Australian timber industry news

The US Department of Commerce says it has made a final decision to more than double countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports, a move business groups in British Columbia say will harm communities on both sides of the border. Source: The Global News A statement from the American department says the duty for most Canadian companies is being increased to 14.63%, up from 6.74%, after it determined softwood lumber from Canada was being unfairly subsidized. The increase is on top of a recent jump in anti-dumping duties to 20.56%, bring the total duty level for Canadian softwood to 35.19%. The department says it will now instruct US Customs and Border Protection to begin collecting the money. Kurt Niquidet, president of the BC Lumber Trade Council, said in a statement that the decision places unnecessary strain on forestry-dependent regions in Canada while driving up construction costs for American builders. The council says both the Canadian and US governments need to make resolving the long-standing softwood lumber dispute a top economic priority. “In the absence of a negotiated settlement, BCLTC will continue working closely with the Government of Canada and industry partners to defend Canadian interests through all available legal channels, including proceedings under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” the statement says. The BC Council of Forest Industries says the provincial government needs to take action including streamlining permitting processes, activating provincial timber sales and removing cross-ministry bottlenecks. “With the right policy tools, British Columbia (BC) can send a strong message that it is committed to creating a climate where primary and secondary forest manufacturers want to invest, ensuring a steady supply of wood products for BC, Canada, and beyond,” President Kim Haakstad said in a statement. Prime Minister Mark Carney was in BC promising Can $700 million in loan guarantees for the industry and Can$500 million for long-term supports to help companies diversify export markets and develop their products.

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A German company is building sturdy, low-carbon buildings using substandard wood, by making wooden bricks. This innovative construction method has already been used in many buildings including a major supermarket in Germany. Source: Timberbiz TriqBriq is the start-up that is making the bricks that fit together using wooden dowels rather than motar or glue. So far, the company has built 15 building including the supermarket and it is working to move to full automation. For the first time, a supermarket was built entirely with TriqBriq’s timber construction system. The 1,100 square metre store sets new standards in resource-saving construction. The load-bearing wall construction consists of around 11,000 micro-modular wooden building blocks – known as BRIQs – which are made from industrial and calamity wood as well as reclaimed wood. This innovation allows wood to be used that would otherwise have been quickly burnt – this conserves resources and is good for the environment. The BRIQs are stacked dry on the building site and connected with beech wood dowels – completely without adhesives or other artificial fasteners. This means that the building can be completely dismantled and offers maximum flexibility for future conversions. Thanks to the innovative structural concept, it was also possible to realise smaller foundations and significantly reduce CO₂-intensive concrete. As a result, the new building saves around 50% of emissions compared to conventional construction methods. This store shows how modern retail architecture and genuine sustainability can go together. Circular construction means that what is a market today can be something completely new tomorrow – without any demolition or waste.

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The European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB) has advised that the forthcoming EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will not have significant implications for customers using wood pallets and packaging for transport. Source: Timberbiz The organisation, which represents the European pallet and packaging sector, issued a customer information statement to customers on the forthcoming regulation, which requires businesses to prove products on the EU market have not been sourced from recently deforested land or contributed to its degradation. In a newsletter to FEFPEB’s membership, the organisation’s secretariat said packaging would only become subject to the new EUDR rules when placed on the market for the first time as a standalone product, with its status changing as immediately when it is used. “As soon as the pallet or packaging is used to support, protect or carry another product, it is no longer covered by the EUDR, even if it is listed separately on the invoice of a product or when it is returned by a retailer to its supplier,” it said. “Once the concerned packaging becomes a packaging material used exclusively as packaging material to support, protect or carry a product, it is then not covered by the scope 27 of the Regulation.” It added that selling or renting used packaging material to other companies, as happens in pallet pooling systems, for example, is not subject to EUDR. “Similarly, empty packaging material already used for the first time to support, protect or carry another product, for instance when traded within a closed loop exchange system (i.e., pallets transferred from one company to another to be reused for transport) is not covered by the Regulation,” said FEFPEB’s advice. FEFPEB Secretary General Fons Ceelaert said: “FEFPEB’s membership and association pooling businesses are fully supportive of EUDR’s aims to protect forests around the world. We have produced this guidance to share with customers and the supply chain to give clarity on the implications of these regulations.”  

