Friday Offcuts – 13 February 2026
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week’s issue of Friday Offcuts.We cover housing pressures, strategic investment, science, safety and innovation across the forestry and wood products sector. In Australia, the Housing Industry Association warns national housing targets are under threat, with small builders weighed down by rising compliance costs, insurance premiums and lengthy approval timeframes. At the same time, Nippon Paper Resources Australia has moved to secure long-term fibre supply through its majority acquisition of Marusumi Whangarei in New Zealand. We also report on workforce and safety developments, including NZ’s proposed Health and Safety reforms and rising soft tissue injury claims, alongside sector leadership updates, community engagement and calls for greater rating stability. Research and sustainability also feature prominently. A global study points to rapid shifts in forest composition that could affect carbon storage and water cycles, while OneFortyOne progresses its biomass cogeneration project and BioCarbon secures ARENA funding to scale renewable biochar for steelmaking. Don’t forget, next month we host Environmental Forestry 2026 in Rotorua, NZ, followed by WoodTECH 2026 in June, bringing more than 30 international exhibitors and technology leaders to New Zealand and Australia. Read these stories and more in this week’s packed issue of Friday Offcuts.
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This week we have for you:
Australian housing targets under more pressure says survey
Australia’s small businesses are warning that housing
supply will continue to fall short of targets unless all tiers of
government urgently address rising regulatory costs, planning
delays and workforce shortages, according to the Housing Industry
Association (HIA) 2026 Small Business Conditions Report.The 2026 Small Business Conditions Report was launched this week in Canberra and is a survey of HIA members that work in all areas of the building sector and that identify as a small business. “This report is not only a gauge of the level of sentiment in the small business sector but is also a measure of how the home building sector may be performing from 2026 onwards,” said HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin. “The report paints a clear picture of a small business sector under pressure, despite strong demand for new housing. Small building businesses are the engine room of Australia’s home building industry, but they are being asked to do more with less - facing rising insurance premiums, growing compliance obligations and planning delays that are stretching cashflow and eroding confidence. “The survey found 68% of respondents have considered scaling back or closing their business due to red tape and compliance burdens, while almost three-quarters do not expect to take on additional staff in the year ahead. “Planning delays are a major barrier to productivity, with 88% of small builders reporting approval timeframes exceeding eight weeks, and one in three experiencing delays of more than six months. “For small businesses, time is money and lengthy approval processes mean higher holding costs, delayed starts and increased financial risk, which reduces the number of homes that can be delivered. “The survey also highlights persistent workforce challenges, with 67% of small builders reporting difficulty recruiting or retaining skilled workers, limiting their ability to expand operations or take on new projects. “Compliance pressures continue to mount, with more than half of small builders spending at least five hours a week on regulatory tasks, and nearly one-third spending more than ten hours.” Other findings included:
“With the right policy settings, small building businesses will play a central role in delivering more homes, faster, but without reform housing supply will continue to fall short,” concluded Ms Martin. Source: Housing Industry Association Nippon Paper: Joint acquisition of NZ softwood chip export company
Nippon Paper Resources Australia (NPR) has entered into an
agreement to jointly acquire 100% of the shares in Marusumi Whangarei
Company Limited (MWC), a New Zealand-based softwood chip
production and export company currently jointly owned by Marusumi Paper
Co and Marubeni Corporation.The acquisition will be undertaken in partnership with Pentarch Forestry (PF), a diversified Australasian timber manufacturing and export company. Upon completion, NPR will hold a 70% shareholding and PF 30%, with the share transfer expected to be finalised by the end of February 2026. Following completion, NPR and PF will formalise their partnership through a joint venture shareholders’ agreement and will jointly operate the business. MWC will subsequently be renamed NP Wood Fibre Company Limited. NP Wood Fibre will operate a major New Zealand softwood chip production and export business, drawing on the country’s abundant forest resources to meet anticipated growth in global demand for softwood chips. For Nippon Paper Industries (NPI), the transaction supports the diversification of procurement sources and the establishment of a stable softwood resource supply for the Japanese market. In collaboration with PF, NP Wood Fibre will also market softwood chips throughout Asia, strengthening the revenue potential of the Nippon Paper Group’s timber-related operations. The joint venture will combine the Nippon Paper Group’s expertise in hardwood plantation management, woodchip production, and export operations in Brazil and Australia with PF’s capabilities across lumber, woodchip, and broader timber-related businesses. Leveraging the extensive sales and export experience of both NPI and PF in Australia and New Zealand, the newly established NP Wood Fibre joint venture is well positioned to capitalise on these combined strengths and further expand the forestry and timber businesses of both partners. Source: Nippon Paper Industries Image credit: Marusumi Whangarei Company Forests are changing fast and scientists are deeply concerned
