Farm logs harvested and sent to Napier for export

The centre of Satherley Harvesting operations at the eastern end of the 13ha block of pinus radiata.

Residents on Tiratu and Cowper Roads have experienced a constant flow of logging trucks since mid June as a 13ha plantation of pinus radiata trees is harvested and transported to Napier for export.

The trees are on Peter and Zita Smith's property.

They planted them 24 years ago initially to stabilise slipping hillsides.

The log loader loads the three truck trailers

The trees were pruned and thinned from 1000 stems per hectare to 500 and left to grow.
With the export market offering good return on 24-year-old pine trees, Peter and Vita contracted Satherley Harvesting of Hawke's Bay to carry out the harvesting job.

After turning a farm track into one suitable for logging trucks a contract cutter began felling the trees.

He works three days per week with the rest of the team processing the logs, sending six truckloads a day to Napier.

The Madill processor cuts them to length.

Dragged out by a wheeled skidder, the logs are processed by the $1 million Madill processor fitted with a computer system to get the best cut from each log.

The processor is the latest technology and is programmed with the customer's requirements, de-limbing and cutting to length.

Major logging customers demand such technology, says Bevan Satherley, owner of the company.

Transfer by log loader to the logging truck completes the operation.

Stacking logs

The system is an efficient use of machinery and labour, with a team of four able to harvest and process 120 to 180 loads of logs per month.

Bevan says the 6500 trees will have been harvested by the end of August.

He said the operation has been an interesting one, and not as difficult as some his company has tackled.

Peter and Zita Smith plan to replant trees on the land.