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Interpine’s internship will be based with its GIS and Remote Sensing team. The main focus will be working with ultra-dense LiDAR data to extract and measure 3D tree profiles, using techniques including deep learning and virtual reality. Source: Timberbiz This is a great opportunity to gain valuable experience working with skilled forestry, remote sensing and GIS professionals, and to get an insight on how an effective team operates in an environment that interests you. Experienced gained in this position could be the starting point of an exciting professional career in the forestry industry. What you’ll bring: A high level of attention to detail An excellent analytical ability Problem solving skills Excellent computer skills Candidates should be studying towards a degree in Computer Science, GIS or Forestry. Experience using GIS software (eg ArcGIS), and programming knowledge (Python or R) and an understanding of AI concepts such as computer vision, natural language processing (NLP), and deep learning would be very beneficial. What Interpine offers: Experience working with cutting edge LiDAR and Virtual Reality technology in an industry leading company. Variety of work, from GIS to LiDAR analysis and computer engineering / programming. Great office environment and location, based in Rotorua and within walking distance to Rotorua’s famous Redwoods walking and mountain biking tracks. The position will in New Zealand at Rotorua lakes with surrounding bush and mountains. Boating, mountain biking, tramping, hunting and fishing are all on the doorsteps of a beautiful city with affordable housing. Rotorua’s central location means most of the North Island is within easy driving reach. Your application should include a CV stating any work experience, a copy of your academic record, and a cover letter which includes your reasons for applying for a summer student internship position with Interpine. Applications should be emailed to: admin@interpine.nz The internship will run from mid-November 2025 until early February 2026 including a 2-week (unpaid) shutdown over Christmas and New Year.  The successful applicant will be required to undergo pre-employment screening. Applications close Sunday, 14 September 2025

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Selecting which trees to retain and which to remove during thinning is one of the most crucial decisions in managing a production forest. Source: Timberbiz This decision can directly impact the long-term success of a forest investment, affecting both yield potential and forest health. Whether the task is done with a chainsaw, chemically or with a mechanised machine, developing decision-making skills and supporting personnel to optimise yield potential are key skills that need to be developed by forest managers and workers alike. To support this, scientists at the Bioeconomy Science Institute/Scion have conducted research for the Forest Growers Research (FGR) Precision Silviculture Programme (PSP) to map the critical decisions undertaken in a thinning operation.  These findings are now being applied to another PSP innovation, Scion’s virtual reality (VR) thinning training tool, offering a unique approach to developing crop tree selection and other critical thinning tasks in a fully immersive, virtual environment. Analysing real-world decision-making and integrating it into VR enables workers to effectively learn crop tree selection and other key tasks in a safe, controlled realistic virtual environment before applying them in the field. The study identified enhancement opportunities for the VR platform to address other practical challenges, such as navigating dense regeneration, canopy variability and felling direction planning, while reinforcing safe practices and engaging thinning workers during early training. The research team employed a variety of methods, including expert interviews and a focus group, followed by a thematic template analysis and a hierarchical task analysis, to identify the decision points, motor-manual thinning work and other tasks that define a typical day for a silvicultural thinner. The entire thinning sequence was mapped to pinpoint where experience and environmental uncertainty intersect. Insights from expert thinners emphasised the dynamic nature of field-based judgment and highlighted the limitations of traditional training methods, which often fail to replicate the complexity and unpredictability of real-world thinning operations. The gamified nature of the VR training has been shown to not only to enhance engagement but reinforce safe practices, ultimately reducing the time needed for trainees to reach proficiency in high-risk roles. This approach represents a significant leap toward safer and more effective thinning operations. By embedding these insights into digital training tools, the forestry industry can improve both decision quality and operational efficiency, leading to better outcomes in precision silviculture. Go to https://fgr.nz/document/thinning-decision-making-insights-for-virtual-reality-applications/ to see the PSP programme Technical Report – Insights for Virtual Reality (VR) Applications

