Official journal of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association May 2008

Canterbury Conference fi eld days Making a difference with shelter Wilding Corsican pines Pine at Ahuriri

Feature on Taranaki Farm shelter and forestry • Coastal challenges for trees Trees in the shadow of Mt Taranaki • Japanese cedar comeback ADVERTISEMENT Here’s an opportunity to profit from wood waste and forest residue. An interview with Murray Bell – Business Manager – Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

TG: Murray, give us an idea of what you do at EECA. MB: I manage the Business unit at EECA that helps businesses make the most of energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities. One of these opportunities is around turning wood waste into fuel. We have a programme that offers grants to encourage forestry industries to use their waste wood either as energy generation for themselves or to sell to others. TG: How would this relate to business owners reading this magazine? into wood chips and used as fuel for heating. This example shows forest owners MB: Forest owners are always looking at their bottom line. By using that forest residue they might normally discard can be recycled as a by-product their wood waste as a fuel or selling it on the wood energy market, they and on sold as a renewable energy source. will help reduce or offset their energy costs. As more and more businesses TG: Who can apply for the grants? and customers are becoming carbon conscious, the demand for wood, as a renewable energy source with a neutral carbon footprint, is increasing. MB: Any business that can supply wood waste as a renewable energy source to the market place – whether it’s hogged fuel, sawdust, pellets or wood chips TG: Can you explain more about the grants? – or businesses who want to reduce their own energy consumption by using MB: EECA is now offering grants to fund up to 40% of a project’s cost onsite wood residue. (up to $200,000) to help install and develop projects that turn wood waste TG: How easy is it to apply? into fuel. MB: We have made the process as simple as possible and it doesn’t take much TG: Can you give us an example? time at all to get approval for funding. So now all you need to do is talk to MB: Wastepro, Rayonier forests, Canterbury received a grant to help them Mark and fill out an application form to get the ball rolling. finance a purpose built bundler and forwarding unit. The bundler collects the slash and residual left behind after harvesting and feeds it into the bundler, Mark Windsor which compacts slash into compact logs. The compact logs are then processed (09) 374 3803 [email protected]

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ISSN 0111-2694 CONTENTS

Conference field days and awards Pine and presentations at Ahuriri...... 3 Making a difference with shelter on Snowdon Station...... 5 Mt Barker wilding Corsican pines...... 7 National conference viewpoint...... 9 2008 NZFFA Awards...... 10

NZFFA matters The future of the NZFFA...... 13 Whither the NZFFA...... 15 What you think about the NZFFA......

Taranaki farm shelter and forestry feature Making a difference with shelter Taranaki farm shelter and forestry association...... 17 5 Growing trees in the shadow of Mount Taranaki...... 18 The topography of Taranaki...... 20 Coastal challenges for trees...... 21 Purangi orchard...... 22 Japanese cedar comeback...... 24 Trust on a mission......

General Weeds in indigenous forests...... 28 Growing poplars for timber in Northland...... 30 2008 Awards Ensuring the sustainability of New Zealand forests...... 37 10 Performance of coast redwood in New Zealand...... 38 Hearing loss a threat to farm foresters...... 41

Farm Forestry Model Trees combat erosion and protect stock...... 32 Glenmore, another example of the Farm Forestry Model...... 35

Regulars From the president...... 2 Market report...... 26 From the Patron...... 27 Branch secretaries...... 44 Special Interest Groups...... 44 Farm Forestry Model 32

Front cover photo: The opinions expressed in Tree Grower are not necessarily the opinion of, or endorsed by, Field day at the Wardles. NZFFA, editorial staff or the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information, but neither NZFFA nor the publisher accept liability for any consequences arising from reliance on the information published. If readers have any doubts about acting on any articles they should seek confirming, professional advice. Pr e s i d e n t ’s Co m m e n t From the President Official Journal of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association Conference another be – ranging from little or no impact through to predictions that much of New Zealand President success Patrick Milne agricultural future will be at risk under the Congratulations to the Central Canterbury conditions prevailing during 2006/07. As Phone: 03 312 6599 Branch for a very successful annual Fax: 03 312 6066 the debate continues, farm foresters are left conference. Brian Dixon and his very wondering why the practical benefts of farm Email: [email protected] effcient team can feel well satisfed with forestry are only paid lip-service to by the their efforts in showcasing farm forestry schemes designers, while at the same time, National Head Office in Central Canterbury. In addition to the much is made of yet to be developed new Open – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday normal business sessions, dinners and award research and future technological advances. 4th Floor, 85 The Terrace presentations, conference attendees visited There is no question that more trees PO Box 1122 a wide range of locations. These included a and forestry are absolutely essential if New Wellington private native reserve, joint venture forests, Zealand is ever going to be able to claim Phone: 04 472 0432 current research trials and a high country something akin to being sustainable. This is Fax: 04 473 6904 station. The visit to John and Rosalie Wardle’s not just about balancing our carbon emissions. Email: [email protected] property was memorable, not only for their The country also needs more trees to protect Website: www.nzffa.org.nz enthusiasm and sheer hard work, but also for its soils, enhance water quality, protect their contribution to alternative management indigenous biodiversity and as shelter, shade or Editor regimes for both beech and radiata. even emergency fodder for animal welfare. Julian Bateson At the end of the conference I felt that Afforestation should not be considered Bateson Publishing Limited it was a great pity that more of the wider in isolation, but it must be a key part of PO Box 2002 farming community had not seen and any strategy to tackle agricultural emissions. Wellington experienced the benefits that flow from Looking at current sheep and beef country, if Phone: 04 385 9705 intelligently integrating trees and forestry with 10 per cent was in forestry, this would roughly other land uses. The conference, along with Fax: 04 385 9704 balance the emissions from that industry for the Tree Grower, is one of the most influential Mobile: 021 670 672 30 to 40 years. I would have thought this was means that the NZFFA has to promote itself Email: [email protected] a very reasonable objective to aim for. Most and its objectives to other land users. Therein sheep and beef farm foresters would claim lies a challenge for both future conference Assistant Editor that 10 per cent is very easily attained and has organising committees and the executive. Vivienne McLean minimal or no effect on farm productivity. With some imagination, I am sure farm Phone: 07 866 5776 Award winners Email: [email protected] forestry would also offer other agricultural I would like to congratulate this year’s award sectors, such as dairying and cropping, the winners. As with past winners they have Advertising Management opportunity to offset emissions. demonstrated once again the relevance of New Zealand used to be regarded as a Bateson Publishing Limited the farm forestry model in aiding good land world leader in farm forestry, but over the Delivery address: management and sustainability. The question last decade interest has waned. We have lost Level 2, Solutions House for farm forestry and farm foresters is how our pre-eminent position, and we are now 185-187 Willis Street do we encourage more landowners to adopt paying the price, be it in carbon charges, Wellington our model. The NZFFA is very grateful to soil erosion, animal welfare or in rural Phone: 04 233 9705 Husqvarna for their continued support of the amenity and landscape values. There has Fax: 04 385 9704 farm forester of the year, Transpower and the never been a stronger case for tree planting Email: Landcare Trust for their environmental award and New Zealand has one of the best tree [email protected] and Audrey Hay for her new award to support growing environments in the world. The and encourage younger tree planters. NZFFA’s collective experience in planting, Design and Layout and managing a wide range of tree species Olga Gerondis Agriculture carbon footprint in an even wider range of environments is a Bateson Publishing Limited I have no doubt that most farm foresters national asset. I would like to encourage the will be following the current debate on ETS designers to understand farm forestry, the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and its why it has been successful and then try to effect on the agricultural sector. There are Subscriptions: $45.00 annually for New Zealand, incorporate it in their scheme. $NZ50 for Australia, $NZ55 for the rest of the many predictions on what this impact might world, including postage. Subscription enquiries and changes of address From the Editor should be sent to NZ Farm Forestry Association, PO Box 1122, Wellington. This issue of Tree Grower contains a bundle of The feld day reports from the conference Phone 04 472 0432 articles that we hope you fnd interesting. will be continued in the August issue. The NZ Tree Grower is published in February, May, There are reports form the conference, articles about the future of the NZFFA are August and November. summaries of the awards presented, a special meant to stimulate debate, so please take feature on Taranaki and two very useful this opportunity to respond with useful articles on the Farm Forestry Model. comments or ideas. Co n f e r e n c e f i e l d d a y s Conference Field Days

The annual conference as usual provided the opportunity for attendees to take part in a number of excellent field visits. In this issue ofTree Grower are the first of the reports from these field days. The remaining reports will feature in the August issue.

Pine and presentations at Ahuriri Terry and Claire Gavin

Conference Friday morning saw those farm foresters who chose the Ahuriri option bussing along the narrow and winding scenic Dyers Pass and Summit Roads on Banks Peninsula. We had excellent views of Lyttelton Harbour and the Peninsula. It was pleasing to see signifcant areas fenced off with excellent regeneration of native shrubs and trees under way. We did however notice quite a lot of our old enemy muehlenbeckia, that strangling native vine. There will no doubt be quite a few botanical battles over the next few years.

Beating the gorse We duly arrived at our destination, Ahuriri Farm. This is a 1,400 hectare, 8,000 stock unit sheep and cattle farm on the southern side of Banks Peninsula between Tai Tapu and Motukarara. Ahuriri has been owned by the Graham family since World War II, and is currently farmed by Peter and Ann Graham. Peter told us that there are 150 hectares of radiata pine on the property, mostly in several joint forestry ventures. They had entered into these joint ventures partly as a form of superannuation, and partly to help get on top of the gorse problem. Having been brought out by the early settlers to plant as hedges, gorse has spread rapidly over the Peninsula. The process of gaining consents to plant had been a lengthy and expensive one. All the neighbours were agreeable but some residents of Christchurch had objected. Peter said that they were happy with the joint venture schemes. We were then drafted into three mobs, no dogs were needed, and Charles Etherington and the benfits of a joint venture moved progressively through three separate presentations. Charles said that the landowner’s share is calculated on the forestry value of the land not on the land value, and that they use a Joint ventures 7% internal rate of return in this calculation. Charles Etherington discussed joint venture forestry schemes. Charles The landowner’s share is typically around 15% to 30%. Most of runs Warren Forestry, which sets up and manages joint ventures for the landowners, like the Grahams, have been happy with the joint groups of small investors. They currently manage 34 plantations on ventures and are keen to enter more schemes. The main problem 12 farms. The schemes are divided into 100 units with most investors has been fnding investors with forestry being in the doldrums holding between one and four units. The frst plantings in 1997 recently. included the block of radiata pine we visited on Ahuriri Farm. Regarding liquidity, the occasional investor in their schemes Charles detailed some of the positives as − who had wished to sell had been able to do so, although it often • The farmer can concentrate on farming took some months. Charles seemed confdent that the issue of • A greater area is able to be planted carbon credits as it affects joint forest ventures can be worked out • The block can be professionally managed satisfactorily for all parties. However there were some minuses − • Loss of control for the landowner Clone experiment • Risk of partnership failure Euan Mason gave a rapid fre and enthusiastic presentation on the • May slow up a farm sale. Ahuriri clone and competition experiment with radiata pine He

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 3 Co n f e r e n c e f i e l d d a y s

The 10-year-old radiata

Wink Sutton asking a pertinent question

Radiata management Patrick Milne then gave us a presentation on the management of Euan Mason making his presentation the 10-year-old block of radiata we were standing in at Ahuriri. This block was planted in 1997 with GF19 seedling pines at 800 stems per hectare in a gorse infected area which had been pre-sprayed and burnt. Boron was applied in 1999 and the pines were pruned in three lifts to 6.5 metres. In 2007 the mean crop length was 11.2 metres, mean crop diameter was 17.2, the DOS 6.6 and pruned stocking rate was now 300 stems per hectare. Patrick said that in hindsight on this dry, weedy site, the initial stocking of 800 stems per hectare was insuffcient to give enough choice to keep 325 good trees per hectare. He would now suggest planting 1,100 stems per hectare to get the canopy closed quicker for weed control and more selection choice. With regard to the question of pruning he said ‘probably’, but only to 5.5 metres, and to do it in two rather than three lifts, saving costs of $1000 per hectare. An expensive weed mat Carbon credits found that on a dry site like Ahuriri, two metre spot control for The whole group reassembled for lunch and a presentation on carbon one year after planting results in a three year gain in time required credits by Piers McLaren outlining the various options available to to reach the same yield. In other words a three year shortening of forest owners. I was amazed how relaxed, or is that resigned, that most rotation, so the tree is ready for harvest three years sooner. farm foresters seem to be regarding this complex and concerning In wetter areas, such as Kaingaroa, the gain is less – about one issue. Carbon credits have been covered in recent Tree Grower articles year. Euan said they had even tested weed matting, rather an unusual by Piers and will hopefully be the subject of more as the law is passed sight in a pine block. The matting had caused some problems due to and regulations, due out very soon, are publicised. water interception, and with the greater cost of material and time Piers emphasised how important it was for government ministers involved in pegging down the matting, it worked out to be 40 to 50 to read their briefng papers thoroughly. He used the example of times the cost of chemical control. Of considerable interest was the the fnancial benefts that the government initially expected from fnding of one particular clone of radiata where pasture competition carbon credits, only to have to revise their projection to signifcant had very little effect on growth. debits shortly afterwards. He pointed out that if they had read the Euan also discussed stiffness and stability, with a difference of 40% next paragraph in the report, which he produced for them, they found using different stocking rates. Greater initial stocking rates would have seen that the benefts depended on the then current nett resulted in higher density. They also found a 40% difference with planting rate of around 50,000 hectares a year to continue. As this different genotypes. Importantly, these effects, stocking and genetic, did not happen, there were fewer carbon credits available. are additive. A surprising fnding was that the slower growing trees Then it was on to the buses and off to Rolleston to see some with closer spaced rings were less stiff when compared with their more radiata trials and hear more from Canterbury forestry and soil faster growing neighbours. scientists.

4 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Co n f e r e n c e f i e l d d a y s Making a difference with shelter on Snowdon Station John Purey-Cust

hen Tony Tripp was asked if he would host a conference Shelter came early on. In 1976 a run plan drawn up with the visit to Snowdon Station he declined. There were many then North Canterbury Catchment Board identifed soil types Wbetter properties he said, and he had made too many and appropriate land uses, and helped plan development – fencing, mistakes. But of course another name for a mistake is experience shelterbelts, erosion control, and provision of a new water supply. which the wise learn from, and that was what we saw. Development of the better tussock country into better pastures went Snowdon Station is a 2,000 hectare family farm in the hand in hand with this, and stock numbers slowly increased. Windwhistle area of the Rakaia Gorge. It has been in the same family Catchment Board shelter subsidies centred round four-row belts since 1946. In 1972 Tony and Nicky Tripp purchased it from the 120 metres apart. Two of the rows were radiata pine and two Douglas previous generation, and management of the partnership has now fr. The early plantings were contracted to Millichamps Nursery with passed to the next generation of Annabel Tripp and Ray Veronese. site preparation by ripper and V-blade. Herbicide was not used and The land runs from 500 metres above sea level at the homestead success varied with soil type and depth. to 1300 metres on the hill. Climatic extremes are the rule, with We saw examples of these early belts. The radiata give impressive north west gales of up to 160 kph, winter snowfalls that can exceed shelter but in general the Douglas fr has been overwhelmed. They a metre and weeks of severe frost during the heart of the winter. have been crowded out by radiata taking all the moisture. Unhappy in violent continual winds, they do not now appear to be contributing Shelter makes a difference anything to shelter, which in this country is perhaps what you would In 1972 the farm consisted of unimproved tussock with minimal expect. shelter and it carried 4,000 stock units. Now it carries 11,000 − Tending within the belts is only to improve shelter. At this altitude 320 cattle and 9,500 Perendale sheep - so what has happened in radiata is unlikely to produce wood of a quality worth carting to the between? mill, and we heard for the frst time about farm forestry where the place of trees is largely to improve the productive capacity of the farm. Shelter planting continues, still relying on radiata but with a wider range included such as Leyland cypresses. In strategic places there are blocks of widely spaced trees planted primarily as shelter for newly shorn sheep when the need arises.

Rock pile shelters The frst stop was on undulating country at the eastern end of the property. This was well sheltered with even the rock piles carefully arranged so the stock could shelter inside them, strongly developed pasture and a good view over the rest of the property. We could see the undeveloped hill country of the Benmore Range and the hard valley floor flats where development had been confned to control of matagouri, and we looked down on the lower end of that country where conventional pasture development was taking place. The second stop was down there, and the difference in pasture growth was immediately obvious – this is much tougher country.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 5 Co n f e r e n c e f i e l d d a y s the higher elevation particularly, or are there other reasons why they are not used in this situation? Having seen eucalypts in Southland blasted by frost I could see it might have diffculty on the flats, but perhaps it could work on the hills. This subject remained unexplored and the eucalypt enthusiasts remained silent.

