Friday Offcuts – 9 July 2026
Click to Subscribe - It's FREE! Welcome to this week's issue of Friday Offcuts.Leading the news, four of Australia's most respected forest scientists have challenged the evidence underpinning native forest harvesting bans. In New Zealand, attention turns to expanding value-added wood exports, while in Tasmania, new investment is set to strengthen Australia's long-term timber supply through plantation development. We're also pleased to announce the call for presentations for ForestTECH 2027. The conference returns to Brisbane and Rotorua next March, bringing together the latest advances in forestry technology. If you have an innovation, project or case study to share, we'd love to hear from you. Elsewhere in this week's issue, we cover the latest Australian timber market survey and New Zealand market update, CarbonScape's plans to commercialise bio-based graphite for EV batteries, student-led timber product innovation, and new research into fire safety for mass timber buildings. Rounding out the issue are efforts to tackle New Zealand's wilding conifer challenge, a collaborative predator control initiative, FWPA's search for new Board directors, and Linfox's rollout of heavy-duty electric trucks across Australia. Read these stories and more in this week's Friday Offcuts.
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This week we have for you:
Top scientists challenge native forest bans [AU]
Four of Australia’s most senior forest scientists have
questioned the evidence underpinning native forest harvesting bans.
In a new paper in the peer-reviewed journal Australian
Forestry, they argue that closures of commercial native forest
harvesting on public land in Victoria and Western Australia, and the
push to extend such bans into New South Wales and Tasmania, rest on
contested science.The lead author is Dr John Raison, a former Chief Research Scientist at CSIRO who has spent nearly five decades studying native forests. He is joined by former CSIRO scientists Dr Sadanandan Nambiar AO, Dr Glen Kile, and University of Melbourne hydrologist A/Prof Leon Bren. Between them, the authors bring more than 200 years of experience in sustainable forest management. The paper examines the scientific literature on six common claims made against native forest harvesting, spanning forest loss, water, fire and wildlife. They find a far more complex and nuanced picture than what is commonly portrayed to the public and in political discourse. Much of the science drawn upon to justify native forest harvesting closures comes from a singular narrow viewpoint that does not encompass or recognise the breadth of local and landscape-scale research that provides a counter-perspective. Blanket bans on harvesting, the authors warn, are only deepening the challenges Australia already confronts in regards to maintaining the skills, capacity and resourcing needed to manage forests for their ongoing health and resilience and to meet domestic demand for wood products through locally-sourced wood products. Australian Forestry managing editor Dr Mohammad Ghaffariyan said the paper brought together more than two centuries of combined research experience to ask a straightforward question about what the published evidence shows. “Australian Forestry exists to put work of this calibre in front of the people making decisions about our forests. Readers will weigh the findings for themselves, but the debate is better for having the evidence on the table,” he said. More >> Source: Forestry Australia Wood products trade growth will strengthen sector [NZ]
Increased trade is key to driving an innovative wood processing
and manufacturing sector that will strengthen regional communities,
reduce emissions, and build a more resilient and prosperous New Zealand,
says Mark Ross, Chief Executive of the Wood Processors and
Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (WPMA)."This includes supporting trade policies that open markets for high-value wood products, backing programmes such as the Value-Added Wood Exports Growth Accelerator, along with encouraging investment in domestic wood processing to grow the sector," Ross says. "Equally important is supporting efforts to remove trade barriers that restrict market access and limit opportunities for New Zealand manufacturers." Ross said the National Party's policy document released at the weekend, Building the Future: New Zealand's Next Billion Customers, signals an on-going commitment to growing New Zealand's export sector. "A clear focus on export growth and trade support is good news for New Zealand businesses. It's encouraging to see these priorities recognised, and exporters will welcome the commitment to strengthening New Zealand's international trade opportunities if National is re-elected," he said. For our sector specifically, National has signalled a focus on driving value-added wood exports rather than raw log exports, with attention on opportunities created through trade agreements such as the CPTPP, RCEP and a future India Free Trade Agreement. The policy also highlights leading value-added wood and