New view option
Transport company tackling driver fatigue
IKEA – production not carbon forestry?
Worksafe: Close scrutiny or radical over-reach?
Malaysian Co. buys 264ha of Tuatapere land for forestry
New Guest Speaker for SWC Forestry 2022 Awards
Ravensdown switching to wood biomass fuel
Wood Energy New Zealand Partnership formed
SWC Awards 2022: New Dates
Wenita gets behind predator initiative
Trial of new silviculture mentoring programme
Pre-training prepares job seekers for forestry work
Monster Redwood from South Canterbury
Invercargill $3.77 m decarbonisation fund now available
Obituary – Shaun Cawood
Yes – big trees, they still exist
Funding to increase forestry workforce in Otago
Plantation forestry debate lights up the South
2022 SWC Forestry Awards Dates Announced
Export log shortage expected
Biomass favourite for decarbonising SI process heat
Two pension funds acquire NZ forestry asset
Funding support for local Forestry Pathways Programme
Ikea acquires Otago land for forestry
Contracting industry becoming ‘cut throat’
Another major NZ industrial plant switches to biomass
New video for NZ primary school students
Father and son graduate forestry course together
Fonterra announce another switch to wood biomass
WorkSafe reminder on forest safety
Southland farm bought for forestry
Digital communications rolled out across forestry operations
Optimistic outlook for tree seedlings supplier
Wood is Good on the road in the South
Biofuel in Southland being hit by log prices
Southern Wood Council update – Rural South
2021 Forestry Training and Success Celebrated in the South
NZ Council seeking controls over carbon forestry
Southland Forestry Open Day attracts local students
NZ$30 million biomass boiler on track
Forestry industry post COVID-19 busier than ever
Funding boost for Generation Programme
Southland sawmill sold
Southland woman inducted to Road Transport Hall of Fame
New Canterbury West Coast Wood Council formed
Update to Forestry Careers Resources
Fire and Emergency honours’ award recipients
Training course attracting women to forestry
Forestry industry in the South remains resilient
Latest NZ Forestry Facts and Figures out
The 2021 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards
Invercargill City Council finds buyer for forestry
Primary industry centre of vocational excellence
Silvicultural work highlighted in new videos
New posts on Rural Fire Research Blog
SWC describes forests amendment bill as ‘a lemon’
SWC Forest Products Scholarship 2020
Southern Apprentice of the Year awarded
SWC 2020 Forestry Awards: Event has been cancelled
SWC Awards 2020’s Guest Presenter: Simon McKinney
City Forests contribution to the region
Nominations are Open for 2020 SWC Forestry Awards
The 2020 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards [New Date]
Transpower / Forestry Workshop [2 Oct 2019]
Otago-Southland Forest Products Industry Dinner Meeting [2 Oct 2019]
Forestry opportunities offered to school students
Paige picking up top honour in forestry awards
The future in forestry – a combined approach
Forestry Training and Success Celebrated in the South
The future of forestry for Southland schools
Inaugural Forestry Scholarship Recipients Named
Southern forestry training course starts
Scott Thomas – multi-million dollar machine operator
2019 Forestry Award Nominations
2019 SWC Awards Guest Presenter
2019 SWC Forestry Awards Programme
Southland Youth Futures working with students
Forestry apprentices growing the industry
Future Foresters quick growing
Logging machinery attract students
SWC Forestry Awards 2018 Winners
Farming fresh water crayfish in Southland forests
2018 SWC Forest Products Scholarship
Guest Speaker for 2018 SWC Awards Evening
Nominations for the SWC Awards End 30 March 2018
MEDIA RELEASE: Robotics opportunities in forestry being explored
New training programme for Southern harvesting crews
The 2018 SWC Forestry Awards Programme
Spotlight: Working in Forestry
Careers in Forestry
NZ Forest Industry Important Nationally, Regionally and Environmentally – NZIER Report
SWC Forestry Awards 2017
The changing the face of the industry
SWC Forest Products Scholarships 2017
SWC Forestry Awards 2016
SWC Forestry Awards 2015
News Updates 2 row version
News Updates with more text and only 1 row
Transport company tackling driver fatigue
Dynes Transport are on a mission to save lives and livelihoods. They paired together smart technology solutions from Seeing Machines and EROAD, and reduced their risk of driver fatigue and distract...