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Growing Taranaki’s manufacturing sector in New Zealand and boosting high-value exports are key to the future prosperity of the region, according to ANZ NZ’s Taranaki Regional Spotlight report, powered by Dot Loves Data. Source: Timberbiz “Manufacturing is emerging as a cornerstone of Taranaki’s economic future,” says Lorraine Mapu, ANZ NZ’s Managing Director of Business and Agri. “Historically oil and gas has underpinned the region’s export economy, but this report highlights a shift in export earnings, with dairy overtaking oil and gas as the top export earner. “As we look to the future, other sectors – in particular manufacturing, which currently makes up around 15– 20% of regional GDP – need to grow for the region to thrive.” Ms Mapu says there is huge potential for the region, but it will require coordinated action at pace and investment across industry, government, and the financial sector. “With the right support, these manufacturing businesses, with their skilled workforce and capacity to think differently, can lead the way in building a more diverse, resilient and globally connected economy. “We need a continued focus on trade agreements and export opportunities, incentives to stimulate innovation and investment, and more of our New Zealand businesses exporting into overseas markets,” she says. The report shows that in 2024 Taranaki’s manufacturing output was worth NZ$1.7 billion, with wood processing, such as timber panels, plywood and joinery, and food product manufacturing, especially dairy based foods, playing key roles. A standout example is New Plymouth-based engineered timber company Taranakipine which has invested heavily in state-of-the-art milling technology and has worked hard to develop overseas markets. “They are now in a competitive position globally, with a fire-retardant building product available to be used in the rebuild of Los Angeles, following the wildfires earlier this year,” Ms Mapu says. More than half of the country’s $5.8 billion in forestry exports in 2024 were raw logs and poles, but the report reveals that value-added wood processing businesses have real potential to generate strong export earnings. “High-value wood products including engineered timber command premium prices in global markets,” says Mapu. “These are helping to position New Zealand as a global leader in sustainable forestry and advanced manufacturing.” The report also reveals that Taranaki has more businesses per working population than other similar North Island regions, and that 92% of these have fewer than 20 staff. “The positive impact the oil and gas industry has had on the region – such as a highly skilled workforce – also provides momentum in other sectors,” Ms Mapu says. “Small and medium-sized business are often more agile and innovative – they have to be – so anything we can do to help these businesses grow and hold onto that skilled workforce, will lead to greater regional resilience and a stronger sense of community.” ANZ’s Chief Economist Sharon Zollner says Taranaki’s diverse economy has helped navigate the ups and downs of economic, commodity and policy cycles. “In recent years there has been a significant shift in where export earnings come from. “In 2008, oil and gas exports earned the region twice as much as dairy, but in 2024 that has reversed, with dairy now earning three times as much as oil and gas. “Amid these changes, we’ve seen the value of the region’s strong manufacturing base and its longstanding agricultural backbone. “This report provides a timely spotlight on the contribution Taranaki makes, not only to economic activity of New Zealand as a whole, but also how we pay our way in the world,” Ms Zollner says. ANZ’s Taranaki Regional Spotlight report is the first in a series of in-depth data-driven economic snapshots from ANZ and insights company Dot Loves Data. The reports seek to identify where the greatest opportunities for economic growth lie, and what needs to be done to fully realise the region’s economic potential.

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Forestry Corporation’s Sales and Planning teams have welcomed heritage timber bridge restoration experts from Placemaking NSW, Transport for NSW and Broockmann Water Advisory to the North Coast for a guided tour of native hardwood production forests. Source: Timberbiz The visit offered a rare opportunity for the NSW Government’s bridge team to see first-hand where the high-quality, naturally durable timbers essential to their restoration work are sourced. “This was a fantastic opportunity to connect the dots between sustainable forest management and heritage timber bridge preservation,” Carl Broockmann said. “It’s great to see how our work in the forest directly supports the longevity of some of the state’s most treasured landmarks and most important public infrastructure,” he said. Placemaking NSW manages Pyrmont Bridge, the oldest continuously operated electric swing span bridge in the world. The bridge, constructed in 1902, has 2 steel spans and 12 timber spans built with over 900 tons of renewal hardwood timber sourced from the north coast of NSW. The NSW Government has announced a contribution of $59.6million dollars to the restoration of Pyrmont Bridge timber trusses over the coming 10 years. This work is important to keep the vital pedestrian and cycleway route open between Pyrmont and the Sydney CBD. “High quality and durable timbers of large diameter with specific strength and durability requirements are needed for the Pyrmont Bridge restoration that are only available in NSW native forests,” David Glasson said. The Transport for NSW Bridge team is also responsible for maintaining 27 timber bridges of historical and engineering significance across NSW. Alan Pottie of TfNSW said ‘many of these bridges will require restoration over the coming 10 years and will require a steady supply of hardwood timber sourced from the north coast region’. “These structures require premium-grade timbers such as Ironbark, Tallowwood, and Blackbutt—species native to NSW and not available anywhere else in the world,” he said. During the tour, FCNSW staff showcased their sustainable harvesting practices and planning processes that ensure the long-term viability of these valuable timber resources. The visit also allowed FCNSW teams to gain insight into the end uses of their products and the critical role they play in preserving NSW’s infrastructure heritage. The tour highlighted the importance of collaboration between forestry and infrastructure teams and reinforced FCNSW’s commitment to responsible resource management.

