Two New Zealand Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA) members were recently recognised at Fieldays 2025 as winners of the inaugural Growing Native Forests Champions Awards, presented by Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service. The awards celebrate landowners who are not only establishing native forests, but also sharing knowledge, building awareness, and inspiring others to do the same.
Out of 59 entries received nationwide, Ian Brennan and Trisha Wren from Cassie’s Farm Trust and Paul and Katharina Quinlan stood out for their long-term commitment to native forestry and their willingness to support others on the same path.
Cassie’s Farm Trust – Trees on Farms Award Winner
Cassie’s Farm, an 85-hectare drystock property in the Waikato hills, is a living example of how native reforestation and Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) can be integrated into productive farmland. Since 2007, Ian, Trisha and their team have planted around 95,000 native trees and shrubs, transforming 38 hectares of steep hill country into legally protected native forest.
What sets Cassie’s Farm apart is its strategic planning—constructing access tracks before planting to support long-term forest maintenance and future selective harvesting. Their native forest work is supported by Waikato Regional Council, Trees That Count, and the One Billion Trees programme, and the site has hosted numerous field days to encourage others to follow suit.
Ian Brennan and Trisha Wren from Cassie’s Farm Trust with Hon Todd McClay
Paul and Katharina Quinlan – Lifestyle Block Owner Award Winner
On their 15-hectare property in Northland, Paul and Katharina Quinlan have pioneered the use of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) principles to restore and manage regenerating tōtara forest. Since 1999, they’ve created the first registered SFM Plan for tōtara in the region and turned their block into a well-known site for silvicultural trials, educational field days, and biodiversity enhancement.
Their efforts also include hands-on conservation work—with over 4,300 pests trapped through a family-led community initiative—contributing to thriving native regeneration. Their outreach and advocacy have supported policy conversations and publications promoting native timber, and they continue to inspire other small block owners to explore native forest management as a viable, multi-benefit land use.
Paul and Katharina Quinlan with Hon Todd McClay
About the Awards
The Growing Native Forests Champions Awards are part of a broader initiative by Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service to support landowners in establishing permanent native forests for carbon sequestration, erosion control, biodiversity enhancement, and future timber production. By recognising those already leading the way, the awards help address a key barrier: a lack of knowledge around practical methods and associated costs.
The 59 entries in this first year reflected the diversity and dedication of landowners across Aotearoa, and the two NZFFA winners showcase how different approaches—ranging from high-country tōtara restoration to native forest integration on working farms—can all contribute to a resilient future.
Credit Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service for the photos
Ashburton Branch is delighted local member and long-time supporter of Farm Forestry, Charles Ross, has become a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.
And those services, given over decades, have been huge and varied.
The citation for Charles’ award records his role as a Committee member and President of our Branch from 1987 to 2003.
As a member of the Ashburton Rowing Club since 2006 Charles helped build storage and clubhouse facilities and get lane markers for regattas.
Following flood devastation Charles helped rebuild the 10km cycle track linking Lake Hood to Ashburton, providing equipment such as trucks and graders.
He has been active in Federated Farmers, a Farm Improvement Club and served the local school. The citation described several other projects he has been dedicated to over the last 30 years.
As chair of the Mt Somers Walkway Society, he established and led a working group to fundraise and build of a safe walking route to Sharplin Falls in 2017, following the previous track’s closure after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.
Charles says “this project particularly stands out for because it’s been so popular and successful, beyond my expectations.’’
In his typically modest way Charles said he was surprised but pleased by the award. “I kept thinking of all the people who have done equally good work and could easily have been given this award as well.’’
Charles says ‘‘I certainly don’t believe in retirement, and I like community involvement.’’
Charles and Mary now live in Ashburton. Charles travels to the family farm at Westerfield four days a week to help son Howard who now runs the third-generation family property.
In 2023 Charles (R) was the recipient of an Ashburton District Community Award presented by Mayor Neil Brown.
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A thought: Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. |
Bernard Egan - Ashburton Branch Secretary
23 May 2025 – TGH Whatawhata Farm and Taitua Arboretum
Approximately 15 members assembled at Haddon Rd entry point to Tainui Group Holding Whatawhata Station and received a safety briefing from our host, Mike Dodd from AgResearch who has been associated with the three land use trials for many years. After a drive into the property, we viewed the three areas established in pine, pasture and native plantings in the 1990’s. Each catchment has been monitored extensively in terms of hydrology, water quality, animal production, fertiliser applications, stream biota etc for over 30 years.
