NZ’s First FSC Forest Walk

The FSC Forest Walk brought together retailers, manufacturers and supply chain leaders from across the local FSC network to see responsible forestry in practice. 

Attendees represented a cross-section of New Zealand’s FSC community, from chain of custody certificate holders such as Opal ANZ, Visy, Abodo Wood and OfficeMax to Promotional Licence Holders including Mitre 10 NZ, The Warehouse, Bunnings NZ, NXP Limited and Woolworths Group (Countdown), with the New Zealand Green Building Council also in attendance. Bringing these organisations together for the first FSC Forest Walk in New Zealand created a unique forum for connection across the supply chain and underscored the growing momentum behind FSC in the region.

FSC certification safeguards biodiversity, upholds Indigenous Peoples rights and cultural values, supports workers and local communities and delivers certified materials to local and international markets.

Matariki Forests Environmental Manager, Andy Fleming, says as co-managers of the forestry operations, the day was a great opportunity to share the knowledge and expertise in responsible forest management. 

“Woodhill Forest is unique in that it is so much more than a forestry operation as we share the space with other commercial ventures and the public. It is a wonderful community resource and we work with Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara to balance responsible forest management with safety while maintaining social licence and engaging with stakeholders.” 

Recreational activities include horse riding, mountain biking, tree climbing and paintball which all take place among the plantation trees.  The forest scenery has provided striking settings for major films and television series including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The day began with a pōwhiri led by Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara. Guests were welcomed with waiata (song) and the sharing of kai (food), an expression of manaakitanga, the Māori value of hospitality and care.

Malcolm Paterson, Chief Executive of Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, spoke about the land and his people’s enduring relationship with it, emphasising its deep and longstanding place within the cultural landscape of Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara.

He explained that under Crown ownership, Woodhill Forest was established to stabilise the vast drifting sand dunes which were encroaching on agricultural land.  Planting began in the 1930s and continued through to the 1980s. Following the 2013 Treaty of Waitangi settlement, the land was returned to Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara, who retain ownership today.

The FSC Forest Walk concluded at an active harvesting site, where attendees observed a harvester in operation and learned how the plantation life cycle is managed. The group also heard from the harvesting contractors, a multigenerational family-run business with many years of experience and a deep understanding of forestry.

Matariki Forests (FSC-Trademark Licence Code C021569)

To see highlights from the day, check out the short video created by FSC - watch it here.