forestry trade missions into Asia and the Gulf region and promoting products such as engineered wood, mass timber and construction products. Trade should remain a priority for all political parties. New Zealand has a strong tradition of cross-party support for trade. Maintaining that approach will be vital for the continued growth of the wood products sector and for New Zealand's future economic success. "By working together to expand market access and support value-added exports, we can unlock greater economic value from our forest and wood resources, create more skilled jobs in our regions, and build a stronger wood processing and manufacturing sector." The Building the Future: New Zealand’s Next Billion Customers’ can be found here Building the Future – New Zealands Next Billion Customers Source: Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (WPMA) Image credit: National Forestry development to boost sovereign capability [AU]
AFPA has welcomed the sale of the Rushy Lagoon property in
north-east Tasmania to expand Australia’s sovereign capability in
sustainable timber production.The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has approved UK-based investment company Gresham House to purchase the large property near Launceston, and allow forestry development along with other agricultural production. AFPA acting deputy Chief Executive Dominic Lane said: “We welcome this important strategic investment to help support and grow Australia’s sovereign capability for sustainable timber production and supply. “During the building boom in COVID, we couldn’t rely on imports to meet our housing needs in Australia, so new opportunities to strengthen our sovereign capability and investment are critical. “We also know various forms of agriculture can co-exist in Australia to provide long-term and sustainable benefits to regional communities, local jobs, the national economy and wider population.” In recent years, there has been a significant reduction in forestry plantations, with Australia’s national plantation estate falling by 264,000 hectares from 1.973 million hectares in 2014-15 to 1.709 million hectares in 2024-25. Fortunately, a bipartisan national commitment for federal plantation grants in 2022 has helped to reverse this decline, and enabled estates to grow. “We sincerely thank Federal Agriculture and Forestry Minister the Hon Julie Collins for administering these important grants, however we are still more than 260,000 hectares below the 2014-15 plantation levels, which remains a concern,” Mr Lane said. “It was fantastic to see both major parties recognising the importance of growing the total area of production forestry with bipartisan support for this grant program at the 2022 election. “The choice between wood or steel by a homebuilder also makes a big difference between starting with a healthy carbon credit or a deficit. A typical timber house frame absorbs 9.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.” Source: Australian Forest Products Association {AFPA) Image sourced: Google Maps Call for presenters – ForestTECH 2027 [AU/NZ]
Innovatek is inviting expressions of interest from technology
developers, researchers, forest managers and equipment suppliers
interested in presenting at
ForestTECH 2027, Australasia’s leading
forestry technology conference. The event series is running
9-10 March 2027 in Brisbane, Australia, and
16-17 March 2027 in Rotorua, New Zealand.Now entering its 20th year, ForestTECH continues to bring together forestry professionals from across New Zealand, Australia and overseas to explore the latest advances in forest inventory, remote sensing, data capture, AI, automation, mechanised silviculture and digital forest management. Planning for the 2027 programme is now underway, and we’re seeking an expressions of interest from organisations and individuals developing practical technologies, innovative applications and operational case studies that are delivering measurable improvements across the forestry sector. As with previous events, the conference programme will feature international and local experts sharing the latest developments in:
While the programme is still being developed, expressions of interest are encouraged, particularly from organisations introducing new technologies, innovative research or successful operational implementations relevant to forest managers and forestry professionals throughout Australasia. The ForestTECH audience includes forest owners and managers, inventory foresters, GIS and remote sensing specialists, silviculture managers, consultants, researchers, technology providers and government agencies involved in managing forest resources. If you have a technology, project or operational experience that would benefit the wider forestry sector, we’d welcome hearing from you. Further information on ForestTECH 2027, including event updates and expression of interest details, is available on the ForestTECH event website. Source: Innovatek  Latest edition of the Timber Market Survey released [AU]
The latest edition of the TMS report has been released for the