There were three phases to the project
Several spirited and robust discussions were held enroute and at each site. The pine plantings are due to be harvested by TGH, however are delaying until market conditions improve. The native plantings have some densely stocked kauri and totara stands and TGH are advised to initiate some silviculture to prune and thin these stands for long term timber production. The group felt that it would be useful to reinstate a more complete monitoring programme particularly once harvesting commenced to gain a full cycle land use picture.
From Whatawhata we travelled to Taitua Arboretum, previously John and Bunny Mortimer’s property, now bequeathed to Hamilton City Council. We lunched here and took a walk through the park like grounds, to the farm forestry area that John Mortimer had planted in the 1980’s. There is a need to harvest many of the pines and ideas were sought from the members as to what would be suitable species to replant in several areas.
John Simmons
Really to be more accurite, the setting for this story really started in early June with regular rain each week, mostly on a Wednesday when I was getting the golf clubs out!
A regular 30-50mm each week gradually started the slippery slope of the soil getting water logged, so when the major rain fell at the end of the month , 120mm in Nelson to 3-4-500 mm + in the greater Tasman catchment area, the scene was set for a nasty outcome.
Then while everyone was taking stock of the historic havoc just experienced, barely a week later we
get another 100 + mm and strong east -south easterly wind ( not our predominate direction).
Forestry carnage! Whole gullies flushing out topsoils and complete trees, the amount of silt
everywhere was incredible, and the wind throw, early estimates put it at 3-4000 Ha, I have more recently heard closer 5000 Ha.
A state of emergency declared , and then a pre emptive state of emergency in anticioation of the second round.
We, as the local branch had scheduled our AGM in mid June and bizarrely it fell on the Wednesday evening between the two major weather events, so as the newly minted branch chairman, I found myself representing NZFFA and attending briefings for the Minister of Forestry, Todd McClay. Here I found the greater forestry community united, the Minister supportive and everyone enquiring after the well being of the small woodlot owners.
On the back of that meeting, I reported back to our branch members for a status report and sadly of the handful that have come back so far, no one is not impacted.
Here are a few photos and a snapshot of their story.
These pictures are from Michael & Jan Higgins property just north west of Wakefield. The trees are second generation and the damage extends through 20 & 25 year old blocks.
The flooding is water coming out of their valley having stripped topsoil from neighbouring horticultural tree nursery and hop gardens.
Flooding not seen by Michael in 70 years.
The Petty Bridge valley creek as it meanders through local branch secretary PJ Kenny and his wife Linda’s property, site of our last field day when the braided water course was only 10 metres wide, now 80 metres, hectares of grazing washed away.
PJ had been extracting a mix of trees from the slope to the left and having them milled on site by fellow branch member Martin Douglass, a demonstration featured at the field day. This farm trailer with some Mac bundles aboard is over 80 metres into the neighbours property and some 600 metres from where it was left prior to the storm. PJ also lost a 3 bay pole shed , most of the timber stored in it and a variety of farm implements.
Further up the valley at Bevan Walker’s Tunnel View forest, Bevan reported wind throw damage in the hundreds of tonnes and access damage through fords requiring days with a digger or bulldozer to sort out. (No photo’s)
Similar story here from Kohatu’s Jo & Tim Leyland, wind throw on the slopes and severe erosion and flooding on the river flats.
A slightly more positive note to finish this report on.
Robert Appleton reported that at their nursery located a few km’s south of Wakefield which fronts on to the Wai iti river, while it sustained “light flooding” through aspects of the property, damage was minimal, he felt this was largely inpart to the action taken post the river front damage experienced in floods of 1983.
A combination of amour rock, poplars and willows, obviously well established by now, saved them. Robert saying that his neighbours with predominatly natives not so fortunate.
Report compiled
Phil Alloway
NZFFA Nelson branch chair.
In February a Special General meeting to consider the future of the Marlborough Tree Growers Association. Marlborough Tree Growers Association (MTGA) was a stand-alone organisation formed in 1987 by a merger of a branch of both the NZ Tree Crops Association (NZTCA) and the NZ Farm Forestry Association (NZFFA). In recent years there’s been a decline of membership and the working committee had gone into recess. However, 14 of the 42 Marlborough NZFFA members attended the SGM and they decided to change MTGA into being solely a branch of NZFFA. Also agreed was a name change to New Zealand Farm Forestry Association Marlborough Branch.