A sweeping global study warns that forests are becoming
dominated by fast-growing trees, while slow-growing species that
stabilize ecosystems are fading away. This shift could leave
forests less diverse, less resilient, and less capable of protecting the
planet from climate change.Trees are essential to life on Earth. They absorb and store CO2, support animals, fungi, and insects, hold soil in place, manage water cycles, and provide people with vital resources such as wood, food, and cooling shade during hot weather. Despite their importance, forests around the world are undergoing a major shift. New research shows that many forest ecosystems are becoming more uniform, losing biodiversity, and growing less resilient. These findings come from a large international study published in the journal Nature Plants. By examining more than 31,000 tree species across the globe, scientists were able to map how forests are likely to change in the coming decades. Their analysis focused on shifts in species makeup, long-term stability, and how forests function as ecosystems. More >> Source: ScienceDaily  Safetree NZ - It’s time to focus on the soft tissue issueSoft tissue injuries are quietly becoming one of forestry's biggest safety problems. New FISC work on ACC data shows that sprains, strains, and similar injuries consistently account for more than half of all ACC forestry claims requiring more than five days off work.ACC defines soft tissue injuries as damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, nerves or other soft tissue - think torn ligaments, muscle strains, whiplash or repetitive strain injuries.  While the total number of soft tissue claims peaked in 2021, they’re consistently claiming a bigger slice of all forestry injuries:<
The cost trend is moving the wrong way too. The average soft tissue claim cost has jumped 50% in just five years:
“The next step is understanding what’s causing them,” Akari says. “Once we pinpoint the drivers, we can start reducing them — and we’ll share more as we work through the data.” Source & chart credit: Safetree  Forestry Centre of Excellence opens new era for Mt Gambier
Australia’s first Forestry Centre of Excellence officially
opened yesterday, firmly positioning Mount Gambier on the international
map of forestry research, innovation and collaboration. The
Centre brings together local, national and international experts across
forestry research and development, strengthening the region’s role
as a global leader in the sector.The South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) warmly welcomes the long-term commitment made by the State Government, which worked closely with industry ahead of the 2022 State Election to establish the Forestry Centre of Excellence. The Centre will enhance the global competitiveness of forestry research while creating lasting economic and employment opportunities across the Limestone Coast and beyond. “Too often in regional Australia, we see good ideas announced but never delivered,” said Mr Nathan Paine, Chief Executive Officer of the SAFPA. “Today shows what’s possible when Government listens, commits and follows through, and I wish to thank Premier Peter Malinauskas and Minister for Forest Industries, Clare Scriven, for their continued investment and vision for the region.” “The Forestry Centre of Excellence represents a new pathway for innovation, one that connects world-class research with industry, skills and regional leadership,” said Mr Paine. As the birthplace of Australia’s commercial plantation forestry sector, South Australia has a long history of industry leadership. The opening of the Centre reinforces the State’s commitment to future-focused industries grounded in sustainability, innovation and community. More than a physical facility, the Centre is designed to build long-term capability by anchoring research and development in the Limestone Coast. It will also support workforce development, ensuring future foresters, processors, engineers and scientists are trained locally for local jobs. Mount Gambier is the beating heart of Australia’s softwood manufacturing sector, processing a significant share of Australia’s housing timbers, packaging fibre and agricultural products. With the establishment of the Forestry Centre of Excellence, Mount Gambier further cements its status as a hub of forestry expertise and leadership for national and international thought leaders. “The Centre brings together applied research, workforce development, innovation and regional leadership in one location, sending a strong message well beyond Mount Gambier,” continued Mr Paine. “It underscores the role of regional industries in South Australia’s economic growth and decarbonisation future and demonstrates the outcomes that can be achieved when Government and industry work together toward shared goals,” concluded Mr Paine. Source: SAFPA  SnapSTAT - Australia’s export value of wood products to China Is China still our main trading partner for Timber Products?
