| 27 FORESTRY Northland Forestry Awards: Rayonier Matariki Forests - Auckland Richard Loader Looking after the forest estate The Whangarei-based team look after estates from just north of Whangarei all the way down to the Bombays. “We’re really guardians of the land until those ownership processes are settled, and we take that responsibility very seriously.” With 120,000 hectares of plantations on a 166,000-hectare landbase in both North and South Islands, Rayonier Matariki Forests is New Zealand’s third largest forestry company. Keeping close to the heart of forestry operations, Rayonier Matariki Forests has regional offices in Invercargill, Rangiora, Hawke’s Bay, Tauranga and Whangarei, with Head Office based in Auckland. Led by Northland Regional Manager Will Steward, the Whangarei-based team look after estates from just north of Whangarei all the way down to the Bombays. Of the total landbase of 32,000 hectares, 23,000 hectares is productive forest and predominantly pinus radiata. “Effectively we manage the Matariki Forest estate on behalf of the owners of Rayonier Matariki to maximise value for the shareholders, but also with a strong commitment to our joint venture partners and our iwi land owners,” says Will. “A lot of the Crown Forests we manage will end up passing to iwi through Treaty settlement processes. “We’re really guardians of the land until those ownership processes are settled, and we take that responsibility very seriously.” Utilising a trusted contractor workforce, Rayonier’s broad forest management encompasses land preparation and forest establishment and ongoing silviculture right through to harvesting, logging, sale and the forest re-establishment. Despite a slow export market, predominantly driven by reduced demand from China, Will says Northland’s forestry enjoyed a strong year in 2022 supported by an economic rebound following Covid and a strong domestic market that kept the mills and construction industry busy. “That balance between the export and domestic market is transitioning now and we’re starting to see some domestic headwinds, while the China market is recovering. “The forestry industry plays a very significant role in the Northland economy, not just in terms of direct employment opportunities, but also the downstream employment it provides. We engage between ten to fifteen contracting companies with a collective employment of about one hundred people. “Then there are all the support services that we don’t have a direct touch on, including engineers, mechanics and fuel suppliers. On top of that, you have the large number of sawmills in the region and all the staff they employ,” says Will. A key industry and large employer in Northland, the significance of the industry to the region is underpinned by the ripple effect of social and economic benefits felt throughout the wider community. The absence of forestry in the industry would soon make its importance apparent to those communities and indeed NZ Inc. With large forestry establishment programmes in the region and its long-term investment, the industry has only got growth well into the future. With an aging contractor workforce, and a bright future ahead for forestry, there is a need to attract people into the industry, but Will says it is also about attracting the right people. “The industry has changed, and it’s no longer about men with chainsaws in the bush. We have highly mechanized and very expensive equipment in the forests, and so we really need people who have an aptitude for that equipment and it’s technology, and can be trained to be skilled professionals. “With environmental and health and safety rules, you need people who can adhere to and enforce those rules.” Rayonier has also developed its own leadership programme, designed to equip emerging talent within its contractor workforce with the skills necessary to lead their teams, and get the best results from people. Forestry Work Rhodes for Roads has enjoyed a great working relationship with Rayonier Matariki for many years now, maintaining and creating forestry roading and landings. Our Company and staff particularly value working with them as a client who has set high standards in making safety a priority within the forestry industry. This industry plays an important part in the Northland economy and we are proud to work with Rayonier Matariki and be a part of the industry. Do it once, do it right
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