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Forestry

Specialist Forestry lawyers

Our Forestry team advises on New Zealand’s most significant forestry transactions and provides day-to-day legal solutions for a number of Australasia’s largest forestry management companies.

We have significant experience acting on acquisitions and divestments of forest land and forestry rights and have strong relationships with forestry advisors and regulators. Additionally, we provide clients with best practice support for managing their forestry portfolios.

Expertise

Combining specialist knowledge across the firm, our team provides advice to clients operating in the forestry sector on a broad range of issues, including:

  • Overseas investment and the OIO.
  • Acquisition and disposal of forestry assets.
  • Crown forestry licences and forestry rights.
  • Wood supply and stumpage agreements.
  • Rental and stumpage disputes.
  • Transport, logistics and other service contracts.
  • Access and roading rights.
  • The Emissions Trading Scheme as it relates to forestry and other commercial transactions.
  • Health and safety compliance and advice on incidents.
  • Māori land issues.

Experience

Our experience includes advising:

  • Hancock Natural Resource Group, the largest land manager in the country, on its forestry management and direct client business.
  • A significant European institution on the establishment of their forest fund investments in New Zealand, including structuring.
  • The purchaser of a large MDF production plant in Mataura (including Commerce Commission and OIO approvals).
  • Hancock Natural Resource Group on the sale of its Tasman Bay forestry assets (approximately 30,000 hectares) to Sumitomo Forestry Co., Limited.
  • New Forests Asset Management Pty Limited on all aspects of its New Zealand forestry portfolio, including a number of acquisitions in the Wairarapa, Taupo, Hawkes Bay, Blenheim and Southland regions.
  • Hancock Natural Resource Group on the acquisition of the Carter Holt Harvey forestry portfolio (approximately 150,000 hectares) and the ongoing management of this portfolio.
  • Rayonier on its investment in Matariki Forest Group.
  • Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation on its investment in the Kaingaroa Timberlands.