Our Forests
We are the largest forestry grower in Hawke’s Bay
Across the Bay we have a total forest area of about 35,000 hectares. The majority of the forests are up against the ranges so often border with Department of Conservation. These are the ex-state forests. From north to south are Mohaka, Esk, Kaweka and Gwavas. Tangoio, the other substantial forest, is coastal and located around the Pan Pac mill and Waipatiki.
A programme is underway to hand back Iwi land. About 90% of the land on which our trees are planted is owned by local iwi. The remainder is freehold land.
We have almost logged one rotation of trees, about 30 years of harvesting. This means the majority of the main access roads and tracks have already been constructed. The forestry cycle typically consists of about 1,000ha being logged and the corresponding area that was harvested the previous year being planted.
The forests are almost exclusively radiata pine. They are grown because they can provide the quantity and quality of raw material our sawmill and pulp mill require. This not only guarantees a large proportion of our supply but also helps ensure the final products are matched to the resource to create premium products. Since the Pan Pac sawmill produces appearance grade products our forests have a high percentage of pruned trees. Eliminating branches in the lower 6.5 metres provides a clearwood sheath of knot free wood.
You can find more information about our forests in the Pan Pac Forests Public Summary. To request a copy please email
hseforests@panpac.co.nz