Australasia's home for timber news and information

The power in trees

In coming years, instead of plugging into a power socket to charge your smartphone’s depleting battery, you could instead be sucking power from a tree. Source: Techly That’s the plan, with Dutch company Plant-e getting closer to utilising the power of living plants. Last month, in the
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Beer in wood clothing

All safety issues aside, it appears timber and beer goes together in ways a thirsty tree cutter on a hot day never envisioned. Source: Forest Expo NZ, Timberbiz In the context of its participation in a panel on Waste-less Supply at the World Economic Forum in Davos, beer company Carls
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Global softwood trade trends up

The global trade of softwood lumber has continued to trend upward ever since the global financial crises in 2008. In 2014, export volumes were up 5-8% for a majority of the largest lumber-exporting countries in the world, including Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden and Germany, accordin
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Chainsaw carvings of storm wood

A Queensland artist is carving wooden wombats, koalas and goannas out of tree stumps and branches that fell during recent storms in Brisbane for a new art project. Sources: Yahoo News, ABC News Artist Matthew George, who is known as Matty G, has created more than 30 animals throughout
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Mamaku sawmill shuts in NZ

Twenty-five Mamaku Sawmilling Company workers have lost their jobs and were officially told after a meeting with the owner’s solicitors and union representatives yesterday.  Source: Rotorua Daily Post Employees were told last week a closure was on the cards for the mill, which h
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Repossed HarvestPro equipment

A major financier has repossessed equipment from the owner of forestry business HarvestPro New Zealand. An official from GE Finance and Insurance in Auckland said equipment located in Auckland, Gisborne and Northland was repossessed from the company KFI Asset Management. Source: New Z
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Solomon Islands sawn timber to Aust & NZ

A group of Solomon Islands timber exporters and government officials visited Australia and New Zealand to promote exports of sawn timber. Sources: Scoop News, Timberbiz The export mission started in Brisbane on 22 – 25 March and moved to Auckland from 25-30 March 2015. The group met w
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Health benefits of wood

Exposure to wood products and interiors has measurable health benefits, similar those created by spending time in nature, a new report commissioned by Planet Ark has found. Source: Timberbiz There are significant health, well being and environmental benefits to incorporating wood and
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Forest Owners discourage deforestation

The Forest Owners Association (FOA) is calling on the Government to do more to discourage deforestation in New Zealand. Sources: Timberbiz. Scoop News, Radio New Zealand On United Nations International Day of Forests held on 21 March, the association said the Government was failing to
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NZ forests gain international visibility

  An increasing number of companies in New Zealand are taking on PEFC Chain of Custody certification. Source: Timberbiz With the acceptance of the NZ Forest Certification Association (NZFCA) as New Zealand’s PEFC member, New Zealand forest growers gain visibility in the world’s l
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