Homestead lunch Then it was on to the homestead for lunch. The house, dating from the times of high wool prices and merinos dining on the unharvested pastures of the centuries, is indeed a stately home. The male employees were housed elsewhere and the females in the attic with high windowsills so that they could not overlook the doings One of the rock pile shelters of their social superiors. The difference between matagouri as friend or foe was pointed We ate our lunch on the wide lawn, under the shade of a walnut out. It may in places be a weed but it is excellent lambing shelter tree which apparently never fruited until it was forty years old. Tony and, being a nitrogen fxer, sheep can always fnd a friendly bite demonstrated a gadget for picking up walnuts without bending underneath it in hard times. which I would immediately buy if I had a walnut tree. There is also a The flats are also diffcult country for tree establishment, with silver birch of great size, some stupendous Thuja plicata and no doubt frost, droughts, wet patches and wind all inhibiting success. other trees which I did not fnd in the time available, and a museum which was quite an attraction, slightly delaying our departure as Block plantings distracted visitors were hustled back to the buses. We then went on to one of the block plantings, primarily Douglas It was a great morning under a blue sky. We had excellent fr and macrocarpa but with a wide range of other species planted commentaries both on the buses and from two of the three particularly at the lower level – I saw a spruce, at least two different generations of the Tripp family present. We were told of the increasing silver frs, and from a distance eucalypts round the edge, and there place of tourism in the economy of the district, of high land prices were more. rising on the back of outside investment interest. But above all we The block was on a steep slope and the Douglas fr had been came away with the feeling that what we had seen was just very good pruned to about two metres. The macrocarpas had been fan land use borne of long experience − a great visit. pruned, branches on the uphill and downhill sides removed, and the whole had been planted at wide spacing along the contour. Tony explained that this was what he saw as true agroforestry, trees as an aid to farming. There might be a timber yield sometime but that is incidental, the wide spacing is to let in light to encourage grass growth, and the pruning is to allow stock to wander about and get a bite to eat when snow threatens the newly shorn. It was a comfortable place to be and much discussion followed on the superior merits of Douglas fr in particular as a timber tree at this altitude of over 500 metres. Some talk – but not enough – then followed on the place of eucalypts here. The edge planting, distantly seen, appeared to be twice the height of the neighbouring Douglas fr and of better form. Does it have a role in raising the shelter height at

6 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Co n f e r e n c e f i e l d d a y s Mt Barker wilding Corsican pines John Purey-Cust

rom Snowden Station we moved on to Mt Barker, a few expert in wilding pine matters and see the enterprise as a way of kilometres to the north, to see Nick Ledgard and Gordon practising what they have for so long preached to others. FBaker’s wilding pine management joint venture on land owned At the frst stop where we could see all we were told us about by Canterbury University, a different landscape without shelter or the mechanics of the issue. Northern hemisphere conifers are vastly lush pasture. more successful colonisers of the high country than are native plants. Their seed is wind blown and on suitable sites seedlings quickly grow beyond control by browsing animals. The invasion starts with scattered individuals which, if not removed before seeding themselves, will scatter their own children tightly round them into groups which, given time, will coalesce into a forest. The seed does not last long in the ground, two or three years at most so it is not a gorse or broom problem. The speed with which this happens varies with the species and Corsican pine takes 12 to 15 years. Much depends on the state of development of the land downwind. Grazing does not control unless associated with development such as top dressing and over-sowing. It is all about increased stocking and the competition of introduced grasses restricting germination. So there is time. Nick preaches that you should know your species so that you know how long you have. Hit the frst arrivals as soon as they become noticeable and come back a year or two later to get the ones you missed the frst time. There is no need to scrabble about in the grass looking for seedlings. You will miss some anyway so just make another visit when you can see them. Wilding pines covering the hillside Joint venture All from a shelter belt From there we moved on to the joint venture area, another test of The wildings, predominantly Corsican pine with a few radiata but bus driving skills which were such a feature of this conference. The no contorta, originate from a 1910 shelterbelt on Lake Coleridge forest is a mixture of age classes and stem quality, with the oldest Station, a kilometre to the north of Mt Barker. The frst wildings open grown frst arrivals densely surrounded by younger generations. appeared in the 1940s. Just on 20 years later a major spread took It is capable of yielding anything from rather rough sawlogs to the them up to another ten kilometres to the east, and the view now is best formed post and pole material in every dimension. of a pine forest on the mountain and plain, with scattered outliers on the hills further south. By the early 1990s the leaseholder had had enough and insisted that the most affected area, the forest of 380 hectares, be fenced and withdrawn from his lease. A year later a joint venture management agreement was signed between the University and the Mt Barker Forestry directors named above. Both have signifcant high country forestry experience, are

Douglas Fir planted in a harvested coupe

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 7 Co n f e r e n c e f i e l d d a y s

Corsican pines understorey Douglas Fir planted in another harvested space The objectives of the venture are both production and through the fence. It will just be part of the farming year, something conservation. Apart from the mountain slopes the bulk of the forest one just does. Perhaps as usual, the Tripps lead the way, but what of is of quite gentle topography. The production side at frst consisted those land administrators who do not have musters? of one small harvest of one to two hectares annually but the logistics This was an excellent end to a day full of initiative and interest, proved too expensive. Now three or four of the harvests, carried blessed too by perfect weather. out by contract, are done together every three or four years. Each is then replanted with Douglas fr. A harvest yields $5,000 to $7,000 per hectare delivered to the mill. It should demand a quality premium, Corsican pine being the strength king of post material. Unfortunately this is not the case, perhaps because the supply is too small and infrequent.

Planting the next crop The Douglas fr planting is of Tramway stock from Beaumont forest on the banks of the Clutha river, with excellent form and vigour, growing well at the beginning of a 45-year rotation in its sheltered clearings. The forest environment is not lost, but the ultimate future is still uncertain as Douglas fr is as vigorous a spreader at this altitude as Corsican pine. So will the wilding problem remain?

Control outside the boundary On the conservation side, wildings outside the boundary are removed and their reintroduction controlled by top dressing the strip along the fence to encourage forage and attract animals to eat it. There is also some boundary planting of species less susceptible to spread such as ponderosa pine and radiata which also assist by catching seed from within the forest. Within the block there are scattered tarns and regeneration close to them has been removed. The shelter, varied habitat and food sources attract birds both native and introduced. One of the frst feld trips of the conference was to Hinewai on Banks Peninsula, where gorse and broom are being defeated by invading natives. The question was put that this might happen in due course at Mt Barker. Nick did not think it would. The difference between the two is seed source. At Hinewai it is abundant, but at Mt Barker absent. If there was to be any regeneration the seed sources would have to be planted.

Pest or opportunity So the fnal question is − Are wildings always a pest or can they be an opportunity as well? Certainly there is a problem if they include contorta, but otherwise this feld trip would seem to indicate the latter. Both the directors have other jobs, but if they did not, would it not be a very pleasant and proftable job working up here for two or three months of each summer ? Tony Tripp from Snowdon Station mentioned that every musterer always carries a pruning saw to deal to any wilding seen. Nick has suggested elsewhere that in ten to twelve years’ time retrieving the odd tree will be as normal as retrieving the odd sheep that gets

8 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Viewpoint National Conference viewpoint Nick Ledgard

On the last day of the Christchurch NZFFA conference around 200 participants went first to Tony and Nicki Tripp’s Snowdon station, and then onto Mt Barker, the wilding forest near Lake Coleridge managed by myself and Gordon Baker. At that site, I explained how both Gordon and I have research backgrounds in the mountain land forestry area, and that Mt Barker allowed us to implement our ideas and to practise what we preach.

n reflection, both the academic years old. We were shown how he harvests about 10 trees each year and research background per hectare from the top down – that is, only harvesting large trees Oand the ‘doing as you say’ over 60 cm diameter at breast height. element, was a feature of many parts The logging crew really enjoy working there, and the buyers of the Christchurch conference – and described the log quality as amongst the very best in Canterbury. We probably made it a little different from had plenty of time to discuss this unique way of managing radiata, normal. with a number of questions raised as to whether natural regeneration would be suffcient to form a viable new crop before the last mature A unique reserve tree hits the deck. The frst feld trip was to Hinewai, the For those not at Woodside, there was a visit to Matawai Park unique, privately owned reserve near and Dudley Franklin’s garden near Rangiora, along with John the eastern tip of Akaroa managed by Fairweather’s eucalypt and blackwood forest near Sefton. Both the equally unique, Hugh Wilson. Dudley and John were professional researchers who have used Hugh started his professional life as their experiences to establish and manage the trees visited. Dudley a botanist and researcher with DSIR, was the main person behind the establishment of Matawai Park, and from his observations decided that one of the very frst public native re-creations of any size in the answer to gorse and broom control was not necessarily elimination. Canterbury. In fact, he reckoned it could be used to advantage relative to native plant restoration, so some years ago he left DSIR and started managing Open access Hinewai in order to prove his point. Today, it is the most visited reserve After the AGM on Sunday, the afternoon was spent at Bottle Lake on the Peninsula, with a growing army of supporters. Park, another unique site, in that it is probably the only production On our visit we saw numerous examples of the positives of gorse forest of its type to which the public has more or less open access as a nurse crop, which may not have been easy to digest by some of the year round for recreational purposes. The Park attracts around those amongst us who had spent heaps on controlling that species. 750,000 visitors a year. Only Woodhill near Auckland, and Perhaps they were a little consoled by the fact that the minimum Whakarewarewa forest near Rotorua, have similar use. interference management technique for promoting native forest, works best in the high rainfall and good soils of Hinewai, where Facing up to reality there are plenty of native bush remnants, and cannot so readily be Apart from the feld days, the Conference could well turn out to applied to drier, less native-rich areas. be unique for another reason. It is the frst one where we have The alternative to the Hinewai visit was a look at forestry research faced up to the realities of the present day, and the fact that the trials near Tai Tapu and Rolleston. One attendee, farm forestry NZFFA cannot survive in the form it has had for the last 50 years. stalwart Denis Hocking, commented to me later that evening ‘One Membership continues to decline, forcing us into fnancial defcit, of the most informative feld-days I have ever attended’. but even if it was remaining stable, income from fees would not keep us afloat for much longer. Single true selection Ideas as to how we can address this are covered elsewhere in The main visit on the Saturday was to Woodside, the property of this issue, and more meetings are being arranged to decide how we John and Rosalie Wardle in the hills below Mt Oxford. John used to implement a solution. The person we can most thank for leading be an FRI researcher, specialising in native forest ecology. However this rethink is our current President, Pat Milne, yet another to have 30 years ago he too decided to practice what he preached on a recently emerged from a research background − Pat used to be a rather unkempt 120 hectare property with large remnants of black scientist with FRI. beech. He was the frst person to obtain a native forest sustainable I am not sure how many millions of tax-payer dollars the management plan approved under the Forests Act, and now manages government spends annually on tree research. But it was most 84 hectares of beech forest. satisfying to see this year’s NZFFA conference at Christchurch Most of us were aware of that, but we were less aware of his demonstrating how some of it is resulting in useful and practical single tree selection management of a radiata plantation now 34 advances on our farmland.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 9 Aw a r d s

2008 NZFFA Awards

The awards for the Husqvarna Farm Foresters of the Year, the Transpower Landcare Trust Award, the Neil Barr award and the Michael Hay Memorial Award were all presented at the conference in March.

North Island Farm Forester of the Year Ray and Grace Newman

The Newmans’ farm is situated at Te Karaka on the road through the Waioeka gorge to Opotiki. It totals 580 hectares, 217 purchased in 1972 and 363 hectares bought in 1992 − all part of a much bigger property split up after the World War II for returned soldiers. In terms of contour, there are no flats. Some 25 per cent could be classed as easy hills, 50 per cent medium and 25 per cent is steep land dropping into the Hihiroroa stream. The soil types are mudstone and sandstone covered by ash on easier slopes and defnitely erosion prone. Rainfall averages 1000 mm to 1200 mm with severe summer droughts not uncommon. They have leased out 185 hectares, so now have 395 hectares to manage, less a total of 110 hectares in reserve, forestry and a large beautiful garden. This includes the 10 hectares QE II covenanted reserve with is another one in the pipeline.

Grace and Ray at home in their garden.

ay and Grace have been stalwarts of the East Coast branch for 19 years. Ray has been on the committee for 17 of Rthose − he has been vice President, President and is currently newsletter editor. In short, he is one of the people the NZFFA relies on to do the work.

A fallow deer at Newman’s farm Erosion control Erosion control on this block of East Coast hill country is a major concern, especially when events such as Cyclone Bola come along. Severe droughts add to the mix of problems faced. Ray has put a Ray and Grace have successfully planted their erosion-prone gullies tremendous effort into conservation plantings. He has planted and

10 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Aw a r d s used his own poplar nurseries, developed his own clone, which he A Kuser redwood trial site, consisting of 40 trees and fve clones, was very modestly calls P. newmani. Many others have benefted from his planted in 2002, followed by another redwood trial of six clones, of surplus poles. He has used the poplar and willow as fodder to help 100 trees planted in 2004. A eucalypt trial of 10 varieties was also get stock through the droughts. planted in 2004. Production species have also been planted. A 9-hectare radiata Ray is a one-man campaign promoting the benefts of planting block, planted in 1972 to stop a hillside slumping, has now been trees. As chair of the local school he started a scheme for parents to harvested and has been replanted in macrocarpa and lusitanica. donate and plant a tree in the grounds. The school has gone but the However the slump has started again so Acacia melanoxylon is to be trees look wonderful. He answers many phone calls as his expertise tried to see if its suckering root system will hold. is now well known and persuaded a neighbour to plant 25ha of The Gisborne District Council has recently produced aerial radiata… which he now owns. photos to identify erosion-prone areas of land that must be planted He has set up two joint ventures with his family which he in trees, and Ray is very proud that in his case, the planting has sees as a wonderful way to get them all involved in the farm, with already been done. estate planning as an added bonus. Ray and Grace won the MOF innovation award in 1997. To top it all off he ran a marathon in More planting 2006. He has planted a huge range of different species. One of his favourites is Cedrus deodara for its ability to survive on exposed sites. South Island Farm Forester of the Year Chris and Julia Dawkins

hris and Julia Dawkins farm in the Waihopai valley west of Blenheim. Chris has been on the property all his life and he Cand Julia purchased the property in 1978. This award is not just about a well planted farm but covers planning, species diversity, suitability, silviculture and records. It also evaluates the person in terms of their contribution to the Farm Forestry Association and the wider community, as well as their depth and spread of knowledge in tree planting and the results. This years winner is a ‘tree nut’. The morning he was frst contacted about the award and asked how the day was, he replied ‘Just another morning in paradise’. We will cover Chris and Julia’s property in more detail in the next issue of Tree Grower. Transpower Landcare Trust Award Alan Roulston

lan Roulston farms Chardale, South Otago. His property of 400 hectares is 30km from the coast, located on a very Aexposed ridge at 250 metres altitude. Alan is currently running 2,500 ewes, 900 hogget’s, 80 stud charolais cows, 200 other cattle, a 40 sow pig breeding unit and operates an agricultural contracting business in the area. Alan, a third generation farmer, has initiated the planting of extensive shelter, 40 hectares of timber and mixed species woodlots

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 11 Aw a r d s and several kilometres of riparian plantings using a range of species. Pine blocks had been planted in the 1950s and 1960s, but Alan began shelter and riparian planting in the late 1980s to provide shelter, colour, diversity of form, flowers and seeds for birds and bees. Alan has approached planting with an overall plan to make the property both aesthetically pleasing and a good environment for stock and man. Roadside plantings, mostly of indigenous species, along the complete length of the road frontage present an attractive vista and add to shelter. There are many corners and small blocks on steeper land and around ponds with different mixtures of species such as larch, Douglas fr, golden macrocarpa, acacia, poplars, red beech, red cedar, silver birch, Lawson cypress, redwoods, and many indigenous species. The exposed nature of the property, which regularly gets snow, detrimental to the stream and koura. Fencing the stream has meant and the fact that 1000 lambs where lost in a snow storm in 1992 an improvement in stream health. spurred the shelter plantings, so that very few lambs are now lost Alan has sought the knowledge of many people including due to weather. Very extensive riparian plantings have been carried consultants, nurserymen, and local contractors in his plan to make out with a desire to protect and foster the fresh water crayfsh or Chardale a very attractive, workable, diverse, and sustainable property. koura. An upstream dairy farm and previous stock access had been Neil Barr Award Inaugural Michael Hay Mike Davies Memorial Award his award recognises Gary Fleming the best endeavours and attributes of silviculture T he first recipient in woodlots. o f t h e M i c h a e l Mike spends a lot of his H a y M e m o r i a l limited spare time nurturing, T Award is Gary Fleming of mulching and pruning woodlots, Rangiora. not only his own, which include Audrey Hay created species such as redwood and this new award in memory macrocarpa, but also on the of her late husband to Silverwood experimental farm encourage and assist at Hororata. younger members of the Mike is a mine of information and a fund of experience and this NZFFA with their tree award recognises his knowledge, high standards and aspirations. planting. Gary lives and works on the 110 hectare family farm Conference proceedings at Mt Grey, Rangiora. He has been a member of the All the printed copies of the proceedings of the 2008 North Canterbury branch conference, held in Christchurch in March, were distributed to since 1987 and branch conference-goers. For those who were unable to attend the secretary since 2002.He conference but who would like to read the account of activities Audrey Hay with Gary Fleming has been planting trees and and view the photographs and maps, the proceedings are now shrubs on the farm since he available in electronic form. was 13 and established his own timber block of mixed ash group The electronic version is in pdf format and is available either by eucalypts when he was 16. email or on CD. There is no charge for the electronic version. The farm is intensively managed for sheep, deer, crops and forestry, Those who either do not have email or who have a very slow with a small amount of extra income from frewood, landscape internet connection can obtain the document on a CD for $10 gardening and forestry work for neighbours. plus $5 for postage and packaging. Gary has three areas ready for planting totalling 3.5 hectares. He will use the $5,000 award money to plant another eucalypt trial If you want to receive the document by email simply send a plot, a Leyland clone plot, and on the third elms for timber with request to [email protected]. To order the CD version, send fodder in between. a cheque for $15 made payable to Central Canterbury Farm Forestry, to Derrick Rooney, PO Box 43, Hororata 7544.