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In the ever-evolving landscape of the woodchip trade, the latest report for July 2025 brings forth some intriguing insights and trends. This summary of the latest analysis from IndustryEdge’s Wood Market Edge online delves into the performance of Australian woodchip exports, the global pulp market, and the dynamics of the Asian chip trade. Source: Industry Edge In May 2025, Australian woodchip exports totalled 351.2 kbdmt, marking an 8.3% decline from the previous month. The annual exports slipped to 4.934 million bdmt. Hardwood chip exports saw a slight decrease of 0.6% to 301.6 kbdmt, while softwood chip exports plummeted by 38% to 49.6 kbdmt. The average export prices for hardwood and softwood chips were AUDFob257/bdmt and AUDFob222/bdmt, respectively. June witnessed a further decline in global pulp prices, driven by macro-economic pressures, weak seasonal paper demand, and over-capacity. The Chinese Bleached Softwood Kraft (BSK) price fell by USD15/t to USD695/t, while the Bleached Eucalypt Kraft (BEK) price dropped by USD5/t to USD495/t. The price differential between BSK and BEK in China stood at USD200/t. Hawkins Wright attributes these price falls to rising pulp producer inventories and the lack of buyer interest due to difficulties in downstream paper markets. The competition between Chinese domestic producers and South American suppliers continues, with the latter historically delivering BEK pulp to China at lower prices. However, the current market conditions, characterized by low demand and high global capacity, challenge this price supremacy. The Asian chip trade showed some positive signs in May, with global hardwood chip deliveries to China increasing by 29.6% to 1.289 Mbdmt. Softwood chip deliveries also saw a significant rise of 125.9% to 0.021 Mbdmt. However, over the year-ended May, hardwood chip deliveries to China were 3.4% lower compared to the previous year. Japan’s softwood chip imports, on the other hand, were 16.0% higher over the same period. IndustryEdge’s data sets on Asian country chip imports is currently being upgraded, with new countries being added. More information will be available in coming weeks. The woodchip trade and global pulp market are navigating through a period of significant fluctuations and challenges. While Australian woodchip exports face a mixed performance, the global pulp market is under pressure due to economic factors and over-capacity. The Asian chip trade shows some stability, but the overall market dynamics remain complex. As we move forward, it will be crucial to monitor these trends and their implications for the industry. For more information www.industryedge.com.au

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A local family farming group is believed to have paid around $30 million for Mineral Banks in Tasmania’s north-east. The 1236ha grazing, cropping and native forest opportunity, 25km from Scottsdale and 58km from Launceston, was offered for sale by the Foster family after more than 90 years of ownership. Source: Sheep Central Agents from Colliers Agribusiness were unable to disclose the buyer or the price paid but during the marketing campaign, Mineral Banks was anticipated to make more than $30m. Around 781ha of the property had been developed for grazing, with the rich red loam and alluvial soils growing improved pastures and supporting beef cattle and fat lamb production. Around 55ha had been set aside for intensive cropping and there are 400ha of native forest. Mineral Banks offers the incoming purchaser the ability to capitalise on higher value farming operations including dairying, further intensive cropping and development of irrigation infrastructure for fattening operations. Significant volumes of hardwood timber in the native forest offer diversified forestry opportunities and potential for biodiversity stewardship and carbon farming. Mineral Banks boasts extensive river frontage with the Dorset River and New River traversing the property supported by 1200mm of annual rainfall. It also benefits from 420ML of irrigation water from the Upper Ringarooma scheme. Infrastructure includes multiple homes, numerous sheds, three cattle yards and a three-stand shearing shed, as well as recently upgraded fencing and internal laneways. The sale was handled by Colliers Agribusiness agents Duncan McCulloch, Connor Dixon and Rawdon Briggs.

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The Tasmanian Government has abandoned plans to open up 40,000 hectares of protected forest for logging in a major policy shift that Labor is calling a “humiliating backflip.  Sources: Pulse Tasmania, Timberbiz Liberal Member for Braddon Felix Ellis announced that the government would no longer proceed with making forest from the Future Potential Production Forest “wood bank” available for timber harvesting. “We have made this decision in line with community expectations and further consultation,” Mr Ellis said. The wood bank comprises 356,000 hectares of land previously set aside for potential future forestry operations. Mr Ellis said the government would instead “focus on maximising value from existing resources, including private forests, and ensuring growth in the industry through more innovative on-island processing.” Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) Chief Executive Officer, Nick Steel said the news that the Liberal Party is walking back their commitment to unlock production forestry from their “wood bank” reflects the new political reality with Tasmania’s minority government. “Whilst this decision may be disappointing for some in Tasmania’s forestry sector, the TFPA remains committed to working with both major parties to secure the long-term sustainability of our industry,” Mr Steel said. “Tasmania’s forestry sector is a key component for the success of regional Tasmania and essential to help the state overcome its current budget crisis. “The TFPA believes that unlocking the right timber in the right locations can help grow and sustain our respected, renewable and well-regulated industry.” Labor Leader Dean Winter described the decision as a complete reversal of the Liberals’ signature forestry policy. “After having campaigned against the Tasmanian Forest Agreement for more than a decade, the Tasmanian Liberals have today completed a humiliating backflip on forestry,” Mr Winter said. “Their plan to open up another 40,000 hectares of forestry was opposed by industry, Labor and conservation movement because it would have reopened the forest wars.” Greens Leader Rosalie Woodruff welcomed the announcement, calling it “extremely welcome news to the regional communities who were under threat of their beautiful forests being slashed and burned.” “It clearly shows the power of having a minority government, a minority parliament, Greens in the crossbench and a more progressive group of independents there with us too,” Ms Woodruff said. Tasmania currently has more than 50% of its land mass, or 3.43 million hectares, in formal reserves, according to Ellis, who said the government “remains committed to getting the balance right between creating jobs and protecting the environment.”

