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New Forests, a global investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies, has announced the purchase of approximately half of McPhee Beef Farms in New South Wales via its Australia New Zealand Landscapes and Forestry Fund. Source: Timberbiz McPhee Beef Farms is a large-scale, highly improved beef breeding operation located near Yarrowitch and Walcha in the New England region of New South Wales. Aggregated over 30 years by the McPhee family, it is home to the Maria River Cattle Company Angus herd which, crossed with fullblood Wagyu bulls, is a major supplier of high-quality F1 Wagyu. Covering approximately 8,400 hectares of freehold land across two main holdings, Benditi Aggregation and Glen Eagle, the McPhee Beef Farms will be known as Benditi Pastoral Company. Existing staff and management are being retained under a new management company formed by the vendor to provide ongoing property management and maintain existing business relationships for Benditi Pastoral Company. The asset will be managed by New Forests with specialist agricultural expertise provided by its related entity New Agriculture, using a whole of landscape approach to optimise the investment returns with the potential for registering carbon projects and introducing more regenerative agriculture practices.  New Forests will also look at management practices to reduce emissions across farm vehicles and review energy requirements from renewable sources. “The McPhee asset is a quality business which aligns perfectly with our whole of landscape approach where we can position investors to benefit from the best use of the landscape, while combining additional revenue streams such as carbon and biodiversity,” David Shelton, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, and Global Head of Investments at New Forests, said. McPhee Beef Farms is ANZLAFF’s fourth Australian investment, following the acquisition of three sites in the central tablelands of New South Wales, which were acquired as part of the Fund’s Australian greenfields aggregation program. In January 2025, New Forests announced the final close of ANZLAFF (its fourth fund focussed on Australia and New Zealand), raising approximately A$600 million from institutional investors from across Asia Pacific and Europe including Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Japan’s Kyushu Electric Power, Germany’s BVK and Sweden’s AP2. In April 2025, New Forests announced New Agriculture was looking to raise A$750 million for the New Agriculture Landscape Opportunities Fund (NALOF) from institutional investors. This strategy takes a similar approach to the previous four funds, but with agriculture as the core focus, rather than forestry. The transaction is subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval.

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In Aotearoa New Zealand’s Woodhill Forest, just 50km northwest of Auckland, the Forest Stewardship Council Forest Walk this week brought together retailers, manufacturers and supply chain leaders from across the local FSC network to see responsible forestry in practice. Source: Timberbiz Hosted by FSC certified forest managers Manulife Investment Management and Matariki Forests, together with landowners Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, the event highlighted how FSC certification safeguards biodiversity, upholds Indigenous Peoples rights and cultural values, supports workers and local communities and delivers certified materials to local and international markets. Attendees represented a cross-section of New Zealand’s FSC community, from chain of custody certificate holders such as Opal ANZ, Visy, Abodo Wood and OfficeMax to Promotional Licence Holders including Mitre 10 NZ, The Warehouse, Bunnings NZ, NXP Limited and Woolworths Group (Countdown), with the New Zealand Green Building Council also in attendance. Bringing these organisations together for the first FSC Forest Walk in New Zealand created a unique forum for connection across the supply chain and underscored the growing momentum behind FSC in the region. The day began with a pōwhiri led by Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara. Guests were welcomed with waiata (song) and the sharing of kai (food), an expression of manaakitanga, the Māori value of hospitality and care. Malcom Paterson, Chief Executive of Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, then spoke about the land and his people’s enduring relationship with it, emphasising its deep and longstanding place within the cultural landscape of Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara. He explained that under Crown ownership, Woodhill Forest was established to stabilise the vast drifting sand dunes which were encroaching on agricultural land, with planting beginning in the 1930s continuing through to the 1980s. Following the 2013 Treaty of Waitangi settlement, the land was returned to Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, who retain ownership today and have partnered with Manulife Investment Management and Matariki Forests to manage the plantations. Integral to the management of Woodhill Forest is its function as a multi-use landscape, where recreation and community use coexist with forestry operations. Horse riding, mountain biking, tree climbing and paintball take place among the plantation trees, while its forest scenery has provided striking settings for major films and television series including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Attendees were introduced to the recreational side of the forest at Tree Adventures and Woodhill Mountain Bike Park, where the forest managers outlined how they support public access and community use of the forest. They explained the importance of responsible forest management in balancing recreation and safety while maintaining social licence and engaging with stakeholders. “It was a fantastic experience to learn about the history of the forest block and how it’s managed, and to see FSC principles in action,” Simon Rice, Product Risk and Compliance Coordinator at Bunnings NZ, said. “It was also great to see how the forest is open to other commercial ventures, and how the forest management company works collaboratively with each entity to ensure the forest flourishes as a shared resource. That level of coordination was really impressive and added another layer of insight to the day.” The group also travelled to a coastal restoration project, where a protective strip of trees has been retained between the shoreline and the plantation forest. This buffer plays an important role in protecting the forest from the salty coastal winds. The forest managers explained how the site is managed to maintain High Conservation Values, with a focus on environmental resilience and cultural values. The FSC Forest Walk concluded at an active harvesting site, where attendees observed a harvester in operation and learned how the plantation life cycle is managed. The group also heard from the harvesting contractors, a multigenerational family-run business with many years of experience and a deep understanding of forestry. The FSC Forest Walk at Woodhill Forest brought FSC’s requirements to life. Held in the lead-up to FSC Forest Week (20-26 September), the event provided a timely opportunity to reflect on the role of forests in our everyday lives and the importance of supporting sustainable forestry. FSC ANZ extends its thanks to our hosts, Manulife Investment Management, Matariki Forests and Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, for welcoming participants to Woodhill Forest and sharing their knowledge and expertise into responsible forest management.

