Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecasts
MAF’s Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecasts provide information about plantation forests and the wood processing industry in each wood supply region. They include forecasts of wood availability from 2006 to 2040, and comment on the opportunities and constraints facing the forest industry.
These reports will help planners, the forest industry and the wider public assess wood processing opportunities and identify infrastructure issues.
Northland Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2008-2040
- The forecasts indicate that the availability of radiata pine from the Northland forest estate will increase over the next 10 to 12 years, despite a drop-off in the large-scale forest owners’ harvest volumes after 2015. While the overall forecasts indicate an increasing supply during this period, it is important to recognise that short-term fluctuations are possible, due to changes in market conditions.
Southern North Island Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2008-2040
- These forecasts indicate the availability of radiata pine from the total Southern North Island forest estate will increase slightly over the next few years, despite a drop in the large-scale forest owners’ harvest intentions between 2008 and 2013. After 2016, increases in wood availability across the region are expected to result in increased log supply with the potential for significant volume increases some time from 2024.
Auckland Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2008-2040
- These forecasts indicate that the availability of radiata pine from the Auckland region forest estate is expected to decline over the next three years and then remain constant, around 800 000 cubic metres per annum, until 2019. After 2019 wood availability is expected to return to current levels of around 1 million cubic metres per annum from 2022.
West Coast Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecast - June 2008
- This report provides a new wood availability forecast to 2015 for the West Coast region. It has been prepared in co-operation with the two major forest owners in the region and with advice from prominent forestry consultants. The report also provides information on the forest and wood processing industries in the region. Comments on the wood availability forecasts and on the opportunities and constraints facing the region's forest industry are included. The information in this report is intended to assist the forest industry, planners, and infrastructure and service providers in assessing wood processing opportunities, resource management planning, and infrastructure issues. It will also assist the public understand the nature of the forest industry on the West Coast.
Central North Island Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2008-2040
- To assist with regional planning, MAF has compiled wood availability forecasts for the Central North Island region, covering the period 2008 to 2040. These forecasts have been made in association with the region's major forest owners. The forecasts show the range of harvest volumes potentially available from the planted forest estate of both large and small-scale growers. The forecasts here indicate that the availability of radiata pine from the Central North Island forest estate will steadily increase over the next 12 years. After 2016 increases in wood availability will come from the region's small-scale forest growers and are expected to result in increased log supply with the potential for significant volume increases to around 12.7 million cubic metres per year after 2020.
Canterbury Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2007-2040
- The Canterbury wood supply region has a well-established forest growing and wood processing industry, with some of the earliest New Zealand plantation forests established there. The plantation forest industry is now moving though a period of land use change on the Canterbury Plains with about 5000 hectares having been converted to pastoral agriculture or for sub-division in the last three years. The forecasts indicate that over the next 10 years the available harvest volumes of radiata pine from all growers may remain at recent levels of about 800 000 cubic metres per year.
East Coast Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2007-2040
- The East Coast wood supply region has an extensive forest growing industry with considerable potential for future utilisation and development. These forecasts indicate that the availability of radiata pine from the East Coast will gradually increase from 2007 through to 2013. From this point forward the East Coast regional harvest has the potential to increase to around 3.4 million cubic metres per year after 2020 through to 2034, after which the total harvest is projected to decline if no new land planting occurs.
Hawkes Bay Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2007-2040
- The Hawkes Bay region has a well-established forest growing industry. To assist with future regional forest industry planning, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has compiled wood availability forecasts covering the period 2007 to 2040. The forecasts indicate that the availability of radiata pine from the Hawkes Bay will remain relatively static over the next decade (2007–2015). An increase in wood availability is possible after 2016, when the regional harvest has the potential to increase from the current level of about 1.7 million cubic metres to around 3 million cubic metres after 2021. Post 2034, the total harvest is projected to decline.
Nelson/Marlborough Forest Industry and Wood Availability Forecasts, 2006
- The Nelson/Marlborough region has a mature forest industry with a well-managed forest estate. The region also has a good mix of wood processing plants. The region has many positive features, and wood availability forecasts show an increasing harvest over the next harvest cycle. This report presents a number of future wood availability scenarios, which show that the increases in wood availability will mainly depend on the harvesting decisions of the large number of small-scale forest growers that are concentrated in Marlborough.
- The future will present some ongoing challenges for the industry, but the past development of the forest industry in Nelson and Marlborough provides a robust platform for the sector's future. The challenges will be greatest in Marlborough, where the industry has less wood processing infrastructure and an increasing level of wood flow from the large numbers of small-scale forest holdings.
Otago and Southland Wood Availability Forecasts for the period 2007-2040
- The Otago and Southland region has a well-established forest growing and wood processing industry, with several forest owners now managing a third rotation crop. These forecasts show the range of harvest volumes potentially available from the planted forest estate of both large and small-scale growers.
- National exotic forest description - Related Publications.
Contact for Enquiries
Policy Adviser
Pastoral House
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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