Latest news with #Heeg
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Tasman floods: Communities hit by growing trees, not slash
'I appreciate in a really hard event, like what we have just been through, that it seems like there should be a way for us to prevent the wood coming down into the communities, and that's something that we are really interested in working with the communities on.' However, Heeg said there were several areas that weren't active harvesting operations where growing trees had come down. 'We are really going to have to look at, with these multiple storm impacts with climate change, how we are going to manage these forests. 'At this stage, what we know about the damage to forestry is that a lot of it has been driven either by landslides that were in standing forestry, we've possibly got some landslides in areas that have been recently replanted, we've also seen a considerable amount of windthrow – that's where the trees snap off at the base – due to the high winds at the end of last week.' Heeg said windthrow looked to have impacted 'about 4000 hectares'. 'It looks like it is going to be a pretty big recovery and clean-up operation,' she said. Bethany Park Campground in Kaiteriteri had extensive flood damage. Photo / RNZ 'Some of these specific soil types, like the Separation Point Granite, get saturated and can just give way, including with all the trees that are on top of them. 'We've got a lot of work to do from a climate change adaptation perspective.' When asked whether forestry should be using that type of soil, Heeg said: 'Some kind of tree cover was going to need to be planted there.' She said forestry was open to having a conversation around how it would ensure tree cover was managed in a stable way. Residents across the Tasman region have said forestry slash has exacerbated flood damage. 'Don't know what they are going to do' The clean-up continues in the Motueka Valley. Photo / RNZ Nelson Tasman Civil Defence will again be sending a helicopter out on Tuesday to assess and make contact with isolated households. In the region, 18 homes remain without power and six people remain in emergency accommodation. Meanwhile, an information drop-in centre has been set up in Motueka to provide support to flood-affected locals. Deputy chair of the Motueka Community Board and co-ordinator for local business association Love Motueka, Claire Hutt, told Morning Report there were still a lot of people unable to return home. Hutt said about 60 people could not return home – most were staying with friends and family, but some were in the local hotel. 'Hotel Motueka's still got four rooms full of people who had to be evacuated, and yes, some of the streets in the Motueka township have had raw sewage down the street ... it is not very pleasant.' She said sewage had become a real problem for the township. 'I don't know what they are going to do ... [the sewage] has actually been an issue in the past, it's not their first rodeo in that department. 'We need to start looking at making sure it doesn't happen again as part of the recovery process. 'But top priority is getting as much information out to the community so it's all in one place ... and also doing welfare checks on people. 'A lot of stressed, tired people out there, and just turning up with a shovel and a smile can make the world of difference.' - RNZ
NZ Herald
16-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Fieldays 2025: Forestry Hub returns to showcase the value of trees and wood
Nature enthusiasts can exercise their tree identification skills in the What Tree? challenge, while kids can get hands-on by taking home a native seedling to grow themselves. A wide range of people from across the sector will be on hand to answer questions and share insights into forestry and wood processing in New Zealand, including forest growers, wood processors, farm foresters, scientists and not-for-profit groups. The Growing Native Forests Champions Awards will also make an inaugural appearance during this year's event. The awards will celebrate individuals and groups planting native forests, sharing knowledge, and inspiring others in their regenerative forest efforts. Forest Growers Levy Trust chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg said the annual event celebrated the sector. 'As New Zealand's fourth largest primary export earner, forestry and wood processing are important cornerstones of rural communities,' Heeg said. 'This collaborative event shares the story of our forest growers and wood processors, and the generations before them, who work hard every day to support the vitality of the regions.' Heeg said forestry's role in safeguarding New Zealand's future was set to become even more important, particularly with climate change. 'The hub provides a platform for talking about how forest innovations, like wood-based biofuels and added-value wood products, will support a greener way of living.' Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service's director of forestry engagement and advice, Anna Gordon, said the Fieldays Forestry Hub was a key opportunity to engage rural landowners and the wider public in conversations about the benefits of integrating trees into land use. 'Our forests generate important economic income for the regions, support biodiversity and help in mitigating the effects of climate change,' she said. 'At Fieldays, we're excited to show how planting trees – whether native or commercial – can strengthen farms, landscapes and local economies. 'Fieldays is a great place for us to share what's happening and have real conversations about where the sector is heading.' Visit this year's Fieldays Forestry Hub at Site G80, from June 11–14 at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.
