Australasia's home for timber news and information

Aussie dollar impacts NZ sawmillers

Jobs will go and sawmills may be forced to close if the Australian dollar continues to lose value against the Kiwi dollar, the New Zealand Timber Industry Federation says. Sources: TVNZ, Timberbiz Australia represents 21% of the value of New Zealand timber exports and is a very import
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Tas govt to pay sawmiller to stay

A Launceston sawmiller will receive $1 million to stay in the timber sector rather than leave, in a record agreement struck under the Tasmanian Government’s rejigged Regional Sawmiller Structural Adjustment Grants Program. Source: Yahoo Barbers Sawmill on Dowling Street was to p
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Launch of Forest & Wood Products Support Group

  Next week is the 2015 launch of the Forest and Wood Products Support Group at State Parliament in Victoria. Source: Timberbiz The Forest and Wood Products Support Group is an initiative to build relationships and understanding between members of the Victorian Parliament and the
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Carter Holt Harvey sell off

New Zealand’s Graeme Hart is reported to be planning to sell a chunk of Carter Holt Harvey. Source: Stuff NZ It is too early to say whether his plans to partially float his building firm Carter Holt Harvey could be a flier, according to a fund manager. Hart plans to sell up to 60% of
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SA in housing recession

Residential building approval data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics highlights the dire state of South Australia’s new housing activity.  Source: Timberbiz “While the rest of Australia is experiencing a new home building boom, South Australia is in a new housing recessi
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Forestry Corp in wood chop

One hundred flooded gum logs from Coffs Coast State Forests have made their way to Sydney’s Royal Easter Show for the popular wood chop event, thanks to a partnership between Forestry Corporation of NSW and the NSW Axemen’s Association. Source: The Coffs Coast Advocate Nor
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Study shows record carbon sequestered

Plants are growing more quickly than people can cut them down, with fields and forests on the advance across the planet. Source: The Australian An Australian-led analysis of satellite data has found the amount of carbon sequestered in plants has risen by almost four billion tonnes sin
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Waimea in voluntary administration

  Log transport company Waimea Contract Carriers, has been placed in voluntary administration owing NZ$14 million, with the possibility of closure not ruled out. Source: The Nelson Mail The firm has 120 staff – 90 in Nelson and 30 in Blenheim – and is one of the south
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Growing mechanization causes financial stress

The owner of a Māori forestry company said that the industry’s growing mechanisation has put forestry contracting businesses under financial stress, in turn putting workers more at risk. Source: Radio New Zealand The push towards increased safety was excellent, but it had meant
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Solomon Islands mission accomplished

Delegates of the Solomon Islands Timber Export Mission to New Zealand and Australia described their experience as “invaluable”. Source: The Soloman Star The mission with eight timber exporters visited the two countries as part of a fact-finding mission and to meet with their importer-
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