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New guidance to simplify safety for forestry businesses and workers has been published by WorkSafe New Zealand. Source: Timberbiz Forestry had the highest fatality rate of any sector in 2024, with 16.58 deaths per 100,000 workers. The fatality rate is 20 times higher than the average for all industries. The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for forestry and harvesting operations was spearheaded by WorkSafe, in collaboration with the forestry industry. The ACOP has now been launched by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden. The guidance outlines the responsibilities and legal expectations for operators and helps workers know what good looks like. An update to the good practice guide for small forestry operations has also been published, along with educational resources to aid understanding. New information is included on machine safety, planting and pruning (silviculture), managing work-related health, and manual tree felling. “The guidance blends technical expertise with hands-on knowledge from the sector, and uses shared language between the two,” WorkSafe’s chief executive Sharon Thompson said. WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses and workers to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe. “Reducing deaths and injuries in forestry requires everyone in the sector to properly plan for and practise safe harvesting.” The updated ACOP is the first key deliverable from WorkSafe’s priority plan for forestry. The organisation will be undertaking targeted assessments to help embed the guidance in the coming months. The Forest Industry Safety Council, the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, and the Forest Industry Contractors Association partnered with WorkSafe to develop the new guidance. “Huge strides have been made to improve work health and safety in the forestry industry, but there’s plenty of work to be done. We want the same thing – for our people to be safe on the job, and to come home from work safely every day,” said Joe Akari, chief executive of the Forest Industry Safety Council and Safetree New Zealand. Read the updated forestry guidance at https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/forestry/  

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In a new report, Australia’s leading tech and engineering academy has highlighted the urgent need for Australia to reduce reliance on diesel in mining, road freight, agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Source: Timberbiz The report, released today by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) in partnership with Fortescue, gives five clear recommendations, including that the Federal Government commission an independent review to reform financial incentives that support diesel use. ATSE CEO Dr Kylie Walker said that to achieve its low-emission targets, Australia needed to take a new approach to fuelling heavy industry, and this could be achieved by applying technological solutions, and reforming policy and tax levers that support diesel. “There is an urgent need to decarbonise Australia’s most emissions-intensive sectors,” Dr Walker said. “By encouraging the application of mature clean fuel technologies, investing in fast-tracking clean tech in development, reducing the cost of green alternatives and increasing the cost of diesel in a targeted and balanced way, Australia can achieve its industrial decarbonisation. “Early-stage research and development initiatives are also crucial in supporting the transition away from diesel.” The report calls for an independent review which should consider a range of reforms, including to the Fuel Tax Credits Scheme (FTCS), which is a major barrier to the transition away from diesel. By subsidising diesel use, the FTCS currently protects high-emitting sectors from the true cost of fossil fuel consumption and undermines national emissions reduction goals. The report also recommends examining changes to the Australian market-based emissions reduction mechanism by exploring the introduction of carbon pricing or an adjustment of the Safeguard Mechanism to better reflect the environmental impact of diesel. ATSE’s report highlights a range of mature and emerging technologies, and the need for a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of decarbonisation pathways beyond electrification – as well as mechanisms to bring clean fuel tech to market. Other recommendations include the establishment of a coordinated Future Diesel Strategy, investment in comprehensive infrastructure to support the clean energy transition and targeted R&D investment. ATSE Fellow, Fortescue Board Member and former CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Larry Marshall emphasised the importance of Industry partnering with Government to shape science-based Industry and Energy policy. “Heavy Industry wants to transition to cleaner fuels, but the current policy settings make it harder than it should be. Right now, the Fuel Tax Credit scheme effectively subsidises burning diesel, while companies that invest in clean alternatives face higher costs especially in this transition period. That imbalance holds back innovation and locks in emissions,” Dr Marshall said. “The Federal Government has a critical role to play in fixing those settings and creating incentives that accelerate the adoption of clean technologies. At the same time, Industry must step up and co-invest in the solutions that will cut emissions and deliver new green industries for Australia. “If we want Australia to become a Clean Energy Superpower; if we want a Future Made in Australia; then we need a system that rewards smarter, cleaner choices. Emerging clean technologies need the right mix of policy, incentives and investment to make Australia’s green and gold vision a reality.” Dr Walker said a strategic mix of policies, investment and industry engagement was necessary to support this transition. “The transition away from diesel while supporting thriving Australian freight, mining, agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors is a complex challenge. It won’t be easy and there is no one-size-fits-all solution – it will need to be all-encompassing” she said. “But we have the technology; we can do it if we get the settings right.”

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