12 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 As s o c i a t i o n The future of the NZFFA Patrick Milne

As the NZFFA contemplates future directions, there will be continuing discussion in coming months as to just what that future might look like. In this and coming issues Tree Grower will cover the debate − the challenges and the real opportunities that lie ahead, and the possible solutions. In this issue, Patrick Milne looks at the factors leading up to the current situation, Allan Levett summarises some key points arising from the special meeting held at the recent annual conference, and we include a few of the abridged thoughts sent by branches and wise heads prior to that meeting.

book on the frst 50 years. The original founders were mainly farmers who were very interested in the role trees could play in increased production, whether of meat, wool, crops or land stabilisation. After reading this book you start to appreciate that the success enjoyed during its frst 30 to 40 years was very much dependant on support from the State − Forest Service, extension offcers, benevolent directors, Forest Research Institute − as well as loans and grants schemes. Things are very different today. The take home message is that during the NZFFA’s successful years, farming was on the up and there was considerable support from the State. Coupled with this, the NZFFA had a charismatic champion, a leader who wrote extensively promoting tree planting, with the net result that the we had a very high profle.

Strong foundation With the beneft of hindsight we can see that the NZFFA was built on − • A good idea some farmers had to use trees in their farming Setting the scene for FFA growth practice We are all aware that membership has been declining for the last 10 • A lot of assistance from the State years. In John Prebble’s 1999 conference report, membership was • Considerable enthusiasm reported at 3,499 members, with 355 Tree Grower-only members. • A huge voluntary commitment on the part of members Estimates for 2007 are 2,275 members, a decline over the years of This is hardly the basis for an enduring organisation. However, 1,224 or 35 per cent which is about four per cent a year over nine even though farming and forestry have changed, and priorities years. Over the last fve years membership has declined at an average for farmers and foresters have changed, the NZFFA has hung on, of 5.6 per cent a year. Based on these fgures the 2008 membership testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of the membership. is estimated to decline to 2,148 and by 2010 to 1,914 members. There are still a lot of positives about our organisation − It is obvious that with a declining membership, we will have a • An active branch network corresponding decline in income, and to that end our provisional • Over 2000 members with a common interest. budget for 2008 provides for a defcit. Assuming no change to • Members’ enthusiasm and support subscriptions and no increase in any of our costs, this defcit will • Members have a wealth of experience and expertise and happily increase each year beyond that. However costs are not going to share it remain static and there is a limit to which we can raise subs, so it is • Tree Grower magazine quite clear that we need to address the situation. • Effcient and low cost national offce The simple answer would be to either put up the subs, draw • Neil Barr Foundation on reserves or both, but I think doing this is akin to managing the • Sponsorship support association to extinction. There is a limit to how much we can • Strong representation by volunteers in industry matters increase the subs and use reserves to fund a defcit. There is no • Multi species growers simple obvious fx. But I think there are some things we could do • Good cooperation with the Forest Owners Association which might not halt the decline, and may ensure the survival of • Stimulating annual conference the NZFFA. To do this will involve some change to the way the • Supported by industry. NZFFA is structured and how we do things. Everything to everybody The first 50 years A major problem is that it the NZFFA tries to be everything to Before we start to look at where we might go in the future, I think everybody and, because it lacks focus, struggles to do anything it is very important to understand where the NZFFA came from, the properly. We are therefore trying to cover the technical aspects of basis for it and try and get a fx on why the NZFFA is in its current growing trees, akin to the role of Meat & Wool NZ, and the political predicament. I imagine most of you will have read Joll Hosking’s role of an industry lobby group like Federated Farmers.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 13 As s o c i a t i o n The mantra of business today is to stick to what you know and consider, it does not need to be done too quickly and we have some do it well. While the NZFFA has a constitution and many lofty time to think. objectives, I am not sure if they are still the most relevant today, and I think the NZFFA has a future, although I am not sure it has I believe we need to redefne the goals. many options. Its future is to concentrate on what the membership What is the primary objective of the NZFFA? What is the main is not only very good at, but also where we can be considered leaders reason for its existence? These should be such simple questions to in the feld − sustainability and multiple land use. This is in essence answer but the reality is that there is no clear answer. what the Farm Forestry Model is all about. What about the constitution? You would expect to fnd the basis We have all heard reasons for the decline in membership − ageing of the NZFFA embedded in this somewhere, but I am amazed to membership, farmers retiring, poor farm and forestry returns and discover that nowhere in its objects and powers − 18 of them in change of land-use. Despite these reasons, the land still remains and my copy − are branches or the membership mentioned. The way so do the sustainability issues surrounding it. it reads is that the NZFFA is everything to everybody but nothing specifc to its branches or its membership. Synonymous with sustainability I would have expected the main objective should be to be an I would like to see the NZFFA become synonymous with advocate for its membership and their farm forestry businesses or sustainability and multiple land use so that when questions are raised similar. However but it could just as easily be to provide a mechanism about it, the automatic response should be the NZFFA. This will for those with an interest in farming, trees and sustainability to meet require a subtle change in emphasis – from forestry on farmland to and discuss these things. one where forestry is just one of the suite of options available to land managers. Possibly over the last few years, we have concentrated on Where to next? the forestry side of things, putting to the side the fact that the primary Firstly, we need to keep talking to the branches and wise heads in business of most members is farming. The NZFFA has become the the NZFFA. This was the main reason for calling a special council son of FOA to some extent and, dare I say it, somewhat irrelevant. meeting. While there are a number of things that we will need to We need to ask ourselves, is there a better way of doing things?

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14 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 As s o c i a t i o n Whither the NZFFA? Allan Levett

eetings to consider the future of an organisation can away but somehow charged for as a valuable product. At the same time, take many forms but it is always diffcult to arrive at a while money-making was considered desirable, it was pointed out Mclear prescription for change. The special meeting before that it should not be at the cost of losing the fellowship, enthusiasm the beginning of the national conference was no exception but and voluntarism that is the life-blood of our organisation. nevertheless some strong directions emerged. The trick will be putting them into effect by a small executive that is already sometimes Future roles over-stretched. Suggestions on how to effect the changes proposed Questions involving the long term future of the NZFFA, or the were also given at the meeting. nature of the organisation if it was starting today or in fve years time, As President, and chairman of the meeting, Patrick Milne tended to merge into one. There was a general consensus around announced a three-point plan − the need for a more robust organisation, exerting political influence, 1. This frst meeting would help to defne the organisation having a role in forestry policies and serving the traditional interests 2. The next meeting in October or November will discuss how to of members. As a result, ideas of saving money by having an offce implement changes out of Wellington, a smaller Executive or a reduced number of 3. Prior to the next conference all will be summarised for councillors, although mentioned, were not taken far. Instead, some presentation to the conference. practical ideas for structural parts were put forward. The format used by Patrick at the meeting consisted of him asking a series of specifc questions. Each person present had the The Council opportunity to answer. At present the Council does nothing between conferences but it It is hard to compress the discussion at such a meeting into a should be the policy-making body and become more active, lively and relatively short article. While the replies were summarised by Patrick relevant. Therefore the Council needs to be presented with options, on a whiteboard, of necessity these were often too brief. Fortunately re-organised, possibly reduced in size and possibly function between Dean Satchell wrote as much as he could of the actual words spoken conferences. Although its size, frequency of meetings and functions and I have used his material in the following analysis. might be changed, many speakers urged that its representativeness be retained and its essential democracy preserved. Participants Twenty-fve people participated, all active and many prominent The Executive members of the NZFFA. There were three past national Presidents The Executive should make more use of members who are not and fve current members of the Executive. Just 12 were farmers or on the executive, such as Dave Gratton whose voluntary work on retired farmers. The others included four forestry consultants and health and safety is highly regarded and appreciated. There should two forestry researchers. In total 14 were North Islanders and 11 be more co-opting and delegation of this sort. Use could be made from the South Island, with both Far North and Southland branches of temporary task groups each set up with a specifc mandate and represented. The Middle Districts branch was the most represented pattern of accountability.The Executive should continue to maintain with four members present, including three Executive members. a policy role and work to exert political influence. Two each came from Ashburton, Hawkes Bay, South Otago and Wairarapa branches. The Conference The annual conference should be retained with some re-arrangement Primary objectives of events suggested ‑ in particular a bigger role for Council and more To the frst question ‘What are the primary objectives of the time for the Special Interest Groups to meet. The importance of these organisation?’ the responses, perhaps surprisingly, were overwhelmingly action groups was recognised as being at the cutting edge of new positive and outgoing. Of the 15 statements recorded, seven listed knowledge. Perhaps ways could be found to give them a bigger role some form of sharing knowledge and providing information about at conference? With members scattered all over the country they are planting trees and promoting wise optimum land use including more diffcult and costly to administer and organise. encouraging more trees on land. The next largest category, with fve responses, went further and supported the notion that an advocacy The Tree Grower magazine role is fundamental to the organisation, to be pro-active, lobbying The Tree Grower was considered to be a great asset of which perhaps and even change the world. Two statements suggested a focus on even more could be made. One suggestion was to have a summary or the members, to look after and be guided by their needs. One spoke the highlights of each issue prepared for publication on the farming of biosecurity. pages of daily newspapers. These themes were repeated in different ways throughout the remainder of the discussion. Membership and branches Two areas not covered very well at the meeting, but which deserve Changing environment attention, are membership issues and the role of branches. Readers’ A number of speakers pointed to a hugely changing scene just around ideas about these matters could be written and forwarded to the the corner. Tree planting is going to be popular again and possibly Editor for public discussion and perhaps raised at the next special proftable. The NZFFA is well positioned to go out to people and Council meeting later in the year. Furthermore, anyone present at become the number one source of information on sustainable land the March meeting who considers that important issues raised at the use and the growing and management of diverse tree species. meeting are not covered in this brief report, should see that they are The NZFFA should tap into its knowledge and make it widely sent to the Editor for the next issue of Tree Grower. available. The knowledge, many urged, should simply not be given New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 15 Viewpoint What you think about the NZFFA

The following is a sample of the ideas and thoughts circulated before the special meeting which showed a generally positive attitude, with constructive observations and good ideas for the future development of the Association. We will feature more in coming issues of Tree Grower.

Allan Laurie Neil Cullen The solutions to the negative effects of membership decline are The example of the Clutha Agriculture Development Board might potentially many and therefore not to be found in one place. be an indication of available options for the NZFFA. The Clutha Membership decline is inevitable, albeit not desirable, in the face of Agriculture Development Board, which I currently chair, was set a rapidly declining market − there are fewer people planting trees up in 1990 to rejuvenate agriculture in the Clutha District Council and therefore fewer potential new members. We should not panic area. It employs two people, a projects manager who manages fve about this. projects, and a workshops coordinator who mostly oversees the A return of interest in forestry via the various positives that will running of Farmsafe workshops throughout Otago. The Board also fall out of climate change policy and global sustainability solutions has a contract with the Clutha District Council which provides will inevitably lead to an increase in awareness, and therefore NZFFA $63,000 in funding annually and in return requires the Board to membership. However we cannot expect to sit back and assume an meet basic goals – increase in membership will just happen as this resurgence in interest • Provide information and tech transfer in forestry happens. • Contribute to drawing attention to quality, proftable and sustain- Some solutions – able farming, forestry • Accept the current situation as being inevitable and understand- • Search for new ideas, projects and developments. able but prepare for when there will also be an inevitable upswing • Network and make professional connections. in awareness and potential membership. • Be an advocate for the agriculture, forestry and horticulture • Leadership is fundamental to any organisations future and direc- • Run a professional offce with a solid base membership. tion. The NZFFA needs to be more vociferous about forestry The 2008 income of $200,000 includes $6,700 in subs, $64,000 and farming, about practical solutions to growing trees on the from CDC, $33,000 from Farmsafe and $86,000 from projects. land as has always been the case. Our media presence and public What relevance has this to NZFFA? It demonstrates there are exposure needs to be better organised, well structured, and well other avenues for income other than subscriptions. Is some sort of orchestrated. We need to be seen as an industry leader by the contract with MAF or MfE to provide services an option? Could media. we employ a full or part time executive offcer who would fund be • Develop our website as an industry leader in solutions for forest funded by project or contract income? With such an employee the growers. Perhaps a question and answer section where people NZFFA would have a ready spokesperson and media presence. The can post queries and pay to get an answer. NZFFA has two basic options − retrench and wait for membership • Make sure the likely new government is well alerted to, and has to rebound when forestry does, or fnd other income to become a good understanding of forestry matters and policies. more of a leader in land use areas. • Continue to fundamentally support industry good projects and industry-wide comment. Nick Ledgard • Do what any business might when it fnds itself in a declining I agree that we cannot survive as we are. For many and varied reasons market − invest more money in expanding the business. − fbre, timber, fuel, soil stability, fodder, shelter, animal welfare, carbon storage and amenity − trees have a tremendous role to play Simon Stokes in the future sustainable use of this country, and much of that will I think the NZFFA needs a shot of copper, and to re-ignite itself be on non-corporate land. with some changes. I am afraid the same old message is just getting There is a real need for an NZFFA-like body in this country. To tired and the NZFFA is just not hitting the target audience. The NZ be sure, many branches are quite healthy and on the surface it might Wood advert is excellent in respect of a modern approach. appear that they can survive alone. However if you questioned those Conferences need to change. The conference needs to be the that hold those branches together, I expect that most would want best forestry and farm orientated conference in New Zealand that to be part of a national focus to best obtain our goal − the wise or everybody wants to go to. They need to be more professional and informed use of trees in the right places. involve others, there need to be papers and learning, presentations So how do we redirect the ship? To answer this in an informed where NZFFA members and others discuss, debate, learn, and way, I for one, need to know more about the present scene. Internal network with forest industry and others. We need young, modern things, like our major costs, but maybe more importantly, external spokespeople selling the message about trees in a modern context. forces and what is developing in that area. We all know that the Members and branches need to run specifc training days government would love to see many more trees on the land, and fully targeting professionals and get away from the feld day approach for recognise that farmers manage most of the potential future tree areas. training. Be professional and specifc. The NZFFA should fnd two We know of the tree-planting initiatives they are putting in place, and or more people to do this nationally and get them recognised as recently I heard that MAF was going to appoint forest advisors. training on all things to do with trees. As this reawakening occurs, the powers that be must increasingly We need to incorporate more farm business and farm business appreciate the importance of the NZFFA. They will realise that they success into the promotion of trees and farm forestry, put in a way cannot let it disappear, as such a network of nationwide contacts and that strikes a chord with modern young farmers. depth of knowledge is essential.

16 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e

Taranaki feature

This issue of the Tree Grower has a special feature on the Taranaki branch. Over the next nine pages articles cover growing trees in the shelter of Mount Taranaki, on the coast and inland at Purangi. There are also articles on the Taranaki Tree Trust and on the return of Japanese cedar.

