Friday Offcuts – 19 June 2026
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week's issue of Friday Offcuts.Rotorua is buzzing this week, with 40 international exhibitors and over 250 delegates from across the wood processing sector attending WoodTECH 2026. Next week, the event heads to Brisbane for the first time in over 15 years, highlighting the strong level of industry engagement on both sides of the Tasman. Market development leads the news, with the launch of a unified NZ Pine brand designed to strengthen New Zealand's global position and lift returns from higher-value wood products. We also cover Queensland's push to accelerate major construction projects with timber, New Forests' new global natural capital strategy, and the rebranding of PF Olsen and Forest360 as Stand. Policy and sustainability remain in focus, with Australia's sweeping EPBC reforms, efforts to simplify illegal logging compliance, and continued debate over prescribed burning as a bushfire mitigation tool. Innovation features strongly, from AI-powered fire detection in Northland and advances in wood identification technology to the growing impact of automation and workforce development across the sector. Read these stories and more in this week's Friday Offcuts.
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This week we have for you:
NZ Pine brand targeted at lifting wood products export value [NZ]
The Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ (WPMA)
welcomes the commitment by
Government and industry to develop a unified NZ Pine brand,
as announced last week by Minister for Forestry and Trade, Hon Todd
McClay, at Mystery Creek Fieldays.WPMA Chief Executive, Mark Ross, says the NZ Pine brand represents an opportunity to grow and strengthen New Zealand’s position in global timber and lumber markets. ‘NZ Radiata Pine is a premium softwood — stable, versatile, sustainably grown, and backed by decades of research,’ says Ross. ‘By unifying our story, we can strengthen market confidence and support higher‑value returns across the entire supply chain.’ The NZ Pine brand will highlight Radiata Pine’s versatility and performance across a wide range of structural and appearance applications. Its ability to be efficiently kiln‑dried or treated makes it a reliable, long‑lasting material for domestic and international customers. New Zealand’s renewable plantation forests thrive in the country’s temperate climate and support a year‑round harvest. The sector is built on responsible production, with large areas independently certified under globally recognised sustainability programmes. Built around simplicity, in‑market relevance, and sector‑wide unity, the NZ Pine brand will provide a strong foundation for individual companies to differentiate their products and reinforce New Zealand’s reputation for high‑quality, sustainably produced wood. Source: WPMA Related: New brand packs higher-value future for New Zealand pine (NZ Forest Owners Association) The launch of a new NZ Pine brand gives New Zealand’s forestry sector a stronger platform to promote the quality, performance and responsible production of radiata pine in global markets, the New Zealand Forest Owners Association says. More >> What the EPBC Reforms Mean for Forest Managers [AU]
Australia’s most significant overhaul of national
environmental law in a generation is about to reshape federal oversight
of forest management, and many of the operators it will affect are still
working out what it means for them. To help unpack that uncertainty, Forestry Australia and the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry (AFWI CCSF), are co-hosting a free webinar on Monday 22 June, drawing together legal, certification and carbon expertise to map the compliance landscape taking shape under the reformed Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Co-hosted with the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry (AFWI CCSF), the one-hour session, Understanding Australia’s EPBC Act Changes: Implications for Forest Managers, runs from 1:00pm AEST. Click here to register for the Webinar. Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin said the reforms would reshape obligations across the sector. “These reforms have significant implications for forest management, not just for native forest managers but also for private forest owners and plantation operators who are already navigating complex regulatory and certification environments,” Ms Martin said. The reforms reach well beyond the public native forest estate. Private forest owners and plantation operators will also face new obligations, and the webinar is pitched squarely at the practitioners who will have to apply them day to day. It works through the incoming requirements that forest operations must navigate and demonstrate. Much of the substance of the reforms is still taking shape. New national standards, which all operations will need to meet, remain in draft, and the reforms have triggered a structural shift for areas currently covered by Regional Forest Agreements in how harvesting operations are assessed and approved. The session canvases the questions still hanging over the sector, from the role of third-party certification to how new definitions and requirements might affect operations in practice. Please note: Registrations close at 10:00am on Sunday 21 June, ahead of the session running from 1:00pm AEST on Monday 22 June. More >> Source & iamge credit: Forestry Australia Can timber fast-track QLD's $125bn mega pipeline? [AU]
Queensland’s development sector is facing a pivotal
moment, with a $127.5 billion pipeline of major projects expected over
the next five years and growing pressure on project feasibility.