19 May 2022
IKEA – production not carbon forestry?
The company behind multi-national furniture and home accessories brand IKEA claims its purchase of a large Southland farm is for production forestry, not carbon farming. An international company wh...
18 May 2022
Worksafe: Close scrutiny or radical over-reach?
New Zealand workers are still being maimed and killed in huge numbers, but WorkSafe’s boss is ambitious to deliver change. Phil Parkes was trained as a regulator in the ways of “the carrot, the...
13 May 2022
Malaysian Co. buys 264ha of Tuatapere land for forestry
A Malaysian company has bought a second swath of western Southland commercial forestry land in the space of 11 months. Pine Plantations Private has been given Overseas Investment Office (OIO) conse...
4 May 2022
New Guest Speaker for SWC Forestry 2022 Awards
We’re delighted to announce that Tangaroa Walker is this year’s rescheduled training awards guest presenter. The SWC Forestry 2022 Awards is being held on Friday 26 August 2022 at the Forsyth ...
3 May 2022
Ravensdown switching to wood biomass fuel
Ravensdown has announced that it has achieved NZ Government co-funding to accompany the co-operative’s investment to install a biomass combustor at its Dipton lime quarry. Locally supplied wood f...
27 April 2022
Wood Energy New Zealand Partnership formed
A partnership between Pioneer Energy and Niagara Sawmilling Company Ltd in the lower South Island of New Zealand has been formed to meet the demands of the biomass market to supply high quality pro...
14 April 2022
SWC Awards 2022: New Dates
How things can change. With the rising case numbers of Omicron in New Zealand and the obvious reluctance of people to travel (or companies or organisations unwilling to let their staff travel and p...
10 April 2022
Wenita gets behind predator initiative
Wenita Forest Products and asset manager New Forests are teaming up with Predator Free Dunedin to increase protection for native biodiversity in Otago. Funding from Wenita — the region’s larges...
22 March 2022
Trial of new silviculture mentoring programme
Ten silviculture crews around New Zealand have completed a trial of a new mentoring programme developed by the Forest and Wood Processing Workforce Taskforce, with funding from the Forest Growers L...
10 March 2022
Pre-training prepares job seekers for forestry work
Nathan Fogden has 2,000 hectares of land to plant and prune in 2022 but not the staff to complete the work. “It’s a really competitive labour market these days,” says the managing director of...
8 March 2022
Monster Redwood from South Canterbury
This log is from a Sequoiadendron giganteum. The tree’s common name is either Giant sequoia or Sierra Redwood. It has also been given a nick name, “Wellingtonia” with history suggesting a man...
2 March 2022
Invercargill $3.77 m decarbonisation fund now available
A new NZ$3.77 million government fund is being made available to help Invercargill businesses make the change from fossil fuel boilers to low emission energy. Great South is administering the Gover...
2 March 2022
Obituary – Shaun Cawood
Well known to many in New Zealand’s forestry and wood products industries, Shaun Cawood unfortunately passed away on 24 January 2022, leaving behind a legacy of outstanding work achievements and ...
17 February 2022
Yes – big trees, they still exist
Murray Logging owner Andrew Murray said cutting the trees and getting them on a truck was laborious. They were cut from Manuka Gorge in Otago, NZ and were about 80 to 100 years old, he said. Once t...
3 February 2022
Funding to increase forestry workforce in Otago
Forestry’s future workforce has received a boost through a partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and an Otago secondary school. MPI funded a two-week silviculture course f...
21 January 2022
Plantation forestry debate lights up the South
About 70 people attended a panel debate “Plantation forestry — threat or opportunity?” in Dunedin, New Zealand in early December. Independent debate chairman Stephen Woodhead, of Milton, gave...
8 December 2021
2022 SWC Forestry Awards Dates Announced
[Update: Please note the Awards has been rescheduled for 27 May 2022] Every year, the forestry industry from throughout the lower South Island meet for an evening of celebration in Dunedin. It’s ...
8 November 2021
Export log shortage expected
New Zealand could face a shortage of export logs within the next decade, caused by insufficient planting activity after the 1990s forestry boom, a new report says. However, a forestry executive sai...