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There’s a thriving community of diverse microbes living in tree wood, a new study led by a Yale School of the Environment team of scientists has found. A single tree hosts about one trillion bacteria in its woody tissue. Source: Timberbiz Trees are Earth’s largest biomass reservoir and store more than 300 gigatons of carbon. However, what is living in their wood has largely been unexplored. The study, published in Nature and led by YSE doctoral candidate Jonathan Gewirtzman and Wyatt Arnold ’24, establishes a new frontier for understanding tree physiology and forest ecology that can assist in forecasting forest response to future change and help trees adapt to climate change. “Understanding these internal ecosystems gives us insights into trees’ broader biogeochemical functions and how they might contribute to forest carbon cycling and nutrient exchange processes in ways we hadn’t fully considered before,” Mr Gewirtzman said. Research on trees has focused mainly on the exposed surfaces of trees such as roots, leaves and bark. For this study, the scientists surveyed 150 living trees across 16 species in the northeast region of the US. They found that microbes are partitioned between heartwood (inner wood) and sapwood (outer wood) with each having their own unique microbiomes with minimal similarity to other plant tissues or ecosystem components. Inner wood is dominated by microbes that don’t need oxygen, while outer wood is dominated by microbes that do require oxygen. The microbes are actively producing gases and cycling nutrients, the study revealed. “One of the things I found most interesting was how these microbiomes varied across different species,” said Mr Arnold, a chemical and environmental engineer. “For example, sugar maples hosted a very different community than the one within pines, and these differences were consistent and conserved. I think this supports the idea that not only are these microbial communities shaped by the unique conditions within different trees species, but that these communities may have even ‘coevolved’ with trees over time.” Further research exploring wood microbiomes across different global regions and climates can lead to a better understanding of factors driving microbial diversity and function, the authors noted. “There is a massive reservoir of unexplored biodiversity — countless microbial species living inside the world’s trees that we’ve never documented. We need to catalog and understand these communities before climate change potentially shifts them. Some of these microbes could hold keys to promoting tree growth, conferring disease resistance, or producing useful compounds we haven’t discovered yet,” Mr Gewirtzman said. The team of researchers included Mark Bradford, the EH Harriman Professor of Soils and Ecosystem Ecology; Peter Raymond, the Oastler Professor of Biogeochemistry and co-director of the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture; Craig Brodersen, the Howard and Maryam Newman Professor of Plant Physiological Ecology; research scientist and lecturer Marlyse Duguid; Jordan Peccia, professor of chemical and environmental engineering at Yale; and Cade Brown ’23 and Naomi Norbraten ’25. The team spent over a year freezing, smashing, grinding and beating wood samples to develop a method that could provide the high-quality DNA required to uncover the microbiomes in the tree trunks, Mr Bradford said. “I was thrilled to contribute to this work given that few habitats so vast and widespread remain to be investigated, and especially one so familiar to folks as living trees,” he said. “It felt analogous to a 19th century ecologist landing on an island where the plants and animals were unfamiliar to science.”

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Tigercat Industries launched the new TCi 1055D forwarder at 2025 FOREXPO in France. The machine attracted a great deal of attention during the two-day event. Source: Timberbiz The heavy duty 15-tonne forwarder was designed out of the gate to be highly configurable to meet many differing local requirements that make up the global forwarder market. The machine can be specified with two transmission choices to optimize the machine based on typical terrain conditions. Three bunk systems, and three available wagon frame lengths further customize the forwarder for thinning or final harvesting as well as varying log length requirements. Several crane choices are available. The operator’s cabin has undergone a complete redesign. With increased legroom, the spacious interior is designed for optimal ergonomics and effective climate control. Both the seat and seat base are configurable according to preference and operating conditions. Multiple storage locations are available to the operator, including mesh net secured overhead storage for light weight items, various slots and cubbies, and a dedicated floor level area suitable for work boots or lunch storage. Clear operator sightlines reduce fatigue and increase productivity. The curved rear window gives the operator an unobstructed upward view of the crane and clear sightlines to the entire work area. The placement and shape of the front and rear control panels, as well as the fuel and hydraulic tank structures, allow for clear sightlines to the blade and tires. Additionally, the vertical gate slats are progressively angled to enhance through-visibility to the load area. The operator controls are new with an intuitive and comfortable layout. The drive control system has separate engine rpm and drive speed controls, along with preprogrammed speed settings for fine speed control and convenient operation. The hydraulically operated front hood enclosure opens to provide a safe and roomy work platform. From the elevated platform, the operator can walk around both sides of the engine. A pull-down ladder behind the cab gives access to standing areas beside the hydraulic and fuel tanks, and the power-tilting cab provides access to major hydraulic components.