As construction costs rise and labour availability tightens, developers are increasingly focused on buildability, program risk and delivery models that can shorten timelines without adding cost. A Brisbane industry forum later this month will bring together tier-one contractors including Hutchinson Builders, Kane Constructions and engineering firm Aurecon to assess how prefabricated timber systems are performing across commercial and civic projects. Hosted by WoodSolutions, Timber Queensland and the ARC Advance Timber Hub, the Queensland Timber Trajectory forum will focus on the commercial realities of delivery, including procurement models, risk allocation and cost competitiveness. The discussion comes as developers face ongoing challenges with cost escalation, labour shortages and program delays, placing increased emphasis on methods that can accelerate delivery without increasing project risk. Recent Queensland projects are beginning to demonstrate how these efficiencies can be achieved. At the Inala Infill Apartments social housing project, cross-laminated timber floor panels were installed in just two days compared with a six-day programme using traditional construction methods reducing crane time and improving build efficiency. Research across Australian mid-rise developments indicates prefabricated timber systems can further streamline construction by compressing programme timeframes and reducing on-site labour demands. The forum will examine where these efficiencies translate into commercial advantage and the conditions required for broader adoption. Key sessions include:
The Queensland Timber Trajectory forum will take place at the University of Queensland on June 30. More >> Source: Timber Queensland Image credit: University of the Sunshine Coast  Early fire detection installed in the Far North [NZ]
Spark, the Far North District Council (FNDC) and Dryad have
implemented an advanced ultra-early fire detection system at the
Waitangi Endowment Forest – the first of its kind in New Zealand.
This initiative aims to safeguard one of New Zealand's cultural landmarks by providing state-of-the-art protection against wildfires, using sensors that are ‘trained’ to detect variations in air quality and presence of pollutants associated with smouldering and smoke. The system will learn to recognise smoke based on the native tree and shrub species, other vegetation and the soil type unique to Waitangi. The project will use Dryad’s Silvanet system, which is a network of sensors spread throughout the park. These solar-powered sensors use artificial intelligence to detect fires early and then issue an alarm to FNDC and the Waitangi Endowment Forest who alert Fire and Emergency. The sensors are designed to detect traces of smouldering even if there isn’t visible smoke or fire. This gives more time to respond, including faster evacuation of the park and alerting Fire and Emergency sooner. Spark, through its company Adroit, is bringing the new fire detection technology to Waitangi Forest. Adroit will deploy and configure the system, connect it to the internet and make sure everything works smoothly. FNDC will install the sensors in the forest and will match funding provided through Round 7 of the Tourism Infrastructure Fund administered by Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. By extending Spark’s IoT networks into the Waitangi Endowment Forest, this initiative is pioneering the concept of a ‘smart forest’ - using connected sensors and intelligent monitoring to protect and sustain New Zealand’s natural heritage, along with protecting the substantial community investment and infrastructure that sits within this forest, as well as safeguarding the hundreds of people who use the area every week. Waitangi Endowment Forest was created by the Waitangi Endowment Act 1932-33 and gifted to the nation. The forest is managed by the Department of Conservation on behalf of the Waitangi National Trust Board. The forest is home to native species like the North Island Brown Kiwi and contains the popular Waitangi Mountain Bike Park. There will be 250 wildfire sensors installed across the forest. This means the whole park will be covered by sensors that will help spot fires quickly and also monitor forest health and growth. Installation of the set-up has been authorised by the Department of Conservation for a period of 15 years. "At Spark, we are committed to leveraging innovative technology to protect New Zealand's natural and cultural heritage. The deployment of this system at Waitangi Endowment Forest is a testament to our dedication to environmental conservation and community safety," says Liz Urquhart, Spark’s General Manager of Business Products and Services. More >> Source & image credit: Spark Related: Solar-powered sensors using AI to detect