Denis Hocking, Rangitoto Farm, Bulls, Middle Districts branch July 2014
Denis Hocking describes his farm forestry operations on sand country in the Manawatu. Drystock occupy the flats, while trees are grown on the sand dunes.Radiata pine does particularly well on…
Don Tantrum, Rangiwai, nr Taihape, Middle Districts branch July 2014
Don Tantrum's plantings comprise a wide range of alternative species, grown for multiple benefits. Species include black walnut, blackwoods, cypresses and eucalypts. Don has also harvested and milled many species…
Ian McKean Pinetum December 2021
The Ian McKean Pinetum is well worth a visit if you are traveling through the inland Manawatu region and are prepared to take a road less traveled. Heading South from Taihape on…
Mac Black, April 2023 April 2023
The weather might not have been ideal, but the enthusiasm was palpable as more than 50 people gathered at Richard Thompson and Laurel Stowell’s Papaiti forest, Whanganui. Particularly impressive was…
Goulters Gully field day (Access: unrestricted)
Julian Bateson, February 2018
The 2017 conference hosted by Middle Districts had a range of good field days. The following pages have articles two more of these − the trip to Goulters Gully and…
Waipiko - A winning property (Access: unrestricted)
August 2017
The second visit of the day was to Waipiko Farm, a property on which John and Diny Dermer were awarded the Husqvarna North Island Farm Forester of the Year in…
Longridge – half in forestry (Access: unrestricted)
Julian Bateson, August 2017
The first stop of the Feilding conference field days was Longridge, farmed by Dean and Cushla Williamson. Dean admitted that in general, the land looked after itself, probably because over…
Forestry a permitted activity? (Access: unrestricted)
Barry Gilliland, August 2014
Forestry is a ‘permitted activity’ in the Manawatu - Whanganui region now that the rule has been approved by the Environment Court. But how can forestry be a permitted activity? Those…
Horizons’ proposed One Plan Where are we? (Access: unrestricted)
Barry Gilliland, August 2013
It is a long and difficult birth is my stock answer to the perennial question – At what stage is the proposed One Plan? The fact is that the situation…
Pining in the sand hills, Episode two (Access: unrestricted)
Gwen and Chris Bossley, May 2013
In the November 2008 Tree Grower we described our progress to that date. For four years, from 1982 until 1985, we planted 13.4 hectares of sand hills which were covered…
It’s all about density (Access: unrestricted)
Angus Gordon, November 2008
Hautapu Pine Products tree farm is situated on the north bank of the Orua river east of Apiti and adjacent to the Ruahine range. The majority of the property is…
Alleviating the boredom with eucalypts (Access: unrestricted)
Denis Hocking, November 2008
The coastal sand country of the south-western North Island is probably one of the easiest places in New Zealand to grow radiata pine. There are few disease or physiological problems,…
The Gordon Trust property 60 years on (Access: unrestricted)
Angus Gordon, November 2008
The Gordon Trust property owned by John and Julie Gordon, and previously by John’s father Ron, is situated 11 km due west of Taihape in one of the upper branches…
The history and trends of land use in the Middle Districts (Access: unrestricted)
Angus Gordon and Denis Hocking, November 2008
The Middle Districts branch, along with the associated Tararua branch, is as diverse as most you will find in New Zealand. Middle Districts is bounded by the four W's −…
Trees and farming near the roof of the world (Access: unrestricted)
Angus Gordon, November 2008
Ian Cummings farms an 800 hectare sheep and beef property at Hihitahi, 9 km south of Waiouru, in what can only be described as a climatically challenging environment. His farm…
Pining in the sandhills (Access: unrestricted)
Gwen and Chris Bossley, November 2008
In the early 1980s we decided that, as urban dwellers, we needed somewhere to escape to, within easy driving distance of home. We knew very little about lifestyle farming, but…
Emissions Trading Scheme fee review a relief for cost-struck foresters Thursday, February 29, 2024
The New Zealand Forest Owners Association says the review of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) fees is a relief for foresters facing excessive costs and loss of climate change action. …
Planting trees on pasture can have a positive impact on soil health Wednesday, December 20, 2023
Rather than damaging soil in New Zealand, planting trees on pasture restores soil to be similar to its original condition. A recent news story highlighting changes in soils from converting…
Forest plantation soils have benefits too Tuesday, December 19, 2023
The Forest Owners Association (FOA) says the fact that soils under plantation forests are similar to soils under native trees, does not make them damaged, as a recent Newshub report has claimed.…
Wilding Conifers - A legacy issue that needs continued, collaborative management Sunday, October 29, 2023
Forest owners welcome the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s (PCE) acknowledgement that the presence of wilding conifers across New Zealand is largely a legacy issue, but caution against placing costs…
Stock take of the commercially viable alternatives to Pinus radiata Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Scion has published a “Stock Take of the Commercially Viable Alternatives to Pinus Radiata” for MPI, which reviews alternative species, their expected growth rates, climatic range, resilience to pests or…
SNA regulations 'confusing ecological naivety' Thursday, July 06, 2023
Forest Owners say the just released National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB) is a classic bureaucratic formula of confusing ecological naivety which will not help rare species and likely…
Forest Owners hail ‘Biosecurity Hero’ Monday, May 22, 2023
The Forest Owners Association and Scion want more people to report suspicious imported wood products which might be infested with introduced wood and forest pests. FOA Biosecurity Manager, Brendan Gould,…
Tairawhiti land use inquiry not addressing wider issues Sunday, May 14, 2023
The Forest Owners Association says the Ministerial Inquiry into landuse in Tarawhiti has a core of practical recommendations, but has not addressed some more difficult and fundamental issues. President, Grant…
Opportunities from Trees Workshops - NZ Wide Wednesday, April 19, 2023
The NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) is running 18 extension workshops in May and June with a target audience of landowners, or people with access to land, who are potential tree…
Forest Owners back more trees for Tairawhiti Sunday, April 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Association has told the Ministerial Inquiry into land use in Tairāwhiti, that the region’s future has to include more trees for land stability. But it appreciates forest…
Forest Owners want genetic technology approved Thursday, February 16, 2023
The Forest Owners Organisation says New Zealand needs to concentrate on the safety of genetic technology on a case-by-case basis rather than persisting with blanket bans. The FOA wants approval…
Fieldays Forestry Hub to demonstrate that forestry is a solution Monday, November 28, 2022
A range of solutions to farmers’ current problems will be on display in the Fieldays Forestry Hub near Hamilton between 30 November and 3 December, says Farm Forestry Association president,…
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