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The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) welcomed the announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, confirming the federal government’s plan to stand with forest sector employees and businesses as the industry weathers current trade and market challenges. Source: Timberbiz This comes after the latest round of tariffs from the US. “Encouraging the federal government to get the best trade deal for Canada with our US neighbours continues to be the most important wish of our sector and forestry communities across Canada,” said FPAC President and CEO Derek Nighbor. “As those deliberations continue, today’s measures announced by the Prime Minister are helpful as we try to stabilize the industry for the months ahead and at the same time achieve our shared goals of building more homes, improving competitiveness, increasing production and investment in Canadian operations, and growing new markets for the long-term.” FPAC remains committed to working with the Government of Canada, provincial governments, and the labour and community-based partners so that it can strengthen prospects for the industry’s 200,000 employees and the over 300 communities they call home. FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding Can$87.2B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers providing 200,000 direct jobs and operating in hundreds of communities across the country. Its members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities and our environment for the long term.

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Ray Hook is a new director at the New Zealand Forest Service. He says he is excited about the future of the forestry and wood processing sector. Mr Hook began his new appointment on 4 August 2025. Source: Timberbiz “A cornerstone of our economy for more than a century, forestry and wood processing is continuing to evolve into an industry that adds value, embraces innovation, and leads the world in sustainable practices,” Mr Hook said. Mr Hook is now the Director of Forestry Engagement & Advice at Te Uru Rākau, a business unit in the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). The directorate has a key role connecting people, communities and stakeholders with forestry-related policies, programs and opportunities. With close to 20 years’ experience, working across a variety of technical, operational and investment roles in the forest industry Mr Hook brings extensive experience in leadership, stakeholder management, and a deep understanding of forestry and land management sectors in New Zealand. Mr Hook says he is particularly interested in the work that Te Uru Rākau is doing in broader land-use initiatives, such as alternative tree species, indigenous forestry and driving greater biodiversity outcomes. “What excites me in this role is the chance to bring together my experience and the opportunity to integrate that into Te Uru Rākau’s work to create a more resilient and sustainable forestry sector for New Zealand,” he said. “Innovation is also a big driver for me, such as the advances in engineered wood products that are revolutionising construction. This and the huge potential for wood as an alternative energy source are significantly increasing the opportunities for wood fibre, both in New Zealand and globally.”  

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One winery in Martinborough has debuted a Sauvignon Blanc which was made using casks more than 90 years-old, made from the native New Zealand tree Totara. Sources: Timberbiz, Winetitles Totara was used by early winegrowing pioneers for the fermentation and ageing of wines as far back as the late 1800’s.  Their use disappeared almost entirely by the 1980’s as European oak barrels and stainless steel took their place. Now, a small winery in Martinborough is re-kindling this lost technique. Lance Redgwell is the winegrower at Cambridge Road winery and proudly shared his latest work embracing the old ways. “My love of the natural world we call home has inspired me to explore ways to honour this land and let it speak through my craft,” said Mr Redgwell. “Winemaking is more than just a process; it’s an expression of place. In re-discovering the rare gift of native New Zealand timber in our wines, I hope to reflect the voice of Aotearoa and pay respect to its spiritual and cultural heritage, the people who have walked this earth before us and offer the taste of something unique.” The casks in question, crafted in the 1930s, are a far cry from the standard oak barrels of today. First acquired from an old Brajkovich family winery in Kaikohe back in 2018. Redgwell has been tinkering away with the restoration and re-introduction of these native barrels ever since. “They provide lower oxidation levels and a more neutral wood profile,” explained Redgwell. “But beyond that, they carry mana, history, and a spirit that transcends a mere flavour profile. This is about rekindling a connection to the past and the early history of winemaking in New Zealand.” While this is a long-term project, the scale will always be limited by the number of barrels available, with only 3,073 bottles produced. “My hope is that this effort will keep these barrels in use for another 95 years, inspiring future generations to take pride in New Zealand’s winemaking heritage,” said Redgwell. “And ultimately, my goal is to craft the most distinctly Kiwi wines on the planet— wine that speaks not just of place, but of history, tradition, and the land that nurtures it.”