28 October 2021
Biomass favourite for decarbonising SI process heat
Biomass is the clear favourite for industrial process heat users in the South Island of New Zealand looking to decarbonise their operations, according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Auth...
13 October 2021
Two pension funds acquire NZ forestry asset
Two European pension funds, APG Asset Management (APG) on behalf of its Dutch pension fund client ABP, and UK’s Pension Protection Fund (PPF), have agreed to purchase Sinotrans New Zealand Limite...
4 October 2021
Funding support for local Forestry Pathways Programme
In its latest funding round, Otago Community Trust awarded a NZ$19,611 grant to the Tokomairiro Training Pathways course to assist with the cost of running the Forestry Pathways Programme out of To...
30 September 2021
Ikea acquires Otago land for forestry
The parent company of Swedish retail giant Ikea has acquired 5,500 hectares of New Zealand farmland for forestry plantation. A statement from the firm said the project would be managed by Ingka Inv...
16 September 2021
Contracting industry becoming ‘cut throat’
NZ contractors are losing out on work as forest owners cancel pending contracts to hold out for log prices to rise. After hitting a peak four months ago, New Zealand log prices fell due to worldwid...
2 September 2021
Another major NZ industrial plant switches to biomass
Nelson-based company biomass fuel company Azwood Energy is building a production facility near Milton to service a burgeoning biomass fuel industry. Azwood Energy general manager Brook Brewerton co...
27 August 2021
New video for NZ primary school students
The second video, What is a Forester for the Wood is Good program was filmed in Masterton and features again, the well-known New Zealand actor and comedian, Pio Terei. Fully funded by MPI the...
19 August 2021
Father and son graduate forestry course together
A father and son duo from Southland have shown there’s value in getting back to the books, even after four decades in the game. Bobby Baird and his 65-year-old father Robert completed their Level...
18 August 2021
Fonterra announce another switch to wood biomass
As Minister for Energy and Resources Hon Dr Megan Woods officially opened Fonterra’s wood pellet boiler at its Te Awamutu plant, the Co-operative announced details for its next site to exit coal ...
27 July 2021
WorkSafe reminder on forest safety
(WorkSafe) Health and Safety Paramount On Forestry Sites A tragic forestry fatality on the East Coast could have been avoided if industry guidance had simply been followed, says New Zealand’s Wor...
21 July 2021
Southland farm bought for forestry
A Malaysian company has been given consent to buy a nearly 460ha sheep and beef farm in Western Southland. The Overseas Investment Office gave the consent to the 100 per cent Malaysian-owned compan...
21 July 2021
Digital communications rolled out across forestry operations
A new digital radio system from Motorola Solutions and communications partner Central Radio Services (CRS) is helping New Zealand’s City Forests to work more safely and efficiently while complyin...
15 July 2021
Optimistic outlook for tree seedlings supplier
“Strong momentum and supportive tail winds” have created an optimistic outlook for the New Zealand operation of a global genetics seedling company. United States-headquartered ArborGen is the large...
1 July 2021
Wood is Good on the road in the South
The first day of the industry’s Wood is Good roadshow started at Outram School for 176 Students, Principal Kim Allan and about 8 other teachers. Dynes Transport provided a log truck and manager C...
1 July 2021
Biofuel in Southland being hit by log prices
An Invercargill businessman is worried that international demand for logs is driving up the price of woodchips used to fuel eco-friendly boilers. The McCallums Group managing director Wayne McCallu...
2 June 2021
Southern Wood Council update – Rural South
Southern Wood Council is an industry grouping of companies sharing an interest in forestry based in Otago, Southland and South Canterbury. The current chair, Grant Dodson, believes it’s a great e...
1 June 2021
2021 Forestry Training and Success Celebrated in the South
Last Friday saw again an outstanding turnout by local forestry companies, contractors and transport operators from throughout the lower South Island of New Zealand. The function was the 2021 South...
24 May 2021
NZ Council seeking controls over carbon forestry
Following concerns raised by the public and a visit to the site of October’s Livingstone fire, Otago Regional Councillors and iwi representatives on the council’s strategy and planning committe...
