| 43 Jones Transport Director Daryl Jones says he and his co-director and wife Serena Jones are thrilled to be contracted by NZ Forest Managers and are currently busy helping remove logs from the cyclone-impacted forestry block—now owned by the local Iwi, which they also belong to. This is a huge task that he anticipates will be ongoing until mid-next year. Thankfully most of this is not waste and is still being put to good use. “Our relationship with NZFM has been solid from the start. The cyclone has had a huge impact but we are in there every day, along with over 200 other trucks - helping with the clean up,” he explains. Logging crews from all over the North Island have pitched in with the cyclone clean-up, as the sheer quantity of export and prune logs that must be cleared out of Lake Massive task ongoing for Jones Transport Taupo Forest and Lake Rotoaira Forest is huge. “The cyclone hit those two forests quite badly so that’s been pretty major. “It was estimated that about 14,000ha got blown over, so that has been keeping everyone very busy since there’s just so much to clear.” Daryl and Serena own two 2018 Kenworth K200’s, one that Daryl drives himself and another, which was purchased about a year-and-a-half ago, that is driven by their employee Cliff Greig. “Cliffy is very experienced and he came with the truck. I’ve always liked the Kenworth’s. They’re a good truck for what we do in the bush.” Daryl started his career at 18 years of age, driving for Roadair Hawkes’ Bay Ltd. In 2001 Daryl and Serena moved to Taupo and Daryl started working as a company driver for Hill Log Haulage. From there they went to McCartheys Transport (still carting out of NZ Forest Managers, among others) and Bob Clift Transport. In 2016 they secured their own contract with NZ Forest Managers, which was a very proud moment after 15 years of hard work in the forestry haulage sector and carting out for NZ Forest Managers specifically. “We worked primarily with Don McMurray at NZFM. He’s been with the company for a long time and we have a very good relationship with him.” “We cart export logs to Napier and Mount Maunganui and our saw logs go to Taupo, plus surrounding mills in the central North Island. “It ’s all gone back to the local Iwi now, which is Ngati-Tūwharetoa and that is out heritage too and something that is important to us.” While Daryl is proud of his contribution to the industry to date, he is determined to keep contributing to the industry that he loves and that has given him so much opportunity. Proudly supporting NZ Forest Managers 027 464 6801 serenajones@xtra.co.nz
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