April's relatively small reduction in export log prices was followed by much larger reductions in May – some prices down as much as $25/JAS m³. In just two months, export log prices lost 14 months of prior month–on–month gains.
READ MOREPF Olsen is seeing many examples of blocks of forest land being harvested and not replanted. There are also many areas in New Zealand where widespread soil erosion could be mitigated, and/or catchment water quality could be improved with forest cover. This, along with increased conversion of forest to dairy land use, means New Zealand's plantation forest area is in decline.
READ MOREThanks to all those people that took the time to complete and return the PF Olsen Customer Satisfaction Survey.
READ MOREAaron Bashnick joined PF Olsen's Gisborne team as a harvest supervisor on 28 April. Campbell Harvey has rejoined PF Olsen's Christchurch team after a brief OE in the southwest U.S. Gavin Hurford commenced with PF Olsen (Greymouth) on 5th May after returning to New Zealand from North Queensland where he worked for Elders Forestry managing its high-value tropical timber estate. Michael Smith started with PF Olsen on 12 May as the Logistic Coordinator, based in Rotorua.
READ MOREMany involved in the forest industry will be acutely aware of the difficulties in keeping abreast of constant plan changes as they affect forestry operations under the RMA. A multi-stakeholder group, of which PF Olsen is a participating member, has been convened by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to try and achieve a rationalisation of rules affecting forestry under the RMA.
READ MOREAndrew was nominated by Supervisor Brett Vincent, for taking ownership of the safety for crew 97. Apart from his regular work duties, Andrew runs the morning tailgate safety meetings and coordinates the Safe Behaviour Observations (audits).
READ MORELate last year Kevin had a client enquire on what measures we took to ensure our containerised treestocks and surrounding nursery environment had a 'clean bill of health'.
READ MOREThe ETS remains very quiet. NZUs continue to trade in the range of $2.95 - $3.10 per NZU. With ERUs valid in the New Zealand ETS until May 2015, there is currently not a lot of demand for NZUs to encourage higher prices.
READ MOREI have been building a deck of Radiata pine during the past few weekends. Although there is nothing newsworthy about that, it has reminded me of what every NZ builder is acutely aware – the variability of dressed Radiata pine in both dimension and stability.
READ MOREIt was just over a month ago that Southern Cross Forest Products went into receivership. Thames Timber is still operating and taking a steady supply of logs from a variety of suppliers.
READ MOREEach year the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) surveys the 29 forestry nurseries around New Zealand.
READ MOREThe first multi-storey post-earthquake timber building using low-damage post-tensioned timber technology has opened in Christchurch.
READ MORENZUs continue to trade in the range of $2.95–$3.05 per NZU. With ERUs valid in the New Zealand ETS until May 2015, there is currently not a lot of demand for NZUs to encourage higher prices. However there are buyers and sellers trading in small volumes.
READ MOREWe welcome Phil Tetzlaff back to PF Olsen. Phil has taken the role of Harvest Manager for Rotorua Harvest Management.
READ MORERodney was nominated by Supervisor Gary Inman. Rodney Hubbard and Vikki Whareau (Health & Safety Coordinator) took the initiative in making up the 5-step tree felling procedure sticker and this has been produced and delivered to PF Olsen contractors across the country.
READ MOREWith the introduction of the new forest growers levy on 1 January 2014 changes to the way industry R&D in the forest growing area were signalled in a recent update.
READ MORE"Green, green, green… everywhere", is how Kevin Haine is describing the nursery at the moment. "This season's tree stocks are looking great."
READ MOREPF Olsen has been actively involved in coordinating a project to restore a major wetland in the Waikato. Parties involved include the forest owner – Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP) New Zealand Ltd, the land owners – the Te Toke Ahu Whenua Trust and the Waikato River Authority (WRA) as a major funding agency.
READ MOREI recently attended the first of a series of stakeholder workshops being run around the country by the newly formed Independent Forestry Safety Review Panel.
READ MOREA recent major forestry news story has been the appointment of receivers KordaMentha to Southern Cross Forest Products Ltd. Southern Cross is the owner of Thames Timber in the North Island and four processing plants in Otago/Southland.
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