20 May 2021
Southland Forestry Open Day attracts local students
With the enthusiastic support of industry front-line staff, the 2021 Be the Future of Forestry Day went off without a hitch in Winton on 18 March. Even the weather played ball, the sun shining afte...
1 April 2021
NZ$30 million biomass boiler on track
The first steam from Danone Nutricia NZ’s innovative new biomass boiler plant in South Otago is expected in August. In 2019, the French food giant announced a NZ$40million investment in its spray...
26 February 2021
Forestry industry post COVID-19 busier than ever
COVID-19 recovery training numbers tracking well in the New Zealand forestry sector, with more trainees than ever carving out a career in the industry With a significant increase in the number of K...
2 December 2020
Funding boost for Generation Programme
Eastland Wood Council’s Generation Programme has received a huge boost from Te Uru Rākau (Forestry New Zealand) who have topped up the coffers by NZ$441,000 through its One Billion Trees Program...
1 December 2020
Southland sawmill sold
The sale of a Southland sawmill has been described as “devastating” for the local community, but the company that has bought it plans to integrate the mill into its own expanding timber operati...
20 November 2020
Southland woman inducted to Road Transport Hall of Fame
Anita Dynes is the first woman to be inducted in the NZ Road Transport Hall of Fame for 2020. Dynes, originally from Balclutha, is credited as being crucial to the development of Tapanui-based Dyne...
15 November 2020
New Canterbury West Coast Wood Council formed
The eighth Wood Council in New Zealand is a combination of forestry, transport, processing, regional councils, contractors, nurseries and Canterbury University School of Forestry. 54 members curren...
12 November 2020
Update to Forestry Careers Resources
Forestry Careers is an important initiative designed to promote New Zealand forestry as an exciting career choice. The website is also a comprehensive starting point for anyone interested in forest...
9 November 2020
Fire and Emergency honours’ award recipients
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Chief Executive, Rhys Jones has congratulated five firefighters and support personnel from Cromwell, Kaikoura, Ranfurly, Blackball (West Coast) and Taneatua (Bay of P...
22 October 2020
Training course attracting women to forestry
In New Zealand, an Eastland Wood Council forestry training programme aimed at keeping pace with the demand for forestry workers has had an unexpected boon — boosting diversity in a traditionally ...
19 October 2020
Forestry industry in the South remains resilient
While forestry was one of the first industries to be impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, the sector remains resilient with prices and demand trending positively, Southern Wood Council (SWC) chairman G...
16 October 2020
Latest NZ Forestry Facts and Figures out
The latest NZ Forestry Facts and Figures 2019/20 produced by the Forest Owners Association is now available on-line. Due to budget constraints, there are this year no plans to print copies – it i...
6 October 2020
The 2021 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards
The 2020 forestry awards programme for the lower South Island unfortunately had to be cancelled because of COVID-19. We weren’t alone though. Every other annual regional award’s programme acr...
23 September 2020
Invercargill City Council finds buyer for forestry
The Invercargill City Council has a buyer for its forestry estate and the sale now sits with the Overseas Investment Office. Invercargill City Forests Limited – a subsidiary of the council’s ho...
22 September 2020
Primary industry centre of vocational excellence
Fiona Kingsford, CEO of New Zealand’s industry training organisation, Competenz, has welcomed the government’s announcement of the stakeholder group to establish the Food and Fibre Centre of Vo...
15 September 2020
Silvicultural work highlighted in new videos
Silviculture workers are crucial to the success of New Zealand’s forestry industry. However sometimes the important work they do can be over-shadowed by the harvesting end of the business. But si...
15 September 2020
New posts on Rural Fire Research Blog
As a result of the recent research burns and associated publicity, Scion’s fire team now has a number of new videos available for viewing. The team now has its own YouTube video channel, and has ...
15 September 2020
SWC describes forests amendment bill as ‘a lemon’
Southern forestry groups are wary of an amendment that would attempt to control log market prices for the industry. The Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forest Advisors) amendment bill would...
14 July 2020
SWC Forest Products Scholarship 2020
University of Canterbury forestry student picks up major award A University of Canterbury forestry student has just received top forest industry honours with a major scholarship being awarded. This...
23 April 2020
Southern Apprentice of the Year awarded
Wood Council’s across New Zealand this year have had to cancel their annual awards programmes. Measures to tackle the COVID-19 virus and the enforced lockdown of forestry and wood products operat...
