The family of a 23-year-old forestry worker killed by a falling tree yesterday say he died doing what he loved and knew it was a risky job.

Police were called to a private forestry road in the Waione Block, off State Highway 30, near Moose Lodge, about 2.50pm yesterday.

The New Zealand economy grew at the fastest quarterly pace in three years in the tail-end of last year.

Forest growers have until March 29 to vote on a planned levy intended to raise around $7 million a year for industry research.

About eight hectares of forest has been burned by a blaze in rural Masterton, with crews still on site last night to keep the fire under control.

A coroner has recommended forestry workers use machines to pile up felled logs instead of doing it manually after a Hawkes Bay forestry worker was killed.

A man suffered serious back injuries when he was hit by a tree being felled in Motueka Valley this morning.

A Marlborough logging firm has been fined $86,400 and ordered to pay $65,000 in reparation following the death of a worker hit by a dead branch while working in Awatere Valley.

A forestry worker has been airlifted from a remote spot in Marlborough after being hit by a log.

The recent debate over how much of our farmland is overseas owned shows very large differences in estimates, writes Bill Rosenberg.

A spokesperson for the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter said the 52-year-old forestry worker was injured in a tree-felling accident near Putere.

Could New Zealand's forests be our oilfields? Business and researchers say it's a serious prospect, but biofuels face major obstacles, finds Chris Barton.