Friday Offcuts – 21 November 2025
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week’s issue of Friday Offcuts.Foresters from across New Zealand gathered for the FIEA technology series, ForestTECH 2025, which concludes in Melbourne next week - and it’s not too late to register. Planning is also underway for next year’s WoodTECH 2026 event, with the call for speakers now open. In key developments this week, the Albanese Government has committed nearly A$11 million to new plantation projects to strengthen Australia’s future timber supply, while New Zealand officials reported a successful trade mission to India, signalling further export opportunities for the forestry and timber sectors. AFPA and the NFF are jointly challenging misleading land-clearing claims, FWPA has released its latest annual report, and new analysis highlights the ongoing importance of long-term fire research for fuel management. We also cover AKD’s Yarram sawmill closure, a serious injury at Claymark’s Rotorua site, shifts in China’s log market, Stora Enso’s proposed forest asset spin-off, a new history of Fraser Island forestry, and the retirement of safety leader Steve Allen. Read these stories and more in this packed edition of Friday Offcuts.
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This week we have for you:
Labor Government backing Australia's forestry industry
The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to support the
growth of Australia’s domestic timber supply with nearly $11
million in funding announced today for new plantation projects.
As part of the Support Plantation Establishment Program, 7 projects will share in this funding, which will help establish around 5,500 hectares of new hardwood and softwood plantations across New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. “The Albanese Labor Government is delivering for our forestry sector, with $300 million to help improve the sector’s capacity and capability," said Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP. The funding will help Australia’s forestry industry respond to increasing demand for domestically sourced timber, including for the construction of new homes. These projects will support private industry, First Nations businesses, farm foresters and state and territory forestry bodies to reduce their carbon footprint. They will also support the retention and creation of regional jobs in regional communities. The announcement brings total funding awarded by the Albanese Labor Government under the Support Plantation Establishment Program to more than $57 million. The Government is committed to helping secure Australia’s future timber supply and will bring together Forestry Ministers from across the country today to progress this critical task. This will include discussing the Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership’s Timber Fibre Strategy, and how all levels of government can play their part in building a sustainable, world leading sector. “By investing in Australian timber plantations, our Government is supporting key actions from the Timber Fibre Strategy to shore up the industry and our nation’s future," said Julie Collins MP. “These projects will create new opportunities for our forestry sector, unlocking more jobs in our regions and helping to strengthen regional economies.” A list of grant recipients is available here. Source: Australian Government NZ forestry & wood sector in successful India trade mission
New Zealand’s forestry and wood-processing sector has
taken centre-stage during a highly successful trade mission to India,
Forestry; Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says.Mr McClay joined a delegation of 13 New Zealand companies to India this week to pursue new growth opportunities, strengthen market insights, and cement New Zealand’s reputation as a reliable, long-term supplier of premium wood products. “This mission delivered the first tangible results under the Letter of Intent on Forestry Cooperation signed earlier this year,” Mr McClay says. “It also gave our sector valuable first-hand understanding of India’s forestry policies and its fast-growing domestic market.” Wood and wood products are already New Zealand’s largest goods export to India, worth NZ$134 million in the year to June 2025 and growing. “While logs and pulp remain the backbone of current trade, the real opportunity lies in higher-value processed timber products that match India’s rapid urbanisation and emphasis on sustainable construction,” Mr McClay says. “This trip showcased our world-class premium timbers, cutting-edge processing technologies, and innovative value-added products.” Mr McClay announced that New Zealand will host a return Indian forestry delegation in February 2026 to build on this week’s momentum and elevate the bilateral partnership. The mission, which wrapped up on Monday evening, follows the recent visit to New Zealand by India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and underlines the Government’s commitment to a deeper, broader strategic relationship with India. Source: NZ Government WoodTECH 2026 - Call for speakers