Wildfire smoke tied to 24,100 US deaths per year
Chronic exposure to pollution from wildfires has been linked to
tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States, according to
a new study.The paper, published in the journal Science Advances, found that from 2006 to 2020, long-term exposure to tiny particulates from wildfire smoke contributed to an average of 24,100 deaths a year in the lower 48 states. “Our message is: Wildfire smoke is very dangerous. It is an increasing threat to human health,” said Yaguang Wei, a study author and assistant professor in the department of environmental medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Other scientists who have studied the death toll from wildfire smoke were not surprised by the findings. “The estimates they’re coming up with are reasonable,” said Michael Jerrett, professor of environmental health science at the University of California, Los Angeles who was not involved in the study. “We need more of them. It’s only if we’re doing multiple studies with many different designs that we gain scientific confidence of our outcomes.” More >> Source: OPB NZ Health and Safety Amendment Bill 2026 released
The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill (Government Bill
244–1) has just been released. The Bill is yet to go
through its first reading in parliament and, if passed, it goes to a
select committee, where it will be open for public submissions. After
submissions, it's then back to parliament, so a bit of water to go under
the bridge yet and will have to opportunity to have our say.On the face of it what is being proposed should be of benefit to Forestry contractors. The newly released Bill aims to streamline compliance, strengthen focus on preventing serious harm, and clarify duties. Key changes include:
More >> Source: Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) New director for Port of Tauranga
Port of Tauranga Limited has announced that Ken Shirley
will be appointed to the Board of Directors. Ken will replace Doug Leeder as a Quayside Holdings’ appointee to the Board. Quayside, the investment arm of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, currently owns 54.14% of Port of Tauranga shares. Ken has been a Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor since his election in 2022. Port of Tauranga Chair, Julia Hoare, said Ken brought decades of leadership experience across public policy, industry advocacy and executive governance. Ken served as Minister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Health during his time as a Member of Parliament, representing the Labour Party and later ACT New Zealand. Ken has held a number of executive roles, including Chief Executive of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand, Medicines New Zealand, the New Zealand Forest Owners Association and the Road Transport Forum. His role at the Road Transport Forum involved leadership in the multi-modal freight and logistics sector at national and international levels, including liaison with port companies. He is currently Chair of Ōmokoroa Golf Club and was formerly a Director of GNS Science and a member of the Human Rights Review Tribunal. Ms Hoare also thanked Doug for his ten years’ tenure on the Port of Tauranga Board. “Doug has made an outstanding contribution to the Board through his deep regional connections, primary sector expertise and governance experience. We thank him for his long service to the Port and to the Regional Council, where he served as Chair from 2016 until his retirement at the 2025 election.” Doug retires from the Port of Tauranga Board and Ken joins with effect from 1 April 2026. Source & image credit: Port of Tauranga Forestry sector calls for rates cap after bill increases 570%
The forestry sector is calling for a cap on rates increases
after one forestry blocks rates bill went up 570 percent in a
year. The 1100-hectare block near Wairoa managed by agri-advisory firm Lewis Tucker was originally farmland but was bought in
2019 and planted in pines in 2020.Lewis Tucker said in July last year the Wairoa District Council lifted the annual rates bill from $30,000 a year to $200,000. The company has submitted on the government's proposal to simplify local government. In its submission, it said while it broadly supported the intent to simplify local government it urged limits on differential rates were critical for business confidence. Executive director Colin Jacobs said the 570 percent rates increase on that one forestry block amounts to $5 million over the lifetime of the forest. More >> Source: RNZ Jubilee Sawmill's renewable energy upgrade - stage one operational
OneFortyOne has reached a significant milestone in its renewable
energy investment at the Jubilee Sawmill in Mount Gambier, with
phase 1 of its co-generation project completed and the new fuel handling
system now successfully operational.The fuel handling system was constructed and started up during the 2025/26 summer shutdown. It is now fully operational transporting waste wood fibre residue to the existing boiler in the steam plant. This marks the first major step toward the broader A$88 million biomass powered cogeneration system that will enable the site to generate its own renewable electricity. Jubilee Sawmill General Manager Nigel Boyd said the staged delivery model is central to ensuring reliability and long-term operational performance. “Phase 1 was all about getting the fuel handling system commissioned early so we can run it, test it, and refine it well before connecting it to the new boiler,” Nigel said. “Breaking the project into stages avoids commissioning one large system at once. It means major components can be proven before integration, which reduces risk and delivers a more reliable outcome for the sawmill.” OneFortyOne Engineering Manager Andrew White said the new system is a major upgrade of the sawmill’s ageing infrastructure. “We had our old conveyor for about 70 years, and it was approaching the end of its