enough to embed in the wood and provide a denser, more stable interlocked road, while providing traction after wheel ruts on steep grades became too slippery from wear and introduction of mud after rainfall. Traction during rain events was satisfactory. Design elements to reduce mud being carried onto the running surface such as enough “running in” distance over flat ground with shredded wood prior to steeper grades worked effectively.

During the trials, Pan Pac Forest Products hosted a field trip for some 50 industry engineering, harvesting and environmental staff.

The visit sparked strong interest, and the approach has since been picked up by several forest management companies across the country as a practical way to address both high costs of aggregate and surplus woody residues.

The trials showed the importance of construction methods. Roller compaction made a clear difference, and Phase Two of the study will test roller compaction, shred depths, and the use of geotextiles to improve drainage. The next round of work aims to refine the technique and find the best balance between cost, durability and ease of use.

The approach offers a sustainable way to turn harvesting residues into a useful roading material, helping forestry operations reduce cost while easing the demand for roading aggregate, which is a scarce resource in some forests.

For more information contact Hamish Scown, Operations Technical Coordinator, Pan Pac Forest Products at: Hamish.Scown@panpac.co.nz NZL 6 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

Above: Joule Rd, Mohaka Bridge Block – Pan Pac Forest Products. Finished state of the road surface after 5,000 tonnes of stems were carted out by on-highway 18 metre stems trucks up to 50 tonnes GCW. Note the 65mm crushed aggregate added more recently to test viability in wet conditions.

Below: Joule Rd. Mohaka Bridge Block – Pan Pac Forest Products. Final preparatory work shaping ‘metalled’ road at 500mm depth of shredded wood. Grade was 11.5% off landing with no run up.

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forest talk

NZ forestry and wood sector takes centre stage in India NEW ZEALAND’S FORESTRY AND WOOD-PROCESSING SECTOR has taken centre stage during a highly successful trade mission to India, says Forestry Minister, Todd McClay.

He joined a delegation of 13 New Zealand companies to India in November to pursue new growth opportunities, strengthen market insights, and cement New Zealand’s reputation as a reliable, longterm supplier of premium wood products.

“This mission delivered the first tangible results under the Letter of Intent on Forestry Cooperation signed earlier this year,” Mr McClay says.

“It also gave our sector valuable first-hand understanding of India’s forestry policies and its fast-growing domestic market.”

Wood and wood products are already New Zealand’s largest goods export to India, worth NZ$134 million in the year to June 2025 and growing.

“While logs and pulp remain the backbone of current trade, the real opportunity lies in higher-value processed timber products that match India’s rapid urbanisation and emphasis on sustainable construction,” Mr McClay adds.

“This trip showcased our world-class premium timbers, cuttingedge processing technologies, and innovative value-added products.”

New Zealand will host a return Indian forestry delegation in February 2026 to build on this momentum and elevate the bilateral partnership.

The mission followed the recent visit to New Zealand by India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and underlines the Government’s commitment to a deeper, broader strategic relationship with India, says Mr McClay. NZL

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forest talk

Historic Waka shaped – in Omahuta Forest A WAKA HAS BEEN SHAPED IN THE FOREST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN almost a century in the Far North.

Bay of Islands hapū, Ngāti Rēhia, unveiled the newly carved waka, named ‘Hinepāpara’, which will now undergo sea trials before a launch early next year.

The hull has been designed for rivers, rather than open water, because it will be used mainly on Te Awa o Ngā Rangatira (‘the River of Chiefs’ or Kerikeri River).

Ngāti Rēhia leader, Kipa Munro, says the hull was cut and shaped in Ōmahuta Forest, where the kauri fell in a storm about a decade ago.

To the best of his knowledge, this had not happened in Northland – or possibly in the country – since the great waka ‘Ngātokimatawhaorua’ was shaped in neighbouring Puketi Forest in the 1930s.

Since that time, kauri logs had been removed whole from the forest, then shaped and carved in a workshop or boatbuilding yard.

Almost 300 people, including children from four local schools, attended the blessing and unveiling ceremony in the whare waka (waka shelter) directly across the river from Kerikeri’s historic Stone Store.

Lead builder, Billy Harrison, of Mangōnui says the waka is about 14 metres long, weighs roughly 1.2 tonnes and seats 24 kaihoe (paddlers).

“The special thing about this waka is that it’s one of the first times since Ngātokimatawhaorua that a waka like this has been cut out and honed inside the forest. We brought it out in three pieces, already rough-shaped into a hull.”

At 37 metres, Ngātokimatawhaorua is the world’s biggest waka in use, and was built from two kauri felled and shaped in Puketi Forest.

It was finished at Waipapa Landing, in Kerikeri Inlet, and paddled to Waitangi for the 1940 Treaty centennial commemorations.

He says working in the forest was challenging, but a great opportunity

A Kerikeri Primary School student hongis the freshly unveiled waka.

for learning: “We took a step back in time, we learnt a lot about how our tūpuna (ancestors) may have operated and the things they may have experienced, like the bugs that are around, the birds, things like that.”

The team worked alongside the Department of Conservation to prevent any spread of kauri dieback, and cleaned all their equipment any time they entered or left the forest.

The late Sir Hekenukumai Puhipi (Hec Busby), the country’s preeminent waka builder and navigator, had visited the downed kauri and deemed it suitable.

The decorative rauawa (side panels), taurapa (sternpost) and tauihu (prow) were carved by Renata Tane and Anthony Collins.

Tane says fitting the work around his other responsibilities had been “challenging, but awesome”.

“It’s monumental really,” he says. “It’s a dream of any carver to work on significant projects like waka and whare. It’s been an honour to be part of the process.” NZL

Hornet eradication efforts continue BIOSECURITY NEW ZEALAND IS continuing to ramp up its campaign to locate and eliminate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, following confirmed detections on Auckland’s North Shore.

Some 10 queen hornets, two workers, and seven nests have been successfully located and removed from the Glenfield and Birkdale areas.

“We’re laser-focused on our work to eradicate this hornet, guided by international best practice and expert advice,” says Mike Inglis, Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North.

A Technical Advisory Group (TAG), comprising independent scientific experts from countries that have successfully managed hornet incursions, is supporting the response. Their recommendations are shaping Biosecurity New Zealand’s strategy.

Key additional actions underway include: 8 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

• Extending trapping out to 5km, with a combination of carbohydrate and protein traps, with further extension as needed.

• Introducing advanced tracking technology from the Netherlands to trace hornets back to their nests.

• Hosting a specialist from the UK’s hornet response team to train staff and advise on programme delivery.

• Increasing staff on the ground to accelerate detection and removal.

Mr Inglis says the success of this response

is heavily reliant on the ongoing support of the public and key stakeholders.

“We are working closely and engaging regularly with the bee industry, horticulture and arable sector partners, regional councils and DOC on our response efforts.

“While these hornets have not been found anywhere else in New Zealand outside of the Glenfield and Birkdale areas to date, we need the public to keep being our eyes and reporting suspected finds of hornets or nests.” NZL

forest talk

200th machine for Finnish company BROTHERS, AKI AND KAI LAAJA, OWNERS OF TIMBER COMPANY, Metsä-Multia, which operates in Central Finland, recently took delivery of their 200th Ponsse forest machine. The company acquired its first Ponsse as early as 1987.

The new Ponsse Wisent forwarder at the company’s Vieremä factory has special anniversary stickers on its sides. The stickers were added to the machine in honour of Ponsse and Metsä-Multia’s long cooperation. The 200th Ponsse machine has also been given its own name, ‘Zazu’, in accordance with Metsä-Multia tradition.

“It’s important for us that the forest machines are highquality and can be trusted. Ponsse’s well-functioning service network in Finland and their spare parts service are also a significant factor for us. The machines must be serviced on time, and the spare parts available when they’re needed,” says Metsä-Multia CEO, Aki Laaja.

Ponsse’s Country Manager for Finland, Jani Liukkonen, adds, “Metsä-Multia’s 200th Ponsse machine milestone is a great way to celebrate Ponsse’s 55th anniversary year. Our cooperation has been good from the beginning, and we’d like to thank you for this great journey together.”

In addition to the 200th anniversary machine, another new machine, the Ponsse Bear, was delivered to the Metsä-Multia machine fleet, which was Ponsse machine order 199, bearing the name “Bulle”. NZL

DIAGNOSE • DESIGN • DELIVER

forest talk

Recognising leaders in industry SEVENTEEN WINNERS WERE CELEBRATED as the Central North Island Forestry industry recently came together for the Central North Island Forestry Awards.