March quarter 2026. The TMS (Timber Market Survey) collects
price data through quarterly surveys of a representative sample of
timber market participants in eastern Australia.All quarterly TMS reports contain price movement information for softwood timber, panels and engineered wood products. The June and December quarter editions also include price movement information for hardwood timber products surveyed over a six-month period. Price movement data are presented in nominal terms unless otherwise stated. Softwood timber products – Quarterly price movements
Further information and the latest TMS report is available here: Download the March quarter 2026 TMS report Source & image credit: Indufor NZ market update - July 2026 [NZ]
Opinion Piece: Marcus Musson, COOWith the depths of winter upon us, we are starting to see softening oil prices and reduced export related costs giving a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s hope that light is not a train. Traditionally, the third quarter of the year sees the bottom of the log market and the emergence of some green shoots in terms of demand and price. This year appears to be a trend follower, albeit we haven’t seen the severe price reductions in late Q2 that we have in previous years. Interestingly, the bottom of the cycle has been less severe year-on-year for the past 4 years, with the bottom of the 2026 cycle only 5% below the 12-month average. This is compared to 8% in 2025, 10% in 2024 and 25% in 2023. We need to view these numbers with caution however as 2026 is only just past halfway and there’s plenty of potential speedbumps ahead which, as we know from recent events, can come out of nowhere. If we look back at the export log price history over the past 7 years it is obvious that export pricing has become increasingly more stable over time, with the previous 9 months being the most stable in memory. This doesn’t mean that stability has led to increased forest owner returns, it just means that returns are more predictable, not more palatable. June saw a reduction in spot prices of around $8/JAS (based on SNI prices), which was a result of the Trump effect. Increased war-related freight costs and foreign exchange stung the cost side. while poorer buyer sentiment saw CFR sales prices take a dip. July At Wharf gate (AWG) prices have bounced back somewhat from the June reduction into the early $120’s/JAS (A grade shorts) as all of the aforementioned factors have reversed. It is expected that August will be higher again and more reminiscent of the previous 9 months. Freight is expected to reduce later in the month from the mid $US40s to somewhere in the high $US30s, foreign exchange has taken a bath to a 7-month low in the mid $US0.56 range and the CFR price is expected to gain a couple of $US. The $US:NZ will likely be affected by the Reserve Bank’s posturing in July as they contemplate a rate hike, although the expectation of this is lower now due the economic damage from the Iran debacle. Much of our ability to lever prices higher will be a direct result of total New Zealand supply. Large-scale wind events in the upper South Island and lower North Island continue to put significant volumes of log into the market. Also, although the lower North Island salvage is now mostly complete, the Nelson/Tasman cleanup still has a way to go. This volume is not price sensitive so will continue to hit the wharves regardless of the market. What this does mean in the medium to longer term is that we now have significant holes in the longer-term supply equation. This has played out in the CNI following Cyclone Gabrielle, with a significant reduction in harvest levels around Taupo as those forests now recover from a massive windthrow salvage programme. The ability for this harvest capacity to move elsewhere is limited as there simply aren’t the large-scale opportunities anywhere else in the country (with the exception of Gisborne but that’s another story). More >> Source & image credit: Stand  Tackling tree invasions together - wilding conifers [NZ]Wilding conifers are one of New Zealand’s most pressing environmental challenges — and managing them for the long term will take more than cutting down trees. At the Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao, the Vive la Resistance (VLR) research programme is focused on achieving lasting success by reducing reinvasion and building more resilient landscapes.Some of New Zealand’s wilding conifer challenges stem from well-intentioned decisions of the past. Species like lodgepole pine, originally introduced for erosion control and wood production in high country environments, have since spread aggressively. Without effective management, the consequences are significant. Over the next 25 to 30 years, wilding conifers could spread across large parts of the country, affecting up to a quarter of New Zealand’s land. The impacts are wide-ranging:
A collective challenge Wilding conifers don’t respect boundaries — and neither can the response. “The wilding conifer problem is something we either win together or lose together.” If control efforts succeed in one area but fail in another, reinvasion pressure will continue to spread. This makes collaboration essential. Researchers at the Bioeconomy Science Institute work closely with the National Wilding Conifer Control Programme and the Wilding Pine Network, sharing knowledge, aligning approaches, and contributing to continuous improvement. This partnership approach ensures that:
Over the past decade, research has already delivered tangible improvements that are close to becoming implemented. For example, new spray technologies and formulations are predicted to reduce the cost of managing dense infestations by around 30%. But stopping the spread is only the first step. Today, the focus is shifting to a more complex challenge: How do we prevent reinvasion? This means looking beyond tree removal to better land management practices, restoring and strengthening ecosystems, and increasing resilience to future invasions. Science driving solutions Addressing wilding conifers as an ecological problem requires collaboration across disciplines and borders. The Viva la Resistance programme brings together expertise from: Lincoln University, University of Canterbury, Australian National University and National Center for Atmospheric Research (USA). Together, researchers are working to answer key questions about invasion dynamics, ecosystem recovery, and long-term resilience. A shared goal Ultimately, managing wilding conifers is not a challenge any single organisation, community, or sector can solve alone. It requires: Research and innovation; Strong partnerships; Coordinated action; Long-term investment. The goal of Viva la Resistance is clear: optimise wilding conifer management for the long term by minimising reinvasion and maximising resilience. It’s a complex problem but with a collective approach, it’s one New Zealand can tackle together. Source: Bioeconomy Science Institue FWPA seeks Non-Executive Directors to help shape future [AU]
FWPA seeks three Non-Executive Directors to help shape the future of Australia’s forest and wood products sector. Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) is inviting applications for three Non-Executive Director positions, offering experienced leaders the opportunity to help guide one of Australia’s key industry research and development corporations. The appointments form part of FWPA’s 2026 Board renewal process, with successful candidates to join the Board following the Annual General Meeting in November. They’re seeking individuals with strong governance capability and a passion for driving impact across the forest and wood products value chain. FWPA plays a unique role in bringing industry and government together to invest in research, development, and market growth that strengthens the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector. This is an opportunity to contribute at a national level to help shape strategic decisions that support innovation, productivity, and sustainable growth across Australia’s forest and wood products industry. As the industry’s research and development corporation, FWPA invests levy and matched government funding into programs that deliver practical outcomes for growers, processors, manufacturers and end-users. With annual revenue of approximately $21.5 million, FWPA supports initiatives spanning forestry, manufacturing, the built environment, market development, and the commercialisation of new technologies and products. Applications close: midnight Sunday, 12 July 2026. Full details >> Source: Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) Industrial scale-up of bio-based graphite materials [NZ]
Graphite is the largest material component in an electric
vehicle battery by volume, accounting for up to half of a battery cell.
Every EV contains around 50 to 100 kg of graphite - more than
the combined amount of lithium, nickel and cobalt. Despite its
importance, more than 75% of the world's battery-grade graphite is still
produced from oil-based feedstocks.That could soon begin to change. In a significant step for more sustainable battery production, the world's largest battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), has announced a strategic investment in, and partnership with, New Zealand-founded CarbonScape to help commercialise its biographite technology. Turning Forestry Residues into Battery Materials CarbonScape has developed a proprietary process that converts forestry residues into high-purity, battery-grade graphite. By using renewable wood by-products instead of fossil-based raw materials, the technology aims to lower the carbon footprint of battery production while helping diversify global graphite supply. The approach also offers the potential to create regional supply chains, reducing dependence on traditional graphite sources and making greater use of locally available forestry resources. Scaling Up Production The partnership with CATL is designed to accelerate the move from pilot production to commercial scale. Working together, the companies will validate and refine the process through demonstration-scale production at CATL's facilities, with commercial biographite production targeted before the end of the decade. CarbonScape's existing partnership with Stora Enso also remains an important part of its commercial strategy, supporting the development of an integrated supply chain that links sustainably managed forests with battery manufacturing. With global demand for battery-grade graphite expected to increase around six-fold between 2025 and 2040, developing alternative, lower-carbon sources of graphite is becoming an increasingly important part of building a more resilient battery supply chain. More >> Source & image credit: CarbonScape  The 2026 innovative wood product competition [NZ]