3 April 2020
SWC 2020 Forestry Awards: Event has been cancelled
The SWC 2020 Forestry Awards has been cancelled. This decision was made after consultation with Members and is due to recent changes in travel policies across various organisations and the directiv...
20 March 2020
SWC Awards 2020’s Guest Presenter: Simon McKinney
The eagerly awaited 2020 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards is quickly approaching. On Friday, 8 May 2020, the forestry industry from throughout the lower South Island will meet for an evening o...
31 January 2020
City Forests contribution to the region
Forestry may be getting a bad rap lately particularly from the farming community, but there is no arguing with its returns. Brent Melville logged some time with City Forests this week, discovering ...
19 December 2019
Nominations are Open for 2020 SWC Forestry Awards
The 2020 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards is being held on Friday 8 May 2020 in Dunedin, New Zealand. This is the annual celebration of the forestry industry throughout the lower South Island....
25 November 2019
The 2020 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards [New Date]
Mark the date into your diaries, Friday 8 May 2020. This is the date set down for the eagerly awaited 2020 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards. Every year the forestry industry from throughout...
28 August 2019
Transpower / Forestry Workshop [2 Oct 2019]
If you’re a forestry contractor, harvest planner, forestry manager or owner involved in wood harvesting operations in the Otago or Southland region, this workshop has been set up for you. It’s ...
9 August 2019
Otago-Southland Forest Products Industry Dinner Meeting [2 Oct 2019]
It’s time to gather as an industry again. It’s been a long winter, log prices have probably seen better days and it’s been now four years since collectively we got together to have a dinner a...
6 August 2019
Forestry opportunities offered to school students
A group of young foresters put their best foot forward at Otago’s annual Careers Expo that ran in the town hall on Thursday 13 June. Over 2000 secondary school students from about the region at...
18 June 2019
Paige picking up top honour in forestry awards
Paige Harland was born to be in the bush. Miss Harland (21) comes from a Southland family who have sap in their blood over three generations. Named apprentice of the year at the recent 2019 South...
10 June 2019
The future in forestry – a combined approach
Southern forestry employers are adopting a collaborative approach to ensure the next generation of workers are not only keen on what the industry can offer but have the necessary skills to take on ...
4 June 2019
Forestry Training and Success Celebrated in the South
Last Friday saw an outstanding turnout by local forestry companies, contractors and transport operators from throughout the lower South Island of New Zealand. The function was the 2019 Southern Wo...
27 May 2019
The future of forestry for Southland schools
Southland students have been encouraged to become the future of forestry. To coincide with the UN International Day of Forests, a forestry careers day was held on Thursday 21 March to introduce st...
27 March 2019
Inaugural Forestry Scholarship Recipients Named
Three Southern tertiary students are among the eight recipients of an inaugural forestry scholarship. The Nga Karahipi Uru Rakau scholarships were developed to encourage young, talented individuals...
14 March 2019Southern forestry training course starts
A new forestry training course set up by Tokomairiro Training in partnership in the lower South Island of New Zealand with Johnson Forestry Service has attracted considerable interest. It began la...
26 February 2019
Scott Thomas – multi-million dollar machine operator
Scott Thomas is a young man with an exciting future. Aged just 21, he is currently working for Gamble Forest Harvesting in a fully mechanised 8-man hauler crew. Scott has found his passion, and tha...
21 December 2018
2019 Forestry Award Nominations
This is a unique opportunity for all those involved in training, in growing, processing and transporting wood and for those who support the industry through the provision of products and services. ...
10 December 2018
2019 SWC Awards Guest Presenter
Davey Hughes, Founder, Swazi Most working in forestry know of the kiwi outdoor clothing brand, SWAZI® Proudly designed and manufactured in New Zealand, they’ve been at the forefront of producing...
10 December 20182019 SWC Forestry Awards Programme
Mark the date into your diary. Yes, it’s that time again. The forestry awards programme for the lower South Island is running again in 2019. This will be the fifth major awards evening for the in...
1 December 2018
Southland Youth Futures working with students
Southland Youth Futures is a community programme being run in the lower part of New Zealand. It’s linking young people with career and training opportunities in primary sector-related industries ...