FIEA has officially launched the Call for Speakers for the highly
anticipated WoodTECH 2026 conference series. The 2026 event series,
themed “Sawmilling & Wood Processing Innovations:
Improving Productivity & Advancing Operations,” will
bring industry leaders, technical specialists, and technology innovators
together across two key locations, 18-19 June 2026,
Rotorua, New Zealand and23-24 June 2026, Brisbane,
Australia.WoodTECH 2026 is focused on extracting maximum value from advancing technologies and developing new ways to improve wood products across the industry. We are seeking proposals for presentations, case studies, and workshops that showcase practical, technology-led solutions to challenges in wood processing. Presentation Focus Areas The programme is being developed to cover a wide array of technical and operational advancements, including:
Who Should Submit? The conference audience consists of sSawmill site managers, production and engineering managers, saw-doctors, mill supervisors and maintenance staff, QC personnel, wood treatment managers, and technology suppliers. If you are a technical specialist, researcher, industry professional, or technology provider with a compelling, data-driven story to share, you are encouraged to submit a proposal. Submission Guidelines To be considered for a presentation slot at WoodTECH 2026, please send us a presentation title for a case study, a solution-focused technical presentation, or an industry-wide issue, and a short abstract/outline (4–6 sentences) clearly describing your presentation’s content, innovation, and key takeaways for the audience. Please forward your details to john.stulen@fiea.org.nz. In addition to presentation proposals, the organisers also welcome suggestions for other speakers or topics that could contribute significantly to the 2026 programme. Further information can be found on the WoodTECH website. Source: FIEA  Peak bodies dispute misleading land clearing claims
Two peak industry bodies have joined forces to refute comments by Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation (ACBF) chair Dr Ken Henry about land clearing and loopholes in Australia’s environmental laws.During a Committee for Economic Development of Australia speech this week, Dr Henry claimed “irresponsible clearing” was occurring in Australia and current environmental laws and the proposed EPBC Act reforms would not close a deforestation loophole. The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) disputed these claims by Dr Henry that misrepresent the facts about Australia’s forestry and farming sectors. AFPA Chief Executive Officer Diana Hallam said: “Australia’s forest industries do not engage in deforestation, and we replace every tree that is harvested. “There are also no loopholes in the EPBC legislation, current or proposed. “As the Federal Court confirmed only last year, Australian Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) are an alternative mechanism by which the objects of the EPBC Act can be achieved, by way of an intergovernmental agreement allocating responsibility to a State for regulation of environmental matters of Commonwealth concern within an agreed framework. “It is important, therefore, to reiterate that entry into an RFA does not result in a regulatory void with respect to any particular forestry region on matters of national environmental significance.” NFF General Manager Natural Resource Management Warwick Ragg said: “We are not in the business of deforestation in Australia. The management of Australia’s native forests, regrowth, addressing woody and noxious weeds is not deforestation. It’s disappointing and irresponsible to see these claims being made that undermine the genuine environmental and sustainability credentials of Australian farmers." The so-called ‘deforestation loophole’ doesn’t exist, the EPBC Act has never regulated clearing. Analysis of the current EPBC reform proposals show that a resolution of the dual consent issue will assess both clearing and threatened species concurrently through bilateral agreements. Dr Henry’s comments are also at odds with United Nations’ climate change mitigation science – where the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently said: “A sustainable forest management strategy aimed at maintaining or increasing forest carbon stocks, while producing an annual sustained yield of timber, fibre or energy from the forest, will generate the largest sustained mitigation benefit.” – IPCC 4th Assessment. The Australian Conservation Foundation also stated in the media: “The majority of the 40,000 beef producers in Australia are deforestation free.” Background  This ABARES chart shows the loss of permanent forests in minimal and declining. Australia does not have a deforestation crisis. Australia has in fact recorded the world’s second highest rate of reforestation, an increase of 4.4 million hectares from 2010 to 2020. That’s an area the size of Switzerland. Source: Australian Forest Products Association  Yarram sawmill to close
