Introduction

This a collaborative project involving members of the Northland Tōtara Working Group (NTWG). It involves coordinating a functional supply chain directly between several landowners and buyers - including a New Zealand-based furniture manufacturer. This five-month project is administered by Tāne’s Tree Trust and supported by MPI. It is intended to complement the objectives of Te Taitokerau Māori Forestry Inc. for a regional industry based on the sustainable management of naturally regenerated tōtara on private land, for multiple values and benefits.

It will involve two harvests and the milling and dispatching of timber to buyers to test performance, grades, drying, price-points, and supply-chain process arrangements and viability. The goal is to establish a long-term relationship between the parties for sustainable supply, yet with scope to grow by adding additional properties as required.

Other aspects of the project will include establishing an on-farm trial and demonstration area for silviculture and low-impact harvesting. In addition, it is hoped that the operational activities of this project can provide training and local capacity building opportunities for a future industry.

Project partners include: Tapuaetahi Incorporated, Oromahoe Farm Trust, Te Taitokerau Māori Forestry Inc., Horowai Timbers Ltd (Li Legler), Innate Furniture Ltd., and Timbers of NZ.

Background

This project builds on the work of the Northland Tōtara Working Group (NTWG): https://www.tanestrees.org.nz/about-us/northland-totara-working-group-ntwg/ntwg-publications-resources/ and on the collaborative Tōtara Industry Pilot (TIP) Project: https://www.totaraindustry.co.nz/

Progress

This project commenced in March and the first small harvest and milling has been completed. The timber was dispatched ‘green-off-saw’ to a prearranged buyer. Performance evaluation of that timber grading and drying is still to come.

A second trial harvest is being planned for April.

Contacts for this project

• Paul Quinlan, Project delivery manager: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
• Tāne’s Tree Trust Executive Officer: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]