ForestryMahinga Ngahere

Summer 2023-24 logging at Tūtira

Logging in the Tūtira Pine Forest will resume from the end of February with exact dates yet to be confirmed.

The campground will stay open over the duration of logging as will tracks that are safely away from the logging activity (Table Mountain Track, the Waikōpiro Loop Track, and the Kauri Nature Walk). All other tracks through and around the pine forest will be closed to manage health and safety risks.

We will update this page with more information when it is available. Enquiries can be directed to 06 8359200.

Regional Council-owned forests

The Regional Council owns forests at Māhia, Tūtira Regional Park and nearby Waihapua, Waipawa and Waipukurau. This mix of forests includes over 50 forest tree species, including pinus radiata, cedars, cypresses, redwoods, eucalypts, mixed natives and mānuka for honey. The Regional Council also manages the Tangoio Soil Conservation Reserve, which is a Crown-owned forest area and is part of the rohe of Maungaharuru Tangitū hapū. In 2020, the HBRC tree crop was valued at $5,710,600 and the Tangoio tree crop at $5,245,000.

Forestry internship

Young people and forests go together! Each summer, HBRC employs students and other young people to work in the Tangoio Soil Conservation Reserve and HBRC forests carrying out weed control, pruning and other general forestry maintenance.

Find further information and express your interest here

Environmental management

The National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF), formerly the National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF), are for managing the environmental effects of plantation and exotic continuous-cover forestry (sometimes called carbon forestry). These came into effect on 3 November 2023. The NES-CF has standardised conditions and consent requirements across all regions of New Zealand, to increase certainty and efficiency in plantation forestry, while maintaining or improving environmental outcomes. 

To interpret your obligations under the NES-CF, you will need to access the standards, as well as the following tools from the Ministry for Primary Industry (MPI) website:

• Erosion Susceptibility Classification and Fish Spawning Indicator mapping tool
• Wilding Tree Risk Calculator

Check out this handy guide we've created to help you understand your responsibility under NES-CF: NES-CF Guidance for Landowners

If you have any questions about how the new NES-CF regulations apply to your forestry activities in Hawke's Bay, please get in touch with the Consents Advisor: consentsadvisor@hbrc.govt.nz

Forest industry collaboration

Hawkes Bay Regional Council is a member of the Hawkes Bay Forestry Group (HBFG). The HBFG is an association of the larger forest owners and managers in the region and provides a forum where members can work together to improve the industry’s environmental, social and economic performance.

Land for life

The Regional Council is currently assessing what it can do to improve erodible land around Hawke’s Bay.  We are looking to partner with private landowners, investors and forestry companies to offer a tree planting solution on marginal farmland that maintains and enhances the pastoral farming system.

Find information about the Land for Life project here

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is working with Te Uru Rakau through the One Billion Trees Fund, which represents a unique opportunity for regions to look at forestry opportunities. You can find more information on the One Billion Trees fund, including examples of regional investment.

Summary report: Planting eroding hill country in the Hawke’s Bay Region

Who to contact

• For NES-CF related enquiries, and to access NES-CF forms please contact the Consents Advisor: consentsadvisor@hbrc.govt.nz.
  

• For enquiries related to the Land for Life Project please email: landforlife@hbrc.govt.nz

• For all other forest related enquiries (other than NES-CF), please contact Stevie Smidt – Stevie.Smidt@hbrc.govt.nz or phone 0277067455.