Forest Products Industry

The potential closure of New Zealand’s North Island town’s biggest employer would have a “devastating” economic domino effect, with hundreds of livelihoods at stake and locals fearing an exodus for Australia. Source: Stuff NZ Around 200 jobs are on the line at Kaitāia’s two timber mills as Japanese owner Juken New Zealand Ltd undergoes a formal consultation process over their future. Juken NZ managing director Hisayuki Tsuboi said the company was exploring whether the mills could continue operating under a different structure, including a potential sale or a joint venture. “We are taking the mills to market to assess whether there is interest from potential buyers,” he said. If no buyer is found, the mills could be closed down. The job losses would have a “devastating effect” on the local industry and the wider community of 6000, Workers First Union said. Ollie Smith, a saw operator at the mill for 18 years, knows the pain workers face, having been made redundant himself. “It’s such a big employer for Kaitāia,” he said. “I feel for those guys who stayed on after the last lot of redundancy in 2018.”

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As Traditional Owners guided the fire, they welcomed a small group from Canada to learn first-hand how cultural fire is used to care for Country in Australia, share stories and strengthen connections across cultures and continents. Source: Timberbiz Among them was Dr Jennifer Grenz, a Nlaka’pamux woman from the Lytton First Nation and an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship. Dr Grenz’s research is currently focused on culturally informed catastrophic wildfire recovery alongside Interior Salish Communities in the southern interior of British Columbia. She was joined by three fellow Canadian visitors, who had travelled to Australia with a shared purpose: to learn, connect, and exchange knowledge about cultural fire practices. “We’ve come to Australia to learn about cultural fire and prescribed burning, but also to build relationships, share knowledge across water and learn from each other,” Dr Grenz said. Their journey began in Western Australia before bringing them to Victoria, where they spent time on Country, including several days in Gariwerd (the Grampians) and attending the Scrub Track Cultural Fire, east of Bendigo. The visit itself was the result of international connections, relationships formed through conferences, shared networks, and a common commitment to revitalising Aboriginal land management practices. For Dr Grenz, the experience has been both eye-opening and deeply affirming. “One of the most amazing things I’ve learned is that while ecosystems and traditions may differ, we share so much more than what separates us,” she says. “We face similar challenges, but we also share victories as we reclaim and strengthen our stewardship practices,” she said. Fellow visitor Tiffany Traverse, a Secwépemc woman from the community of Kenpesq’t and an Indigenous researcher, sees strong parallels between the two countries. “We have very similar colonial histories,” she said. “For 150 to 200 years, many of our communities have been disconnected from land and from using fire in the way it was traditionally practised. That’s something we share with Australia.” While landscapes, plants and animals may differ, the principles at the heart of cultural burning, care for Country, respect for knowledge and community connection, remain deeply and remarkably aligned. Ms Traverse’s work back home focuses on native and culturally significant seeds and plants, teaching her community about conservation and traditional practices. Being on Country in Australia, witnessing cultural fire firsthand, added another layer to that knowledge. Traditional Owners group representatives from DJAARA, Barengi Gadjin, Eastern Maar and Gunditjmara supported their time in Victoria by sharing their knowledge, cultural leadership, and connection to Country. The visit to the Scrub Track Cultural Fire was more than an observation – it was a moment of exchange. A space where ideas, experiences, and cultural practices could be shared openly, connecting cultural fire practitioners across borders.

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The Forestry Centre of Excellence (FCoE) hosted a full-day field trip in Mount Gambier in May, bringing together industry, researchers and stakeholders for a hands-on exploration of plantation management and applied technologies. Source: Timberbiz The day began at the Centre with an introduction before participants visited local field sites to observe silvicultural practices, providing practical insight into plantation establishment and management and highlighting work undertaken through the Centre and its partners. Following lunch at Umpherston Sinkhole, demonstrations in the Blue Lake area focused on forest health and emerging technologies in forestry. The demonstrations showcased a range of tools and applications, including virtual reality in forestry, remote sensing technologies, IML-RESI (Instrumenta Mechanica Laborum – Resistance) tools for assessing the structural integrity of wood, forest hydrology applications, stem conductivity measurement, and other evaluation methods used for monitoring and assessing forest condition and tree health. The program concluded with an evening networking dinner at the Bob and Gayle Cowan Auditorium, providing an opportunity for continued discussion and connection across industry and research communities.

