The Post April 2024

Welcome to the April edition of The Post. This month, we look at the forestry sector and how Nelson-Tasman forestry businesses, Tasman Pine Forests (TPF) and Mechanised Cable Harvesting (MCH) are working hard to provide a sustainable resource by utilising the whole tree, benefiting the environment and everyone within the supply chain.

Steve Chandler is the executive director of TPF and has been in the role for the past five years. With over 50 years of experience within forestry, Steve highlights TPF's high-density radiata pine forests spread across 28,000 hectares, with a total of over 36,000 hectares’ worth of forestland. The business has been operating for eight years with a focus on environment programmes and building strong relationships with their contractors and end users.

MCH, owned by Nelson locals Nathan Taylor, Hamish Matthews, and Ross Wood, is a New Zealand forestry contracting business that started ten years ago. Showcasing a strong emphasis on technology and the welfare of their staff, MCH strives for efficiency, minimising waste and reducing unnecessary labour.

In this edition, we also focus on fencing, providing three tips from contractors within the Waikato, Tasman, and Gisborne regions. Based in the Waikato, Geoff van Dam from G&M Fencing, shows us how to foot a strainer. Tasman-based contractor Jamie Beer of Fence Worx Foxhill, shows us three ways of using a GOFENCE® Permanent Wire Strainer. We also have Gisborne-based contractor, Tim Garrick of T Garrick Fencing, show us how to construct a four- metre section of rails.

Our State of the Industry article for this month focuses on the forestry sector. We talk to key leaders and individuals within the industry as they shared their insights and experiences.

We intend to continue supplying you with the best stories, activities and techniques in agriculture. If you have anything that you would like us to share, please get in touch.