If the popular media was your only source of information as to the importance of opening up export markets for New Zealand goods and services then you could be forgiven for thinking that such efforts had no impact on the living standards of ordinary New Zealanders, or were even damaging.
READ MOREThe big dry continues over much of New Zealand. Unlike our farming cousins there is minimal impact from the lack of water on established forests, other than increased fire prevention vigilance.
READ MOREIn February NZUs broke through $2, and got as low as $1.50 and are currently trading around $1.70. This sudden drop from $2.40 in a matter of days appears to be due to a large volume being dumped on the market.
READ MOREFinding more efficient ways of getting work done is absolutely critical in the forestry business. Most forestry companies realise that every bit of time freed up from manual, cumbersome or duplicated processes means better results, more staff capacity and better profitability.
READ MORECurrently green building rating systems like Green Star focus on the environmental impact of buildings in respect to their operations during use.
READ MOREThree big Government funding contracts totalling $5.8M come to an end on 30 September of this year. These contracts, supported by $1.0M of funding from Future Forest Research (FFR) membership fees, have supported the FFR programmes in Radiata Management, Diverse Species and Environment since the formation of FFR in 2007.
READ MOREDue to interest amongst readers and clients in harvesting and marketing of woodlots and logs, Wood Matters will now have a regular feature covering a range of topics. This issue's topic is understanding stumpage purchaser credit risk.
READ MOREThere is a common misunderstanding widely held in New Zealand that our plantations are poor suppliers of habitat for our native biodiversity. While it is true that a plantation will never be able to replace a well developed native forest in terms of its total provision of habitat for native species, it is well established in science that New Zealand's plantations can and do provide important habitat for native biodiversity.
READ MOREForestry's Profitability and Risk Management
READ MOREHot dry weather is generally positive for forest harvesting activity (apart from the fire danger or fire incidents restricting activity). Fortunately, fire activity has been relatively subdued in New Zealand as it was spared the widespread destruction from fires in Australia.
READ MOREWith the publication of the Pike River enquiry late in 2012, and the government clearly very serious about implementing the recommendations from that, and reporting back of the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Safety due by the end of April we can anticipate a lot of Board of Directors and senior management focus on workplace safety throughout 2013.
READ MOREThe Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) recently released the 2012 annual National Exotic Forest Description (NEFD) report. This report describes the area and compostion of New Zealand's planted production forests.
READ MOREThe Radiata Pine Breeding Company Ltd is a New Zealand company focussed on the provision of superior radiata pine germplasm to its shareholders and customers in Australasia. RPBC is embarking a development programme which can halve the traditional 25-30 year breeding and deployment cycle.
READ MOREPF Olsen would like to acknowledge and thank the partnering work being done with several Maori incorporations, trusts and other mandated entities toward achieving their forestry and harvesting goals.
READ MOREThe potential reward of growing eucalypts in New Zealand has captivated a great number of foresters and farm foresters alike. The allure of very rapid growth, high quality fibre, attractive & durable timber along with pleasing aesthetics are just some of the many reasons for planting eucalypts.
READ MORESince the beginning of the year NZUs have traded in the $2.30 to $2.50 range but in the last week have shown signs of weakening and are looking like they will break below $2.
READ MOREPF Olsen would like to draw readers' attention to progress in the implementation of the Forest Commodity Levy.
READ MOREThis is the last edition of Wood Matters for the year. Many of the articles this month have a reflective tone, which often happens at this time of the year.
READ MOREAs we finish 2012 we can reflect on a couple of features of the year impacting on the forest industries of NZ and Australia and report on some of the signs for 2013.
READ MOREAnother turbulent year in the Australian forestry sector is coming to an end with two of the country's largest private forestry companies (Gunns and Elders) coming closer to fully exiting the industry. I guess the big question is, will the New Year bring with a greater degree of stability?
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