Taranaki farm shelter and forestry association Bob Schumacher

In early 1956 Neil Barr talked to a small but influential group of tree enthusiasts at Patea, including the Parsons brothers, with a view to forming a local branch. The Parsons and Barr families were well acquainted. John’s daughter, Barbara, and Neil’s daughter, Marie Rose, were students together at Sacred Heart College, Auckland, and spent their holidays at each other’s places.

oon after the meeting with Neil Barr, Jack Stronge and Doug growth of lifestyle type blocks with tree plantings, and the owners Watt travelled to Palmerston North to visit Forest Service often tend to have commercial organisations tending the trees. This Spersonnel Ron Wells and Gerald Hocking. Neil Barr was does affect the number of people we see. also present at this meeting to discuss the formation of a branch in We have deliberately aligned ourselves closer to Taranaki Taranaki. Regional Council, as many of their aspirations regarding tree shelter The inaugural meeting, held in Patea on 13 June 1956, elected ft well with our philosophy. We have seen a closer relationship Jack Stronge as president and Doug Watt as secretary, both from develop, with knowledge being shared, and we see this expanding Opunake. The elected committee comprised Reg Packer, Forest in the future. Service, Grant Maxwell, Oaonui, Jim Western, Korito and John and The challenge with this feature was what to leave out. Our region Peter Parsons, Patea. The title of the branch Taranaki Farm Shelter is diversifed, as can be seen by the range of articles in this feature. and Forestry Association, was deliberate, with the focus on farm We have conditions from the coastal environment to the alpine, shelter as well as forestry. eastern microclimates, to severe winds in the southern areas, and from commercial nurseries to an arboretum planted many years ago. Events Like many other areas radiata pine is the dominant species but, The branch has hosted two national conferences, as well as many as noted in one of the articles, Cryptomeria japonica has become a other signifcant forestry events. Today many of the founding superb shelter belt tree. This I can attest to, as we have them on our members are still present and active in the branch and continue farm. Looking around the region one can see many shelter belts of to provide the hard core who attend feld days. They are happy to the cypress family which are succumbing to canker and dying. There share their long experience with planting in our region, and many is increased interest in the redwoods but the jury is still out on how interesting discussions take place as we survey trees on site. this market will develop. Meanwhile we hope this feature will give Our branch faces similar challenges to others, including a slowly readers a good overview of our region. declining membership. This may reflect the combination of poor tree returns, and the busy lifestyle of people today. We have seen a Bob Schumacher is the president of the Taranaki Branch

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 17 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e Growing trees in the shadow of Mount Taranaki Laurence Wakeman and Maureen Muir-Wakeman

Something different from pine In 1992 we started to plant out the forestry block, with 1.25 hectares planted in silver wattle, Acacia dealbata as a nurse crop. We wanted to plant some different species of trees beside pines and A. dealbata can tolerate frosts, is hardy and can tolerate wind. These trees were lightly pruned every year in the beginning, for form and to reduce sail area because of the strength of the wind that the site was exposed to. We thinned them out in years 12 and 13 to a fnal crop of 210 stems and this has been further reduced, to 170 stems through wind damage and trees dying. Our experience has found that the trees planted tightly together protected each other on this windy site. The trees grew very quickly and in year 16 the trees were approximately 25 metres and with a diameter at breast height between 30 and 40 cm.

ocation of our forestry block is three kilometres from Egmont National Park, New Plymouth side. It is very exposed to Lprevailing south and westerly winds at an altitude of 260 metres. The site is flat with very little shelter, and when we purchased the site there had been no history of fertiliser for fve years. The soil is Egmont loam and free draining. On the roadside of the block there was already an established shelterbelt of pines that had not been pruned, these were about seven years old.

Now that the crop is more open, trees have suffered from their tops being blown out and the heavy branches above the pruning line of 6.2 metres breaking off and tearing the bark down the trunk of the tree. The trees that have blown over have not toppled from the

18 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e

ground level, but broken about a metre and a half up the trunk. As for the trees that have just died, the cause remains unknown. Samples of the trunk, roots and soil have been tested by a laboratory but no reason has been found, leaving us to think that the site remains a possible cause for this. Or is it because we grew them so tight before thinning that some have reached their maturity in height? When we planted the Acacia dealbata we believed they generally have a life span of approximately 20 years. Last year we milled two of the fallen trees. The timber was a lot lighter in colour than we had expected − we thought the wood would have been a darker, richer brown colouring. We think that in hindsight this is not a crop for exposed windy sites and our site is just that. However we remain optimistic that we will get a marketable timber from this crop. The dollar and market returns at this stage are unknown, as we do have a lot of good trees, although corrugation of the trunks could be a problem.

Further planting In 1992 we also planted 1.25 hectares of macrocarpa with a nurse crop of GF14 pines. The macrocarpa have suffered from canker and today only one remains. The GF14 pines in this block are to be our fnal crop and have been pruned accordingly. In 1993 we planted a further 1.25 hectares of GF25 pines and 1.25 hectares of white ash Eucalyptus fraxinoides, and E. fastigata. We chose these as they were frost tolerant and the three crops were inter-planted with a nurse crop of GF14 pines. In the frst few years the E. fraxinoides grew a lot faster than the E. fastigata, but over the years the E. fastigata has caught up and developed into a better tree, very tall with straight trunks and very healthy looking crowns. Some of the more exposed E. fraxinoides, while growing very quickly, are showing signs of twisting and stress in some of the trunks, while the E. fastigata does not seem to. The eucalypts have outgrown the nurse crop of pines around them. Many of the nurse pine crop remains and they look to be very good trees. We developed a policy of survival of the fttest and POLE SAWS strongest tree on this site. If a tree fell over or was damaged by wind then the one next to it took its place, hopefully to remain as a fnal crop tree. As the forest has matured the damage by the wind and tree & HAND SAWS toppling has been less. The timber from the pine crop we believe will be of a high density as over the years they have been pruned hard to save as many as possible from toppling, thereby slowing the Ask for them at your local retailer growth. All the trees including the nurse crop have been pruned to www.silkysaws.co.nz 6.2 metres.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 19 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e The topography of Taranaki Christiane and Victor McIntyre

Taranaki’s only stand alone mountain, Mt Taranaki rises 2,518 metres above sea level and dominates Taranaki’s landscape, climate and economy. Most of the Taranaki peninsula and the offshore areas to the north south and west are all part of the geological area known as the Taranaki Basin.

bout 65 million years ago the Taranaki Basin stood above sea Changing forest level, a broad coastal plain with rain draining from the eastern After the last ice age, when rainfall increased, the forests changed. Ahills and bringing sediments, which became compressed into Rimu gradually began to replace the matai and has remained rocks. Forests were buried and compressed into coal, found in the now dominant. Part of the early ancient forests form the buried peat closed coal mines at Mokau. Around 34 million years ago almost the deposits between Bell Block and Waitara. entire Taranaki Basin was submerged. Where sea shells were buried Thick rain forests stretch along the boundary of Egmont National under the mudstone, they were compressed to limestone. A well known Park, the circular area around Mt Taranaki. Most of this forest is made example of this limestone are the White Cliffs near Tongaparutu. up of kamahi, overlapped by emerged rimu and rata. In the eastern A fault line called the Taranaki Fault runs from Patea to Tongaparutu. sector of the park huge rimu and rata have come to the end of their To the west of this fault, virtually continuous deposition evidently took life span in the forest and most of their seedlings fail to survive in the place, where the large commercial gas and oil felds of Kapuni, Maui dark forest interior. Now the shade tolerant mahoe, miro and kamahi and Maori have been discovered. To the east of the fault, the deposition slowly become dominant. One of the remarkable things about the of sediments were reduced and with it the risk of landslides. Here is forests at the slopes of Mt Egmont is that unlike other mountain areas dissected papa mudstone in the hill country inland of Maukau as well they do not contain beech trees. Along the Stoney River where the as south in the Hawera hill country. Subsequent erosion and deposition last lava stream cleared the forest and allowed enough sunshine for of the ragged interior ranges took place in the fertile plains at Patea, seedlings to grow, rata became established directly on the ground. where pine trees are growing well in the sandy soil. The Kaitake range is the largest remaining area of tawa-dominated forest along with rewarewa, a forest type that once covered nearly all A series of fiery eruptions of the Taranaki ring plain before it was cleared for farming. The native After faulting and folding of the underwater landscape, Taranaki’s forest in the north is a semi-coastal forest of nikau palms, kohekohe present day chain of volcanoes was born in a series of fery eruptions and karaka. The adjacent area of Lucy’s Gully features large stands as early as two million years ago. The frst in this succesion is Paritutu of exotic redwoods, eucalypts and Douglas fr. in New Plymouth and the Sugar Loaves offshore, now a marine park. Oil and gas is seeping upwards through this fractured zone creating A lot of rain and wind the small Motorua oil feld. The Taranaki ring plain is spoked with rivers draining the water from Further eruptions formed the Kaitake Ranges south-west of the mountain and flowing as far to the east as the Waitara River. New Plymouth. Its centre left an eroded ring plain partly seen at Creeks and streams become more and more subject to amenity Oakura. The Pouakai, now only a remnant of the former massive plantings. volcanic peak, created a substantial ring plain of ash and mud flows, The annual rainfall varies considerably throughout Taranaki, with or lahars. Okato and Inglewood owe much of the success of their 7,500mm measured at north Egmont Centre on the mountain to dairy industry to the soil formed by the Pouakai deposits of ash 1,100mm at Hawera in the south. Cape Egmont in the west receives overlying the former mudstone. about 1,400mm and Pohokura in the east 1,990mm. Inglewood and Stratford beneft from the mountain with 2,350mm and 2,050mm Lahars and ash clouds respectively. To the south, more recent lahars and ash showers from Mt Taranaki North westerly winds are predominant in Taranaki but the occurred from 120,000 to 70,000 years ago. The initial cone salt-laden winds blow from the south. Salt resistant box hedges apparently collapsed and slid westwards in a massive lahar which may were planted for shelter in south Taranaki. Pine grows well on the be seen today in the Pungarehu District in the form of thousands sandstone around Waverly and Waitotara. As a peninsula, Taranaki of small hillocks dotting the farm land. Around 500 years ago gas is exposed to the Tasman Sea and the wind from three sides and clouds from Mt Taranaki reduced the forests on the north-western shelter belts are needed for farms, orchards and nurseries. While the slopes to carbonised logs. Taranaki’s last ash eruption happened in sea keeps the coastal areas frost free, any moisture from the sea turns 1775 so the next one is due at any time. into ice on the snow topped Mt Taranaki. Taranaki was once covered in lowland podocarp forest, much of All major plantation forests are planted in the east hill country, which has been cleared for pastoral farming, leaving less than fve including Te Wera east of Stratford. The main species is radiata with percent of the region’s indigenous vegetation remaining. Everett Park the logs are shipped out of Taranaki through New Plymouth. northeast of Inglewood is the largest lowland rainforest area.

20 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e Coastal challenges for trees Karen Schumacher

Situated right on the coast at Urenui, just north of New Plymouth, Toon Welvaert has established his tree plantation. The site suffers from strong salt laden winds, has a warm micro-climate, and is summer dry. The back of the property ends on top of a cliff facing out over the ocean. Erosion has occurred here with the soil type being sandy. Towards the front the soil is more ash mixture with greater substance. On the sea side there is a layer of sand over the volcanic ash.

Milling on site Over the time the Paulownia have all failed, due to wind and stock damage and the macrocarpa and all the Leyland cypress are dying. Canker has been a real problem and hit the macrocarpa when the trees were 20 years old, and the Leighton Greens when they were 14 years old. Toon has milled both poplars and Leighton Green on his Wood Mizer mill which he has set up on his property.

uring a visit recently to view his trees, Toon explained the importance of shelter for him to establish plantation trees. DThe property had some trees when Toon frst came onto the property, but he set out to establish shelter belts. With replanting he indicated he would look at banksia, pohutakawa, a range of natives like karo and pittosporums, together with flaxes to protect the young trees. Once the initial trees are established then the whole thing escalates and everything starts to grow. Before that it is very diffcult to grow anything, even the grass gets burned off with the salt.

The challenges of the elements We had a wander through his many and varied trees and chatted about the challenges of growing trees where you are exposed to the coastal elements. Toon started planting in 1989. Over the years he has planted radiata pine and Leyland cypress in 1994, macrocarpa, and chestnuts in 1994, Paulownia, poplar and pururi in 1996, and black walnut in 1998 and 1999. Our group was impressed with the chestnut and walnut trees. When Toon planted the walnut trees he gave some to the Wakemans. There trees all failed, yet the trees down on the coast are looking very promising as timber trees. With shelter belts to surround the property Toon also found he had a nurturing environment for stock. He found he could grow grass which he puts down to the micro-climate which had been The property is currently a hive of activity with logs, milled created. timber stacked, and frewood piles scattered everywhere. Toon gave The plantings did not stop at plantation trees as Toon has also up his afternoon to show us around and gave a sawing demonstration, planted apple, pear, peach, quince, tamarillo, lemon, grapefruit, cutting Leighton Green into a range of dimensions. Needless to say mandarin, fgs, plums, grapes, passionfruit, feijoas, and even bananas. there was a lot of discussion around this and opinions given freely The driveway into the property is a cranberry hedge which fruits on the quality of the timber. The consensus was that although the prolifcally His place certainly looked to be a green sheltered oasis trees had died before their time, the quality of the timber was very the day we visited when all around the land was parched and brown good. The group then drifted to the stacks of neatly flleted drying looking. timber.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 21 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e Purangi orchard Ian and Laurel Aitken

urangi is the name the Maori gave to this piece of land much greater temperature swings than the coastal regions of Taranaki. surrounded by a loop in the Waitara river. After European Being down in a valley we get very little wind but no drainage of cold Psettlement it became a village but all that remains now is the air in the winter. Most winters we have frosts of minus fve degrees. old school and St Peters church. Our farm Purangi is 21 hectares The coldest temperature ever recorded was minus eight in July 2001. and consists of this loop in the river and the next one downstream This cold snap caused the ground to heave up and freeze solid in which has the name Tawapehu. In pre-European times the river was shady areas and killed many of the trees I was experimenting with at the main highway and all these little river flats of fertile land were the time. It is a strange sensation to ride a motorbike across a paddock inhabited by families or larger groups in villages. We bought the when it is just as hard and bumpy as riding on a rocky road. property in 1981 and paid ten times the then current government Our altitude is 120 metres above sea level and the rainfall is 1500 valuation. The valuation was about ten years out of date because it mm in a dry year, with up to 2,400mm in a wet one, averaging just was only $3,300. How times have changed. under 2000 mm. This makes for waterlogged soils most winters but excellent growing conditions in the summer. I remember measuring the growth rate of a Paulownia tree for the month of January one year. I took daily measurements and it put on 1,540 mm, an average of 50 mm a day.

Finding the ideal tree My policy here at Purangi is to grow multi-purpose trees. My ideal tree would have large palatable leaves with a high nutritional value for animals. It would flower for much of the year for bee and bird food. The fruit would be large, about the size of an apple, and of course highly nutritious, keep well, and perhaps even change flavour as it ripens. It must be deep rooted to bring nutrients to the surface, disease and pest resistant and be able to be propagated easily. The wood would be strong, durable, beautifully fgured, mill and dry easily, and of course sell for megabucks. So having set the benchmark of the ideal tree the task is to fnd real trees that have as many of those traits as possible. Trees like walnut, oak, chestnut, persimmon, apple, pear, Paulownia, poplar Purangi before the village was built 1900 and cherry have some of these traits and I have collected about 70 different species over the last 20 years. I have propagated most of the trees myself and had a count up a few years ago. There were 120 grafted walnuts, 100 seedling walnuts, 134 grafted chestnut trees, many of which are now succumbing to phytophthora, 160 grafted or cutting grown feijoas, 90 persimmons and 30 loquats. I have four walnut trees that were grown from material brought in from China and they look brilliant as a timber tree − fast growth,

Purangi after the village had died

Settlers Purangi was surveyed as a village in the late 1800s. When the bridge over the Waitara River was completed in 1900 the settlers moved into the area and the village was born. In its heyday the village had a boarding house, creamery, hall, two general stores, a post offce agency with telephone exchange, a school and church, and about six houses. Laurel’s great grand uncle built the boarding house but we never knew this until we bought the property in 1981. She knew that her grandfather started his schooling at Purangi but that was all. Purangi is about 30 km from the coast and therefore experiences Laurel Aitken and grand daughter Jessie picking up walnuts

22 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e good straight stem, disease free and pest resistant. However the nuts To help maintain grass quality I planted shrub willows between are not much better than the Japanese walnut. the trees. My reasoning was that the willows would gobble up the Then there are the ones that Jeremy Thomson brought back excess fertility and make the pines lighter branched. To reduce the from Sikkum, a small state in the Himalayas. They look and are tendency to grow large branches just above the pruned bole I have performing very much the same. When these trees start producing pruned them ultra high. A nice flat paddock allows the use of a nuts in volume I will be selling them for people to plant as I think cherry picker and a little chainsaw makes for easy and safe work. they have great potential as timber trees. They are pruned to around 10 metres. My original aim was for 12 metres to get two sawlogs per tree but the cherry picker could not Ginseng under the pines go that high. Another interest I have is ginseng. I have been growing it for eight However the GF26 and GF28 in another paddock are a sad sight years now and am still trying to work out a procedure where it by comparison. Possibly the reason for them growing into such ugly can be grown under pine forest with minimal labour input and no trees is that they were noticeably more affected by dothistroma and chemical input so the harvested roots can be classifed as organic. It became distorted and suppressed. Whatever the reason I’m glad that takes eight to 10 plants to give a kilo of dried root, but at US$400 a I spread the risk by planting different varieties of radiata. kilo that translates into a lot of money. Most ginseng is now grown The largest block of trees is the back paddock of the farm. intensively in shade house shelters and sprayed to combat fungal Tawapehu is the next loop in the river downstream. We planted diseases and other pests but does not fetch such high prices. that 10 hectares in 1997 at a planting density of 1,000 to the hectare, Ginseng is very diffcult to grow. If the leaves remain wet for made up of GF17 seedlings and GF28 cuttings. Every third row is more than two or three days it can be attacked by fungal pathogens. If GF28s and the original plan was to thin down to leave mostly the direct sunlight falls on the leaves they turn white and drop off. Each GF28s for fnal crop trees. The reverse has happened in that very plant only has one growth initiating bud and if that is damaged the few of the GF28 have developed into dominant trees of good form plant dies. I think it could be an excellent way for forestry blocks but happily there were plenty of the others to choose from. They to increase their earning power and spread the risk. If one or two had their fnal prune in 2006 and then I thinned down to 300 stems year old plants were planted out under pines at canopy closure or per hectare by ring barking. when the forest floor has turned into a bed of needles with just a few ferns and maybe a bit of blackberry growing in the low light Kuser redwood trial plot conditions, I fnd it is an ideal environment for the plants. . There is also a trial plot of Kuser collection redwoods. We planted 85 trees of 12 different clones in May 1998 and there are 80 still Pruning to 10 metres growing. Most of the remainder look really good. So good that at Our best pines are in the block between our house and where the this stage I plan to replant with redwood when we harvest our frst Purangi boarding house used to be. The planting was GF17 aged block in a few years time. The oldest are 27 now so with a bit of cuttings. I took the cuttings from trees that were four years old and luck the dollar will come down and the price will go up sometime about due for their frst prune. They were on a hillside above the in the next fve years. road and I could look up and pick out the elite ones. I picked out three that looked superior to me and went up and lopped off some branches then made cuttings from the terminal shoots.