wildfires A new fire detection system in the Far North has seen see 250 solar-powered sensors installed across the Waitangi Endowment Forest. The sensors use artificial intelligence and are designed to detect traces of smouldering even where smoke may not be visible. More >> Source: RNZ  SnapSTAT - Labour productivity indexes [NZ] Labour productivity indexes for industry groups, year ended March 1996–2025. Since 1996, New Zealand’s primary industries have recorded the strongest productivity growth of any major industry group, significantly outpacing both services and the wider measured sector. In contrast, productivity growth in goods-producing industries has largely stalled in recent years, leaving the sector well behind the gains achieved elsewhere.  Source: Keith Woodford FWPA expands stakeholder & community engagement focus [AU]
Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is evolving its
strategic focus in response to member feedback, with an increased
emphasis on broader stakeholder and community engagement. This
shift is designed to strengthen understanding of the forest and wood
products industry’s role and value across the communities in which
our members operate.To support this direction, FWPA will create a new Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager role. The position reflects an evolution of FWPA’s engagement approach, aligning resources to deliver more integrated outreach across education, community engagement and stakeholder relations, while building greater awareness, understanding and support for the industry. As part of this transition, Beth Welden's ForestLearning Program Manager position has been made redundant as FWPA moves to a broader, organisation-wide engagement model. Beth will finish with FWPA at the end of June, after nearly nine years leading the ForestLearning program. We thank Beth for her dedication to forest and wood product education and her significant contribution to ForestLearning. Through her work, Beth has helped strengthen educational engagement with Australia’s forest and wood products sector and establish ForestLearning as a valued national resource for teachers, students and FWPA members, including through nationally award-winning education initiatives. ForestLearning will continue as FWPA’s dedicated forest education brand and will be supported as an important component of the organisation’s engagement activities. FWPA remains committed to working closely with members, educators, communities and stakeholders to ensure its programs continue to deliver value and strengthen confidence in Australia’s forest and wood products industry. Further details on the new position will be announced in due course. Source & image credit: FWPA  PF Olsen and Forest360 rebrand as 'Stand'
Two of New Zealand’s leading forestry businesses are
celebrating the completion of their successful merger with the launch of
a new name and brand identity to support ambitious growth plans.
PF Olsen and Forest360 announced their merger late last year, backed by new investment from Adamantem Capital’s Environmental Opportunities Fund, and the support of PF Olsen cornerstone investor Quayside Holdings. Uniting under the Stand brand marks a new chapter for the business which combines 75 years’ experience, a workforce of more than 200 skilled professionals and 480,000ha of forestry under management on both sides of the Tasman. Stand Forestry Group CEO Dan Gaddum says the new name proudly reflects the business’ practice and principles. “While a stand is a unit of trees it also speaks of taking a position, standing for something. It reflects our commitment to managing each stand with care, skill, knowledge and discipline and encapsulates our commitment to forestry with purpose - growing natural capital for good. “The new name also symbolises how we’re bringing together the people capabilities and cultures of PF Olsen and Forest360 under a shared identity and common purpose. By merging two leading New Zealand forestry businesses, Stand is now stronger than its parts. We’ve not only strengthened our core forest and harvest management expertise; we’re also well positioned to accelerate growth.” As an example, Stand sees opportunities to grow its carbon consulting business on both sides of the Tasman. It recently launched a new carbon joint venture model in New Zealand making it easier for farmers and landowners to partner with specialist Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) expertise for mutual benefit. “Stand’s ambition is to lead the sector in navigating emerging opportunities, be at the forefront of new technology and smart thinking and deliver responsible outcomes to secure financial and environmental resilience for generations to come. “Standing together as one united team is an important part of that. Clients and industry participants can now expect to see the Stand brand roll out across all of our communications.” Source & image credit: Stand Forestry  Reducing bushfire extent, a key benefit of prescribed burning [AU]