Associated Kiln Driers (AKD), Australia’s largest softwood
producer, announced this week the closure of its Yarram sawmill in
Gippsland. The decision, which impacts 73 employees, comes amid
challenging market conditions and the prolonged slowdown in housing
construction across the country.The Yarram sawmill produces lower-grade fibre products for landscaping and pallet and packaging manufacture. AKD CEO Shane Vicary said that following an organisational review, the company determined that the current market conditions and near term forecast demand alongside increasing operating costs, meant Yarram’s operations had become unsustainable. “This has been an extremely difficult decision to arrive at – but a necessary one to take – when we consider all the external factors at play and priories what’s best for AKD’s long-term future,” Mr Vicary said. “To remain a sustainable and competitive Australian business in this sector, we are adapting to market conditions, simplifying our operations and strengthening the core business at our four major sawmilling sites – which continue to produce the full suite of structural softwood products.” AKD, which employs 1000 people nationally, will consolidate production across its four larger sites in Colac, Caboolture, Tumut and Oberon. The closure of Yarram will not impact AKD’s ability to deliver products to its customers. Affected employees at Yarram are being supported by an Employee Assistance Program and learning about redeployment options at other AKD sites. Mr Vicary acknowledged the impact that the sawmill closure will have on the local community of Yarram. “Having operated in regional communises for 70 years, the significance of our departure from Yarram is not lost on us. We understand how important our operations have been to the fabric of this region, and we are committed to working with local stakeholders in Gippsland to reduce the impact of the closure where reasonably possible.” “We’re grateful to each and every individual at the site for their hard work, care and dedication through their time with AKD.” Source & image credit: Associated Kiln Driers (AKD) Rotorua worker seriously injured at Claymark sawmill
WorkSafe is investigating how a worker was “seriously
injured” while cleaning at Claymark’s Rotorua sawmill on
Tuesday. A worker’s union said it was
“extremely worrying” to hear of another accident at
Claymark, after a trainee machine operator had two fingers amputated in
a machine in 2023.A WorkSafe New Zealand spokesperson told the Rotorua Daily Post the worker in the latest incident was “seriously injured” while cleaning a chain conveyor at Claymark on View Rd in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Earlier this year, Claymark committed to safety measures worth NZ$481,000, using AI technology to indicate risks to workers’ health and safety in real time, and upskilling workers on health and safety. More >> Source: NZ Herald Image credit: Claymark SnapSTAT - November 2025 market update
As we put 2025 behind us, it turns out the China market for our export logs had a smoother ride than some thought a year ago. See the price graph > a picture is worth 1000 words. Here's hoping for 2026.  See more: https://forest360.nz/november-2025-market-update Fire research in Australia providing lessons and mitigation
Australia’s bushfire landscape has been shaped by 60 years plus of important fire research, providing a legacy of lessons in fire mitigation, behaviour, suppression and other research areas, and the attached comprehensive review highlights this.The full review is included here. A legacy of high standard and effective research Fire research has been critical in the development of Australian fire management, 143 research reports are highlighted in Annexure 1 of the full review. The author of this review considers that many of the listed research across Australia has been world-class in relation to prescribed burning, aerial prescribed burning development, fire behaviour and fuels, fire effects, Aboriginal and human burning, unnatural fire regimes, severe fire events, eucalypt decline, bushfire suppression and lesson capture. Researchers such as Alan McArthur, Harry Luke, David Packham, and Geoffrey Rodger are recognised for their foundational contributions. Their work laid the groundwork for understanding fire dynamics and developing practical tools for suppression and prevention. Case studies in fire research excellence Three major research programs illustrate the depth and impact of Australian fire science:
The development of aerial prescribed burning revolutionised fire management in Australia. First trialled in WA’s Pingerup State Forest in 1965, the technique quickly spread nationwide. By the early 1970s, WA was conducting aerial burns over 300,000 hectares annually, dramatically reducing the incidence of severe bushfires. Innovations such as the incendiary capsule, combining potassium permanganate and ethylene glycol, enabled precise ignition on the ground from aircraft. This method allowed for grid-pattern burns, ensuring thorough fuel reduction even in inaccessible areas, spacing and the location of the capsules to minimise scorch. The success of aerial burning extended beyond Australia, influencing fire management practices globally. It offered a scalable, efficient, and safe solution to the challenge of managing vast forested landscapes under mild weather conditions. Modern advances and ongoing challenges Aerial fire management now includes planes, helicopters, drones, and advanced ignition systems. These tools enhance safety, precision, and coverage, particularly in rugged terrain. As outlined in the review, current research sometimes downplays the importance of prescribed burning and fails to address practical failures in fire management. Long intervals between burns, sometimes up to 60 years, have led to dangerously high fuel loads across landscapes. The review calls for renewed attention to high fuel loads and strata, fuel reduction, better consideration of lightning strike scenarios in high fuel loads, and improved focus on community, firefighter and ecosystem safety in relation to intense bushfires. A path forward Fire research is critical in the development of effective fire management strategies. It is important that research programs soundly progress research including prescribed burning, aerial prescribed burning development, fire behaviour and fuels, fire effects, Aboriginal and human burning, unnatural fire regimes, severe fire events, eucalypt decline, bushfire suppression and effective lesson capture. As fire risks evolve, fuel loads increase and understories across landscapes increase (from intense bushfires and eucalypt decline), it is crucial to revisit and apply research lessons and assess research directions with renewed urgency to optimise community, firefighter and ecosystem safety in relation to intense bushfires. Read the full report Source: John O'Donnell  FWPA Releases 2024/25 Annual Report: A Year of Growth
Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has published its 2024/25 annual report, showcasing a year of progress, innovation, and strong partnerships across Australia’s forest and wood products sector.Released ahead of the 2025 Annual General Meeting on 19 November, the report highlights FWPA’s continued commitment to driving a sustainable, competitive, and future-focused industry through research, development and engagement. A Year Defined by Progress and Partnership Collaboration was a defining theme of the 2024/25 financial year. The Annual Report highlights the many ways FWPA has worked with industry, government, and research partners to deliver tangible outcomes. As a full value-chain industry services company, FWPA is uniquely positioned to facilitate collaboration across the sector for shared benefit. Through formal advisory committees, working groups, and direct engagement with members, FWPA ensures that industry priorities are reflected in research and development, as well as marketing services. This collaborative approach underpins the improvement in member-perceived value for money and will remain central to FWPA’s work in the years ahead. Key highlights from the past financial year include:
Our funding partnership with the Commonwealth Government and their ongoing support through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, along with levy and voluntary contributions from the forest and wood products industry, has enabled the delivery of an expanding program of activities and industry services in a challenging economic environment.” FWPA Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Leighton reflects, “The progress made in 2024/25 across engagement, program delivery and national collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting a stronger, more-resilient forest and wood products sector.” Download the FWPA Annual Report here to learn more about how FWPA programs have helped to drive sustainable growth across the forest and wood products industry. Source & image credit: FWPA Tropical Timber Market report - China's declining log imports_-_250x330.jpg)
According to China Customs, from January to
September China’s log imports dropped 13% to 23.96 million
cubic metres valued at US$3.753 billion, down 22% over
the same period of 2024. This was reported in the just released, ITTO Tropical Timber Market (TTM) Report, for 1-15 November 2025. Of the total, China’s softwood log imports amounted to 18.02 million cubic metres, down 8%. Hardwood log imports came to 5.94 million cubic metres, dropping 25% over the same period of 2024. New Zealand was the largest supplier of logs, and China’s imports from New Zealand rose 1% to 13.567 million cubic metres between January to September 2025, accounting for 57% of the national total. China’s log imports from Japan grew 12% to 1.289 million cubic metres, in addition, imports from Canada and Latvia rose 10% and 55% respectively between January and September 2025. In contrast, China’s log imports from the US fell 75%. Log imports from PNG, Russia, Solomon Islands, Germany and France declined (see table). Due to quarantine issues with logs from the US, on 4 March 2025 the General Administration of China Customs issued an announcement stating that it would immediately suspend the import of wood from the United States. This not only had a profound impact on the wood trade pattern between China and the United States but also brought an extremely obvious shock to the domestic wood industry in the US. It has been reported that many sawmills in the southern United States have had to reduce production due to changes in demand, uncertainties in trade policies and various regulatory barriers. More >> Source: ITTO Image credit: China Customs (via ITTO) Stora Enso to create the largest forest company in Europe
