Pinepac has made significant investments and remains deeply dedicated to the Radiata Pine industry in New Zealand. We manage three company-owned forests, strategically located within a 50km radius of our processing plants in Kumeu and Whenuapai. These forests cover a combined area of approximately 1,150 hectares (2,841 acres), with over 800 hectares (2,000 acres) of planted Radiata Pine. Since 1993, we’ve planted more than 1 million seedlings in these areas.
Our commitment to preserving nature and safeguarding this vital resource for future generations is unwavering. We follow strict forest management practices, ensuring that every harvested area is replanted within a year to begin a new crop cycle, which lasts up to 30 years. For every tree harvested, we pledge to plant at least two new seedlings, nurturing them over three decades before they are ready for production. Typically, Radiata Pine trees are harvested around 28 to 30 years of age, having grown up to 28 cubic meters of solid wood fiber per hectare per year, while also sequestering approximately 800 tonnes of carbon dioxide during their rapid growth. Each harvested tree can yield up to 95% of its average volume of 2.41m³ as recoverable wood fiber.
Radiata Pine, introduced to New Zealand in the 1850s for shelterbelts, now accounts for over 90% of the country’s plantation forests, highlighting its versatility and adaptability. Pinepac remains committed to ensuring self-sufficiency in Radiata Pine cultivation, supporting the needs of our Whenuapai sawmill and Kumeu post and pole plant.