We can grow a wider range of timber species than just about any country in the world, says Bulls farm forester Denis Hocking. So why does New Zealand have such a narrowly based industry, with 90 per cent of forestry plantations in radiata pine?
Hocking doesn't disregard radiata - well grown, pruned radiata has been a good earner on his family farm - but the NZ Farm Forestry Association stalwart is well known for his plantations of diverse and sometimes experimental plantings of exotic timber trees.
An appreciative crowd of over 80 people arrived at the Hocking farm last Saturday to watch more than 20 exotic timber species milled. Three portable sawmills were in operation and about a dozen sawmillers on hand to offer their opinions. The event was hosted by the NZ Farm Forestry Association's very active Middle District branch and attracted people from around the North Island.
Saw logs were donated by Farm Forestry Association members, many felled especially for the event. Many came from Denis Hocking's diverse plantations but others travelled longer distances, such as a redwood grown by the father of Rangitīkei District Councillor Angus Gordon, which travelled down from Taihape.
A number of eucalypts were put to the mill, with E. muelleriana being a stand out performer. Eucalypts have a reputation for being hard to mill because growth stresses and internal tension can cause the log to move. However, the 35-year old muelleriana log milled extremely well and produced high quality timber ideal for flooring or decking. Ross Greenbank called it the best behaved eucalypt he'd encountered in his 40 years of sawmilling.