The trees in the right hand row are part of the Kuser collection trial plot

When the Purangi district was settled, a piece of land on the The 13-year-old GF17 cutting grown trees other side of the river was set aside as a recreation reserve. During They were planted into a good flat paddock of about a hectare the depression the areas that were not covered in native bush were in August 1994 so they are now 13. I wanted to retain the ability to planted with exotics. The macrocarpa are on a boney ridge on the graze the paddock so I planted the trees in timber belt style, with 12 edge of a buff and consequently are of poor form. There are some metres between the rows but only three metres between the trees, very good Lawsoniana along the roadside and down in the valley then I put semi-permanent electric fences around each row. It was are some magnifcent Douglas fr and some reasonable Western a lot of work but well worth the effort because no grazing was lost Red Cedar and Japanese Cedar. What a pity they didn’t plant for those frst years and the grass quality is only just diminishing some sequoia too. If they had I’m quite sure they would be very now at 13 years. impressive by now.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 23 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e Japanese cedar comeback David Sampson

Some years ago, Cedar Lodge Nurseries started growing Cryptomeria japonica Japanese cedar by cutting propagation. However it was not until early customers started coming back and reporting on the exceptional performances achieved that we really believed we were on to something. As a result, we now have a demand for our selected cutting grown Cryptomeria in the tens of thousands.

Special clone Many years ago when the horticultural boom started in Taranaki, people copied what was planted in the Bay of Plenty and used willows and Cryptomeria. These seedlings did not do at all well in Taranaki’s that creates turbulence on the windward side. Many thousands have strong winds. The growth performances were very irregular within been planted, mainly in Taranaki and beyond over the last fve to 10 the row, with some trees struggling even to survive. The idea soon years, and are now showing up as impressive shelter lines. developed that these seedling grown Cryptomeria were not suitable for Taranaki conditions. Demand exceeding supply However, the advent of cutting-grown plants has seen trees all This article so far could have been written six years ago. The update belonging to one clone from only one parent plant that was selected is that the demand for Egmont has exceeded supply each year with by us for its form and vigour. We now have a young adult tree that approximately thirty thousand being sold last season, mostly in bypasses the delicate juvenile stage. The result is that the young Taranaki. Demand over the rest of New Zealand is increasing, as tree grows strongly, withstanding all winds except those severely Egmont’s performance becomes more widely known. salt-laden. This clone we have called Cryptomeria japonica Egmont. Experience shows that Egmont is very reliable, as it has no We have trademarked the name Egmont, meaning that a licence to diseases or pests of consequence and soil pathogens do not bother produce the clone is required. it at all. It is extremely resistant to wind throw and breakage. It will tolerate damper soils than many other trees. In fact it requires adequate soil moisture to grow well so it is not suitable for the drier areas of New Zealand. The resistance to damage from severe windstorms is a great attribute of Cryptomeria. This was borne out frstly by the Bola storm of some years ago and subsequent reports of localised storms since. Cryptomeria was still standing virtually undamaged while other varieties of trees suffered severe damage around it. This is an extremely important consideration when establishing shelter belts. A toppled tree can damage valuable crops, cost a lot to clean up and leave a wind funnel in your shelterbelt, which is hard to fll. Most of the Egmont we have sold is for shelterbelt plantings, but some small timber plantations have also been planted. This brings up the subject of timber production. Cryptomeria is a native of Japan where it is the main timber-producing tree. I suggest it could be a worthy alternative to radiata. My experience of growing trees is mainly in Taranaki and when asked by customers what to grow for timber other than radiata I fnd it diffcult to recommend anything other than Cryptomeria. Our many years of growing conifers in our nursery, have, Substantial Cryptomeria shelter belt unfortunately demonstrated to us that the incidence of cypress The growth rate of the cutting grown Egmont is not far behind canker cannot be ignored. I cannot in all honesty recommend any that of the fast growing cypress Leighton Green. We use them of the cypress varieties for plantation forestry. Egmont was selected extensively as shelter around our nursery. The trees are evenly shaped as a shelter tree and its timber quality is unknown. I understand that with compact upright form. In fact you can almost put a spirit level timber quality selections with Cryptomeria clones have been done in across the tops, they are so even. Japan. I believe attention in this direction could be advantageous to Cryptomeria withstands heavy trimming well and can be kept those interested in another option for a timber producing tree that has very narrow. It flters the wind rather than creating a solid barrier proved to grow well in so many locations in New Zealand.

24 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Ta r a n a k i f e a t u r e Trust on a mission Peter Ledinghams

The Taranaki Tree Trust is into its sixteenth year with a new leadership team but an unwavering environmental mission. The charitable trust is dedicated to the preservation and development of the region’s ecosystems and landscapes. The Taranaki Regional Council administers and services the trust and provides a facilitator.

he Trust assists land owners with the protection of valuable Public planting days are a feature of the larger Taranaki Tree Trust forest remnants and wildlife habitats. It helps with fencing and projects Tplanting of riparian margins and the protection of forest and wetland remnants through fencing or covenanting. Working in partnership Inglewood farmer Donald McIntyre, a former member of The Herekawe Stream project involves the community and industry the Taranaki Regional Council, was elected chair at the Trust’s working in partnership to establish a walkway, retirement fence and last annual meeting, while former Wanganui Federated Farmers enhancement plant along the Herekawe Stream from the outskirts president and former QEII National Trust regional representative of New Plymouth to the coast. It was offcially opened on 20 Rachel Stewart has been employed by the Taranaki Regional January 2007. Council as facilitator. Donald McIntyre has been a member of The Taranaki Tree Trust has been fortunate to be the recipient of the Trust since 2001 and become chair following the retirement funds for riparian enhancement in specifc catchments. Landowners of David Walter. in the target area are offered a 50% subsidy on plants as recommended The Trust remains committed to its original aims of promoting by a Taranaki Regional Council riparian plan for their property. Work awareness and appreciation of Taranaki’s natural heritage, preserving programmes sometimes span several years. Contributions continue to the region’s unique character by protection and planting, and provide an important incentive for landowners to implement good promoting the planting of trees on public and private land. It has riparian management. been directly involved in a number of projects and makes grants for countless others. More applications As the profle of the Trust is raised, it has seen a continued increase in Major projects the number of applications for fnancial assistance for environmental Big projects so far have included the Herekawe Stream Walkway projects throughout Taranaki. Community, school and QEII National at New Plymouth, the Rapanui Petrel Colony and the Hutawai Trust based applications comprise 52% of the funding allocated in Stream Whitebait Restoration Project at Tongaporutu and Te Wera 2006/2007, with 48% allocated to projects on private land. Each Aboretum. The Trust also works with owners of private land on application is considered on its own merit under strict funding such projects as streamside planting, using funds obtained as part of criteria guidelines. An annual strategic plan developed for 2007/2008 the resource consent process. It marked World Wetlands Day with will provide a framework for future projects. an open day at a Toko wetland on 3 February. The Honda New Zealand Tree Fund has supported the The Trust’s major sources of funding are the Taranaki Regional enhancement of a section of riparian margin of the Waiwhakaiho Council and the Honda New Zealand Tree Fund. Other corporates catchment with new Plymouth secondary schools and the local get involved in one-off projects – STOS, Mehanex and Dow community involved in the planting. Honda New Zealand continues Agrosciences, for example, are involved in the Herekawe project. to support environmental projects in Taranaki and there is potential However the Trust would welcome approaches from other potential for further significant corporate and industry involvement in sponsors. Taranaki-wide projects.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 25 Ma r k e t Re p o r t Fi r e r e a d i n e s s Ugly log export sector and domestic slow-down Allan Laurie

he combination of a general slow-down in the domestic to get it there. This apparent unsustainable situation has been off-set economy and a very ugly log export sector is really starting to previously by a robust domestic log market allowing harvesters to Tbite. My normal ring around of respondents for this market marginalise costs to make the sale a worthwhile proposition. Now report has uncovered comments ranging from ‘not very flash’ to word the day draws to a close and the chickens return to the nest. usage that would not be appropriate to repeat here. Pessimism at the mill Logging crews stood down In the last Tree Grower I reported my respondents were developing An add up of all reported cases around the country would suggest at an ‘increasingly pessimistic view of the survivability of some of their least 48 logging crews have been stood down, gone broke or handed sawmilling customers’. Their pessimism would appear to have been their keys back to the fnance companies in the last six weeks. A major well founded with at least one big operator closing the doors in May. North Island sawmilling company is known to have over 350,000 Others are on a slow-down in terms of shifts and hours. cubic metres of unsold sawn lumber stacked in yards. Many larger As total log production has been cranking down, most forest mills are on reduced shifts or reduced hours and in one case the owners have been able to continue to move their domestic sawlogs. doors have been closed. One major North Island forest owner has Against what might have been a gross over supply the demand and closed the forest gate on over 400,000 tonnes a year. My research supply appear to be in balance. has not been able to determine whether this is due to poor prices, The central North Island region is the only one to report a a change in harvest strategy or combinations thereof. reduced pruned log value, with other regions holding their own. However, volume movements are generally sensitive so it would not Supply demand imbalance take much to tip the balance back to the buyers’ favour. The slow The remoteness of New Zealand to international markets, US economy and high exchange rate means this shrinking market unfavourable US dollar exchange rates and shipping costs consequent is certainly not paved with gold for suppliers at present. on fuel costs and supply demand imbalance are taking their toll. Not Other domestic log grades have continued to sell well, albeit at surprisingly most commentators are suggesting we will see a dramatic reduced volumes. Prices are holding generally with some pressure slowdown in log volumes over the next three months and nobody is on lower quality L grade logs as sawmills attempt to get forest owners predicting it is going to be anything other than a long cold winter. to accept export equivalent prices. Australia stands out as a glimmer of hope with a more favourable currency exchange helping the bottom line for domestic sawmills. As Shipping costs dominate long as we do not adopt a ‘sell at all costs’ strategy into this market Like the proverbial gramophone we can report shipping costs have it should continue to send some sparkles around a pretty lack lustre repeatedly dominated the export scene. Handy size vessels still attract dance floor. around US$30,000 to $35,000 per day for spot rates. This works out A quick flick over the log price table reveals the majority of at US$65 to US$70 a cubic metre to get a log to Korea. export logs being sold at less than $50 a cubic metre landed at the Toward the end of the period, shipping rates started to come off wharf gate. This means unless the woodlot or forest is closer than the boil as the tight international credit squeeze affected construction 50 km to the port then the log is costing more than the sale price projects. Planned large new vessels coming off slipways are expected Log price table Radiata pine (NZ$ per tonne) NNI Change CNI Change SNI Change NSI Change CSI Change SSI Change P1 (P36-P38) 120 -130 - 121 - 126 -5 120 - 125 - 113 - 128 - 125 - 130 - 120 - 125 - S30 83 - 87 -4 84 - 86 - 85 - 90 - 88 - 100 - 88 - 92 - 75 - 85 - S20 73 - 76 -2 64 - 66 - 68 - 72 - 84 - 88 - 72 - 77 - 60 - 65 - L30/A30 - - 59 - 61 - - - - - 64 - 69 - 65 - 70 - Postwood 70 - 75 +2 62 - 67 - 65 - 75 - 65 - 80 - 80 - 95 - 65 - 70 - Chip 35 - 37 - 37 - 45 - 30 - 33 - 38 - 40 - 36 - 37 - 32 - 35 -

(NZ$ per JAS) KA 59 - 61 - 58 - 61 -4 56 - 58 -8 52 - 54 -6 43 - 46 -9 51 - 53 -8 K 53 - 55 - 52 - 54 -6 51 - 53 -9 46 - 48 -5 39 - 41 -8 45 - 47 -9 KI 48 - 50 - 45 - 47 -6 46 - 48 -7 43 - 46 -4 32 - 34 -9 42 - 44 -6 Pulp ------♦ Domestic prices are per tonne landed at mill door ♦ Export prices are per JAS cubic metre landed at wharf gate ♦ The absence of data reflects insuffcient sales. ♦ The change column indicates price movement since last report

26 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Fr o m t h e Pa t r o n Why the developing world may be so reluctant to preserve its natural forests Wink Sutton

A common expectation of the advanced economies is for the that human survival depends on the preservation of their remaining developing world to stop unsustainable harvesting in, and to prevent natural forests. the conversion of, their remaining natural forests. It is claimed that The claims of the other environmental benefts of preserving such preservation is necessary because, along with many climatic and the remaining natural forests in the developing countries are environmental benefts, those remaining natural forests contain most probably treated with the same scepticism. Harvesting of natural of the earth’s remaining biodiversity. The loss of that biodiversity is forests in developing countries provides income, jobs, materials, and seen as a threat to human survival. other benefts, and clearing of their forests provides more land for Why then is there a continuing loss of the remaining natural agriculture. Preservation of their forests provides almost no income forests, especially the tropical forests, in the developing economies? and no new agricultural land.

The advanced economies Incentives To explain why the developing world is so reluctant to preserve As a preserved natural forest has almost no value to the local economy, its natural forests we should consider how the developing world what is the incentive to preserve the forest? Pressure for preservation perceives the advanced economies. In advanced economies much often comes from those in the advanced economies whose wealth of the natural forest has been converted to agricultural use. Europe, originally came from the destruction of its own natural forests. One for example, may now have an average forest cover in excess of 20%. workable solution is for the advanced economies to compensate However it is very probable that over the last millennium almost developing countries for preserving and for neither harvesting nor all low or mid-altitude forests in central and southern Europe were clearing the remaining natural forest. at some time cleared of their forest for least a century and the land There are several examples where this approach has been used for agriculture. successful. For example, a US charity, Conservation International, Because earlier populations did not value species as we do today, has leased 80,000 hectares of natural forest in the Upper Essequibo many animal species became extinct. In Europe, losses include the cave region of Guyana in South America for 37 cents a hectare a year. bear, the cave lion, the Irish elk, the urus (a very large cattle beast) and Similar schemes exist in Peru, Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea, the woolly mammoth. In the US extinctions include the giant sloth, Fiji and Mexico. the mastodon, three species of bison and the sabre-tooth tiger. A common feature of these schemes is the relatively low annual rental. A similar scheme proposed for the 830,000 hectare Ngoyla- Preserving the remaining natural forests Mintom tropical forest in the West African country of Cameroon has In the 19th century the North Americans exterminated the passenger failed to attract much interest. The asking price of US$2 a hectare pigeon. This was probably the bird species with the greatest known per year is probably too high. population – an estimated 5 billion were alive when Europeans frst Preserving the remaining natural forests, especially those in arrived. Similar species extinctions have occurred in other parts of the tropics, is much more complex than simply banning the the world, especially in other advanced economies. If the preservation importation of tropical timber or asking for those forests to be and maintenance of biodiversity is critical to our survival then those responsibly managed. We are more likely to be effective if we try countries should be adversely affected. However given that there frst to understand how the developing world perceives any demands appear to be no studies proving that past extinctions have had a and if we are prepared to adequately compensate countries for the serious detrimental effect on the advanced economies, it is perhaps preservation of their forests. not surprising that those in the developing economies are sceptical

Market report continued from page 26 Macrocarpa logs Landed at mill door per tonne Landed at mill door per tonne Jan - April 2007 sales South Island Change North Island Change Veneer/Slicer Min SED46 400 - 420 - - - Pruned Min SED 40cm 220 - 240 - - - Pruned Min SED 30cm 130 - 150 -10 - - Small branch Min SED 30 125 - 130 -10 - - Small branch Min SED 20 100 - 110 -10 85 - 100 (ROB grade Large branch/Boxing/Sleeper 80 - 90 -5 - - Firewood logs 60 - 70 - - - to signifcantly lift total capacity by the end of 2009. In the longer is that containerised logs − about 16 to 20 cubic metres in a container term contract shipping rates have certainly started to weaken − are a cheaper option than bulk. suggesting that shipping companies see downward pressure ahead. The containerised log business has started to increase, with Allan Laurie is the managing director of Laurie Forestry Ltd www. shipments to China becoming a regular feature. One of the absurdities LaurieForestry.co.nz

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 27 Re s e a r c h Weeds in indigenous forests Melissa Brignall-Theyer, Sarah Richardson and Susan Wiser

he most challenging weeds for managed indigenous forests • Plant growth form – whether the species was woody or not – as are those that can disperse into harvested areas, prevent an indicator of both persistence and effect Tregeneration of native tree species or persist as potential • Growth habit – whether the species formed smothering mats – as competitors to adult native trees. For example, Douglas fr is likely to an indicator of effect. be a problem because it can regenerate after disturbance in mountain The table lists only those species that emerged as being likely to beech forest and can sometimes persist after canopy closure. persist or have a strong effect on the forest. For greater detail on factors Prioritising weed species for management is an important step in that influence weed invasion see previous articles in this series. any management plan. The method used to create the table below is The table will change as we learn more about weeds. It is one way of doing this. All known forest weeds were scored for their therefore advisable to have an adaptable weed management plan and ability to persist in native forests and their likely effect on native keep an eye on other weed species, such as unfamiliar tree seedlings forests. Shade tolerance was an indicator of persistence and vines – especially those growing in the shade.