27 November 2018
Forestry apprentices growing the industry
In a recent issue of Friday Offcuts, we asked for more good news stories to profile the industry, particularly to the younger generation. Attached is one supplied by Rayonier Matariki Forests. The ...
26 November 2018
Future Foresters quick growing
A group of young New Zealand foresters is working to raise the profile of their industry and provide support for those looking to develop careers in the sector. The Future Foresters group grew out ...
26 November 2018
Logging machinery attract students
Mike Hurring Logging, the largest harvesting contractor in the Otago and Southland region, held an open day on Saturday 2nd June to promote forestry as a future career choice to local school studen...
12 June 2018
SWC Forestry Awards 2018 Winners
2017 Forestry Training and Success Celebrated in the South. Friday 12 May 2017 saw another outstanding turnout by local forestry companies, contractors and transport operators from throughout the...
28 May 2018
Farming fresh water crayfish in Southland forests
Southern Crawlies: A marine scientist farms fresh-water koura (crayfish) in forestry ponds across the south, giving a new lease of life to an ancient species and creating a new market for the...
27 May 2018
2018 SWC Forest Products Scholarship
University of Canterbury forestry student picks up major award A University of Canterbury forestry student has just received top forest industry honours with a major scholarship being awarded. This...
9 April 2018
Guest Speaker for 2018 SWC Awards Evening
Aaron Fleming is an award-winning New Zealand leader, athlete, and author with one of the most moving tales you will ever hear. He will the guest speaker at the upcoming 2018 SWC Forestry Awards ru...
2 March 2018
Nominations for the SWC Awards End 30 March 2018
The 2018 SWC Forestry Awards evening is, once again, is shaping up again to be a huge night out for the industry across Southland, Otago and South Canterbury. Over 350 people from forestry and wo...
2 March 2018
MEDIA RELEASE: Robotics opportunities in forestry being explored
MEDIA RELEASE 20 February 2018 Robotics opportunities in forestry being explored Forest safety, improving productivity and getting workers off the felling site has been a major push for forestry ma...
20 February 2018
New training programme for Southern harvesting crews
Skills shortages and attracting new entrants into harvesting operations is a major issue within the forestry industry right now. It’s been this way for some time and it’s not unique to any one ...
30 November 2017
The 2018 SWC Forestry Awards Programme
Yes, it’s that time again. The forestry awards programme for the lower South Island is running again in 2018. The response from the industry to the three previous awards programmes has been outst...
10 November 2017
Spotlight: Working in Forestry
In this video produced by Southland Youth Futures, a local forestry company, Rayonier/Matarikia, outline the variety of roles that are available to those looking to work within the forestry...
25 August 2017
Careers in Forestry
Check out the stories of three young women, Pauline Edge, Acacia Farmery and Briony Hooper, who have all recently picked forestry for their future career. The training and jobs now being...
21 July 2017
NZ Forest Industry Important Nationally, Regionally and Environmentally – NZIER Report
A report on the plantation forest industry has highlighted its value to national and regional economies, as well as forestry’s beneficial effect on New Zealand’s ecology. The NZIER Report was c...
21 July 2017
SWC Forestry Awards 2017
2017 Forestry Training and Success Celebrated in the South. Friday 12 May 2017 saw another outstanding turnout by local forestry companies, contractors and transport operators from throughout the...
15 May 2017
The changing the face of the industry
“Women are the answer to New Zealand’s skilled worker shortage,” says Pamela Bell, CEO PrefabNZ. “Wood is going to be bigger than dairy – more sustainable and provide the jobs for our fut...
15 March 2017
SWC Forest Products Scholarships 2017
University of Canterbury forestry student picks up major award A University of Canterbury forestry student has just received top forest industry honours with a major scholarship being awarded. This...
15 February 2017
SWC Forestry Awards 2016
2016 Forestry training and success celebrated in the South Around 120 National Training Certificates that had been achieved in Forestry & Wood Processing were awarded to top local contractors and...
15 May 2016
SWC Forestry Awards 2015
2015 SWC Awards Programme The Southern Wood Council in conjunction with the country’s Industry Training Organisation, Competenz, runs an annual awards programme in the region. In 2015, the...
15 May 2015