At the meeting a new branch committee was elected as follows:
Chairperson - George Shallcrass
Secretary – Jonathan Webb
Treasurer – Phillip Alloway
National Councillor – Christopher Dawkins
Committee members - Paul Millen; Benjamin Shallcrass; James Jenkins and John McKenzie
Since this meeting the new committee have met twice to discuss a programme of activities. The first of these will be to hosting the next National Combined Action Group meeting to be held 21-23 November 2025. In addition, the Committee have been in consultation with the Marlborough Environment Awards Trust (MEAT) about contributing a new local NZFFA award for inclusion in the biennial Marlborough Environment Awards. This award would be for ‘The Wise Use of Trees and/or Timber’ with a prize voucher of $1,000, a free annual NZFFA subscription and an award made of local timber.
Three Poplar Demonstration Plots were established during July 2025. They were at Rere, just past the famous Rere waterfalls, at Knapdale, Kees’s farm and at Pourau Station, near the Hikuwai Bridge, which got damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle. The first two plots are line plots but at Pourau Station it is a block planting of 11 different poplar cultivars planted in rows of 6 trees each.
Poplar Demonstration Plot at Rere, 35 km from Gisborne. Just past the Rere Waterfalls. The little building is the Telephone Exchange. In the background is black locust Robinia pseudo-acacia and to the left is some out of control Acacia dealbata. An A1 sign, detailing the 10 different cultivars will be established on the road side.
At Knapdale, 114 Snowsill Rd, Gisborne, another demonstration line plot was established. This one is just below an East -West ridge ridge at about 50 mtr altitude. It will cop the North Westerly.
An A3 sign will be established from the Knapdale driveway.
Pourau Inc, near the Hikuwai Bridge 70 km north of Gisborne, has made an ex-vineyard area available for a Poplar Block Demonstration Plot. 11 different cultivars were planted in rows of 6.
This site will have slow traffic management for quite a few years to come until the new bridge is commissioned. Furthermore, a significant “pull over” area will remain in future for field day visits.
The objectives of the demonstration plots are:
Annual reporting, measurements and taking photos will be undertaken.
A large sign will be erected here, detailing the position of each cultivar.
In following order from the corner fence post: Crowsnest, Veronese, Kawa, Geyles, Rotorangi, Shinsay, Frazer, Weraiti, Kaimai, Androscoggin & San Rose.
Many thanks to: Gisborne District Council & Alan Hughes for the supply of half of the poles and full payment of all poles & sleeves. To Horizon Woodville Nursery for the supply of the other poles. To the HBRC Land Management Team for transporting the Woodville poles to Gisborne. To Kerry Worsnop for making land available in Rere. To Philip Hope, Chairman of Pourau Inc, for making the land available at the Hikuwai Bridge. To the Poplar & Willow Research Trust (Ian McIvor and Sally Lee) for assistance with selecting the cultivars and enabling the project. Haydn from East Coast Hire for donating the posthole borer for a day. Last but not least, to Jack Cumming, the guy who drilled all holes and rammed all the poles and doing overtime. Together we, the Poplar Advisory Group of NZFFA established 3 Poplar Demonstration plots at a minimum financial outlay.
Kees Weytmans
July 2025
We had some macrocarpa foliage tested in 2013 by Canterbury University for trace elements but neither they nor anyone else seems to be able to tell us what those levels should be. Can anyone at NZFF have a crack at it? I sent a copy off to Bernard Egan as well at the Ashburton branch, I believe they are still chewing on it.
Also a couple of photos of macrocarpa we had planted over 30 years ago that are largely still standing, the Norwester has taken its toll on a few, we put the sheep on the prunings deliberately to see how many aborted, none did. They were also back on them closer to lambing as part of their drenching routine, it was used as a holding paddock, repeat, no abortions, whats going on?
I did both pruning lifts myself, they are somewhat larger now than then.
Regards Richard Langdon. 0274087008.