An Opinion Piece: John O’DonnellAcross south eastern Australia, prescribed burning rates remain at historically low levels, despite overwhelming evidence that this single mitigation tool is the most effective, scalable and proven method for reducing the extent of bushfires. While public debate often focuses on fire intensity or severity, the extent of a bushfire, including how far it runs and how much country it consumes are important in relation to social, economic and environmental damage. This article synthesises the empirical evidence, not modelling, demonstrating that prescribed burning reduces bushfire extent across Australian forests and outlines why SE Australia must urgently expand its fuel reduction programs. Inadequate prescribed burning and large bushfire extent Datasets show that prescribed burning across most of SE Australia is far below levels required to influence landscape scale fire behaviour. The review includes data showing that prescribed burning rates in most Australian states have remained extremely low for decades, while bushfire area has repeatedly and massively eclipsed prescribed burning over multiple decades. SW WA is an exception, as outlined in the review. Victoria is a clear example of the consequences. As the review notes, insufficient prescribed burning in Victoria, typically <2% of public land per year, allowed fuels to accumulate to dangerous levels, contributing to three megafires that burned 3 million hectares and culminated in the Black Saturday tragedy. Despite Royal Commission recommendations for >5% annual treatment, the state has averaged only ~1.4% in recent years, culminating in the 1.6 million hectare 2019–20 fires. The relationship is simple: when prescribed burning declines, wildfire extent increases exponentially. Western Australian data shows that when annual forest prescribed burning treatment falls below ~8%, the area burned by bushfire escalates rapidly. This suggested threshold of around 8% of forests prescribed burnt per year, or 40% of the landscape in fuels <5 years old. South West Western Australia long term empirical evidence South West Western Australia provides strong long term empirical evidence that prescribed burning reduces bushfire extent. For more than half a century, WA has treated around 6–10% of its south west forests annually. As Burrows and Sneeuwjagt summarise, this program has kept wildfire impacts remarkably low. Boer et al. (2009) found that prescribed burning explained up to 71% of the variation in annual wildfire extent, and that keeping fuels younger than six years dramatically reduced the incidence of large fires. The suggested path forward The evidence is unequivocal: prescribed burning reduces bushfire extent. Long‑term WA datasets, Victorian analyses and case studies and international comparisons all point to the same conclusion. Yet SE Australia continues to rely heavily on suppression, with limited mitigation, to reduce bushfire risks. A national shift is required from reactive suppression to proactive, landscape‑scale fuel management with effective suppression. This includes treating 8–10% of forested landscapes annually and embedding prescribed burning into risk‑management frameworks. Australia has the evidence, the case studies and the operational experience. What is missing is the political and institutional commitment to act at the scale required Read the full report Source & image credit: John O’Donnell Making wood identification easier for foresters [NZ]
Information to help identify wood species is limited in New
Zealand, so Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao researchers have
been working to change that. They’ve been
investigating the use of mass spectrometry to help make identifying wood
species easier for forest owners. The research explores faster, more
efficient approaches using analytical chemistry.