Common name Species Persistence Effect Fully shade Partially shade Long-lived woody Smothering vine, tolerant tolerant tree or shrub liana or mat-herb African asparagus fern Asparagus asparagoides   Apple Malus domestica   Asparagus fern Asparagus scandens   Bangalow palm Archontophoenix cunninghamiana   Barberry Berberis glaucocarpa (aristata)   Blackberry Rubus fruticosus   Blue morning glory Ipomoea indica   Bomarea Bomarea spp.   Brush cherry Syzygium australe   Candlesick plant Plectranthus ciliatus   Cape honey flower Melianthus major   Cape ivy Senecio angulatus   Cathedral bells Cobaea scandens   Chilean flame creeper Tropaeolum speciosum   Christmas berry Schinus terebinthifolia   Climbing spindleberry Celastrus orbiculatus   Cotoneaster Cotoneaster glaucophyllus   Darwin’s barberry Berberis darwinii   Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii   Elaeagnus Elaeagnus ×reflexa   Elderberry Sambucus nigra   Elephant’s ear Alocasia brisbanensis  English holly Ilex aquifolium   English ivy Hedera helix   English yew Taxus baccata   Flowering currant Ribes sanguineum   German ivy Senecio mikanioides   Glossy privet Ligustrum lucidum   Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa   Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna   Himalayan honeysuckle Leycesteria formosa   Hops Humulus lupulus   Inkweed Phytolacca octandra   Italian buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus   Italian lily Arum italicum  Japanese cherry Prunus serrulata   Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica   Japanese spindle tree Euonymus japonicus   Jasmine Jasminum polyanthum   Kahili ginger Hedychium gardnerianum  Khasia better Cotoneaster simonsii   Kiwifruit Actinidia sp.   Lantana Lantana camara var. aculeata   Lilly pilly tree/Monkey apple Acmena smithii   Loquat Eriobotrya japonica   Macrocarpa Cupressus macrocarpa   Madeira vine Anredera cordifolia   Montpellier broom Teline monspessulana  

28 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Re s e a r c h

Common name Species Persistence Effect Fully shade Partially shade Long-lived woody Smothering vine, tolerant tolerant tree or shrub liana or mat-herb Moth plant Araujia sericifera   Northern banana passionfruit Passiflora mixta   Old man’s beard Clematis vitalba   Onion weed Allium triquetrum  Orange firethorn Pyracantha angustifolia   Oregon grape Mahonia aquifolium   Periwinkle Vinca major   Potato vine Solanum jasminoides   Procumbent pearlwort Sagina procumbens   Purple pampas Cortaderia jubata  Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum   Rowan Sorbus aucuparia   Spindleberry Euonymus europaeus   Spurge laurel Daphne laureola  Sweet cherry Prunus avium   Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus   Taiwan cherry Prunus campanulata   Trailing spikemoss Selaginella kraussiana   Tussock hawkweed Hieracium lepidulum  Wall lettuce Mycelis muralis  Wandering Jew Tradescantia fluminensis   Wild strawberry Fragaria vesca   Willow-leaved hakea Hakea salicifolia   Wonga wonga vine Pandorea pandorana   Woolly nightshade Solanum mauritianum   Yellow ginger Hedychium flavescens 

Below are some general guidelines for effective weed management. • Know your weeds They provide a starting point and can be used along with the table • Prevent weed invasion in the frst place – for example, control above and other resources to set up weed management plans. weeds on tracks to new cutting sites, clean equipment before use to prevent moving weeds between areas, and use weed free sources of soil and metal for road or track development. • Take action as soon as possible – weed problems usually get worse with time. • Focus on the most vulnerable areas – sites that are disturbed, close to weed seed sources and that have fertile soils. • Consider the consequences of weed invasion in management – for example, reduce disturbance and harvesting frequency. • Manage the whole ecosystem – monitor weed populations before and after pest control and through careful management minimise disturbance to the forest. • Use adaptive management – periodically evaluate weed man- agement plans and adapt according to observations and new knowledge • Set realistic standards – prioritise efforts around those species most likely to have the greatest effect.

Significance of weeds will increase We can expect to see an increase in distribution of existing weeds and to observe new species exhibiting invasive behaviour. This will have an effect on all indigenous forest management, but is likely to be quite signifcant for areas under sustainable management plans in northern parts of New Zealand. At present the majority of sustainable management plans are held in the South Island. However if native timber production becomes more common further north, where there are longer growing seasons and higher temperatures, the signifcance of weeds in management plans will be greatly increased. It is therefore vital that knowledge and understanding of weeds is communicated effectively and continuously to and among forest managers.

Douglas fir invading beech gaps on slopes behind Queenstown. This article was first published in Indigena.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 29 Growing poplars for timber in Northland Murray Hunter and Ian McIvor

Internationally poplar is an important timber tree providing a range of end- uses either as timber, chip or pulp. Good quality butts provide excellent rotary peeling for veneers and can be sawn easily producing a light, good quality timber. Uses for the timber include cabinet making and musical instruments, and for rough wood, pallets and boxes.

oplar timber is favoured by architects because its light colour allows a wide choice of stains, in addition to its lightness and Pstrength. Thinnings or top and lop can be used for chipboard, fbreboard and pulp. Being light and odour free, it has real advantages over softwoods since it does not require prior treatment. Current export markets for New Zealand poplar logs are largely centred on China.

Ideal plantation trees Poplars are ideal plantation trees because of their very fast growth. Deep planting, if necessary down to 60 cm, is essential to ensure that rooting develops in permanently moist soil. Single line planting of poplars provide useful wind breaks, but wider shelter belts, from three to six rows wide, will provide much improved shelter from wind, and can encourage woodland conditions to develop. As one of the authors of this article, Murray Hunter is highly Murray Hunter with the 15-year-old kawa poplar milled in 1998. motivated in seeing a poplar crop mature to harvestable size, milling it to order and promoting the wood for a range of uses. Murray was the eliminated by spraying with a suitable herbicide at planting and then frst in the country to mill the kawa hybrid, when in 1998 he milled two or three months later, especially with the smaller grades. a tree planted in 1983. The tree had reached 25 metres in height, with a diameter at breast height of 400 mm and with eight metres Pruning of butt log. After drying, the timber was processed professionally and Stakes and wands should have their frst pruning at four to six months, used to manufacture two panelled doors and a dresser unit. when the strongest shoot is selected and the others removed with The HortResearch-developed Populus yunnanensis × P. deltoides sharp secateurs. The main stem should also be cut, about 15 mm above hybrid kawa is the most favoured poplar clone in the north. It is fast the selected shoot. However, the three metre poles should be left for growing with strong apical dominance, good resistance to the main 16 to18 months before selecting the main leader to grow on. diseases and a low palatability to possums. To obtain a pruned butt for timber, branches should be removed, beginning at two to four years, to no more than half of the tree height. Selection and establishment of material The frst heavy whorl of branches should be removed, along with a The planting season is from June through to September and a moist, few lighter branches. This can be done in late February or March to fertile site is recommended for best results and optimum growth rates, minimise regrowth from the pruning cuts. The main leader should although poplars will survive in less favourable areas. be inspected for damage and re-selected if necessary. The trees should Stakes of 1.5 metres to 2 metres are suitable for most applications. have lifts every two or three years until the desired butt length of six Three metre poles are needed, preferably with protective sleeves, to eight metres is reached. where livestock have access. Forestry wands are only 800 mm long and are suitable for plantation planting on moister sites, where stock Budgeting is excluded, at 400 stems per hectare. In optimum conditions wands will grow as fast as stakes and poles, When planting, all grades should have their bottom ends pointed and in three years it may not be possible to tell them apart. The and driven one-third of their length into a pilot hole to ensure the choice of planting material will depend on moisture availability best survival rate. Competition from weeds and grasses should be during establishment − smaller planting material will experience

30 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 stress more readily − and how exposed the trees will be to browsing with 1.7 metre stock and possum protectors up to $4 each. stock, or possums. By selecting a variety with good form and managing it for You should budget on $10 per planted poplar pole. This includes timber end use on a 25 to 35 year rotation, you will have trees that tree cost, transport, planting and protection. As an indication, Stix will provide shade, shelter, soil stabilising and possibly stock fodder. Nursery’s 2007 prices were wands $1, stakes $2.80 and poles $3.30 There will be a return when they are harvested and the problem of and $4.80. Possum guards which are 600 mm long were $1.30 each old large trees will be avoided.

Murray and Margaret milling and marketing When government subsidies were removed in the 1980s the Northland Regional Council pulled out of pole planting. To keep the nursery viable we decided to promote poplar as a future timber resource. I purchased a Woodmiser bandsaw mill, and later a dehumidifer kiln and four-sider planer for processing poplar logs. I had access to some of the old Italian hybrids which were 30 years old, up to a metre in diameter but only pruned as high as a cow could reach. The wood from the butt logs made excellent timber for virtually any purpose, and was used in boat building, joinery manufacturing and panelling. When milling I have quarter sawn the timber and quarter sawn the log as well, especially smaller trees less than 600mm dbh, to relieve any tension, and used a slow drying regime. I would recommend this procedure to anyone planning to do their own milling or getting some of their trees milled for their own use. Poplar also takes treatments and any fnishes well. Early in 2007 we exported a truck load of 10 year thinnings to China as K grade for use in plywood, for a slightly better price Dresser and door made from poplar than radiata.

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New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 31 Fa r m f o r e s t r y m o d e l Trees combat erosion and protect stock Mike Halliday

Continuing our series of articles profiling the farm forestry model in action. The two following articles are case studies showing practical examples of how trees can be integrated into the working farm landscape for truly sustainable land management.

willow and poplar plantings. In the early 1990s up to 50 hectares of gorge was placed in a QE II covenant. Following the poplar rust of the early 1970s, the Catchment Board plan was revisited, and extensive gully plantings of willow and newer poplar clones were carried out during the 1980s. These plantings became valuable fodder reserves during the El Nino droughts of the 1980s and 1990s, also eliminating the habitat of liverfluke in snails. It has also been observed, although not properly quantifed, that the shade available from these plantings has decreased the amount of water consumed by livestock during summer heat.

aumati is a 460-hectare property at Patoka on the south- eastern edge of the Taupo Ash country in western Hawke’s RBay. It is best described as rolling hill country with deep intersecting gorges. The property is 350 metres above sea level, and considered summer-safe, with mostly an evenly spread 1,500 mm of rainfall a year. However it can be subject to substantial rainfall from sub-tropical lows and receive summer rainfall from damp, south-easterly, anti-cyclonic flows. Snow is not uncommon, with periodic heavy falls. The light ash soils are subject to both gully and tunnel erosion, with some wind erosion on exposed ridges and faces, especially in sheep camps and following cultivation. There has been moderate slippage on steeper slopes. Early catchment board plantings

Raumati around 1980 and in 2003 on the right

Three generations Raumati was sold in 2005, having formerly been in the Halliday family for three generations. It was purchased in 1936 after eight years of managing the property. Gorge fencing began in the 1930s for stock safety, and tree planting began in earnest in the 1950s. In the early 1960s a plan was developed with the Hawke’s Bay Catchment Board, and planting of alternative species such as eucalypts, Douglas fr, and redwood on gorge edges was undertaken, along with various Calving paddocks in spring

32 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Fa r m f o r e s t r y m o d e l Shelterbelts woodlot straight off the shears proved an invaluable management A system of shelterbelts was also put in place, generally following tool. However bush mustering skills were tested in the 14 hectare the pattern of a row of slow growing species on the windward side block. The areas of the farm with shelterbelts also provided ideal and faster growing on the lee side for north-south belts, and poplar lambing areas for ewes expecting multiple lambs. or Italian alder for east-west. This shelter has enhanced both pasture and livestock performance. Harvesting radiata blocks Several small blocks of radiata were planted in unproductive and New opportunities at-risk areas from the 1970s onwards initially under the Forestry Like the rest of New Zealand, aerial topdressing opened up a whole new production opportunity for Raumati in the 1950s. While small aircraft that could follow gorges and contours were being used this proved to be very successful. However with the advent of bigger, faster aircraft, accuracy declined markedly, leading to extremely variable phosphate levels. A decision was made to move to ground spreading, with inaccessible generally erosion prone areas retired for planting. Pasture renewal and fodder crops had been abandoned in the 1970s due to incidents of wind blow and weed problems. However with improvements in direct drilling methods, a programme of repasturing using new improved varieties recommenced in the mid 1990s. It has become quite clear that on these types of soil cultivation is no longer necessary, or in fact, desirable.

Calving paddocks in summer

Encouragement Grant scheme. Originally these were managed under a conservative Forest Service type of regime, but as the challenges of planting on more fertile sites became apparent, adaptations needed to be made regarding the timing of silviculture and stocking rates. The frst harvest of one of these managed blocks took place in 2000, and a comparison of the income from that harvest with some snapshot farm incomes during the rotation of the woodlot, can be seen in the table below. Direct drilling It should be remembered that this income comes on top of the accrued benefts of trees on farms mentioned previously, and Productivity increases compares forestry income net of harvesting and transport costs. All the factors mentioned in the previous paragraphs, along with the addition of improved livestock genetics, led to a marked increase in productivity from the late 1990s. Some of this could be put down Year Gross income Net income less to the fact that with gorge fencing completed, an original sheep to FWE cattle ratio of 80 to 20 altered dramatically to around 55 to 45. An initial goal of 150% lambing by the year 2000 was met in Farm income 1975 $189 $84 2001, with a target lamb slaughter weight of 17kg. Likewise calving per hectare percentages reached the mid to high nineties, with steers averaging 1994 $583 $335 700 grams per day live weight gains for up to 15 months when they were sold. 2000 $887 $599 There is no doubt that the provision of shelter from the cold 2003 $1,028 $640 southwest winds in spring allowed for an earlier growing season and a longer period of compensatory growth for several weeks. In addition Total net Income per there were improved conception rates in the cows. Soil temperatures income hectare per year were measured following the cold south-westerly rain that broke the Forestry 2000 $93,000 $1,111 2007 drought. They were between half a degree and one-and-a-half income degrees warmer in the lee of shelterbelts up to fve tree heights into 3.1 hectares the paddock than those in non sheltered areas. 27 year Woodlots have provided an important role for shelter after trees shearing over many years, especially with the advent of winter shearing. The use of a cover comb and three to four days in a Income from farming versus income from forestry

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 33 Fa r m f o r e s t r y m o d e l The harvest was so successful that the original stocked area was doubled, ironically forming a six hectare woodlot that is half pre-1990 and half post-1990 forest. One wonders if anyone from the climate change offce will be able to tell the difference come 2030. With the considerable cash injection for the farm from this exercise, around $70,000 was spent on an improved water reticulation scheme. This allowed for closing off more wet and at risk areas that could be planted and used for nutrient sinks, which have become benefcial as subdivision and intensifcation increases. On the sale of the property, forest rights on different woodlots have been retained to varying degrees. The remaining 1970s plantings were harvested in 2007 with very similar fnancial results to those of 2000.

The planting stock The 1970s planting stock was nothing very special at all, probably Douglas fir for floor joists the most improved being labelled seed orchard stock. This block was the frst to receive a release spray – Paraquat and Simizine – the The next story same mix as the lucerne paddock next door. During the 1990s we Upon selling the farm we bought a section at Kuratau at the south moved up the GF ratings as far as GF25 cuttings. The year 2000 western end of Lake Taupo. We are in the process of building using replant was done with GF+ WD30 cuttings. In 1995 a 14 hectare timber milled from Raumati. The framing is Douglas fr from the block that had been developed from scrub 25 years previously and original 1959 planting, the board and batten radiata from a 1956 was showing signs of all three types of erosion was planted out in a planting, some redwood sarking from a 1960s planting. The story of joint venture with other family members. this exercise may well fnd its way into print some day.

Chatham Island experience Merv George

see the application form is out for the next trip so about time I did a report on the last one. The tour in 2007 was the sixth Iorganised by Don Tantrum and it ran like clockwork, a tribute INTEGRATED HARVESTING & to all his organising. MARKETING SOLUTIONS My wife was taken with the idea of a Chatham Island trip. • Forest and woodlot harvesting and marketing Outwardly it did not have any extra appeal to me. However not being one to miss out on an opportunity we sent in the application. • Domestic and export log sales We were certainly not disappointed and I would highly recommend • Harvesting management the trip. • Forest management It has been said about New Zealand that it is a land of many • Land clearing sights and experiences. I would say the Chathams are even more so. • Tree removal The trip was for seven days and each was a unique experience. We experienced most facets of life on the island and these would • Harvest planning and roading have been covered in previous reports. However, the highlights for • Resource consents me were − • The isolation ~ REFERENCES AVAILABLE ~ • The varied and interesting landscapes PLEASE CONTACT US ON... • The conservation efforts and projects • The interesting people we met on the tour, from a variety of Offi ce: 07 357 2344 • Fax: 07 357 5899 backgrounds Greg Bell 027 497 6203 [email protected] • The high cost of living on the island. Craig Peters 027 241 4700 [email protected] We returned from the Chatham Islands a much wiser group of people. It is great to experience our own country before shooting Tony Williams 027 283 5933 [email protected] away to some far flung overseas destination. Thanks to Don Tantrum 6 Hall Road, PO Box 148, Ngongotaha, Rotorua for organising this trip. Without him we simply would not have got there.

