Australasia's home for timber news and information

Metsa benefits from Brexit

Finnish forestry companies such as the Metsä Group are benefiting from the exchange rate turbulence following Brexit, Britain’s referendum decision to leave the EU. Source: UUTISET The news comes as a surprise as many Finnish companies were forecast to suffer financially followi
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Australia could fly on Eucalyptus

Australia’s economy may have ridden on the sheep’s back but the colonies’ first export was actually Eucalyptus oil. From a small batch of oil distilled from Sydney peppermint gum sent to England by First Fleet Surgeon-General John White, an industry grew around the use of the oil for
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Tim the timberman

The emergence of television programs such as Grand Designs and The Block have done no end of good for Tim O’Callaghan’s business by encouraging more people to use beautiful old timbers. Source: Adelaide Now Mr O’Callaghan’s passion for timber started in the early 1990s when he rebuilt
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NZ log prices drop

The average wharf gate price for New Zealand A-grade logs dropped to NZ$116 in June, from NZ$120 a tonne in May, according to AgriHQ’s monthly survey of exporters, forest owners and saw millers. Source: Forestry Expo That’s the lowest level since January’s NZ$115 a t
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Kauri dieback fight in far north NZ

A Far North New Zealand community that pitched in to save an ancient forest from possums and rats now has a new enemy to contend with – kauri dieback. Source: Radio New Zealand Warawara Forest in north Hokianga has been bouncing back after a 1080 poison drop last spring and inte
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What to offer without due diligence

Metcash and Anchorage Capital Partners share a dilemma – how much to offer for Woolworths’ Home Timber and Hardware when they can’t predict customer numbers, sales or earnings. Source: Australian Financial Review Analysts believe the hardware wholesaler, previously known a
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Road funding not for pushbikes

The forestry industry has been reassured that the NZ$1.1 million a year it pays to repair road damage caused by log trucks is not being used to build cycleways in the city. Source: The Gisborne Herald Speaking at a meeting of Gisborne District Council last week, councillor Graeme Thom
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Finding sustainable solutions for NZ forestry at UC

An innovative team at the University of Canterbury’s (UC) School of Forestry is working to find a solution to a key challenge facing New Zealand’s forestry industry. A new breeding programme could determine which durable sustainable eucalyptus varieties are best for producing high qua
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Agforce crowdfunding to stop tree clearing laws

Queensland’s peak rural lobby group AgForce will use crowdfunding to accelerate its campaign against proposed changes to tree clearing laws. Source: ABC Rural The Government introduced the Vegetation Management Bill in March this year, which proposes to “reinstate responsi
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FWPA seeks non executive director

Forest and Wood Products Australia Limited (FWPA) is seeking to appoint a non-executive director to its skills-based Board at the next Annual General Meeting (26th October, 2016). Source: Timberbiz Under FWPA’s Constitution, the Board must consist of at least two directors who are not
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