Did you know ...?

There are 4,014 people employed in North Canterbury in Agriculture, Foresty and Fishing.

These industries are really important to us.

Forestry in North Canterbury

Approximately 48 percent of the plantation forests in the Canterbury wood supply region are in North Canterbury. Half of the Canterbury region's Radiata pine, 36 percent of the region's Douglas-fir, and 30 percent of the region's other softwoods and hardwoods are planted in North Canterbury.

Within North Canterbury, approximately 74 percent of the plantation forests are located in the Hurunui District, resulting in the District having approximately 35 percent of the Canterbury wood supply region's total plantation forest area.

North Canterbury's timber is of relatively low density with more resin pockets than other timber due to summer droughts, dry northwesterly winds and free-draining soils. These factors can also limit growth, although the large water resource in the area reduces this effect. The forestry sector benefits from generally low harvesting and transport costs due to the area's topography, well-established road and rail infrastructure, the close proximity of Port Lyttelton, and established links to other South Island forest resources.

The largest forestry area by age class in North Canterbury is young plantations less than ten years old, and more specifically less than five years old. This indicates future growth for the forestry sector in North Canterbury.