Kaumātua Leo Rika (Ngāti Whakaue) opened the event with a karakia, creating a safe space for the event and welcoming the 360 guests in attendance.

Keynote speaker, Tania Tapsell, Mayor of Rotorua, congratulated the nominees and winners on their “outstanding achievements, representing the dedication, innovation and leadership that help grow a strong and sustainable forestry community”. She remarked on the importance forestry plays in the region and thanked everyone for their part in supporting the local economy.

Other local government representatives included Kawerau District Council’s Mayor Faylene Tunui and South Waikato District Councillor Thomas Lee. MC, Jackie Clarke, entertained throughout the evening, with banter, anecdotes and songs, including a cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Nina Simone’s Spell On You, given that the event coincided with Halloween.

With 44 nominees up for awards, 17 awards were presented on the night, recognising efforts from across the forestry supply chain.

These included: • Outstanding Environmental Leadership – Norbert Klien, Summit Forests NZ.

• Female in Forestry – Aroha Royal, Safe T Works.

• Hero of the Year – Gary Whittaker, Peacock Logging.

• Implementation of Innovative Technologies or Mechanical Solutions – Peter Phillips, Phillips Cartage Contractors.

• Apprentice of the Year – Charlie Moana, King Country Harvesting.

• Silviculture Excellence – Kaiyah Te Ahuru, Ruapehu Agricultural Development Services.

• Forest Service Excellence – Stu Billington, McFall Fuels.

• Forest Engineering Excellence – Jayde Cook, C&R Construction.

• Harvesting Excellence – Stevie Namara, G White Logging.

• Distribution Excellence – Josie Marenga Joseph, Claymark Group Partnership.

• Wood Processing & Manufacturing Excellence – Rajvir Singh, Claymark Group Partnership.

• Log Truck Driver Excellence – Sarah Hickman, Phillips Cartage Contractors.

• Log Processing Excellence – Shaun Kapene, FAST Harvesting.

• Trainee of the Year – Levi Casey, FAST Harvesting.

• Outstanding Regional Service Award – The New Zealand Timber Museum.

• Outstanding Health & Safety Award – Portia Alexander, Claymark Group Partnership.

• Good Deed Award – Clint Maxwell, G White Logging.

Central North Island Wood Council CEO, Damita Mita, thanked everyone for attending, saying, “Together, we’re building a safer, stronger and more connected forestry sector.” NZL

First Security’s Brian Switalla (right) presents Peacock Logging’s Gary Whittaker with his Hero of the Year award. “Gary’s courage and resilience in overcoming serious illness inspire everyone around him. Leading with strength and positivity, he fosters a supportive, safety-focused culture across his team,” say the judges.

Marking 70 years of infrastructure development NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST INDUSTRIAL property and construction company, Calder Stewart, is set for expansion into new economic sectors, including forestry and renewable energy generation, as it marks the 70th anniversary of its operations.

Founded in 1955 in Milton, Otago, by Bruce Stewart and Lance Calder, the privately owned firm has grown from a small rural builder into one of the country’s largest vertically integrated property and construction groups.

Calder Stewart Director of Property, Ben Stewart, says the company’s anniversary reflects both a legacy of entrepreneurship and an ambition to shape New Zealand’s industrial and energy future.

“This milestone isn’t just about looking back, it’s about the next chapter. We’re expanding our operations into renewable energy, forestry and capital markets. As a 10 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

private family business, we have the agility to pursue opportunities that deliver long-term value for New Zealand’s economy.”

Stewart Family Forests is one of New Zealand’s largest privately-owned forestry businesses, managing approximately 6,500 hectares of forestry across nine locations in Otago.

“We planted the first tree in 1979 and now plant around one million tree seedlings annually, growing our forestry at a rate of 5001,000 hectares per year,” he says.

“Our commitment to sustainable forestry practices includes active participation in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) alongside regular harvesting rotations. Our diverse portfolio includes trees as young as one year old and those up to 35 years and features a variety of species including Pine, Douglas Fir and Macrocarpa.

“With our forestry portfolio sequestering one tonne of carbon from the atmosphere every seven minutes, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable and valuable forestry legacy while actively combating climate change.”

Calder Stewart Executive Director representing the second generation of the family, Alan Stewart, says the company’s growth remains rooted in the same principles established seven decades ago: “My father and Lance were genuine entrepreneurs who took calculated risks and backed their people. That spirit still drives us. We’ve always believed in investing for the long term in our communities, our people and the infrastructure that keeps New Zealand moving.”

The 70-year celebration, held in Milton, brought together more than 500 staff and retirees from across New Zealand. NZL

ForestTECH 2025

ForestTECH speaker, David Herries, outlined a new application for tree thinning assessment: TreeTools AI. ​ Photo: Innovatek.

ForestTECH speaker, Brionny Hooper, provided practical insights from mechanised planting research trials and challenges. Photo: Innovatek.

“Think like a forest” ONCE AGAIN THE ANNUAL FORESTTECH 2025 CONFERENCE, HELD recently in Rotorua, drew interest from a wide audience, including young and experienced foresters and silviculture and mechanised planting specialists. As a technology event drawing forest management professionals across New Zealand and Australia, it attracts leaders in applied technologies for forest health surveillance, pre-harvest and thinning tools.

These rapidly developing systems bring leaps in productivity as they are interactive to suit forest manager needs. The new task-based applications are user-driven and designed, and are now strongly linked to digital mapping tools with real-time applications and AI to assist operators to carry on their operations.

This year’s programme highlighted the latest applications of these technologies and their impact on forest planning, productivity and climate resilience. Each session provided practical examples of innovation in action. Some case study highlights from conference speakers include: A new applied tool called TreeTools AI, was launched at ForestTECH 2025 by David Herries and his team from Interpine Innovations. He gave a case study on how this suite of artificial intelligence-driven tools is designed and applied to address and manage forest hindrance issues.

He highlighted practical outcomes from other applications including: • Automated Hindrance Detection: Utilises AI algorithms to process remote sensing data (such as LiDAR and satellite imagery) for the identification of physical barriers, such as dense undergrowth, windthrow, and inaccessible terrain, within forested areas.

• Operational Planning Support: Provides forest managers and planners with actionable insights by mapping and quantifying hindrances, thereby optimising access routes, harvesting operations and silvicultural treatments.

• Real-Time Monitoring: Integrates with field data collection tools to offer up-to-date information on changing forest conditions, enabling dynamic response to new or evolving hindrance factors.

• Risk Assessment: Assists in evaluating the potential impact of hindrances on forest productivity and safety, supporting proactive decision-making and risk mitigation strategies.

12 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

• Customisable Analytics: Offers tailored analysis modules to address specific management objectives, such as fire risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, or infrastructure development.

Brionny Hooper of Bioeconomy Sciences Institute in Christchurch summarised applied research for Forest Growers Research demonstrating that the M-Planter offers significant advantages in efficiency and labour reduction for forestry operations. While some limitations exist, particularly in difficult terrain, the technology represents a promising innovation for the industry.

She emphasised the need to “think like a forest” and treat the trial machine operators as system co-designers to make progress faster in the field. She said operators are the key to overcoming current challenges and to further optimise mechanised planting systems for New Zealand’s forests. She noted that operator training is essential to maximise machine performance and seedling survival.

In other applied research, Chris Campbell of Integral outlined the technical challenges in developing QR codes for reusing seedling planter boxes including: • Environmental Exposure: QR codes placed on planter boxes in forestry settings are exposed to weather, UV light, dirt, and physical abrasion, leading to fading, damage or loss of readability.

• Material Compatibility: Adhesion of QR stickers or print durability on wood, plastic, or metal planter boxes varies, impacting longterm scanning reliability.

• Scanning Difficulties: Inconsistent lighting conditions and surface irregularities can make it difficult for field staff to reliably scan codes using mobile devices.

Companies like Interpine Forestry, Integral, Forest Growers Research and many more are the leading platform for showcasing the tools and systems transforming the forest industry. The pace of technological advancement continues to accelerate, reshaping how forests are measured, monitored and managed. From remote sensing and digital management platforms to precision forestry, automation, and real-time sustainability tools, the innovations featured at ForestTECH 2025 continue to enhance operational efficiency, safety and environmental performance. NZL

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Residues2Revenues 2025

Turning wood into energy JUST PRIOR TO FORESTTECH 2025, THE INNOVATEK TEAM delivered their largest and most comprehensive conference of 2025, combining the long-standing Residues2Revenues Conference with the inaugural Bioeconomy Innovations Conference. Close to 300 delegates were on hand to see the latest innovations and technologies for extracting energy and value from wood fibres.

