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The role of supplying native timber so the prized wood adorns the work of craftspeople, architects, joiners and builders is no mean feat.
“It is quite a hard industry to be involved in”, says EcoRakau operations and marketing manager Jeremy Scott. For a start, it is tricky to get a sustainable management plan in place for the native forests.
And in recent years harvesting the forests has become a much more difficult and labour intensive procedure.
The Tauranga-based company supplies such native timbers as Rimu, Matai, Totara, Kahikatea, Tawa, Red Beech and Silver Beech.
EcoRakau sources timbers from its parent company, Forest Holdings, which owns and manages more than 15,000 hectares of native forests.
To be involved in the native timber business takes dedication, both for the product and for the sustainability cause. Mr Scott says both companies are committed to sustainable indigenous forest management and to enhancing the bio-diversity of its forests.
The company is involved in all facets of the native timber business, from forest management, pest control, and harvesting to timber processing at its own sawmill and drying plant.
EcoRakau has been involved in sustainable indigenous forest management for more than 20 years. For all its forests, sustainable indigenous forest management plans are in place, approved and registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. All its timber is harvested selectively in an environmentally sensitive manner.
Mr Scott says since the government banned clear felling and the use of bulldozers for ground based logging to ensure sustainability of native forests, logs have been lifted out by helicopters. This procedure has become more labour intensive in recent years because operators of large lifting helicopters, which are more suited to do the work than smaller helicopters, are no longer based in New Zealand.
“We can only access smaller helicopters at the moment which limits the size of the log that can be lifted out. Preparation of the logs for lifting once felled is therefore more thorough now. The terrain is often steep and rugged so harvesting has become much harder and it takes much longer to do.”
The company maintains product availability through vertical integration, from its forest ownership and management through to timber processing. “Our sustainable management plans are the largest in New Zealand covering Podocarp and mixed Podocarp forests. Having these plans in place provides our company with a guaranteed ongoing source of timber.”
Mr Scott says native timber has a small niche market and is sold in small volumes compared to more prevalent pine. Demand for native timber has been “a bit low” over the past few years partly because of the economy and also because of an influx of cheap imported products into the New Zealand market.
However, demand is starting to pick up again due to more awareness about the availability of native timber and “a push for people to use local products.”
EcoRakau’s main customers are furniture manufacturers, architects, builders, project managers and timber wholesalers. “Our biggest market is into flooring, furniture and joinery manufacturers.
“Our clients seek out native timbers because they value a unique sustainable locally sourced and produced product. They appreciate the allure of native timber over imported products. Native timbers are seen as being part of New Zealand’s heritage.”
Rimu is the most popular seller followed by Tawa, Red Beech, Matai, and Totara. “With its beautiful grains and colours, Rimu’s popularity stems from its versatility and appearance,” Mr Scott says.
Tags: logging, Native timber, New Zealand
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