46 | Significant challenges for forestry Established in 2008, Havendale Logging operates throughout the Wairarapa, harvesting 100,000 tonnes of logs each year. Havendale Logging T T Richard Loader FORESTRY Harvesting 100,000 tonnes of logs each year throughout the Wairarapa, Havendale Logging operates a fully mechanised winch-assist swing yarder crew and two smaller semi-mechanised groundbased crew. Established in 2008, Havendale Logging is owned and operated by Chris Wise, and like so many in the industry, forestry has been Chris’s life. “When I first started in forestry there were the elements of good hard work to get good rewards. “At a young age you were being rewarded quite well, but in those days the rewards also came with risk, which was a little bit addictive. “ Now, the key things that attract people to forestry are the high level of mechanisation, remote controlled equipment and robotics. You’re still out in the wide-open spaces, the pay is still very good, but it’s a very safety conscious work environment.” Chris acknowledges that the industry is currently facing significant challenges, following the years of boom and says many contractors over capitalised based on the premise that it would never end. “Covid signaled the end of the good times. The market turned into this bi-polar bounce that was up, down, up, down with the ups and downs coming more frequently based on the uncertainty of what was going on everywhere else — particularly China. “It dictated to the industry here quite heavily. Then, when you think you’ve seen it all and surely nothing new is going to happen, something comes out of left field to blind side you; things like Cyclone Gabrielle. “Next thing we have record numbers of logs coming out of Central North Island, which dictated what was happening around the rest of the country, and it’s still happening now. It just feels like we haven’t recovered as an industry.” If there is any such thing as a perfect storm in the world of forestry, the collision between Covid and unprecedented weather events and increasing costs, while harvesting volumes decreased, resulting in reduced turnover and cash flow that was hard to control. “It seemed like everyone was working harder than ever before, just to make ends meet,” says Chris. “I feel I’m one of the more weathered contractors, so for us it was trying to manage those costs and manage those volumes. We managed to retain staff, and that was largely because we’re a family orientated business. I would rather go through a bit of pain as a group than lay people off. “I value the people who work for us, and always will. But we had to manage our time, and we had to manage it hard, going down to four-day weeks some weeks. I feel the industry is at a low waiting for something to happen.” “I value the people who work for us, and always will. But we had to manage our time, and we had to manage it hard, going down to fourday weeks some weeks. I feel the industry is at a low waiting for something to happen. “There are crews parked up and have been parked up for some while. There’s gear being parked up and repossessed. “We have some of our own gear parked up, but we’ve put a lot of work in over the last fifteen years to get contracts, and we provide a high quality of work. “We’re proactive and try to make adjustments real quick and that results in survival.” Proudly supporting HavendaleLogging 027 225 4638 o ce@hptransport.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=