“We use a technique called Direct Analysis in Real Time mass spectrometry to analyse the chemical fingerprint of wood,” Bioeconomy Science Institute analytical chemistry team lead Ilena Isak says. “Specifically focusing on Podocarpus totara from New Zealand, Eucalyptus saligna from Australia and Pinus radiata imported from California and grown in NZ. Each species has its own chemical signature, which allows us to distinguish between them. “This analysis technique has potential to support non-experts in identifying wood species – giving us the opportunity to move towards tools that could be used beyond specialist labs.” New Zealand forestry encompasses a mix of native and exotic species, necessitating precise species identification for sustainable management and compliance with trade regulations. Wood differentiation helps ensure the right resource is being used for the right purpose. “It improves confidence in wood supply chains, supports compliance and traceability and enables higher-value uses of timber,” Ilena says. “It also reduces reliance on individual expertise and moves towards more consistent, accessible tools.” Next steps for this research include expanding datasets, refining the method and working towards more portable and practical applications. “Ultimately, the goal is to make wood identification faster, more reliable and more widely accessible,” Ilena says. “We hope to secure funding to help us work towards that goal and build industry interest.” This research is part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute’s wider work to unlock more value from NZ’s natural resources – turning knowledge into practical tools that support a more sustainable, high-value bioeconomy. Source & image credit: Bioeconomy Science Institute  New Forests launches first global natural capital strategy [AU]
New Forests, a global investment manager of nature-based real
assets and natural capital strategies, is today announcing the launch of
the Global Landscape Opportunities (GLO) strategy, its first
global natural capital offering, investing across forestry, agriculture,
and complementary markets such as carbon and biodiversity.To be established in Luxembourg, the new strategy brings together New Forests’ two decades of experience investing across regional markets into a single, globally integrated portfolio, targeting opportunities across North America, Europe, Australia-New Zealand, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa. GLO will be open for institutional investment only. The launch responds to growing investor demand for institutional-grade, global allocations to natural capital, as capital markets increasingly recognise the role of land-based assets in delivering inflation resilience, diversification, and the potential for attractive long-term real returns, alongside environmental outcomes. Mark Rogers, Chief Executive Officer, New Forests, said, “The launch of our Global Landscape Opportunities strategy marks a significant step in the evolution of New Forests as a global natural capital investment manager. We are seeing strong investor demand for scalable, institutional strategies that provide diversified exposure to natural capital. This strategy responds directly to that need – bringing together our global platform, investment expertise, and track record into a single, offering. “Natural capital is increasingly recognised as a core component of resilient portfolios, offering the potential for long-term returns while supporting critical outcomes such as climate stability, biodiversity and sustainable land use.” David Shelton, Global Head of Investments, New Forests, said, “Historically, many investors have accessed natural capital through regional allocations, but not all institutions have the scale, resources or expertise to build and manage global portfolios themselves. Building on New Forests’ regional return performance, this strategy allows investors to access a diversified global portfolio where we actively allocate capital across regions, sectors and markets to optimise outcomes.” “Natural capital offers a compelling investment proposition, with characteristics such as attractive long duration return profiles, inflation hedging, and low correlation to traditional asset classes. It also provides exposure to fundamental global demand for food, fibre, renewable energy and ecosystem services.” The GLO strategy will invest across a broad spectrum of natural capital assets, including sustainable forestry assets, agricultural land and food production systems, carbon and climate-related investments, and biodiversity and ecosystem markets. The proposed asset allocation will be:
Source & image credit: New Forests Simplifying Australia’s illegal logging compliance [AU]
Australia has some of the world’s strictest
illegal logging laws, with due diligence requirements applying
to both domestic processors and importers
before timber products can be placed on the market.
To help businesses navigate these requirements, Responsible Wood has developed a new Technical Note explaining how PEFC certification can support compliance with the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 and Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024. For countries without Commonwealth Country Specific Guidelines, certification can provide a practical pathway to demonstrate compliance and simplify evidence collection. Learn more and download the Technical Note Source & image credit: Responsible Wood Automation is here. Is the workforce ready?