The future of New Zealand's forestry and wood processing
industries depends on the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers
and industry leaders. That future was on display at the 2026
Innovative Wood Product Competition, where students from the University
of Canterbury's School of Forestry were challenged to think differently
about the possibilities of wood.Supported by the WIDE Trust, the competition gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a practical setting, combining science, engineering, design and manufacturing to create innovative wood-based products. The event encourages students to push the boundaries of traditional timber applications while developing skills that will benefit both their careers and the wider industry. A key strength of the Innovative Wood Product Competition is the strong involvement of industry leaders who bring real-world expertise and insights to the judging process. This year's judging panel included Andrew Foster (Sales Engineer, Henkel New Zealand Ltd), Emma O'Neill (Technical Director, PTL | Structural & Fire), John McVicar (Managing Director, McVicar), Lisa Oliver (Sustainability Lead / Project Lead at Holmes NZ LP and President of the NZ Timber Design Society), Mark Ross (Chief Executive, Wood Processors & Manufacturers Association), Paul Adams (Research and Development Director and CEO, Forest Growers Research Ltd.), and Sue Ross (Supply Chain Manager, OneFortyOne). The competition also welcomed industry representatives David Goulden (Frame & Truss Manufacturers Association), Ryan Bosselmann (Beca), Garrick du Toit (Beca), Jeremiah Shaw (Beca), and Andy Buchanan (PTL | Structural & Fire), providing students with valuable opportunities to engage directly with professionals from across New Zealand's forestry, timber and construction sectors. Turning Knowledge into Innovation Throughout the competition, students work in teams to design, develop and manufacture timber-based solutions using the knowledge they have gained through their studies. The challenge requires participants to move beyond theory and engage with real-world considerations such as material performance, product design, sustainability and commercial viability. By bringing these elements together, the competition provides an authentic learning experience that mirrors the challenges and opportunities found throughout New Zealand's wood processing sector. Developing Industry-Ready Graduates One of the greatest strengths of the Innovative Wood Product Competition is its ability to connect education with industry needs. Participants gain valuable experience working with timber as a high-value material while developing practical skills in teamwork, communication, project management and problem-solving. As New Zealand continues to seek greater value from its forest resources, the industry requires graduates who understand not only forestry and wood science, but also innovation, sustainability and product development. The competition helps students build confidence in their ability to contribute to the future of the sector. More >> Source & image credit: WIDE Trust  Understanding fire behaviour in open-plan timber ceilings [AU]
Through its project Performance of Building Components –
Fire Safety Design of Open Plan Timber Compartments, the ARC Advance
Timber Hub is addressing a critical knowledge gap in the fire safety
design of modern mass‑timber buildings: how exposed timber
ceilings behave in large, open‑plan compartments such as offices and
commercial buildings. These spaces are increasingly common, yet current
fire design guidance is largely based on testing of timber in floor‑like
(face‑up) orientations, not ceilings.The project, led by Associate Professor David Lange and incorporating the research work of PhD candidate Josh Madden, from The University of Queensland School of Civil Engineering, brings together researchers and industry partners to generate new, design‑relevant evidence to support safe, performance‑based fire engineering solutions for timber buildings. Associate Professor Lange presented to ARC Advance Timber Hub Stakeholders a project update via a webinar series on the 26th May 2026. Project Design The project focuses on a key gap in fire design guidance, which is in understanding how timber ceilings ignite and how flames spread once ignition occurs in large spaces, without significant internal separation, such as offices and commercial buildings. The project is designed to provide the experimental evidence needed to reduce the uncertainty of how timber behaves through a unique multi‑scale experimental program with three key test areas: Bench‑scale testing Small‑scale laboratory tests are being used to study:
The research then scales up to a one‑eighth scale compartment, allowing rapid testing of many variables under controlled conditions. These tests examine:
Full‑scale fire testing Full‑scale compartment tests are being prepared at the Queensland Fire Department (QFD) live fire and heavy rescue training facility at the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy (QCESA), located on Whyte Island at the Port of Brisbane. These tests focus on fire dynamics rather than structural performance, using full‑size CLT ceiling panels to confirm that the mechanisms observed at smaller scales remain valid in realistic building conditions. A total of 32 CLT slabs donated by Next Timber are being heavily instrumented with thermocouples and heat‑flux sensors. The full‑scale program is designed to validate the experimental framework and provide confidence for real‑world application. Key findings to date Results emerging from the project demonstrate that:
Source & image credit: Advance Timber Hub Partnering for good - predator control [NZ]
A simple idea is making a practical difference at Five Mile
Wetland, where Kaingaroa Tipu and Abodo have teamed up to support
predator control, enhance biodiversity and give timber offcuts a useful
second life.The collaboration centres on a new network of pest traps that will support predator control, building on years of community-led restoration work including planting, weed management and habitat care in one of Rotorua’s best-known public wetland sites. Kaingaroa Tipu GM Sustainability Colin Maunder said the partnership reflects the organisation’s wider commitment to caring for the forest beyond the trees it grows. “Protecting places like Five Mile takes ongoing effort, and predator control is a big part of that, especially in wetlands where threatened bird species live,” he says. “This is about long-term stewardship – supporting healthier ecosystems as well as productive forests.” What makes this project especially fitting is the role timber plays in it. Timber manufacturer Abodo has repurposed offcuts from its manufacturing process into wooden pest trap boxes for use at the wetland and Whakarewarewa Forest, creating a simple example of circular forestry in action. Sustainably grown timber harvested from the wider Kaingaroa Forest Estate is returning to help protect the landscape it came from. Abodo Sustainability Lead Jade Harris says this practical action makes partnerships like this meaningful. “It’s a simple idea, but it shows how the right partnership can take a useful construction material into something that protects biodiversity as well,” she says. “Instead of becoming waste, these offcuts are going back into the forest to do a job.” The traps, hand-crafted by the Men’s Shed, have been installed in the forest with Kaingaroa Tipu staff among those making weekly checks to monitor and report on the various pests captured. In the first four weeks, 220 pests were caught, including rats, hedgehogs and mice. Because Five Mile is a popular public site, the use of safe, toxin-free trapping methods is an important part of the approach. Red Stag near Waipa is one of many supporters of biodiversity protection in and around Whakarewarewa Forest and Five Mile Wetland. Red Stag's Anthony Gare also serves on the Whakarewarewa Pest Free Trust and says the collaboration is an example of what can be achieved when organisations work together. “No single organisation can do this alone – biodiversity protection works best when efforts are connected. We know that small actions that are sustained can have a big impact.” Source & image credit: Kaingaroa Tipu / Abodo  Linfox rolls out 26 heavy-duty electric trucks [AU]
Australia’s biggest private logistics company is rolling
out a fleet of 26 heavy-duty Volvo electric trucks across Melbourne,
Brisbane and Adelaide on some of the country’s busiest urban
freight routes.Linfox said it is putting the first of its battery-powered FM prime movers into service on heavy-hauling duties, including food and beverage distribution and integrated rail transport, it was announced this week. The trucks will cover about 500km a day, replacing diesel vehicles on existing freight routes. Initial deployments will operate from Linfox’s Laverton North hub before expanding to Willawong in Queensland and the Adelaide rail freight terminal. The fleet will be supported by 25 chargers across the three sites. Linfox said it will deploy 10 BEVs at Laverton North, six at Adelaide Railhead, and 10 at Willawong. It’s expected that each vehicle will operate between two to three shifts per day, with charging scheduled overnight and between shifts. The charging infrastructure will be tailored to each site’s specific conditions and electric supply capacity. Click here for full article Source: Big Rigs Image credit: Volvo Group Australia  Jobs
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