Below photo shows 9, 30+m tall eucalypts at our property near Brightwater, blown down during the second Nelson Tasman storm last Friday (11 July) and squashing an old woodshed. I was surprised just how small the root balls are on these gums, which we think are mostly E. Nitens
Regards
Andrew Fenemor
Last summer just before the fire restrictions went on, I had a burn pile jump into a single row 33 year old pine hedge that had been trimmed as hard to the trunks as possible with out damaging the trunks, and as high as the hedge cutter could reach. This system gives the porosity needed for good shelter and has proved to be more stable in wind events
The fire burnt it self out due to lack of fuel in 16 metres, only damaging the bottom 1.5 metres and the trees are alive and fine.
Time and time again I see the results of a fire getting into a classic (useless) canterbury wide topped hedge needing the fire brigade and diggers resulting in dead trees and ruined fences.
Note, these single row trimmed pines, are from part of a 46 acre block , seen over 700 tonnes of export and local logs leave the place.
Cheers Mike Davies
Hororata, Canterbury
Following years of "wondering on the what if's? the how's and finally maybe's..." I have decided to see if there is interest in or within the Farm Forestry Assoc. how many of us record the number of feral species or introduced animals that now we see significant detriment to our assets we own.
I first noticed numbers during COVID times, as feral deer, feral goats, and yes even in one case ostriches not only increasing, but also becoming more bold with their movements. This of course was due to less traffic due to the government's recommended "Lock downs".
We all could have an opinion on the effects of the "lock downs" on the forestry contracting sector, and or the almost blatant confusion with what was "an essential industry", but, lets for now focus on the effects of what has happened.
I believe there could be a symbiotic relationship with both NZFFA, New Zealand Farm Forestry Association and the NZDA, New Zealand Deerstalkers Association.
Having seen the effect of feral species eating newly planted pines as an example, and seeing first hand the loss in the back pocket in both the costings in pest control/eradication, and also the ntrolled numbers now increasing. I feel now as a way to get back on top of the feral species numbers in both North and South Islands, but with some more certainty than previously shown.
By controlling the numbers we would be able to then gage the actual numbers, as in have a more certain number that would be able to be kept within a more realistic perabular.
Currently the numbers are at best guessed by, and the variety of species has also been added to by the "dumping of animals" that some within rural communities have not been able to sustain.
Some examples of added to species include:
- Kune kune pigs
- Deer both Red and Fallow species
- Goats, a larger than expected range of species including angora, and more exotic goats
- Sheep
- Cows
- Ostriches, I bring this to your attention as I have first hand experiences with a local "lifestyle farmer", having released his 10 breeding pair/s of Ostriches when he sadly commited suicide...
I have not included possum in this as there is more than enough energies going into this species with the introduced "pest free" movement including stotes, wesels rats, and feral cats.
We hear of the feral pig numbers taking over such areas as Central Otago, and the Maniototo, and further down towards greater Southland, with farmers seeing the number increase during lambing or calving season.
But, do Agriforesters really take count?
Id like to have feedback from any or all members that have notice numbers increasing, or if they have an issue or a problem....
I am also approaching the NZDA, as a collective to see if there is another way to monitor, as these guys and girls are more often out there on some forestry blocks and witnessing this first hand...
My proposal I am presenting them will also see hunters make a record of the:_
- Species
- Age, rough estimate
- Location
- and number s observed with the culled animal.
There is a similar model in place and has been highly successful in monitoring the feral species in Europe for many years, and theres a register which shows the person who has culled the animal, limiting the number of poachers, and reducing the effects of poachers on Agroforestry land/s, which also poses problems, such as:
- break ins to forestry offices
- the risk of poaches having non lawful egress through properties
- the risk of death or injury from those not knowing who is on the property with a firearm
There is a grant within NZDA to help with the setting up of this initial stage of "asking" and gaining a "lay of the land", with getting help from NZFFA.
This study could see, if successful, the numbers of feral species causing detrimental impacts on Agroforestry, and the costings of their impact on Agroforestry being more controlled, meaning less costings of pest control, a more regulated egress on private land/s, and more education for both NZFFA and NZDA.
Rob "Weta" Clark
Clark Acreage Ltd
0277688601
I attended the World Conference on Timber Engineering in Brisbane, June 23 to 26.
1000 delegates, 10 parallel sessions.
Key points:
This was followed by the International Conference on Timber Bridges in Rotorua, June 29 to July 2.
150 delegates, one or two parallel sessions.
Key points:
Andy
Dr Andy Buchanan
Professor Emeritus, University of Canterbury.
Focus will be on planting gullies to maximise profit.