34 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Fa r m f o r e s t r y m o d e l Another example of the Farm Forestry Model Glenmore Neil Cullen

Soil types To assist with better planning of development priorities a soil scientist provided a report on the various soil types on the farm. Being part of the geological feature known as the Southland Syncline, the farm consists of a series of east-west running valleys and ridges. These are overlayed with lowland yellow – brown earths with various degrees of leaching. The most heavily leached and podzolised soil type, Hinahina makes up about half of the total farm area. The report and soil map helped confrm which areas on the farm were most suited to forestry and where potential for greater grass production existed. Using the model of planting trees on the less fertile soils and less favourable terrain, and at the same time improving the carrying capacity of the better country, allowed us to maintain our stock numbers but increase the forested area to the current 114 hectares. Erosion has not been a big issue except when high rainfall occurs over a short period as it did in February 1991, when 200 mm fell in 24 hours. Sheet erosion from that time is still The decades of the 1970s and 1980s saw a great transition in visible in the district and serves as an indicator where forest cover landowners’ attitudes towards their farms. Development of the land may be needed. from tussock, bush or wetland to pasture had been the driving force on many farms as farmers, encouraged by government subsidies, Fencing off streams rushed to increase their stock numbers. Attendance at a Regional Council feld day in the late 1990s on riparian management prompted consideration of how we could Converting indigenous forest to exotic better look after the Glenomaru Stream and its tributaries which In our corner of the country, the Catlins in South East Otago, large flow through the property. Starting in 1999 we began fencing of areas of indigenous forest were cleared during the 1970s by chainsaw, unprotected sections of the stream and planting the banks with a bulldozer and fre. Land in bush was regarded as valueless and the variety of natives. government was actively engaged via the New Zealand Forest Service in converting indigenous forest to exotic forest. The transition in attitude was part of the world-wide awakening to the concepts that there are limits to the planets resources. The various ecosystems are interlinked, humans have to learn to work with nature and conserve what remains of the unique features, flora and fauna in every region.

First plantings On our farm in the Glenomaru valley more than 130 hectares of bush had been cleared or damaged by fre during the 1970s and early 1980s. At the same time, with the aid of the Forestry Encouragement Grant Scheme and advisors such as John Edmonds, the frst of the forest blocks had been established. These plantings of radiata pine were on steep south facing slopes of low natural fertility where money spent on fertiliser and fencing was diffcult to justify. Much of the remaining native forest had been fenced of from stock. By the time Pam and I took over in 1991 about 45 hectares had been planted in radiata pine. We continued with the planting of radiata and using seasonal Although there have been many losses with these plantings they workers from the local meat processing plant, completed the are gradually becoming established and we are told just keeping stock silviculture on the early plantings. In 1996 an adjoining block of out and having long grass as a flter improves water quality. Provision 120 hectares was purchased and immediately ten per cent of that of alternative water supply for stock is part of this process and we area was planted out on a steep south facing slope. As this newly have used ponds and spring-fed troughs, as well as pumping water acquired land was exposed to the prevalent south-westerly wind around the easier country. we started to provide shelter using Eucalyptus johnstonii, E.cordata, E. On one tributary where unfenced bush adjoined the waterway rodwayii and E.niphophila in shelter belts and along with macrocarpa we obtained assistance with the fencing and in return protected the in some of the larger gullies. bush under a QEII covenant. This protection has been applied to

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 35 Fa r m f o r e s t r y m o d e l other areas of native forest as well and counting three new blocks that It was not until harvesting took place that I really appreciated the are in the pipeline about 100 hectares of the 130 hectares remaining importance of placement of forests in relation to roads. Too many on the farm will be under covenant. There is considerable flexibility of us have planted away merrily without enough consideration for in the covenanting process which can include areas of exotic forest extraction issues such as provision for roading and skid sites and and, as we saw at the Wardle’s property recently, on a conference feld potential environment problems. Another lesson learnt from harvesting day also allows for management of native forest. is the importance of insistence on contractors cleaning their gear before arrival on your property. Introduction of weeds like gorse and broom Harvesting by this means is clearly unacceptable. From 1998 we began harvesting small areas of the original radiata plantings and in most cases replanted with alternative species. In 2003 Recent planting a block of 31-year-old trees was harvested. My parents and brother Planting in the last ten years has included a range of species with had retained ownership through a forestry right for these trees. They varying success. Douglas fr is growing well where not too exposed were fortunate to harvest when prices were at a peak and as can be to strong winds. Redwoods are very site specifc and growth rates seen from the table below, returns were very satisfactory. The sale are slow compared to further north. Sitka spruce, tried as a coastal was tendered on nett rate per tonne harvested alternative to Douglas fr, is doing well in small numbers but the Returns from forest harvest 2003 spruce aphid looms as a threat. E. nitens as elsewhere grows prolifcally in moderately fertile soils but their use, apart from being chipped, Area 5.6 hectares poses a few problems. Total harvested 3871 tonnes Of the natives, red beech, which does not occur naturally in this district, shows great promise with good form and growth rate. Yield 691 tonnes per hectare Can existing mixed podocarp native forests be managed for future Nett return $249,531 at $64.46 per tonne timber extraction? Quite possibly, but not as successfully as with single species beech forests. The biggest hurdle is probably a mental Return per hectare $44,559 one. For those used to 30 year rotation radiata the change to 200 Quite obviously there is no way this area of steep, relatively unfertile year growing time is quite a leap. land could have produced a nett return averaging $1,437 per year by Cypresses appear to be the best option in this area as an alternative any other means. A reduced area has been replanted in radiata with to radiata. Canker has not been a signifcant problem here with our a strip adjoining the Glenomaru Stream being allowed to regenerate macrocarpa woodlots but recently we have used lusitanica and the with natives that flourished under the pines. Although this block was nootkatensis hybrids as insurance against that threat. beside a road, harvesting was complicated by the fact that most of the logs had to be hauled across the stream. Resource consent was obtained Forest ownership The retention of ownership of a tree block by my family until to install a temporary culvert to minimise damage to the waterway. harvest obviously helped in the transfer of the property to Pam and 18 years proven myself. Forest ownership can also provide connection to the land Tree pruning and THE BEST for those family members who choose career paths other than active farming. With most of our larger plantings being on one block with planting equipment a separate title, the splitting of this from the more productive farm land is an option. Prune-off pruners • Razorback pruners • Bushmate saws There are still at least 60 hectares of land that I believe would be better planted in forest or allowed to revert to native forest. If or when this occurs will depend on future circumstances and availability of funds. There is no one template for the farm forestry model, as each farm and each landowner’s circumstances are different. But on our farm as on most throughout the country, farming and forestry Ladder V-top with handler and safety are a natural mix. chain

Some farm statistics • Total area 648 hectares • Approximately 160 hectares cultivated • 530 hectares purchased by the family in 1968 • Pam and Neil take over 1991 − 120 hectares added in 1996 • Stock wintered 2008 −2500 ewes, 400 hoggets, 100 cows, 90 calves, 130 deer Tree steps backpack frames and Ladders from 1.2 metres • Rainfall 1150 mm average planter frames to 6.3 metres • Distance from coast12 km Available from the manufacturer and supplier • Altitude 50 to 450 metres Transtak Engineering and Equipment • Forest species − radiata pine 90 hectares 30 Hau Road, Motueka Douglas fr 11.5 hectares Cypress 6.5 hectares Ph: 03 528 8218 Fax: 03 528 8212 Other 6 hectares Email: [email protected] Native 130 hectares

36 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Re s e a r c h Ensuring the sustainability of New Zealand forests Peter Clinton

espite the importance of sustainability for the long-term within only a few miles of viability of the forestry sector, there is actually little direct each other. As forests develop, Devidence to indicate how successive rotations influence site nutrients are taken up from productivity. After many years of research the key to managing this the soil and sequestered uncertainty has now been developed using a list of indicators identifed in both living and dead by Scion. These indicators make it possible for the sustainability of biomass. At time of harvest, planted forests to be quantifed and monitored for the frst time. a proportion of nutrients The key soil indicators of productivity for radiata pine and contained in logs or other Cupressus lusitanica are − products is permanently • Soil carbon to nitrogen ratio removed from the site. • Total soil nitrogen and total soil phosphorous and Whether or not this removal • Depth of top soil is ultimately reflected in The key soil physical property is porosity and the key declining soil nutrient environmental variables are air temperature and root zone water pools with successive forest storage. These variables provide the basis for forest managers to rotations will depend on the understand and compare the relative productive capacity of sites in rate at which the nutrients any part of New Zealand. are replenished. This will Measuring and recording data on these indicators is likely to be from processes such as rock and mineral weathering, organic become a standard practice for forestry companies. By capturing matter decomposition, nitrogen fxation, atmospheric deposition this information, it will be possible to see whether the productive and fertiliser application. capacity is being maintained by management options or declining. The ability to detect any decline in soil nutrient pools is critical This will allow forest managers to develop site-specifc silvicultural for assessing the sustainability of forests and forestry. Negative effects regimes that ensure the productivity of the soil is not depleted. The of successive forest crops on soil nutrient pools or other soil properties more intensively a forest resource is managed, the more important could ultimately result in declining forest productivity. While change these indicators will become. in forest productivity over time may be a key indicator of nutrient depletion, the underlying changes in soil properties need to be Components of productivity understood to enable management intervention to address those Forest productivity is driven by three major components − tree changes. genetics, silvicultural regimes and site characteristics. Much research has been undertaken in the past to gain improvements by manipulating How the indicators were developed the frst two of these components. Long term site productivity research, The need for productivity indicators arose from New Zealand’s from which the indicators have been derived, was driven by the need commitment to developing sustainable forest management practices. to understand the specifc effects of site on tree growth. This is shown by government involvement in international forestry Research shows that the vigour of trees on any given site is agreements such as the Montreal Process, and the forestry sector’s determined by carbon to nitrogen ratio, total soil nitrogen and soil adoption of forest certifcation mechanisms. The Montreal Process phosphorous, as the key nutritional indicators. These nutrients can and certifcation schemes identify potential indicators that can be be maintained by adding fertilisers at rates that replace what has been used to describe site quality. However foresters need tools, guidelines removed through harvesting. or management systems to enable them to turn these high-level, Porosity of soil is the key physical indicator of soil productivity. subjective sustainability goals into indicators that can be measured Porosity around individual trees decreases over time as the root quantitatively. bowl expands, while in areas away from growing trees soil porosity Scion has developed these indicators with the help of an extensive increases slowly as the previous crop decomposes. The influence of feld trial series that was established during the 1980s. Now that forest fauna in this process is not well documented but could be these productivity indicators have been identifed for radiata pine manipulated as a forest practice. and lusitanica, our aim is to develop indicators for a range of other The key environmental variables that determine productivity on species. More immediately, we are keen to ensure that forest managers any given site are air temperature and root zone water storage. Species understand how these productivity indicators can be used now to selection is an important factor to overcome climatic constraints protect the productive capacity of New Zealand’s forestry land for and achieve soil conservation goals. As erosion control and water the future. conservation are almost always of concern, more information on water use between different plantation species may be of value for Want to know more? guiding decisions on species selection in the future. Scion will be running workshops starting at Rotorua on 26-27June 2008 to provide forest managers with information about how to It is all in the soil monitor and apply these indicators. If you are interested in attending Understanding these key indicators helps to explain why some sites a workshop, contact Peter Clinton at peter.clinton@scionresearch. can be so much more productive than others, even when they are com

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 37 Re s e a r c h Performance of coast redwood in New Zealand Rob Webster

new interim growth model that predicts basal area and mean top height has been developed for coast redwood plantations Ain New Zealand. The project was initiated by NZ Forestry Limited and has been jointly funded by them and The New Zealand Redwood Company, the New Zealand based subsidiary of the Soper Wheeler Company of California.

Data models The model was constructed by Scion using data from stem analysis of trees from eight stands 20 to 30 years old located in various parts of the country. This was supplemented with data from a national series of 32 permanent sample plots, most of which have been established only recently. Data arising from the project has also been used to help develop new tree volume and taper equations for redwood in New Zealand. A previous New Zealand tree volume table had been produced from old trees extracted from the Long Mile stand in Whakarewarewa Forest but was unlikely to be representative of trees of a younger rotation age. This stand in Mangatu Forest is located at an altitude of 650 metres Site index for New Zealand redwood is defned as mean top Basic stand parameters of age, stocking, mean top height and height at breast height age 40 years. A basal area productivity index, basal area are input to calibrate the model and derive estimates of site the 400 Index, defned as basal area at breast height age 40 years, and index and 400 index. The user can also specify the age at which breast a stocking of 400 stems per hectare was developed from the data. The height is achieved, the annual mortality, and a diameter distribution model is similar to the 300 Index model for radiata pine. parameter, or simply accept the default values for these parameters. The growth model can be used to evaluate the comparative performance of coast redwood on a wide range of New Zealand sites. This exercise demonstrates that the species has a wider range of site preference that previously speculated. However, coast redwood performs best on soils of moderate to high fertility in areas with reasonable year round rainfall. A signifcant limiting factor is its intolerance of strong prevailing winds. Despite its common name, coast redwood is not tolerant of salt-laden coastal winds It is however, surprisingly resistant to toppling and breakage from periodic storms.

Prefers mild climates In its natural habitat coast redwood grows from sea level to 900 metres but prefers altitudes less than 750 metres. Its preference is for mild climates, although in many parts of its natural range it experiences winter snow and frosts of up to –10ºC. The presence of well performed stands near Winton, Southland, North Canterbury, Hamurana Springs and Waiotapu near Rotorua attest to its ability to do well in some cold sites in New Zealand. However, it is vulnerable to out of season frosts, undoubtedly the reason for the much publicised early establishment failure of several stands in the Central North Island mid last century. Once over-planted with other species, the protected redwood then out-performed the cover crop.

Match radiata pine It is important to appreciate that the New Zealand Redwood Growth Model has been derived from stands established with bulk, or genetically unimproved, seed. Therefore growth model predictions for stands now being established from select seed, seed orchard material, or varietals will be signifcantly under-predicted. The table below presents data from a number of sites within Re-coppice from a recently harvested tree on erosion-prone slopes at a site near Hunterville New Zealand. The table presents estimated site index and 400 index

38 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Re s e a r c h It is clear from this data that coast redwood is capable of at least matching the performance of radiata pine on many sites. This is particularly true if growth model predictions could factor in the genetic gain available from establishing stands with genetically improved seedlings or clonal material. Warm moist sites, such as on the East Coast of the North Island and coastal Bay of Plenty, display the best growth. However, excellent growth rates are also achieved in the King Country and Inland Taranaki. It is anticipated that coast redwood would also perform well in regions such as parts of Northland, Waikato, Nelson and sheltered site on the West Coast of the South Island. The outstanding performance of redwood on the East Coast North Island sites is signifcant, given redwood’s potential to stabilise erosion-prone hill slopes. The Te Wera data is also worth noting in 16-year-old stand at Kaipara Flats in lower Northland, located on clay that it is likely to be representative of growth rates achievable on the loam sedimentary soils of inland Taranaki /Wanganui/ Manawatu, regions for each site and growth model predictions at age 35 years for the that have suffered severe erosion from storm events in recent years. target fnal crop stocking specifed. The fnal column presents the The data from the Lismore stand is likely to be representative of predicted rotation age to achieve a mean diameter breast height for the very light and lower fertility sedimentary soils of the Wanganui the target fnal crop stocking specifed. foothills. These areas are often exposed to strong coastal winds and season drought and careful site selection would be necessary.

