Two substantial forests on Te Manawa o Tuhoe land in the Bay of Plenty New Zealand are being marketed by Colliers International’s specialist forestry team. Source: New Zealand Herald
The forests are quite close to one another, about 30km southwest of Whakatane, with a net stocked area totalling about 1442ha of mid-rotation radiata pine crop.
Colliers’ forestry broker Warwick Searle says the Bay of Plenty region has proven high growth rates.
“Te Manawa o Tuhoe’s forests have been corporately owned and managed since establishment, but with most of the tending work completed, the owners have decided to realise their investment,” he said.
“Astute buyers now have a rare opportunity to acquire the cutting rights to these well-maintained forestry blocks, which already have significant roading and harvest infrastructure in place. With numerous domestic timber processors and New Zealand’s largest export port in the region, the successful buyer has multiple options for capitalising on their harvest’s potential.”
Te Manawa o Tuhoe is selling the rights to the forests by expressions of interest, with submissions closing at 4pm on August 2.
Mr Searle says both forests have an age class of predominantly seven-to-nine years.
“Generally, the forests are in good health, with Dothistroma needle blight being the most prevalent issue, which is consistent with other forests in the area,” he said.
“The crop is a mixture of clonal and non-clonal stock, which has been managed on framing regime. “Two waste thins have already been carried out, bringing the forests to a stocking rate of between 550 to 800 stems-per-hectare.
“The roadside edge trees have also been pruned, which offers a pruned log resource, improves road access, and reduces road maintenance costs.”
The larger northern forest, which has a total productive area of 755.32ha, is accessed via Omataroa Rd, which comes off MacDonald Road near Whakatane. The road goes through two neighbouring properties, with rights of way ensuring continuity of access.
The smaller southern forest, with a total productive area of 686.21ha, is split either side of Galatea Rd at the start of the Galatea Basin. There are three access points off Galatea Rd, with the northernmost access via a public road that passes through Kaingaroa Timberlands.
The cropped area has already undergone a first rotation harvest, so there is full harvest infrastructure in place, with most of the roading material sourced from an on-site quarry.
A small first rotation stand of about 16.2ha, harvested over the summer of 2017, will be replanted with a new second rotation crop this month.
The forestry rights for sale are for a single rotation over the existing crop, with no replanting obligations. The land is to be handed back to Te Manawa o Tuhoe in an industry standard condition suitable for replanting.
The annual land rent is set to 20% of 6% of the government land value. The landowner will share 26% of the stumpage in exchange for an 80% reduction of rental payments.
Mr Searle said that the Bay of Plenty region is regarded as one of the best areas to grow a commercial pine forest in the country, with multiple large-scale foresters investing in the region.
“This is underpinned by an efficient export port at Tauranga and multiple domestic processing options, including the Norske Skog pulp mill at Kawerau,” he said.
“There is also a substantial network of contractors to support the industry from forest management, harvesting crews, silviculture, roading, and cartage operators.”
As well as Norske Skog, domestic processors include Oji Fibre Solutions, which operates mills in Tokoroa and Kawerau; Whakatane Boardmills; Red Stag Timber in Rotorua; Claymark Sawmill in Katikati; Tenon in Taupo; Pukepine in Te Puke; and Sequal Lumber in Kawerau.
The Port of Tauranga, 90km northwest is New Zealand’s largest port by export numbers.
Mr Searle said that this was an excellent opportunity to acquire the rights to two substantial forests in one of New Zealand’s leading silviculture regions.