Following a strategic review, Stora Enso has decided to initiate
the separation of the Swedish forest assets business into a new
publicly-listed company, expected to be completed during the first half
of 2027.The separation of the Swedish forest assets was assessed to be the best alternative to enhance focus on respective businesses’ core strengths and market opportunities, maximising operational and shareholder value, as well as to reduce group complexity. It intends to create Europe's largest listed pure play forest company, comprising over 1.2 million hectares of forest land in Sweden with a fair value of approximately EUR 5.7 billion as of 30 September 2025. Stora Enso will continue to lead in renewable materials and packaging, with strong market positions and more flexible, integrated, and cost-competitive production. The new company is intended to be listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki with its headquarter located in Falun, Sweden.. Additionally, the expected stable cash flow generation with additional potential for significant new revenue streams, would provide investors with an opportunity to receive stable inflation-resilient forest returns with low correlation to other asset classes over the business cycle. Swedish forest assets have over the last 30 years had a total return of approximately 7% per annum. Tuomas Hallenberg, currently Executive Vice President of Stora Enso’s Forest business area, has been appointed President and CEO of Stora Enso’s Swedish forest business. “The Board’s decision to move forward with the demerger marks a milestone in the creation of the largest listed pure play forest company in Europe. The separation and public listing of Stora Enso’s Swedish forest assets business will unlock value potential and focus of both the forest assets and industrial operations, enabling accelerated growth across each business. Consistent with Stora Enso’s commitment to maximise shareholder value, it will now continue the preparations towards the public listing of the new company,” said Kari Jordan, Chair of Stora Enso’s Board of Directors. “We are excited to now enter the next phase of this important chapter in our company’s history. The demerger will create a solid foundation for independent growth of both companies. Moreover, the two companies would maintain a strategic relationship, where Stora Enso gains access to a long-term wood supply agreement with the new company, securing revenues for both parties,” said Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Stora Enso. More >> Source & image credit: Stora Enso  Paradise Preserved : A History of Forestry on Fraser Island
A controversial new book is set to reignite debate about Fraser Island's environmental management, arguing that professional forestry sustained the island's forests far more effectively than current preservation policies.Paradise Preserved: A history of forestry on Fraser Island, by retired forester Robert Onfray, presents over a century of documented evidence that challenges the dominant narrative about the world's largest sand island. "The forests that tourists admire today were shaped by 120 years of professional management, not left untouched," says Onfray, who spent over 40 years in forestry across Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania. "Yet this history is being deliberately erased." The 366-page book draws on extensive archival research, historical photographs, and interviews with forestry workers and their families to document Fraser Island's timber industry from the 1860s to the cessation of logging in 1991. But Onfray's work goes beyond history. With catastrophic bushfires increasingly linked to fuel load buildup from fire suppression policies, the book's findings have urgent contemporary relevance. "We're seeing the results of hands-off management across Australian forests – more intense fires, invasive species takeovers, and ecosystem decline," Onfray explains. "Fraser Island demonstrates that active, science-based management produced healthier forests than ideological preservation." The book documents sustained yield practices, forest regeneration data, and silvicultural techniques that maintained productive forests while preserving biodiversity. It also examines current management challenges, including fire mismanagement, tourism impacts, and problematic policies regarding dingoes. "As fire historian Stephen Pyne wrote: 'What thrives on disturbance dies in its absence,'" Onfray notes. "Australian eucalypt forests are fire creatures. The evidence from Fraser Island proves this." Onfray worked on Fraser Island as a forestry student in the 1980s, experiencing firsthand the remote areas few visitors ever see. His research includes access to William Pettigrew's diaries, the Queensland State Archives, and the McKenzie family photo collection, which documents early 20th-century operations.  