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Students across Tasmania are helping shape Tasmania’s future landscapes thanks to Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) and the Forest Education Foundation (FEF) School’s Tree Day. Source: Timberbiz Now a core feature of Tasmania’s education and forestry calendar, Schools Tree Day complements Planet Ark’s National Tree Day, which since 1996 has grown into Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care event. More than 3,000 native seedlings, cultivated at Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s Perth Nursery, have been gifted and delivered to schools across the state. Throughout July and August, schools across the students and teachers will plant gifted seedlings, with some schools holding outdoor planting events with Sustainable Timber Tasmania foresters — digging holes, planting seedlings, while having fun and learning. “This is where the forest and the fun begins,” said Suzette Weeding, General Manager Conservation and Land Management at STT. “It starts in the hands of students who are learning, through real action, how to care for their schools and communities.” Darcy Vickers, Manager at the Forest Education said that planting a tree is a beginning, Foundation. “It gets kids asking questions, noticing patterns in nature, and seeing themselves as part of the landscape. “This place-based learning approach offers long-term benefits. Many seedlings from past years are now thriving — creating shaded spaces, growing wildlife habitat, and becoming the subjects of science experiments and environmental monitoring for current and future students.” Erika Boas, Principal of Bothwell District High School in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, welcomed the collaboration between Sustainable Timber Tasmania and the Forest Education Foundation. Now in its second year, she says this has become an opportunity for her students and staff to collaborate and learn about career paths into forestry. “The planting day brings our school community together in the best possible way. Students, staff and foresters all have a hand in creating something lasting and learn so much along the way,” Mr Boas said. “Our extensive partnership with Sustainable Timber Tasmania and the Forest Education Foundation means our students have a full seed to tree experience, that starts in the Perth Nursery and extends to the Tasmania’s forests.”  

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Opal says it is driving large performance gains with its Manufacturing Excellence (MEx) program, a system that empowers frontline operators to define their own performance goals and outline how to achieve them. Source: Timberbiz Traditional improvement methods rely on a top-down approach where targets are set by leadership and cascaded down the organisation. Opal’s MEx program shifts this dynamic by entrusting those on the frontline to identify performance improvements. “Our frontline teams possess deep operational knowledge and a direct line of sight to daily challenges and opportunities,” said Jacob Chretien, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Opal. “By empowering our people to set their own targets in consultation with the business, we unlock higher employee engagement, faster problem resolution, and more resilient gains.” This approach is already yielding impressive results across sites in Australia and New Zealand. A prime example is Opal Regency Park in South Australia which has embraced MEx principles to drive significant operational and cultural transformation. At Opal’s site in Regency Park, South Australia, MEx contributed to a major turnaround in performance, starting from an on time, in full delivery score of 58% to more than 99% within a nine-month period. Site Manager Matt Mcarthur attributes these results to a deliberate focus on hiring staff with a strong track record of accountability rather than purely technical skills. “Operators take a lead role in continuous improvement including ways to minimise planned downtime, communicate site performance, and drive preventative maintenance strategies to increase the run time of our assets,” Mr Mcarthur said. “It has supported seamless product transfers from other sites, driven material efficiencies, and helped maximise floor space”. Regency Park also engaged local suppliers to secure cost reductions and supply chain improvements, generating substantial savings and strengthening local partnerships. For example, waste ink disposal costs fell by more than 70% with addition savings generated through smarter supply arrangements. By moving from top-down directives to a model based on enablement and ownership, Regency Park has not only improved its operational performance, but it has also strengthened engagement across its workforce. In a market where expectations around operational agility and cost-effectiveness are increasing, Opal’s MEx system empowers those closest to the business to choose the opportunities worth pursuing, delivering stronger returns, fuelling customer growth, and upholding best-in-class safety. Since the phased rollout began in 2024, plants running MEx have lifted overall equipment effectiveness by an average 13 percentage points, cut unplanned downtime by 27%, and reduced material waste by 15%. Daily huddles led by operators turn live production data into 24-hour improvement targets, while a digital action board feeds real-time issues to engineering and supply-chain teams. The result is faster decision-making, shorter change-over times, and a self-funding pipeline of machine-level enhancements. While the sector races toward advanced manufacturing, Opal is also leveraging its MEx program to pinpoint opportunities in artificial intelligence, steer automation projects, and lift the effectiveness of the assets they run. By embedding ownership and continuous improvement at ground level, Opal is setting a new benchmark for manufacturing excellence, one that puts people at the centre while unlocking the full potential of smart technologies on the production floor.