With over 32 speaker presentations from a range of local experts and overseas innovators, delegates were also full of questions during the 16 Question & Answer Panel sessions over the two days of the conference, also held in Rotorua.

Forestry Minister, Todd McClay, opened the conference remotely, saying Government has a significant role to play in supporting the transition to high value future products with 1.8 million hectares of production forest to “turn sunlight into wood”.

He said the goal is to restore confidence and certainty in forestry and support future investment, to achieve and create jobs and to move the country up the export change.

Of course there are challenges involved, including closure of plants and the flow on effects. “Commercial decisions need practical action to support growth and resilience, with global wood use predicted to increase significantly over next two decades,” he said, he added that Government’s role is to support the sector and

help accelerate those high vale products “without cumbersome red tape”, making investing in New Zealand easier.

Ultimately, he said, “we value what you do” and Government’s intention is to generate jobs and economic growth while helping reach New Zealand’s climate change goals.

Conference delegates were also treated to the launch of a new Government “Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan” by Minister for Energy, Simon Watts.

Coinciding with the two conference was the official launch of the $63 million research factory processing biowaste into chemicals, glues and bioplastics which will turbocharge the biotechnology sector when it opens in Rotorua next year. The biofactory will be a commercial-scale facility that will transform low-value wood, food waste and animal products into high-value ingredients, which its promoters say will change industries and create new ones.

The factory is to be built on the Rotorua Campus of the Bioeconomy Science Institute. The facility is charged with two main research aims – identifying opportunities in the wood fibre, pulp, biopolymer, packaging and biochemical industries and from its biomass side stream, and increasing New Zealand’s energy security through the use of forest and waste biomass for bioenergy. NZL

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Iron Test

f o y m r An a

Story & photos: Tim Benseman

Operator, Matt, shovelling with the Hitachi ZX400L-7G at Havard Logging’s Masterton operation.

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Havard Logging’s Health and Safety and Training Manager, Mike Bradley, with operator, Matt and the first Hitachi ZX400L-7G in the world.

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.

He says at the top of his list of favourite things about the Hitachis are reliability, cost-effectiveness and performance.

Gavin started out at Havard Logging straight from school in 1985 and along with his wife, Donna, bought the company in 2021. With a fleet of 18 Hitachis (23 if including subcontractors) it’s fair to say Havard Logging runs the Hitachi Army across their six crews with a total of 36 staff including office staff and two mechanics.

We’re here today to test the 400L-7G with its Pro Steel 1800 grapple and a live heel. The second 400L-7G Gavin ordered will get a Satco felling head.

It is years since we have tested a Hitachi and, on arrival, the 400L7G is dressed to impress with a new, stronger and more efficient engine, next-larger-class undercarriage components including carrier rollers and track motors, plus a higher track frame. But more about that later.

The dirt here is unusual. It is a good base. Where machines have tracked on it repeatedly there is a mild amount of mud developing but, for the most part, this ground is really good to work on. It looks like it has a layer of course volcanic ash or fine scoria, similar to Northern Kaingaroa but also mixed in with some clay patches.

Havard Logging are shovel loggers and all the Hitachi 400’s have live heels.

The best guess as to why is the terrain. It obviously suits groundbased but with short steep pinches there is a fair bit of area

where a skidder might struggle. Short enough steep pinches for an excavator of the 400 class to pass them through though, so an excellent choice of extraction machine for the terrain.

Improvements galore Back to that undercarriage. Starting at the bottom there are thickened plates, the top and bottom rollers are from a 500 weight class machine (both end-supported) as are the track links and side track

Health and Safety and Training Manager, Mike Bradley, Owner, Gavin Wilson, and operator, Matt, with the first-in-the-world ZX400L-7G.

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Above: The extra boom piping that impressed operator, Matt.

Right: The Pro Steel 1800 grapple and live heel in dig mode.

Far right: Operator, Matt, is impressed with the increased power and speed of the ZX400L-7G. frames. The height of the track frames has also been raised for higher rigidity and there are idler brackets, shoe guides and upper and lower roller brackets to further increase durability and operational strength. The track motor guarding is now made from 12mm plate with a block bar to increase protection.

Moving to the boom there is a factory high lift bracket to increase loading height.

In the cab we have some obvious ergonomic improvements to get things more at your fingertips. Revs, climate control and sounds are all within easy reach of the right-hand joystick.

Inspecting the specs there is a good selection of alarms for the really important stuff i.e., engine overheat and low oil pressure, but also alarms for hydraulic filter restrictions and air filter restrictions.

A much better idea than just having a visual warning on the monitor which you’re not going to be looking at if you’re in the flow of shovelling in steep hill country on slippery ground.

The eight inch screen is 42% bigger than the 5G series machine and, being low reflective, it is easier to read and navigate.

The pilot shutoff lever has also been improved to allow easier locking and unlocking with wrist operation.

Heading to the hydraulic pump bay, there are two variable displacement axial piston pumps side by side rather than endstacked. These produce 288 litres a minute of flow each and the 340 litre hydraulic system volume seems like a legit amount to keep things running cool through the easy to clean, tool – less maintenance oil cooler. The slew runs at 10.7 RPM with a swing torque of 120kNm That bigger, more efficient engine is Isuzu’s 7.8 litre 6HK1, which is based on a previous trusted and reliable model but with improvements to longevity and fuel efficiency. That’s now putting out 200kw or 268HP at 1900rpm gross and is protected by the ConSite oil alarm which detects if the oil has been contaminated or has reduced viscosity – if this occurs the owner gets an alert.

Hitachi has fine-tuned its hydraulic pump controls to match this improved engine. A solenoid valve mounted on the hydraulic system further controls the flow rate to reduce unnecessary load on the engine.

Operator, Matt, shovelling up to the processor with the ZX400L-7G.

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Above from left: The corner post and tool box built by Pro Steel Engineering, Hamilton; The view from the operator’s seat; Operator, Matt, shovels up to the processor with the ZX400L-7G. Saving time and effort Operator, Matt, started out in the industry planting and pruning and had a mate in logging so he got a poleman job in 1995. He then bought a chainsaw and went on the skid doing skid work “for donkey’s years” then went on to breaking out and did his felling tickets. He arrived at Havard when current owner, Gavin Wilson, was the loader driver in an EX300-1 high cab.

“Gavin used to go make phone calls,” Matt says… “He would rush over to his wagon and go off and make phone calls because he’s the boss. I used to jump in the loader and put logs away and then Gavin would come back in his ute and the boys would be saying, ‘You’re gonna get in trouble’ and sure enough he would be growling me, ‘Get the F&#... What the F&# are you doing? Get outta there!’ But after six or seven times of that happening he would say, ‘I’m going to make some phone calls, just jump in that loader’ and before long I was full time loader operator.”

Matt says Havard’s mechanic asked for the cab roof to be painted white to deflect heat during summer: “It actually stops a heap of heat going in there which is nice. The centrifuge air pre cleaner is a good move by Hitachi too, so you don’t have to tip the bowl out all the time.”

When asked about logging life with a live heel, Matt says he wouldn’t be without one: “Ever since I’ve been at Havards I’ve only ever run one machine without a heel and it was just a temporary machine. It just makes the job so much quicker and easier.

“Pushing in tracks, pushing yourself up hills, it’s great. You don’t have to have a little bucket machine following you around to put in

your tracks and it’s a safety thing too as you work around the cut over.

If the machine slides, the heel acts like a brake – like a rudder on a boat you can steer yourself with it so it’s heaps better.

“All of our machines have got heels. You don’t need a bulldozer to push your smaller road lining skids in. Just scrape a small flat spot off for the digger and stack the wood on the hill. It makes life heaps better. I definitely wouldn’t want to work without a heel… it’s just amazing. With handling logs, if you need to reverse the direction of stems you just pick it up, slew around and dump it and done. Saves heaps of time and effort.”