At the Brisbane launch of Paradise Preserved, from left, David Anderson, journalist and son of Fraser Is district forester Andy Anderson, John Huth, forestry historian, author Robert Onfray, Gail Stockwell, daughter of forest ranger Dick Stockwell, Mike Anderson, Queensland forester, and Dr Gary Bacon, AM, professional forester. The book features a foreword by renowned mountaineer and forestry advocate Tim Macartney-Snape OAM, who climbed Mt Everest from sea level to summit and studied at ANU. Paradise Preserved is published by Connor Court Publishing (ISBN: 9781923568051) and includes historical photographs, original maps of tramlines and logging areas, and comprehensive technical appendices. The book can be purchased at this link - Paradise Preserved : A History of Forestry on Fraser Island Source & image credit: Robert Onfray Steve Allen to retire: A champion for safety
After more than a decade of service, Steve Allen is preparing to retire from his role as EHSR Manager at OneFortyOne. His journey has been anything but conventional – marked by resilience, transformation, and a deep commitment to keeping people safe.Steve’s career in safety began unexpectedly. After a challenging departure from his role as a regional saw doctor manager, he was offered a lifeline by Mike Epp, who placed him in various project roles. One of those projects led him to work alongside a timber expert from New Zealand, earning him recognition and eventually a role as Safety Administrator at Lakeside Sawmill. From there, his passion for safety grew, and within 18 months, he was back in a regional safety role. Throughout his career, Steve travelled extensively, gaining insights from sawmills and safety conferences across Australia. These experiences helped him bring innovative ideas back to the Jubilee site – often leapfrogging years of development by adopting proven solutions seen elsewhere. One of the most formative moments in Steve’s safety journey came before he officially entered the field: the tragic loss of two colleagues at Lakeside. These events deeply impacted him and shaped his belief that every safety statistic represents a real person – a friend, a colleague, a family member. This perspective became a cornerstone of his approach to safety. Steve faced many challenges, particularly the resistance to change. “This is how we’ve always done it” was a common refrain, but Steve’s persistence and ability to communicate the “why” behind safety changes helped shift mindsets over time. Steve’s influences and relationships In his early years, Steve was fortunate to be mentored by Dan May, former National Safety Manager at Weyerhaeuser. “Dan was one of the most inspirational people I’ve worked with,” Steve said. “He was level-headed, committed, and never wavered when he knew something was right – even when others pushed back.” Dan’s influence helped shape Steve’s leadership style, instilling the resilience and clarity that would guide him throughout his career. “He taught me to stay the course and stand firm when it mattered—that shaped how I approached every challenge.” Looking to the future One of his proudest achievements? A remarkable 81% reduction in TRIFR over 10 years. “I needed to know I was making a difference,” he said. “If I wasn’t adding value, I wouldn’t have stayed.” That graph now hangs on his wall, a testament to the impact of his work. Steve’s reflections also touched on the bigger picture. “This mill has fed thousands of families over decades,” he said. “If we do this right, it’ll still be doing that in 20, 30, even 50 years. That’s pretty amazing.” He recalled playing sport as a child with kids whose parents worked at the mill – proof of its enduring role in the community. As he looks ahead to retirement, Steve is looking forward to spending more time on his hobby farm, tackling long-awaited renovations, travelling, and possibly volunteering. “I don’t have set plans yet,” he admitted, “but I know I want to give back in some way.” More >> Source & image credit: OneFortyOne --(2022)2.jpg) Jobs
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And one to end the week on... Developer vs tester
This could happen to any developer. They engineer for peak efficiency, but sometimes the user finds an entirely novel, and utterly wrong, way to exploit it. Watch the clip to witness the slow and painful deconstruction in real-time. And on that note, enjoy your weekend. Cheers.  Brand PartnersOur Partners & Sponsors Friday Offcuts is made possible through the generous support of the following companies.
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