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The peak state body for the forest and timber industry in Queensland has welcomed the release of the draft Queensland Future Timber Plan which has received preliminary input from the Timber Supply Chain Ministerial Roundtable comprising industry, First Nation, forest science and building sector representatives. Source: Timberbiz “This draft plan provides clear recognition of the vital contribution this industry makes to the state economy as well as the social and environmental benefits from sustainably managed forests. For too long this sector has been neglected at the expense of rural and regional jobs, green building outcomes and housing affordability,” Timber Queensland CEO Mick Stephens said. “The Government listened to our call at the last election for a comprehensive plan to remove productivity barriers and has put the forest and timber industry back at the forefront of strategic economic development. “We support the plan’s key focus areas of securing future supply, delivering an internationally competitive supply chain, better regulation, workforce development and greater innovation and extension. “These focus areas will help deliver the additional resources, processing capacity and skilled jobs to meet the rising demand for timber building materials. “An important next step will be to identify and implement key actions to support the 25-year plan.” A number of areas that Queensland Timber is focusing on for key priority actions in the first 5-year period include: a targeted planting program of additional plantations to complement existing resources and downstream processing putting in place long term crown resource contracts for the native hardwood industry (noting most existing contracts expire at the end of 2026) a world class industry led private forest grower and landholder forestry extension service, including partnerships with indigenous communities lifting the international competitiveness of local growing and processing supply chains through investment in infrastructure, resource recovery and value added technologies. smoothing cyclical market fluctuations through long-term public procurement and leveraging major projects such as the Brisbane Olympics; removing sovereign risk through a long-term right to harvest in sustainably managed private native forests; and removing policy and financial barriers to investment in plantations and farm forestry such as existing impediments in the Land Restoration Fund. “We look forward to working with the Government on the co-designed strategy and actions to ensure a thriving and sustainable forest and timber industry into the future,” Mr Stephens said.

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The Queensland Crisafulli Government says it is delivering a fresh start for the forestry industry, launching the draft Queensland Future Timber Plan for wide-ranging public consultation. Source: Timberbiz This landmark initiative sets out how the Crisafulli Government will drive policy settings to secure the sustainable timber supply needed to build one million homes by 2044 all while supporting a sustainable resource, creating new jobs, and backing regional economies. The government says the plan will deliver a 25-year strategy for the forestry and timber industry, supported by a detailed 5-year action plan to guide the initial steps. It is a key component of the Government’s broader Primary Industries Prosper 2050 blueprint, which aims to boost Queensland’s primary production output to $30 billion by 2030. The Queensland Government said that over a decade, successive Labor governments made hollow promises, including action plans that were announced but never written, hundreds of millions of non-existent funding pledged, and a two-year supply study that was never delivered. Two industry roundtables have been held focused on meeting the growing construction demand while fostering sustainability and innovation across the supply chain. Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said successive Labor governments had failed Queenslanders and caused shortfalls in timber supply. “This plan is about securing a reliable and sustainable timber supply to meet Queensland’s growing housing, construction, and infrastructure needs, all while protecting jobs and building regional economies,” Minister Perrett said. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future of Queensland’s forestry and timber industries and ensure there is renewable Queensland timber to build homes and deliver on our infrastructure needs. “The plan has been shaped by key industry leaders and now we want to hear from everyone — from timber producers, small and family businesses, manufacturers to environmental groups and regional communities.”

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In a world competing for impact and positive attention, we’re told to always promote your product’s positives and try not to make yourself look good by denigrating the competition and highlighting their weaknesses. The digital world though loves creating click bait and appealing to people’s concerns as opposed to their affirmations. Timber has taken the higher ground for years in terms of some real emotive negative lenses portrayed and promoted by competing materials. So, let’s set the record straight here… Timber is more fire predictable than steel – it doesn’t buckle in fire which happens quicker than charring of timber sections Timber is more thermally efficient than steel Timber is quieter than steel – it doesn’t go creak in the night with expansion and contraction due to temperature changes in the building Timber with H2F hazard class is termite resistant – a steel home is just as vulnerable as a timber home to overall termite damage throughout the fitout of the house such that the BCA requirements are no different Timber is forgiving in terms of onsite rectifications – trades know this, and they know that steel framing isn’t and that’s why they prefer installing timber frames and trusses Timber doesn’t corrode, buckle or creak in the night. And, whilst we’re setting the record straight, even though this opinion piece will probably be read by either already converted and the stalwart pro-timber ambassadors, The Block is claiming a meaningful focus on sustainability in its design and construction, and this is questionable in my opinion. The biggest ongoing positive impact that The Block could make if it was truly committed to sustainability over profit (from audience ratings) would be to insist that the five new builds this year were done with structural timber. The unbelievable sustainability focus that the show claims is besides the fact that every builder I speak with doesn’t respect or like the show in terms of how it portrays major renovations, or new home build projects. It shows unrealistic construction timelines, which translate to unreasonable pressure on trades, and an unhealthy client/builder relationship. Building a new home is such a big investment, emotionally and financially, and good reliable builders deal with this fact in their client journeys every day, so they don’t need the sensationalised drama of a “reality” show. However, along with the biggest emotional and financial investment, it’s also the biggest investment for positive climate change that a homeowner can make in their lives to insist on structural timber. I estimate that over the past 21 seasons of The Block, the show has constructed conservatively about 100 new home equivalents, as this is based on the fact that some years, the renovation was an existing apartment block structure and the detached house renovations were much larger than the average Aussie home footprint. Christine Briggs is the principal, Chris Briggs Consulting

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