Matt says Pro Steel Engineering, which is based in Hamilton and specialises in forestry guarding packages and attachments, did a good job on the extra piping on the boom too. “It’s probably the smartest looking pipe work I’ve seen on a digger. All clean and easy to get to, very tidy. Nothing crossing over too many times, lots of joins so if you did get a hole in a pipe it’s not a hassle to put it in a ute, take it to town and get it welded up and ready for the next day’s work. This machine has Pro Steel’s side door guarding package with a purposebuilt cab. Heavy folded 8mm steel doors guard key components onboard, and an added top rail protects the upper machine deck from branches.

“The good thing about the Hitachi 400’s is that a lot of them get up around 20,000 hours and they’re still on their first engine. Maybe the odd pump has been done but in general these big Hitachis last forever.”

Below from left: The hydraulic pump and filter bay; The fire extinguisher, air filter and cooling bay; The 42% larger screen is super clear and easy to navigate; The white-out roof with the two shielded squares covering the GPS tracker and ConSite oil monitoring system.

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EST EST 1909 1909 |TO CALL WWW.SHAWS.CO.NZ JONNY EDWARDS 021 944 894 THE THE SUPPLIER SUPPLIER NEW TO NEW ZEALAND ZEALAND HEAVY HEAVY INDUSTRY INDUSTRY

December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 19

Far left: The Hitachi centrifuge for cleaner air.

Left: The Isuzu engine bay.

Above both photos: The recessed lights are a slick move by Pro Steel Engineering.

Mindful driving Matt’s job is 100% shovelling and he says it is a dream job except in winter: “It must be more than 10 years since our Madill 009 closed down operations, so yeah I’ve been shovelling full time since then. We generally shovel out to 350 or 400 metres to each skid and we do the whole forest like this. It works good.

We usually do about 10 or 15 loads a day.

Like many forestry companies, Havard Logging utilises ERoad for its commercial vehicle fleet for various reasons.

Havard Logging’s Health and Safety and Training Manager, Mike Bradley, says on this current block the local farmer flagged him down on Day 3 of the job and complimented the crew on their good driving performance.

“Part of that is due to ERoad which brings a safety aspect to driving on sometimes less than ideal rural roads, and also in town where it reminds us about speed zones, cornering etc to help reduce accidents. There have also been a few incidents where ERoad has been able to verify our speed when an impact with a wild pig, for example, took place on a forest road. The data from ERoad meant we could show the insurance company an effort was made to stop before the collision.”

The Pro Steel 1800 grapple weighs in at 1350kgs with a max opening of 1800mm and clamps down to 195mm. The grapple ram is 4.5 inch and is heavy-duty with a half inch walled cylinder. The guarding package including grapple and live heel and purpose-built cab adds five tonnes to the machines weight, taking it to 45,000kg.

Computer modelling done by Pro Steel ensures accurate live heel and grapple geometry, ensuring that working machine strength and reach parameters are maximised. That seems to be working great for Havard Logging.

Operator, Matt, is enjoying the Hitachi ZX400L-7G.

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THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN A Masterton forest and the sticks here are impressive. Plenty of height, straight and great pruned butts. Wind damage is scarce.

The forest owner will be happy with this crop.

There is some lively banter on the RT as we close in on the skid and park up. There are orange machines everywhere. We’ll call this the Hitachi Army. Tucked in behind the skid, regular operator, Matt, is shovelling stems the last step up to the processor, so we don’t have to trudge too far for a look.

The ZX400L-7G is a substantial beast.

There aren’t a lot of 40 tonners shovelling around New Zealand these days, so it’s a pleasure to get into one. We throw open the doors first and see a bag of dog tucker.

Hmm, that can’t be right. Matt steps forward to remove it from the approaching photo.

“Sorry, that’s my trash control bag. It’s a good waterproof and grease proof bag so all my empty grease cartridges go in there.”

What a great idea. After all the risqué banter on the RT, these guys are actually carefully concealing hearts of gold.

Everything looks well-guarded and built for the job. The safety rails around the bonnet are sectional which is handy for minimising damage and for swift repairs or replacement.

The lights are discreetly placed to avoid damage and Matt says these are the best lights he has ever had on a machine; reckons

it’s like a UFO it’s so powerful. Good to know. There are some extra covered comms squares on the roof, one of which is ConSite which Matt says communicates with Hitachi and the machine owner to alert them if the machine has walked too far, how many hours it’s done and when it’s due a service.

It’s a long way up to the cab but the benefits of that height are worth the climb – that is abundantly clear. Matt has kept the cab spotless and uses the boot drawer and helmet drawer below the cab to help achieve this. The Hitachi has a pattern changer behind the left joystick which is super handy and much appreciated (apparently I run controls the “wrong way” and Matt has noticed).

The live heel control is on the left joystick as a rocker switch. It’s my first time using a live heel so I run it through the motions and can see what a game changer it is as a skid brake and digging tool and for stiff arming a whole stem – it means you can really take control and not have to multigrip the stem to get it around to where it needs to be.

Excellent for these short, sharp gullies and long stems. That live heel is built like a tank too with good inch thick steel plate. There is a multifunction button for when somebody calls you on the RT – this turns the music and the engine revs down at the same time and when you hit your controls again those go back up to where you left off.

Iron Tester, Tim Benseman.

Smooth and stable From the first slew around to grab a grapple full of three big trees my first comment is Nice… No, fu*%n beautiful. More than enough power and speed, along with impressive stability and smoothness.

This machine is smooth and it’s quick to get the feel of it – and the grapple suits it well. The rotator is crisp and responsive too, so it’s very quick to get the hang of and pick up three fat stems. The grapple fits nicely around the logs as well. Definitely well made. The maximum reach is a conservative 9.4 metres and that feels right for long-term durability. Both the cab and the engine are isolation-mounted which explains the smooth, cruisy, vibrationfree operation in this cab. It’s almost like you’re operating it remotely, which is highly beneficial for operator longevity.

She is super stable on the ground and doesn’t rock when the stems lift off the ground.

Having a mighty 8.4 tonnes of counterweight and a high and wide undercarriage will do that for you.

Above (from left): Owner Gavin Wilson, Health and Safety and Training Manager, Mike Bradley and skiddy/QC Jimmy.

Main: Operator, Matt, shovelling with his co-worker in the cut over near Masterton.

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IFICATION

SPEC S

HITACHI ZX400L-7G/PRO STEEL 1800 GRAPPLE AND LIVE HEEL – SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE Isuzu 6HK1. 7.8 Litre Six cylinder intercooled turbo diesel 200KW /268HP Power 1069Nm Max Torque 115mmx125mm Bore and Stroke HYDRAULIC SYSTEM Main Pumps Pilot Pump Swing speed Swing Torque

2x 288L/Min axial piston type 30.2L/Min Gear type 10.7RPM 120kNm

UNDERCARRIAGE 500 weight class track chains and track motors Tractive Effort

Pro Steel added an extra 800kg to the standard Hitachi counterweight along with belly protection, cat walks, the side guard rails, and a tool box plus some fire extinguisher brackets and a ram guard. They also fitted a powerpack and ram for the cab door, a purpose-built cab and anti-scratch for the marguarding.

Track power is responsive at 322Kn, and smooth. That’s definitely a recurring theme

Max travel speed Ground Clearance

4.8kph 765mm

REFILL CAPACITIES (LITRES) Fuel Coolant Engine Oil Hydraulic System Hydraulic Tank

630 41 41 340 180

DIMENSIONS (MM) Width Cab Height Overall Length

3670 3680 11,001

322kN

with this machine. Smooth and powerful and, as Gavin says, Hitachis are reliable that’s why he keeps buying them. I reach over to the pile and grab another few stems and it just floats them around nicely and into the stack for the processor. Plenty of speed and power there to the point you do have to govern it a little bit to check you aren’t dragging the stem into the corner post.

It’s good to have power in reserve when

handling big stems like this. And Matt did say this new model has heaps more grunt and speed than the previous machine, which is what you need when you run into a tough spot and need to power through it with a grapple full of logs. Hats off to these guys who possess a relatively unique skillset as full-time shovel loggers. It’s a dream job and the Hitachi 400L-7G is a dream machine to do it in. NZL

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9/05/2024 2:15:16 PM

Women in Forestry

ON HARD WORK AND CONNECTION Story: Dawn Adams

Photos: Cherie Rangiahua

Cherie Rangiahua in a Ngāti Pikiao Forest.

26 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

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HERIE RANGIAHUA’S FORESTRY history dates back to her greatgrandfather, Hamuera Rangiahua. He worked for the Fletcher Timber Company, which would later become Fletcher Challenge in Ruatāhuna.

