Partnering for efficiency and sustainability

KiwiRail is a key partner in this process, helping us transport about 1.5 million tonnes of logs each year from Murupara to the Port of Tauranga.

A video from KiwiRail highlights this collaboration, featuring insights from our Harvesting & Logistics Manager, Gareth Bowen, and showcasing the coordinated effort that keeps our operations running smoothly.

Delivering large-scale volumes with precision

Across our large-scale forestry operation, we harvest about 7,000 hectares annually and produce 4.5 million tonnes of logs each year. While two-thirds of this volume supplies domestic sawmills, one-third is exported, requiring a highly efficient logistics network.

KiwiRail supports us by operating six log trains every 24 hours, seven days a week, each carrying up to 900 tonnes of logs — equivalent to nearly 30 truckloads. This consistency is vital for our supply chain, reducing road congestion and lowering carbon emissions while ensuring a steady flow of logs to export markets.

Resilience in the face of challenges

Reliability is key to our operations, and when extreme weather events occur, the impact can be significant. During Cyclone Hale in 2023, damage to the rail line resulted in the loss of 1,200 truckloads per week, underscoring just how critical rail transport is to our business.

Recent investments by KiwiRail, including a full replacement of its Bay of Plenty log fleet with new, high-capacity wagons and improvements in locomotive reliability, have further strengthened the resilience of our supply chain.

A commitment to safety

Safety remains a top priority in our partnership, with KiwiRail implementing best practices such as securing every packet of logs for safer transport. Their commitment to continuous improvement has also led to increased rail capacity utilisation, reaching the mid-to-high 90% range in key performance indicators.

Looking ahead, the addition of a new container terminal (CT) site at Kawerau presents an opportunity to expand our rail freight volumes even further, enhancing efficiency and supporting regional economic growth.

Our partnership with KiwiRail demonstrates the power of collaboration in delivering sustainable, high-volume forestry logistics.