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Public comment is now being sought on an amendment to Australian/New Zealand Standard for Sustainable Forest Management (AS/NZS 4708:2021). Source: Timberbiz Developed by Responsible Wood, AS/NZS 4708 sets out requirements for sustainable forest management in Australia and New Zealand. It forms part of the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme and supports PEFC-endorsed certification in Australia. In New Zealand, it underpins the PEFC-recognised sustainable forest management scheme. The Standard plays an important role in stewarding responsible forest management practices that support healthy forests, biodiversity, renewable timber supply, regional jobs, cultural values and community expectations. Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries said the review process helps ensure the Standard continues to reflect evolving industry practices, environmental priorities, scientific knowledge, and stakeholder expectations. “Sustainable forest management impacts a wide range of people and sectors, from forest managers and manufacturers through to builders, designers, retailers, environmental groups, communities and consumers,” Mr Dorries said. “This public consultation is an important opportunity for stakeholders to help shape the future of responsible forest management in Australia and New Zealand.” With the revision process initiated every 5 years, latest updates reflect changes to the PEFC International Standard for Sustainable Forest Management PEFC ST 1003:2024 introduced to align PEFC with the European Deforestation Regulation and stakeholder feedback received since AS/NZS 4708 was last updated in 2021. The revised draft has been developed by the Standards Reference Committee, which includes representatives from forest management, forest research, auditing, government, community organisations, environmental groups, Indigenous stakeholders, industry and labour unions across Australia and New Zealand. The review process is being undertaken in accordance with Standards Australia procedures. Responsible Wood is accredited as a Standards Development Organisation (SDO) and is accredited to develop Australian and New Zealand Standards in line with recognised standards development processes. The Responsible Wood Certification Scheme, of which AS/NZS 4708:2021 is a key component, is endorsed by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) – the world’s largest forest certification system. Stakeholders are invited to review the draft Standard and provide feedback by 7 August 2026. The draft Standard and submission form are available via the Responsible Wood website: Draft Standard: https://www.responsiblewood.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AS-NZS-4708-2021-Amendment-One-Public-Comment-Draft-May-2026.docx Submission form: https://www.responsiblewood.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AS-NZS-4708-2021-Ammendment-1-Public-Comment-Submission-Sheet-May-26.docx

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Women in forestry must be prepared to flex their courage muscle if they want to help shape forestry’s future, three of Australia’s most prominent rural and industry women told more than 100 Forestry Australia webinar attendees. Source: Timberbiz Their message comes as the sector faces growing public scrutiny in a range of issues, including its role in a low-carbon economy. That is according to former NFF president Fiona Simson, former Indi MP Cathy McGowan AO, and carpenter Radmila Desic AM, who shared their expert insights in a dynamic conversation moderated by association president Dr Michelle Freeman. “This session was a beacon for those who want to make a difference, but who may not yet see themselves as leaders. We heard that every leadership journey is different, but that success in leadership requires humility, investment in continuous formal learning and remaining true to yourself,” Ms Simson said. Ms Simson described building the courage muscle as a key discipline for leaders, with the current World Farmers’ Organisation Vice President telling the panel. “If you don’t practise being courageous, you can’t be courageous when you need to be,” Ms Simson said. “The brave leaders are the ones who can do the work.” Ms Simson said forestry needs the communication skills, networks, and empathy women bring to take its message forward. The sector must find champions who can carry the case for forestry to the right people at the right time with the right information. Turning to how culture shifts inside organisations, Ms McGowan argued the change comes from collective momentum and traced her 2013 election win in Indi as the catalyst that opened the path for other independent women into federal politics. “All these other women on the cross bench have become the change,” Ms McGowan said. Ms McGowan urged women to focus on leadership over busywork and highlighted the value of doing one thing right rather than spreading effort across a hundred fronts. Ms McGowan was project leader for the Women in Timber Project in the early 2000s, with last Tuesday’s panel marking her return to a forestry audience two decades on. Speaking from a trade background, Ms Desic brought construction industry experience, having built an apprenticeship career from 1992, when female carpenters in Brisbane were a rarity. The Member of the Order of Australia now leads engagement and retention strategy for women in male-dominated trades, drawing on her record as the first female Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Building in Queensland.

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