Her father, Lucky Rangiahua, shared stories of carrying his father’s gas tin for him as an eight-year-old, starting his own forestry journey.

Lucky’s official career began as a forest worker in Tasman. When that role was made redundant, he used the payout to set up on his own. He had a production logging crew in Kaingaroa and Minginui for many years.

Cherie started helping out her dad’s crew during intermediate school – around 1991-93 – first with a tomahawk, delimbing the trees on landing, working her way up to swinging an axe and then log-making with a chainsaw.

It was a family-run business, she says: “There was my brother, my mum, myself, and my younger sister came along later. We also hired a lot of relatives in Murupara and Ruatāhuna. So anywhere between eight to 10 people.”

Cherie started formal training with her dad’s team in 1996. She learned how to use each type of machinery, including doing maintenance at weekends: “Bell Loaders, John Deere Skidders… anything and everything really.”

Production thinning was a big part of the process at the time: “Back in those days, you did a lot of ultra-high pruning. And you would get this extra value out of the log, so you could sell them on the export market. It was a real big moneymaker.”

In 1998 she began her New Zealand Diploma in Forest Management at Rotorua’s Waiariki Institute of Technology.

Upskilling and educating herself have always been important to Cherie, but she says nothing can replace time spent in the forest: “Those early years, that’s where it was instilled in me, to learn a good skill set – basic knowledge that you don’t learn in a classroom.”

Kaingaroa village, the first job she got without her dad’s help. It started out as holiday work while she studied until her bosses persuaded her to go full-time.

“I gave up studies for a bit there just to make a bit of money,” she says.

Cherie credits her work ethic as coming from being part of the family crew. Everywhere she went, it was appreciated and rewarded, she says. She also knew that as a female, she needed to keep up with – or ahead of – the boys to be successful.

“You know, my dad was a pretty hard boss.

As long as you did your work and did it to a high standard, he pretty much left you alone.”

There was more learning for Cherie around

the different wood qualities, understanding stress fractures and what causes stress for timber. Her logging experience gave her an edge in machining. She knew which pieces were worth the effort and which to throw away.

She continued to be popular with bosses: “They kept offering me work. And I could operate all the machinery and vehicles. That was pretty rare for a female.”

Cherie left this role to work for Forest and Woodlot Inventory Services – initially as an off-sider collecting data for pre-harvest inventory and scaling at log yards. She eventually made team lead, running a crew of four.

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Above: The Waiariki Institute of Technology Forest Management Diploma brochure featuring Cherie.

Below: One of the last trucks from the Rangiahua family business.

Spreading horizons with a woman’s touch The Asian market crash of 1998 led to the family business folding. Cherie’s dad found work at Waipa Timber – the site now run by Red Stag.

Cherie was still studying and learning sawmilling alongside – getting her tickets for planting, pruning, forest business costings and forest management: “That was pretty complementary to my skill set, giving me the bigger picture of the forestry industry.”

In 2000 she took a job at KLC processing in December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 27

Women in Forestry

In 2003, Cherie went on a working holiday in the UK which she says gave her a huge appreciation of her Māori culture, heritage and connection to the whenua. She also learned to appreciate the work opportunities she had experienced in New Zealand that were less available there.

“Just being in a country that enables women to do what they want to do, whereas other countries don’t as much,” she says.

Australia gave her a similar experience.

She was told women weren’t to lift in excess of 15kg: “In New Zealand, it’s just normal.

That was a bit of a culture shock.”

She was homesick for New Zealand and the timber industry: “So I ended up in

another role in a sawmill.”

Commenting on the difference between the industry in the two countries, Cherie says, “I’d say New Zealand was a little bit ahead in regards to Health and Safety at that time.” So she started adopting knowledge and practices she’d learned back home.

This proactive attitude meant she was put forward for team leader.

During her time in Adelaide, she had a runin with the son of a gang member who was being unsafe. Both father and son worked at the sawmill. She shares, “I wasn’t too fussed. Growing up in New Zealand, we have gangs. I ended up slapping his ears. Just a little tickle.”

Next day, the father came to work, and his son pointed out Cherie. “He came over and said, ‘Did you hit my boy?’ I said, ‘Well, your boy needed it; he needs to get his finger out of his ass – he’s being unsafe around machinery’. His dad saw how small I was compared to his son and said, ‘I’ll sort him out’.” She had no trouble after that, and she’d gained the respect of the whole team.

MPI and mantras A visit from her dad brought Cherie back to New Zealand. He’d secured a contract to provide labour to Red Stag Timber.

Coming back to work for her father, Cherie did a degree in computing and a post-grad in resource management during any spare time.

After graduating she went on to work for the Ministry of Primary Industries in the forestry sector. Here she was, “utilising all my skill set, my knowledge that I’d gained thus far to engage with different groups… the small landowner, pine forester, right up to your big forests… and also Māori entities”.

Cherie shares a mantra that underpins her work engaging with these different entities: “Are you going to be a hōhā (nuisance) or a

Top left: In Cherie Rangiahua’s current role at Whenua Oro, “everyone’s opinion is valued”.

Top right: Collecting imagery with a drone.

Left: Career day at a Whakatāne school with Te Uru Rākau – MPI. 28 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

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Women in Forestry

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koha (gift)?” She’s passed this philosophy on to her own team, other teams and government colleagues too, phrased as, “Choose your ‘ha’ ”.

In other words, she believes she has a choice to be useful to whoever her audience is and engage with them or be difficult and add pressure where it’s not needed.

As part of her MPI role, Cherie sat on a lot of industry boards; the Central North Island Wood Council is one she is a current member of. Tools for Forests is another – made up of government and industry. “They do a lot of innovative drone remote-sensing information dissemination,” she says.

Other groups are the environmental forum group for small and large forest owners, and Ngā Pou a Tāne – the National Māori Forestry Agency. She is also a member of a few local marae trusts.

The 1998 Asian market crash had a huge impact on Cherie. She realised, “You can’t put all your eggs in one basket. I saw that very early on.”

She knew it was important to constantly look at other markets and “diversify while you’re doing your core business, provide other services and products as well”.

It’s clear Cherie’s in a good place in life and her career. She hasn’t been 100% happy with some of the practices during her time in forestry, though.

The treatment of contractors compared to the big corporate companies is something she’s glad has improved. And the inequity of management picking crews based on personal relationships rather than merit she found frustrating: “In certain circumstances, 30 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

it can still be that way today.”

Another challenge is regulation: “Whether it’s the Emissions Trading Scheme or land-use restrictions. These are each very impactful on your general landowner. Which adds stresses on smaller contractors. Government tampering is a big one.”

Cherie believes governments should be looking beyond their term in power with legislation.

Forestry’s future For Cherie, the future of the industry is “pretty exciting”.

In her current roles with Ngahere Oho, a partnership between Whenua Oho and Interpine Innovation, she gets to see the tech Interpine is using. Along with AI for remote sensing and drones for imagery, they have access to the latest Planet Labs, which gives up to a 10-centimetre resolution using satellite imagery, she says. This allows them to monitor trees remotely – from seedling to maturity – and see any change in topography.

She sees AI being used – more than boots on the ground – for the higher health and safety risk manual measurements, allowing for remote sensing measurements of trees and cut-over assessments: “In looking at using geographic information systems (GIS) to do planning and mapping and erosion assessments, and modelling, that sort of stuff.

“And robotics on the steeper, more remote pieces of land, along with unmanned vehicles… taking that risk out of the equation.”

Looking back on her 30-plus years in forestry, Cherie’s faced challenges as a

female in a logging team and later in the boardroom.

“I definitely had to work my way through issues a lot of females would have come across, especially out in the forest. There were no toilets back then.”

She’s dealt with the assumptions and stereotypes – when she’s the only female in the boardroom – that she’s there to take notes or make the coffee.

“Working through that has made me who I am today, just having perseverance and knowing when to stand your ground and when not to. It’s been a learning curve for sure.”

She values her woman’s perspective. Her ability to multitask has helped her succeed when some might not, she says. She puts some of that down to coming from a big Māori family that worked together to support each other.

Overcoming obstacles has helped her build resilience, which is “something you can’t find in a book”.

“There’s a place for women in forestry. We look at the detail in more detail. We tend not to waste time because time is very precious.”

There’s a strong sense that Cherie enjoys lifting others up – that includes mentoring other wāhine in forestry. Female diploma students have approached her for help: “They’re just not getting responses from job applications, ‘no one’s looking at my CV, what do I need to do?’”