This will be followed at 5 pm by a Special General Meeting at the Woolshed to confirm SOFFA's new constitution.
Come for either or both sessions, refreshments after the SGM. The new constitution will be circulated soon.
For information on the function, and to register, please go to Spotlight on Safety Event | FICA | Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA)
Join the North Canterbury Branch for its monthly field day,
Date: Thursday 28 August, this month sticking close to Rangiora.
Meet: 75 Boys Road, Rangiora,
Time: 10am in the car park for a 10.30 am start.
In the morning, we're visiting Riverside Horticulture Nursery with owner Andrew Dartnell.
Riverside specialises in high-quality forestry seedlings for landowners and forestry professionals. Species include Eucalyptus, P. attenuata, redwoods and other hardy species and varieties It also has native species in quantities for larger-scale resto' and landscape plantings. Riverside offers contract growing, planting and maintenance services, towards ensuring the long-term success of projects.
After lunch we'll re-assemble at Matawai Park, 30 King Street, Rangiora.
In 1968 the Council acquired c. 5 ha of bare land on the (then) outskirts of Rangiora which it set about planting exclusively to native species, a bold decision taken many years before such eco-plantings became common throughout the country. Over 25,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted, chosen and sited to reflect the native vegetation of wider Canterbury hill country, plains, and wetlands.
As well as Council team leader Mike Quant, long-term branch members Dudley Franklin (who helped to plant this as a local councillor) and Miles Giller (who has guided it since the mid 1990’s), will offer commentary. With few community plantings of such age (50+ yrs), discussions of advanced management, it's important and informative to consider future options for the park. We last visited – and wrote about – Matawai in September 2017, so some comparisons might be interesting, next month.
Enquiries nearer the time to the day’s organiser, Laurie Bennett 027 2047026 or l.cbennett@xtra.co.nz
The establishment of the banj oak in New Zealand started with the importation of 1,000 acorns from the G B Pant Universty of Forestry India 1995 under MAF permit number 32870. During the intervening years much has been learned as to its suitability and value to New Zealand. The following written by Danielle Castle Senior Forest Service Advisor New Zealand Forest Service Gisborne encapsulates the journey to date International Oak Society (IOS) and the New Zealand Farm Foresters Association (NZFFA) teamed up for an excellent four days of Quercus fun at the New Zealand Oak Open Days! The group explored arboretums and gardens of Aotearoa’s1 east coast in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne regions. One may think NZ is an unusual pick to host an oak event, given the country extends beyond the reach of the oak’s native range. However the group was soon presented with an astounding diversity of oak woodland species from throughout the world. And they are thriving!
David Cramwell
This paper describes new developments in the design of pre-fabricated Stress Laminated Timber (SLT) bridges in New Zealand. The example “TrailGate” bridge has two six-metre spans. It is designed for “lightly trafficked rural” applications such as farm road infrastructure and secondary public road bridges. The design choices are aimed at preserving the simplicity of assembly and use of standard farm machinery (farm tractor, fence post driver and digger) in the construction and assembly phase. Individual components of the bridge are sized so that they can easily be handled by two persons.
The design choices allow the bridge to be manufactured using trade skills and commercially available components, with no specialised equipment for the manufacture of individual component parts. Design choices are guided by simplicity and oriented towards “low tech” solutions making the bridge design and construction accessible to small and medium size contractors with construction capabilities and skills available throughout New Zealand.
Edwin Douglass
I’m Mark Roper, founder of The Bat Co. Lab.
Our goal is simple: give everyone – from backyard enthusiasts to professional ecologists – the tools to record, identify and map New Zealand’s native bats with zero hassle.
Having worked in the forestry industry for more than 5 years I know exactly how complicated and time consuming managing endangered species in plantations can be!
Because you probably already work with/manage bats (or told us you want to), I’m offering you early access to the new NZ National Bat Survey platform before the season starts in October.
Could your house take a bullet for you?
Clad it with a new type of modified wood, and it might, says Alex Lau, co-founder and executive chairman of InventWood.
The US-based company has developed Superwood - a modified wood it claims is stronger than steel.
During lab tests, a gas gun fired a bullet-like projectile at thin pieces of wood, including an early version of the company's product.
While the projectile blasted straight through the natural wood, it failed to penetrate the heavily modified version.
Mr Lau suggests that the product could have military applications, such as in battlefield shelters, but admits they "haven't tried dropping bombs on it".
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