life. The new fuel handling system is safer, more efficient, and has the capacity to store and move significantly larger volumes of wood fibre,” Andrew said. “We can produce fuel faster than we consume it; four days of production gives us seven days of fuel, so the new system essentially acts as a large, flexible storage solution that supports potential growth.” Designed in‑house, the system has been built for the future. “We sized it for where the mill could be in the future, not just for our needs today,” Andrew said. “As log volumes increase, so does the energy required to dry and process them. This system creates a circular energy loop where increased log intake generates residue that becomes renewable fuel powering the sawmill.” OneFortyOne Project Manager Mick Geraghty noted the importance of local businesses working together on the project. “A number of local contractors worked with us to deliver the installation, and they should be proud of the outcome,” Mick said, “It’s a significant piece of infrastructure and an example of the capability we have in the region.” With Phase 1 complete, the project now moves into the main construction stage of the co‑generation plant. Civil works are well underway, including earthworks and site preparation. Major equipment installation will follow. This project marks a major step toward OneFortyOne’s 2030 emissions reduction target, eliminating Scope 2 emissions across its Australian sawmill operations. By converting waste fibre into renewable energy and moving Jubilee off the grid, OneFortyOne will cut emissions while creating a cleaner, self-sufficient site for the future. Source & image credit: OneFortyOne  Discover Forestry at the Kids n Rigs Truck Show in NelsonErica Kinder, CEO of Discover Forestry, had an amazing day at the Kids n Rigs Truck Show in Nelson! This free community event drew thousands of attendees, with over 600 people lining up for truck rides. She also gave away more than 400 forestry activity books, complete with log truck colouring pages. The feedback about forestry and log trucks was fantastic—some of the best comments she’s heard in years! A huge thank you to Stuart Drummond Transport, Borlase Transport, and all the Nelson companies who sponsored and participated. Truly an inspiring event for the community and for the future of forestry! Source & image credit: Discover Forestry BioCarbon secures first commercial biochar steelmaking project
BioCarbon is pleased to announce it has been awarded $4.8
million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
to support the development of its first commercial-scale project in
Bulahdelah, NSW. The funding represents a major milestone in
BioCarbon’s transition from pilot operations to industrial-scale
production and supports the replacement of traditional, high-emission
metallurgical coke with high-performance, net-zero GreenChar® in
steelmaking.The Bulahdelah facility will produce renewable carbon products for use as charge carbon in Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking, providing a practical pathway to reduce emissions in existing steel operations. The project is supported under ARENA’s National Industrial Transformation Program and aligns with national efforts to accelerate the transition to low emissions metals. Proving a Pathway to Green Steel While the majority of the plant’s output will be allocated to primary operations, BioCarbon has confirmed that a dedicated portion of production will be made available to selected industry partners for exclusive trials. This will enable steelmakers and metallurgical operators to validate the performance of GreenChar within their own facilities, supporting future supply partnerships and broader adoption. The project builds on several years of technology development and validation, scaling BioCarbon’s proprietary pyrolysis and consolidation processes into a commercial facility capable of continuous operation. Breaking the green premium in biochar steelmaking A key objective of the project is to demonstrate that renewable carbon can be supplied at cost parity with traditional metallurgical coke. Historically, the so-called green premium has been a major barrier to industrial decarbonisation. BioCarbon’s engineering advances in pyrolysis and consolidation allow GreenChar to deliver a net-zero carbon profile at the same cost in use as fossil-based coke. This removes economic risk for steelmakers, enabling emissions reduction without increasing operational expenditure. Proven performance at industrial scale The commercial development follows years of rigorous research, development and industrial validation. BioCarbon’s technology has already been proven at scale, with GreenChar successfully replacing 100 percent of charge coke in Electric Arc Furnaces during trials that produced approximately 3,000 tonnes of steel. These trials demonstrated that GreenChar is a high-performance, drop-in replacement that maintains metallurgical integrity without requiring significant plant modifications. These achievements have earned BioCarbon significant global and domestic recognition, including selection in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Top 100 and being named among the Tech23 cohort, Australia’s leading awards program for deep-tech innovators. More >> Source & image credit: BioCarbon  Jobs
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And one to end the week on... Friday 13th
What song does Jason Voorhees sing on Friday the 13th? Friggatriskaidekaphobia is the scientific term for the fear of Friday the 13th. (Frigga being the name of the Norse goddess for whom "Friday" is named) Dear Jedi, Today is Friday the 13th, there's never been a better time to join the Dark Side. Why does Freddy Krueger wear a hat? Brad: It's Friday the 13th. Do you have any superstitions? It's Friday the 13th. Avoid ladders, black cats and ridiculous superstitions.
 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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