She gives them the time they need and the boost of confidence to keep at it. She says she sees it as giving back to the industry that’s supported her.

2

Proudly Māori and mother of three Asked what career moment she’s most proud of, Cherie says, “I guess all of it, I’m pretty proud of; coming from Murupara right up until now as Director of Forestry for Whenua Oho.” In her current role, Cherie works with Māori entities, “looking at the parcels of land that are being underutilised. They’re doing nothing or earning nothing”.

She and her team consider how to free up access to whenua, learning what the landowner wants to do with it, planting “natives, exotics, or it could be something else… conservation, re-vegetation”.

In some cases, land has sat empty and unutilised, in others, it’s leased to farmers and barely covers the rates. The team helps landowners realise its potential.

Cherie’s also a proud solo mum: “I’ve got three. My daughter’s 14, and I have two sons, a 12-year-old and an eight-year-old.”

The tamariki have been involved with a few of her work projects. At MPI she was part of the Trees in Schools programme, which took her around the North Island delivering trees to schools. She took her younger kids along for the ride.

A year later, she returned to check on the trees. She shares that her kids, “used to call it the tree-counting ice cream tour. Every time we went out and counted trees, they knew that they were getting ice cream afterwards”.

She says her kids love her drone work, too.

Technology is definitely something they’d consider as a career, she says.

Being a wahine Māori has opened up opportunities for Cherie. Being seen as

3

an expert in her field by “providing Māori landowners with informed guidance on their whenua”.

She says helping them to connect with the whenua has been particularly rewarding for her.

Cherie says that she has supportive male mentors and bosses, Te Kapunga Dewes and Mike King, who have coached her. She works in a team who are all equal. The balance of female and male opinions is valued, along with everyone in the room’s feedback – whether they are the CEO or a staff member, she adds.

“That mentorship, knowing that you’re female, you’re also Māori, and you’re a solo mum, and enabling you to do your mahi the way that you feel comfortable is just amazing”. NZL

1: Cherie Rangiahua with colleagues, Kanapu Rangitauira (left) and Te Kapunga Dewes (right), at the national kapa haka festival Te Matatini.

2: Being a wahine Māori has opened up opportunities for Cherie.

3: A Trees for Schools event at Horohoro School, Rotorua, with Te Uru Rākau – MPI. 4: Cherie and her son at the Matariki Tu Rākau, Te Uru Rākau MPI community tree-planting programme.

4

December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 31

Special Feature: Disaster Response

FROM DISASTER RESPONSE TO RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE Story: Sarah Cameron, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

I

T’S NO SECRET THAT IN EARLY 2023, New Zealand was hit by two separate extreme weather events: the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. These extraordinary events caused widespread, catastrophic flooding across large parts of the North Island, including Hawke’s Bay. In response, Government committed funding to clean up, rebuild and aid longterm recovery and protection. This funding was directed towards initiatives responding to what the government coined ‘NIWE’ – North Island Weather Events.

It included two national funding packages: an immediate $883 million to make urgent infrastructure repairs, assist with temporary 32 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

accommodation, and provide business and community support; and $941 million for the NIWE Response and Recovery.

Confronted with widespread damage, community displacement, and urgency from both the government and residents, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) had to pivot rapidly, moving from a disaster response to a long-term recovery and resilience building strategy.

The scale and pace required for delivery were unprecedented in the council’s history, necessitating a complete transformation in how it planned, procured and implemented infrastructure projects.

While large metropolitan council organisations deliver capital works to the

tune of around $100 million a year, the challenge facing HBRC was how to deliver the $250 million infrastructure package in a four-year window - when historically the organisation had an annual spend on capital works of between $1m and $10m.

Cyclone Gabrielle may have tested the region’s limits, but the response has proven its resilience – and its improved readiness for whatever comes next.

Enter IPMO To meet the challenge, HBRC established a dedicated Infrastructure Programme Management Office (IPMO) to oversee the delivery of the government’s investment.

“The IPMO was borne out of that rapid

Left: Cyclone Gabrielle testing the region’s limits in Pākōwhai.

Above: HBRC Regional Asset Manager, Jon Kingsford.

Right: HBRC Regional Projects Manager, Andrew Caseley.

rebuild phase, when we turned our focus from repairing existing flood mitigation assets to designing and building new ones for the new NIWE programme,” says HBRC Regional Asset Manager, Jon Kingsford, IPMO’s creator and first NIWE Programme Director.

“From HBRC’s perspective, we were embarking on a programme whose scale was unknown to the organisation.

“Before Cyclone Gabrielle, we had a capital delivery team of only five. Immediately following the cyclone we completed a lot of very fast paced work we dubbed ‘Rapid Rebuild’.

The IPMO is part of HBRC’s Asset Management Group and its set up was swift; 20 positions were mobilised in four months, a new structure and new processes stood up, a dedicated project management tracking software tool implemented, all helped by consultancy firm BECA, brought in to ensure the right systems were in place.

From Wairoa in the north to Pōrangahau in the south, NIWE funding in Hawke’s Bay was destined for a range of practical and wide-

ranging projects: new flood infrastructure builds, upgrades of existing flood assets, repairs and improvements to pump stations, smarter telemetry installations, and reinforcements of stopbanks – the steady, methodical business of making communities safer and more resilient to future floods.

The new flood infrastructure builds which HBRC has been tasked to deliver are in communities that were directly impacted by the government’s Land Categorisation process, which identified the requirement for flood resilience structures to make them safer to continue to live in: Wairoa, Whirinaki, Waiohiki, Pākōwhai, Ōhiti Rd, Havelock North and Pōrangahau.

These NIWE projects are co-funded by the Regional Council and the Crown, except for Wairoa, whose $70 million project budget is 100% Government funded.

With a large programme of work about to land, Mr Kingsford knew he would need to create a multi-disciplinary office. After much research, the programme management office model was settled on as the most appropriate, a business case presented to councillors and the green light received.

“The key driver for implementing an IPMO,” he says, “was to create a single, integrated structure to enable the successful delivery

of a myriad of projects simultaneously.”

Essentially, the IPMO houses a team, the primary focus of which was the successful delivery of the $250m NIWE flood resilience programme that includes 11 projects, with nine of these construction projects of varying sizes.

“We had projects identified by the government and funding approved. We knew we’d need a dedicated and experienced team of skilled project managers, financial and programme controls specialists, communications and engagement, procurement, land access experts, and engineers, however the existing teams within HBRC were at capacity already. There was a risk to delivery if we didn’t augment our resources,” Mr Kingsford says.

Down to work Andrew Caseley is HBRC’s Manager Regional Projects and is now heading up the IPMO. He has more than 30 years’ senior executive experience including large project and programme management experience and was a former Chief Executive of HBRC for 13 years. He says the work programme is complex, with many pressures applied both internally and externally, and the added challenge of running so many projects and project parts in parallel.

December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 33

Special Feature: Disaster Response

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Clean up was a daunting task.

“The IPMO was set up with a view to deliver these NIWE projects over a fouryear period, which is in itself challenging.

We’re moving at pace because of the cost escalation risks and the expectations from both our communities and our Crown funding partners, however a large part of our programme risk is land access and that is something that takes time – but unfortunately, we don’t have that luxury,” he says.

“In saying that, we are meeting these challenges, and the programme is on track. One of our new builds in Waiohiki – a one-kilometre stopbank – has diggers on the ground and work is underway. It’s immensely pleasing that we are working through the complexities successfully.

“A major part of that success is the IPMO’s ability to co-ordinate and manage the relationships between consultants, engineering teams, contractors, iwi partners and central government agencies.”

He adds that a key priority is ensuring that the NIWE programme aligns with community needs while also incorporating more resilient design principles to mitigate future climate risks wherever feasible. He points out that the physical work revolves around the government’s Land Categorisation process, which identified vulnerable communities post-Cyclone Gabrielle.

“The reality is that there are a lot of other areas in the region that may have similar flood-prone issues, but the funding is very specific for HBRC to deliver infrastructure solutions that will change these land categorisations and build resilience in 34 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

these communities who were very hard-hit in Gabrielle. It’s part of the bigger picture of improved flood resilience for our region.”

As well as the pace of work, Caseley identifies other risks that need careful mitigation: constructability, the need to work around publicly owned and existing assets, resourcing and budgetary pressures.