Opinion: Jo Verry is a Senior Key Account Manager at industry
training organisation, CompetenzYou lock up your warehouse at night, switch off the lights and press play on an autonomous drone. By morning, it has flown the aisles, scanned barcodes, completed stocktakes and delivered real-time inventory data before the first staff member arrives. For some manufacturers, that future isn’t coming - it’s already here. Having recently attended the MAKE NZ industry conference at the engineering and manufacturing show EMEX - alongside spending the past few months visiting manufacturing sites across New Zealand - I’ve had a front-row seat to how quickly technology is evolving. From collaborative robots (co-bots) on factory floors to increasingly sophisticated AI and automated systems in warehousing and distribution, one message came through consistently: the biggest shift isn’t machines replacing people. It’s that the people alongside those machines now need different skills. There is still a persistent narrative that technology equals job losses. But across manufacturing floors, warehouses and engineering workshops, the reality looks different. Across many manufacturing environments, technology is changing jobs faster than it is removing them. Take robotic welding. A robot may handle repetitive work, but it still needs someone who understands welding quality, tolerances, and outcomes. Visit a distribution centre, and you’ll see technology moving stock, but humans still analysing outputs, monitoring systems and solving problems when things go wrong. Are the robots ready to fly solo? Recently, I visited a manufacturer trialling a machine designed to automatically pick up boxes, stack pallets and shrink-wrap them. Impressive? Absolutely. Faster than the person standing next to it? Not even close. The lesson is simple: technology still needs people. Technology is not a procurement decision - it’s a workforce project The strongest manufacturing investments happen when conversations about technology and workforce capability start early. If new technology, robotics or AI-enabled systems are on your roadmap, ask now: who will operate it? Who will maintain it? Who will monitor outputs and manage exceptions? What new skills will supervisors need? This is where workforce planning becomes more valuable than talking about training alone. Bringing workforce partners into technology planning conversations before equipment arrives creates opportunities to build capability early - whether that is through structured on-the-job learning, targeted microcredentials or broader workforce development. When done well, technology and workforce investment should happen side by side. Adaptability is becoming manufacturing’s newest superpower Manufacturing has always evolved. What is changing is the speed. Export customers increasingly expect more data, more traceability and greater visibility across supply chains. In some cases, modern production systems are becoming less of a competitive advantage and more of a requirement to stay in the game. That means the workforce needs to evolve too. One concept gaining attention is reverse mentoring, where younger workers support experienced teams with digital capability while learning operational expertise in return. We know skills are becoming more transferable too. The capabilities needed to oversee modern production systems, interpret data, troubleshoot systems, and lead teams are no longer confined to a single sector. They move across manufacturing, engineering, logistics and beyond. More >> Source & image credit: Competenz Phytos appoints Phil Taylor as Independent Chair [NZ]
Phytos is pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Taylor as
its new Independent Chair, effective July 2026.Phil brings more than 45 years of distinguished leadership and governance experience in the New Zealand forest industry. He is currently Managing Director of Port Blakely Ltd, a role from which he will retire on 30 June 2026. He will continue his other governance commitments, including as Chairman of Te Papa Tipu Properties Ltd, Deputy Chair of the Forest Growers Levy Trust and Chairman of the Forest Shield project. “Phil’s depth of industry knowledge, proven governance expertise, and strategic leadership make him the ideal person to chair Phytos,” said Brendan Gould – FOA Director of Biosecurity and Phytos Board member. “His extensive network and commitment to forest sector biosecurity and resilience will be invaluable as we advance our mission.” Phytos also wishes to sincerely acknowledge the outstanding contribution of outgoing Independent Chair, Don Hammond. Don has been with the organisation since its inception and has provided exceptional leadership, dedication and strategic focus to both STIMBR and Phytos over many years. His guidance has been instrumental in establishing and growing the organisation and we are deeply grateful for his service. “I am delighted to join Phytos as Independent Chair,” said Phil Taylor. “I want to thank Don Hammond for his tremendous leadership since the very beginning. I look forward to building on the strong foundation he has helped create and contributing to Phytos’ continued success at this important time for the industry.” Phil has held numerous high-profile governance roles, including past President of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) and Chair of several organisations such as Future Forest Research Ltd, the Radiata Pine Breeding Company and Otago Chipmill Ltd. He is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) and was awarded Forester of the Year in 2013. He recently completed the Mā te kahukura ka rere te manu course for effective governance of Crown entity boards. Source: Phytos  Jobs
Buy and Sell
And one to end the week on... Wearable tech for forestry worker safety
 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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Waikato University have published an interesting study entitled: Wearable technology for hazardous remote environments: Smart shirt and rugged IoT network for forestry worker health