Pine research nursery under water

World-leading pine research facility Horizon2 watched hundreds of thousands of cloned tree cuttings wash away during the floods.

Horizon2 is the largest employer in the eastern bay town of Te Teko and its nursery produces 5 million baby pine trees a year.

It now hopes that the remainder of its crop for this year has survived 36 hours under water.

Horizon2 chief executive Andrew Rodwell said about half of the crop had already been dispatched and of what was left about half was under water for about 36 hours.

Horizon2 was created by the merger of Fletcher Challenge and Carter Holt's tree nursery business.

The laboratories which propagate clones were not flooded but the outbuildings and much of the nursery was.

Rodwell said pine cuttings were hardy but the root stock that had been under water would need to be monitored before being dispatched to clients.

The company also faces extra costs in replanting cuttings washed away and spraying flood-affected cuttings to protect them from fungus.

Te Teko is one of four nurseries run by Horizon2.