World Forestry

Planted Forests

Detailed statistics on New Zealand's forest resource can be found on the National Exotic Forest Description page.

New Zealand has had planted production forests, of mainly softwood species, since the early 20^th century. As at present (1999) over 1.7 million hectares of planted production forests have been established. They are:

• dominated by one particular conifer, radiata pine, which accounts for 90 percent of the total planted resource
• young, with 61 percent being 15 years old or younger
• fast growing - the average time to harvest is 28 years
• high quality - 62 percent of the resource has been pruned
• managed in recognition of the interdependence of ecological, economic and social sustainability principles under an accord between industry and environmental groups

Planted Forests - Establishment/Tending and Harvesting

Around 33 percent of the planted estate (but a larger proportion of mature forest area) is situated in the Central North Island. Other major forest growing areas include the regions:

• Northland
• East Coast
• Hawkes Bay
• Nelson and Marlborough
• Otago and Southland

Note: for areas planted prior to 1991, go to the National Exotic Forest Description.

The New Zealand Government was historically the dominant commercial forest owner in New Zealand. It controlled in 1984 just over half of the planted resource. However, as part of a major restructuring of New Zealand's economy most of the state-owned planted forests were sold to private companies. The majority of cutting rights were purchased by international corporations. Now, in 2000, around 37% of New Zealand's planted production forests are owned or managed by two major forestry companies (Carter Holt Harvey Ltd and Fletcher Challenge Ltd). Seven medium sized forestry companies own a further 20% of forests. Six percent of the forest area remains in central Government ownership, managed primarily by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and two State-Owned Enterprises. Local authorities own a further 3% of the area while the balance (34%) is owned by a large number of private owners including Maori Trusts. Small private investors and land owners continue to establish an expanding area of planted production forests.