“HBRC has historically built stopbanks in the region, but this is impractical in some areas because of the property access issues and cost impacts. Pākōwhai and Pōrangahau are good examples of this, where we’ve had to move away from considering solely stopbank solutions and look at sheet-piling and other floodwall structures.

“We’re also working within the region’s natural features of braided rivers and publicly owned assets like local and NZTA road networks and bridges, particularly in Ōhiti and Whirinaki. In the latter we’re working with NZTA on raising part of State Highway 2. It’s complex and definitely a learning process for all parties.”

Resourcing has also presented a significant hurdle, both in terms of skilled labour and materials. The IPMO adopted a procurement strategy early on that includes a pre-qualified supplier panel to streamline procurement and reduce lead times.

There are close and collaborative working relationships with other councils in Hawke’s Bay including Hastings District, Wairoa District and Central Hawke’s Bay District Councils, where information, resources and expertise are shared. While engineers are plentiful both in-house and in consultancies, Mr Caseley has identified

one discipline hugely valued but which he says is “a disappearing breed”.

“Specialist river engineering is a skill set that is disappearing and is an issue going forward for regional councils across the country. River engineers make their careers in how rivers best convey flood flows, which obviously is of high value in the world we’re operating in.”

18

Double-edged sword How this quarter of a billion-dollar programme is paid for is also multi-faceted.

While the NIWE programme is co-funded by the Crown, HBRC takes the risk of any programme overruns.

“This is not a place we want to be,” says Mr Caseley. “Council must cover 100% of any programme budget overruns and that will create an increased debt burden for current and future ratepayers. We simply don’t want that to happen.”

Now the IPMO is two years into its work, the NIWE programme is on track, but the pressure is on to secure access to land, put project contracts out to market and to bring communities along in support, as resilience is built back into once-decimated neighbourhoods.

The IPMO has redefined what’s possible for a regional council under pressure.

Whether it evolves, dissolves, or transforms into something new, its impact will endure in the strengthened infrastructure, empowered communities, and the institutional knowledge now embedded within HBRC. First published in AsiaPacific Infrastructure, September 23, 2025. NZL

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your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

INNOVATION IN FORESTRY: A CONTRACTOR’S VIEW

BY NICK TOMBLESON, FICA CHAIR What does innovation look and feel like from the contractor’s side? What’s working, where are the challenges, and what can we do to make progress easier and more effective? FICA Chair, Nick Tombleson, recently spoke at the Forest Growers Research (FGR) Conference in October 2025. His session “Innovation in Forestry: A Contractor’s View” was an opportunity for FICA to provide a contractor perspective within the FGR community. Here’s what he spoke about: This industry is something we should all be proud of. For generations, forestry has adapted — quietly, practically, and with determination. We’re not just an industry that produces timber. We build communities, create employment and support the future of rural New Zealand. We’ve led the way in Health and Safety, and we play a critical role in environmental performance.

But when it comes to innovation — especially around machinery — New Zealand operates in a very different environment. Our timber is larger, our terrain can be challenging, and our soils are more sensitive than most other markets.

So this session is about sharing what innovation looks and feels like for contractor’s — what’s working, where the challenges are, and what we can do to make progress easier and more effective.

THE REALI TY FOR CONTRACTORS

Contractors live at the sharp end of innovation. When something new comes along — a new attachment or even just a redesign, a data system — we’re the ones who take it into the forest and make it work. We find out how it behaves under real-world conditions, with real production pressures.

That’s also where uncertainty lies.

When an innovation succeeds, everyone benefits — the forest owner, the manufacturer, the crews, the wider industry.

But when it doesn’t, contractors often carry the operational and financial impact through lost time or performance.

We’re practical people. We want to improve, to innovate, and to lift safety and efficiency — but innovation has to be introduced in a way that’s structured, supported, and shared fairly.

THE STEP PROCESS OF INNOVATION

For contractors, innovation doesn’t happen by accident — it’s a process. It needs structure, clarity, and support at every step.

1. Identify the problem – What’s really holding us back?

2. Size the problem 3. Develop the solution 4. Fund the problem – Who helps carry the load? Trials take time and resources, so there needs to be a fair way to share the cost while we learn what works.

5. Assess the risk – What happens if it doesn’t deliver?

How do we capture what we’ve learned without losing momentum or confidence? Selling the innovation!

It’s often those last two steps — funding and risk — where innovation stalls. Contractors are ready to trial, test and adapt. What we need is a process that supports that willingness — with fair conditions, open communication, and a clear path from idea to outcome.

Want to listen to this Logger Mag update from FICA insteaD? See our website to learn how: www.fica.org.nz/logger-mag

36 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

FICA.ORG.NZ THE MACHINERY CHALLENGE

Machinery innovation is one of the biggest and most complex areas of change. Much of the equipment is developed and tested overseas. This can cause it to not perfectly align with New Zealand’s working conditions.

Current trade-offs: heavier machines, higher running costs, and greater soil impact.

The challenge isn’t about “bigger versus smaller.” It’s about how we mechanise smarter. Can we adapt smaller, more flexible gear with the right attachments to achieve the same results more efficiently?

Innovation should focus on smarter application of technology, not just more of it.

THE ROLE OF MANUFACTURERS

This is where manufacturers play a vital role — and where stronger alignment is needed.

At the moment, the design-to-manufacture timeline can stretch from two to four years. From the moment a concept leaves the drawing board to when a contractor finally operates it in the bush, a lot can change — technology, conditions, and even work practices.

To make innovation truly work, we need to bring manufacturers into the conversation earlier and give them as much information as we can as an industry. That means sharing not just today’s challenges, but also what’s coming — the future impacts of environmental, health, and safety policies, and how our terrain and work patterns will evolve over time.

Historically, we’ve tended to engage manufacturers after

If we shift that approach — if we bring manufacturers in at the concept stage and show them what the future looks like for New Zealand forestry — they can design machines that not only perform better but also anticipate the regulatory, environmental, and operational realities that lie ahead.

That means: •

Contractor understanding future constraints — getting everyone seeing the same problems and similar solutions

•

Modelling before manufacturing — using New Zealand terrain data and simulation tools to test ideas virtually before starting.

•

Flexible trial programme — allowing contractors to test pre-production or prototype machines at manageable cost and feed real-world data back into design.

Over recent years, Greenlight has worked hard to support forestry contractors and log transport operators through the impacts of market instability—helping clients activate laid-up cover and identify cost-saving changes to their insurance.

While most have managed to navigate the volatility and job uncertainty, the long-term outlook remains unclear for many.

That’s why it’s essential to ensure your insurance is fit for purpose and tailored to your specific business needs—whether you’re a hauler, ground-based operator, owner-driver, or fleet operator.

With insurance being a major operating cost in the logging sector, we encourage you to contact Greenlight Insurance Brokers for a free “warrant of fitness” review of your current cover—we’re here to offer clarity and a second opinion at no cost.

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Wherever you are in the chain, we’ve got your back.

the machines have already been designed or delivered. We get asked what we don’t like about them: the cab, visibility, or access. That feedback is valuable, but it’s too late in the process. By the time a design reaches us, it’s already locked in.

December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 37

FICA.ORG.NZ Manufacturers who engage early and stay close to the workflow reality will deliver machines that fit better, last longer, and are adopted faster. That level of collaboration isn’t just good engineering — it’s smart business, and it’s how we build machinery that’s truly made for New Zealand.

MAKING INNOVATION EASIER

So how do we make innovation easier across the whole sector?

1. Shared-risk trial models When we trialled mechanised thinning, the forest owner supported a day-rate model during the start-up phase. It gave both parties room to learn and refine. Shared-risk models like that are practical and far-reaching — they acknowledge that innovation takes time to settle.

2. More Future information up front We need stronger planning data — terrain, soil, access, and piece-size forecasts — before operations start. That ensures the right machine and technology are matched right, this should be as far out as possible.

THE PATH FORWARD

At its heart, innovation in forestry isn’t about machines — it’s about people and relationships. It’s about trust between forest owners, contractors, and manufacturers. It’s about open communication, realistic timelines, and a willingness to take measured risks together.

Contractors aren’t resistant to change — we’re already driving it. But innovation must fit our conditions, our crews, and our workflows. If we involve contractors early in design, use local data to model solutions, and support fair trial structures, we’ll see faster progress, safer operations, and better outcomes for everyone.

3. Industry innovation filters The industry can only absorb so much change before it becomes counter-productive. Having the right structure through research and development networks can help focus time and funding on the innovations that make the biggest real-world difference.