Example of simulation results from sample plot data

Property Location Site feature Site 400 Target GM Predicted data at rotation DBH index index stems Age 35 60 cm age 40 BA per 40/400 age hectare DBH BA TSV MTH (cm) m2/ha m3/ha metres Brann Eastern Bay of Flat, Free-draining 47.0 213 450 73.5 184.4 1,871 40.8 25 Plenty pumice

Ruatoria, Cpt 303 East Coast, North River Terrace 43.0 202 400 71.4 154.6 1,445 36.1 27 Island

Patunamu East Coast, North River terrace, 49.0 132 350 59.5 93.9 975 41.9 36 Island alluvial

Urenui Taranaki, River River flat, silt 40.0 154 350 64.9 115.8 1,036 34.1 31 Flat loam

Mangatu, Cpt 11 East Coast, North Gentle slope, 40.0 150 350 64.0 112.2 1,008 34.1 31 Island fluvial from sediments

Mangatu, Cpt 98 East Coast, North Steep exposed 33.5 95 300 51.4 62.2 474 27.7 48 Island slope, sediment and ash

Totara Grove Farm Kaipara Flats, Moderate slope, 45.4 177 450 65.9 153.5 1,494 38.8 30 Rodney District clay loam

New Plymouth Taranaki Moderate, loam 39.0 128 325 59.6 87.5 754 32.3 36 derived from ash

Ngongotaha Rotorua Moderate slope, 35.0 145 350 62.3 103.2 808 28.7 33 pumice

Wilson Otorohanga Moderate, loam 40.0 118 325 57.2 80.8 712 33.5 38 (partly exposed) derived from ash

Te Wera Forest Inland Taranaki Steep, siltstone 36.0 110 325 55.2 75.2 604 29.6 41 with ash

Akatarawa Upper Hutt Flat, stony river 28.5 145 350 62.3 103.2 682 23.1 33 terrace

Lismore Wanganui foothills Steep, soft 35.0 110 325 55.2 75.2 590 28.7 41 sandstone

Wenita Otago Coast 32.0 120 325 57.7 82.0 598 26.1 38

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 39 NZ Wood update

Z Wood, the pan-industry programme to promote greater use Partnership scheme of wood, continues to develop momentum and gain greater All the constituent members of NZ Wood’s founding industry bodies Npublic profle since the television advertising campaign began will be invited to sign up as partners to the programme. Companies in February. growing, processing, manufacturing and retailing wood and wood The programme itself is gathering steam as partner organisations products will be invited to join the programme to promote greater are being invited to sign up, plans to extend the programme to wood use. Partners will be able to demonstrate their support and merchants are developed, and technical experts are contributing to commitment to promoting the benefts of wood by use of NZ Wood’s the development of the NZ Wood website. signage and logos, and their names will appear on the website.

BRANZ research Taking the message to the forests Research recently undertaken on behalf of NZ Wood by BRANZ NZ Wood will soon be erecting highway billboards on forestry- reinforces the need for the promotional campaign, with wood’s share owned land, taking its distinctive message out to the woodland, of the building materials market confrmed to have declined since the continuing the billboard campaign currently under way in urban beginning of the decade. Use of wood as a construction material in areas. Those travelling through the country’s forests should be New Zealand is declining and that timber is losing a substantial share particularly receptive to the messages promoting greater use of wood of the market. Use of wood for framing in new houses declined 10 in New Zealand. per cent between 2000 and 2007, down from 98 per cent. It is the ideal opportunity to reinforce the message of wood Use of wood as a cladding material for new houses has bucked being environmentally sustainable, and benefcial to the health of the trend, but still remains at a low base. It has gone from a six per the planet. cent market share to 12 per cent in seven years, but still far below claddings such as brick. Taking the message to the living room The use of wood as a flooring material for house additions and With NZ Wood’s television advertising campaign beginning in alterations has lost ground to concrete. In 2005 wood had a 68 per February this year, feedback from both the public and industry has cent market share compared to 32 per cent for concrete. Just two been extremely positive. The website has received a huge number years later the market share was 50 per cent for each. of visits, with over 30,000 visits to date.

Some more photographs from the conference

40 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Sa f e t y Hearing loss a threat to farm foresters Dave Gratton

he agrarian myth that rural life is natural and healthy is not loyal family and friends become tired of having to talk loudly, repeat always correct in that every day we do face exposure to things or put you right when you just guessed what they said. Texcessive noise. While we can ignore this issue as part and parcel Many people have found themselves increasingly isolated by not of farming and forestry, the facts are becoming clear that over time, being able to hear properly, once the cumulative effects of hearing noise can have an enormous effect on your quality of life. loss set in after years of working in a noisy environment. The only thing you can do about hearing loss is prevent it − Noise induced hearing loss • Eliminate noisy machines if possible In New Zealand occupational hearing loss is very common in both • Isolate noise by covering machines with sound dampening the agriculture and forestry sectors. It is in the top fve most common material injuries in farming, and overall affects one in 10 or 400,000 New • Minimise the noise, the most preferred option, by wearing Zealanders. The current cost to the country exceeds $55 million. earmuffs. While it is easy to understand injuries from the active work that Earmuffs must ft frmly over your ears, creating an air seal. If we do, hearing loss is a less obvious risk but it is increasingly common your own voice sounds lower and deeper than usual, you are probably and easily preventable. Noise induced hearing loss is characterized by wearing the protectors correctly. the four Ps – it is painless, progressive, permanent and preventable. Remember, hearing does not heal, that is why you have to protect And it cannot be repeated too often, hearing loss is serious because it. There is no treatment, no medicine, no surgery, and a hearing aid the damage is permanent. will not completely restore hearing once it is damaged by noise. The Many of the machines and tools we use in our everyday work only thing you can do about hearing loss is prevent it. produce between 90 and 110 db − some a lot more. It is not just how loud a noise is, it is how long you are exposed to it, because the effect is cumulative. Unprotected ears can handle a maximum of Fatality data from the agriculture sector for the 100 db for as little as 15 minutes before permanent hearing damage current year sets in. When you consider all the time you spend using machinery on a farm forestry property in an average day, it is easy to see why August Male Crushed by spray unit removed so many farmers suffer hearing loss. from tractor An hour on the ATV, two more with the scrub bar and another September Male Forming new track with tractor using a chainsaw – it easily adds up over a day. fitted with front bucket and rear scraper. Rolled down hill, The limits deceased thrown from cab According to ACC hearing loss experts, these are the maximum total daily doses of unprotected exposure to loud noise before permanent November Male Tractor rollover while driving damage occurs – downhill, crushed. • 85 db is what you might hear in the cab of a modern tractor. November Male Tractor driven forward while This is what unprotected ears can handle for no more that four trailer was being raised, caught hours total in a day. power line, electrocuted. An ATV puts out 86 db and the recommended time would be • November Male Using loader bucket on tractor, no more than 3.5 hours. rolled backwards down hill, • 106 db is what a chainsaw gives out, just one-and-a-half minutes victim run over by the tractor. recommended • 99 db for a skill saw with a maximum of 9 minutes only November Female Crushed when ATV rolled on top of her. • At 140 db for a gun shot, the experts recommend no exposure time at all without protection. January Male Operating bulldozer clearing Hearing loss spoils so many simple pleasures and also makes life fence line. Tree fell across surprisingly diffcult. Communication on the phone or when you are operator seat, crushing him. out is hard. So is normal conversation, and after a while even the most January Male Crushed between vehicle and fence post when opening gate. Attending the Farmsafe Farm Forestry January Female Daughter of dairy farmer found courses before Christmas really paid pinned to ground by spike-hay off for Bevan Walker of Marborough. forks Bevan now not only gets the beneft of a 10% discount on his ACC January Male Forks fitted to front of tractor premium, he was also the lucky dug into asphalt flipping tractor. winner of the chainsaw package. Victim crushed by cab frame, not wearing seat belt. Bevan is shown here with his new chainsaw, donated by Husqvarna. The February Male ATV rolled on steep slope, safety helmet, muffs and safety chaps crushing rider. were donated by ACC.

New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 41 Ob i t u a r y Alick Lindsay Poole CBE Eulogy given by Dr Wink Sutton at Lindsay Poole’s funeral

In 2002 he was awarded the NZ Institute of Forestry’s (NZIF) 1908 Born 4 March at Whatatutu, Poverty Bay Kirk Medal. An award Professor McKelvey claimed was ‘the most 1931 B(For) Sc Auckland University historic award in New Zealand.’ Lindsay had been made a Fellow of 1948 MSc Victoria University the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1962 and was later awarded 1962 Fellow of the Royal Society of fellow status of NZIF. New Zealand Lindsay was always passionate about all things forestry. He was a 1971 CBE regular attendee of many forestry meetings. He wrote many articles 1999 Honorary DSc University of Canterbury and letters as well as publishing numerous books. His forestry subjects were diverse − from forest history to botanical aspects, indigenous 2002 NZIF Kirk Medal forest management for wood production and soil conservation. He 2008 Died 2 January was a great supporter of farm forestry and was for a time Patron of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association. I know the founder of that Association, Mr Neil Barr, greatly cherished his close relationship sually a contemporary is asked to give the eulogy but when with Lindsay. one lives to be almost 100 that can present problems.Being In common with many staff in the former Forest Service, Lindsay Uborn in1908 Lindsay was almost 31 when I was born. I was greatly resented the break-up of the department and the selling off 31 when he retired from the Forest Service in January 1971. of the State plantations. One of the last of his numerous publications In late 1968 I was a young scientist at the Forest Research (written with Hamish Levack and Julian Bateson) was The Great Wood Institute. The leader of our research group, Dr Bob Fenton, had Robbery? Political bumbling ruins New Zealand forestry. In this book sent a telex to Head Offce critical of some Forest Service policy. I the authors put forward reasoned arguments for the establishment was then on a visit to Head Offce and completely unaware of the of a new Forest Service. upheaval Fenton’s telex had caused. I was having lunch with Gerry Few have done more, or for so long, to further the cause of New Yska and John Wendelken in the Bowen State Building staff cafeteria Zealand forestry as Lindsay Poole. when Lindsay walked in. Seeing me he made straight for our table and said something like ‘What right did FRI have to comment on Forest Service policy’. I responded ‘Every right’ and spent the next hour defending Bob Fenton’s arguments. At the conclusion of our debate I said to Gerry ‘Well there goes my career.’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘He is the Director-General. He heard some things he would normally not hear. If he had wanted he could have terminated the debate at any time.’ In all the years I have known Lindsay he was always a gentleman. Lindsay was most unlike other Director-Generals. He never asserted the power that came with his position. I have always had great respect for Lindsay. Lindsay’s career was so eventful that I will just highlight those events that I consider were his greatest achievements. In 1926 (at age 18) Lindsay had his frst forestry experience at the Whakarewarewa nursery. While there he actually met the frst Director of Forestry, Mackintosh Ellis. The next year he was awarded the Smith-Wylie Scholarship to study forestry at Auckland University and graduated in 1931. In 1937 he joined the Botany Division of the DSIR. At the outbreak of World WarII he frst served as a Lieutenant in the United Kingdom with the 15th Forestry Company of the New Zealand Corp of Engineers. In 1941 he was appointed Scientifc Liaison Offcer for the DSIR at the New Zealand Embassy in London. At the end of the war he was sent to Germany with the British Military Government Forestry and Timber Section and worked closely with the German Forest Service. After two years he returned to the DSIR Botany Division and was appointed its Director in 1949. Two years later, in 1951, Lindsay was back in the Forest Service as deputy Director. There he served a diffcult 10 years under the then Director A R Entrican before becoming Director-General of the Forest Service from 1961 to 1971. He then became Chairman of the Soil Conservation and River Control Council. He retired in 1978.

42 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Trade directory

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New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 43 As s o c i a t i o n Branch Secretaries 2008

Far North Gaye Simms RD2, Kaitaia Wellington Hamish Levack 5 Paparata Street, Karori, Wellington Phone: 09 408 4050 Phone: 04 476 6787 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Mid Northland Peter Coates RD4, Whangarei Nelson Nancy Cowan 9A Cobham Crescent, Stoke, Nelson Phone: 09 436 5774 Ph: 03 547 3340 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Lower North Matt Barr 221 Bald Hill Road, Waitoki Marlborough Bruce McKenzie Dunbeath, RD1, Blenheim Ph: 09 420 9860 Phone/Fax: 03 572 2540, Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] South Auckland Dave Gravatt C/- 8 Albury Avenue, Epsom, Auckland West Coast Jim Bushby 406 Main Rd, Kaiata, Greymouth Phone: 09 630 6933 Phone: 03 768 0090 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Waikato John Simmons PO Box 4221, Hamilton East North Canterbury Gary Fleming Mt Grey, RD2, Rangiora, Phone: 07 856 5710 Phone: 03 312 9751 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Central Canterbury Derrick Rooney Hororata Road, Hororata Waitomo Trevor Blackburn 24 Irvine Road, RD5, Otorohanga Phone: 03 318 0763 Phone: 07 873 0748 Email: [email protected] Coromandel Logan Lingard Coroglen, RD1, Whitianga (Contact person) Ashburton Bernard Egan 329 Burnett St, Ashburton Phone: 07 866 3805 Phone/Fax: 03 308 5182 Bay of Plenty Sandra Griffin 852 Rangiuru Road, RD8, Te Puke Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 573 7203 South Canterbury Allan Laurie Laurie Forestry Ltd, 196 Maytown Rd, Email: [email protected] RD8, Waimate 8791 Taupo & Districts Phillip Martin 7/11 Lake Tce, Taupo Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 377 4888 North Otago Scott Johnston 109 Tokarahi-Tapui Rd, 13 C R D, Oamaru Gisborne E Coast Kees Weytmans Knapdale Eco Lodge, Ph: 03 432 4255 114 Snowsill Rd, Waihirere, Gisborne Mid Otago Chaz Forsyth 70 Evans St, Opoho, Dunedin Phone: 06 862 5444 Phone: 03 473 8317 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Hawkes Bay Bruce Wills Trelinnoe, RD 2, Napier South Otago Graham Hunter Konini, 1 Rd, Lawrence Mobile: 027 234 1516, Phone/fax: 06 834 Phone/Fax: 03 485 9567 9704, Email: [email protected] Southland John Purey-Cust Campion Road, RD4, Gore Tararua Rick McAslan 27 La Lena Grove, Palmerston North Phone/Fax: 03 208 5200 Phone: 06 357 2356 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Men of Trees E C Nicholson 297 Tweed St, Invercargill Taranaki Bill Davies Te Popo, RD24, Stratford Ph: 03 216 9585 Phone: 06 764 8619 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Southern High Cliff Tapper 16 Pioneer Court, Cromwell, C Otago Middle Districts David Hammond ‘Kialoa’, 21 Tutaenui Road, Marton 4710 Country Phone: 03 445 1044 Phone 06 327 4119, Fax 06 327 5119 Wairarapa Shane Atkinson 79 West St, Greytown Phone: 06 304 8967Fax: 06 372 7714 Email: [email protected] NZFFA special interest groups

AMIGO Group Chairperson: Ian Brown, 109 Dixon Road, Hamilton Phone/fax: 07 843 4389 Cypress Action Group Chairman: Benjamin Lee, Plateau Rd, RD 1, Reporoa Phone: 07 333 8062 Email:[email protected] Eucalypt Action Group President: Allan Levett. 12 Winston Street, Crofton Downs, Wellington. Phone: 04 938 5266 Email: [email protected] Indigenous Forest Section Chairman: Philip Smith, PO Box 437, Taupo Phone: 07 378 5450, Email: [email protected] Sequoia group Chairman: Geoff Brann, RD 9, Te Puke Phone: 07 533 1361 Email: [email protected]

44 New Zealand Tree Grower • May 2008 Are you a member of the NZFFA?

The New Zealand Farm Forestry Association has been around for over 50 years. There are 29 active branches and around 2500 members. If you are reading this issue of the Tree Grower you are probably already a member, but could well just be a casual reader or subscriber. If you are a member, you could make a gift membership to a friend or relative. The cost of joining if you have less than 10 hectares of trees is only $75 a year.

Why join the NZFFA? Special interest groups Tree Grower If you want to know more about cypress, eucalypts, redwood, blackwood or indigenous trees, then you can November 2006 estry Association May 2007 Official journal of the New Zealand Far Official journal of the New Zealand Farm For ciation m Forestry Association the New Zealand Farm Forestry Asso Official journal of have the opportunity to join one or more of these groups. Special feature on blackwoodSpecial feature on eucalypts Hamilton conference Some have their own magazines, such as Indigena for the indigenous group. Many are involved in fi eld trials that you can join and help with. For example the eucalypt group are trying to fi nd the best places to grow ground-durable Blackwood and the nurse The blackwood sceptic Eucalpyts for timber Excellent stewardship A Tasmanian perspective Health issues with eucalypts eucalypt poles to supply the vineyards. Trees to cows Milling and grading blackwood Stringybark eucalpyt silviculture Forest health update Furniture from blackwood Ground durable eucalypts Award winners The environmental benefi ts of forestry Value in a small woodlot • Conference fi eld days Feature on radiata Conference fi eld days Energy farming around Taupo • A small forest Harvesting in Brunswick Forests owner's story • Snow damage in Canterbury Plantation silviculture at the crossroads • Threats to radiata pine Restoring cabbage trees in the landscape Annual conference Measuring radiata pine • Western gall rust

You will get four copies a year of the Tree Grower – the best source of information about growing trees in New Zealand.

Field days

This is held in a different region every year. The conference is mainly fi eld days and gives attendees the chance to visit farm forestry properties, QEII Trust covenanted areas, logging sites or other places of interest. It is also an opportunity to attend the AGM, meet up with over 200 other members of the NZFFA and have a good time.

How to join Joining is very simple. Copy the form below, complete the details and send it to NZFFA, PO Box 1122, Wellington. You will get some free back issues of Tree Grower and all your membership privileges. Your branch will hold regular fi eld days where you can see If you have less than 10 hectares of trees the membership what other farm foresters have grown, where they may cost is only $75 have made mistakes, and what trees grow well. This is an For 10 to 40 hectares the cost is $120 a year. opportunity to mix with other like-minded tree growers For over 40 hectares of trees the cost is $180 a year.  I would like to join the NZFFA  $75 a year  $120 a year  $180 a year I enclose a cheque payable to NZFFA  Please debit my credit card:  Visa  Mastercard Number: Expiry date: Name on card: Signature: Address: Postcode