4. Recognising the shared vision Contractors often contribute practical insight during the innovation process. Acknowledging that input and maintaining open communication ensures that learning isn’t lost between areas, stalling future innovation or creating innovation fatigue.

Because the real question for the industry remains the same: What’s the true benefit — and who shares in it? If we can answer that honestly, innovation won’t just survive here — it will thrive, and it will be built for New Zealand.

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your voice The voice of forestry contractors since 2002

4655_TLCInsurance__ LoggerMag_FICAAdvert_Dec25.indd 1

FICA Partners TIER 1 - PRUNED

10/11/25 1:04 PM

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

TIER 2 - A GRADE

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TIER 4 BIOMASS

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

Thin for Value: F Safety/performance/quality

THIS ISSUE WE BRING YOU PHOTOGRAPHS of the folk who featured in last issue’s results.

These guys are leading the pack in terms of skill, safety and performance.

Also featured are two photographs (1 and 2) showing the potential for kickback from using the top of the bar tip for trimming.

Extra attention is needed, especially heading to the end of the year when the risk of distraction exists.

We have also included an excellent photograph (3) highlighting how not to maintain your motor unit.

Apart from the loss of efficiency in terms of the saw itself, the focus is on the importance of maintenance, especially with the move into summer with hot, dry weather and the increased risk of ignition from needles and other dry material if your saw isn’t cleaned out and/or adequately maintained.

With that, we hope everyone has a great and well-deserved break over the Christmas period and you are able to spend quality time with family and friends before getting back into work in the new year.

from them to be part of Top Spot and value their ongoing support and feedback.

Our ongoing thanks to: Matariki Forestry Group, 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

Sponsors – they don’t have to do this but they choose to!

Awesome companies, awesome people and awesome support!

They back you and your workmates to succeed as professionals, so why wouldn’t you support them?

They believe in what we do and what you do.

So, a big ongoing thank you to our Strategic Partners – STIHL and NZ Logger and sponsor SWAZI. The best way to keep our industry working is to get out and support those businesses that support New Zealand.

Participating companies This competition wouldn’t be what it is without our participating companies who have all participated in or continue to influence the way in which we operate.

We understand the commitment it takes

40 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

1

Trimming with the tip

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

: Faces to names Safety/performance/quality

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Trent Soper.

2

Todd Irvine.

Inta-Wood Forestry Limited’s Aaron Motutere (left) and Dion Kahi.

3

Birds nests and chainsaws

December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 41

SANY/DC WINCH PACKAGE FOR MCCALLUM HARVESTING Daggy, Tracey and the team at McCallum Harvesting have taken delivery of a DC Winch #300 on a Sany SY305H. A joint delivery from Shaw’s, TDF Solutions and DC Equipment, this machine joins the McCallum crew in Tuatapere. Machine sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

CAT FOR THOMASSEN LOGGING This Next Generation Cat 568 forest machine provides Thomassen Logging’s operation with a purpose-built forestry solution. The 568 incorporates a Waratah 626HX processing head, featuring a rear-entry cab, enabling high-efficiency felling and stem processing within Thomassen Group’s extensive mechanised stem operations across the central North Island. Machine sold by Terra Cat’s Mark Costello.

NEW MACHINERY FOR STEWART LOGGING Otago-based Stewart Logging has added a custom-built backline and Falcon Winch Assist build to support its cable operation. In addition, the company added a Falcon Claw grapple carriage to enable a fully-mechanised cable operation.

FAST HARVESTING EXPANDS ITS TIGERCAT FLEET Longtime Tigercat customer, Fast Harvesting, based in Tokoroa, has added a third Tigercat 610E grapple skidder to its lineup – this one equipped with the optional High-Performance Carco Winch.

It’s already hard at work in the company’s Eucalyptus crew and operator, John, says he is impressed with the speed and power of the new machine. Pictured is operator, Johnny Branje. Machine sold and delivered by Forestry Sales Specialist, Brent VanDerBurg.

NEW MACHINERY FOR TROY ANDREWS CONTRACTING TDF Solutions is stoked to supply this new 959MH fitted with a 630E felling head to Troy Andrews Contracting, working on the Borlase Forest windthrow. Machine prepared and sold by Warwick and Jimmy at Satco, Darrin from D&E and Phil at WEL on the tow hitch and engineering.

December 2025/January 2026 | NZ LOGGER 43

TIGERCAT FOR SPEIRS LOGGING

NEW DELIVERY FOR HARMER LOGGING

Blake and the team at Speirs Logging have added a Tigercat LS857 high-performance feller, fitted with a Duxson Donaldson Mechanical FX142 felling head to their Gisborne-based operation.

This machine is the perfect match for the demanding conditions and big wood on the East Coast. Machine sold and delivered by CablePrice Forestry and Construction Sales Specialist, Tyler Allen.

Lex and the crew from Harmer Logging have taken delivery of a new PC300HW-8 processor. Lex couldn’t wait to get into the seat and spit some logs out. It’s paired with an existing Satco processing head. Machine sold and supported by Komatsu Forest, with support from Jon and the team at Harmer Logging Methven and Murray at MTL Rotorua.

CAT/WARATAH COMBO FOR REED CONTRACTING Chelsea and Scott Reed of Reed Contracting, Nelson have taken delivery of a new Next Generation Cat 558 forest machine with a Waratah 624HX harvester head for their Reed2 crew.

Operator, Tremain, says he is impressed with the machine’s speed, stability, visibility and comfort. Machine sold by Terra Cat Territory account Manager, Jayden Peek.

ANOTHER TIGERCAT FOR THOMASSEN LOGGING NEW MACHINERY FOR STEWART LOGGING The team at Stewart Logging has taken delivery of a new Sany SY305H DC winch and skyline package. Fitted with an additional strawline winch, this machine joins the crew in Dunedin.

Machine sold and serviced by Shaw’s.

44 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

Central North Island-based Thomassen Logging has added another Tigercat 632H skidder to its fleet – this one, with its new H series cab, has been put to work in the newly established stems crew. Thomassen Logging is the biggest stems contactor working for Timberlands Forest. Machine sold and delivered by CablePrice Forestry Sales Specialist, Brent VanDerBurg.

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Suit skidders and forwarders with band tracks 4x Forestry Spider 750-55-26.5 $13,750* for 4 tyres!!

Suit skidders and forwarders with band tracks 2x Forestry LS-2 32ply 30.5-32 $10,600* for 2 tyres!!

2x Wheel loader dumax 668 radial tyres 20.5 R25 $6000* for 2 tyres!!

2x Wheel loader dumax 668 radial tyres 23.5 R25 $7200* for 2 tyres!!

LG35698

2x Forestry LS-2 32ply 35.5-32 $13,000* for 2 tyres!!

NZ LOGGER classified

Swing Units for Madill’s & Kenworth Logging Trucks Large Stocks of Heavy Alloy Cores & Completes Full Custom Build Service Fast & Efficient

sales@bopradiatorspecialists.co.nz

RADIATORS

47 NZ LOGGER | October 2023

www.chains.co.nz ENGINEERED WITH EXPERIENCE...

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

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

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

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

LG31497

Madill Komatsu CAT Thunderbird John Deere Hyundai Tigercat Sumitomo

CHARGE AIR COOLERS

WE CUSTOM BUILD -STOCK, OVERHAUL & REPAIR WE MANUFACTURE THE BEST HEAVY DUTY CORES IN NZ

OILCOOLERS

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

LG32968

INTERCOOLERS

OILCOOLERS

RADIATORS

Chain Protection Services

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

December 2025/January October Month2026 2023 20xx | NZ LOGGER 47

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48 NZ LOGGER | December 2025/January 2026

HARVESTER BAR AND CHAINS

FREE Waratah Harvester health check when you buy a bar and chain pro package

07 343 1550 | waratahnzparts@waratah.com | 108 Sala Street, Rotorua

Komatsu 895.3

Komatsu with Bigger Crane & Smart Forestry The Komatsu 895.3 offers new larger Komatsu 205F Crane with G85H Grapple supported by Smart Forest technology; • XT Transmission......for 307kN torque • Reinforced Frame.....for heavier loads • Enhanced Load Space.....for increased productivity The new 895.3 for higher productivity in tough conditions Komatsu Forest Pty Ltd 15C Hyland Cresent Rotorua, New Zealand Paul Roche M: 021 350 747 Hayden McCulloch M: 027 213 1168 E: info.au@komatsuforest.com