New Zealand Farm Forestry Conference

The 68th NZFFA conference will be hosted by the Waikato branch and held in Cambridge.

Day 1 – Monday 20th April – Cambridge Town Hall

• Special Interest Group meetings.
• For those not attending the Special Interest Group meetings, we have a visit organised to the fabulous Hamilton Gardens.
• Opening Dinner at Good Union restaurant, Cambridge.

Day 2 – Tuesday 21st April – Cambridge Town Hall

• Councillors’ meeting and NZFFA 2026 Annual General Meeting.
• Awards Dinner and entertainment at the Vilagrad Estate.

Day 3 – Wednesday 22nd April – “Native Forestry Focus”, Cambridge area

First at award-winning Restore Native nursery, with founder Adam Thompson. See their latest innovations in production technology.

Then to Ian Brennan’s and Trisha Wren’s “Cassie’s Farm”, an outstanding showcase for new native forestry, particularly totara. Walk around, and hear Ian’s views on planning, planting and pruning. Knowledgeable speakers on the future of native forestry.

Day 4 – Thursday 23rd April – “Classic Forestry”, Taupō area

Travel south to Taupō, first through typical Waikato dairy country then into the central plateau heartland of radiata. We will visit 2 sites - Tenon, making quality products from sustainably-grown radiata forests, and using local geothermal power; and Nature’s Flame, using locally-sourced waste from wood processing to make wood pellets for heating. Lunch and view some older trees at Waipahihi Reserve. On the return trip, visit the fascinating NZ Timber Museum at Putāruru.

Day 5 – Friday 24th April – “Farm Forestry Focus”, Te Awamutu area

At the property of Graham and Tess Smith at Wharepuhunga, we will look at a successful integration of a niche paulownia business within a dairy farm. Hear about the research that Graham has been involved in with Fonterra on the effect of feeding paulownia to dairy cows, and with AgrResearch and Scion on different grasses and effects of tree shade.

Then we will head to Kawa Mountain, the property of Dave and Sue Forsythe, and Richie Allen and Jane Forsythe, at Te Mawhai. Redwoods, totara, cypress including some recent trials cover this small (extinct) volcano. Quite a bit of walking here, wear good boots, bring your walking pole. There will be transport available for those who are not so mobile.

We’ll have our closing dinner also at Kawa Mountain, with live music.

Saturday 25th April – proposed post-conference visit, Te Awamutu area

See Yarndley’s Bush (iconic Waikato kahikatea forest remnant), then older blocks of (mainly native) species, on 2 farms. The tree ages are known so you will get a good idea of their growth rates. Kahikatea, rimu, totara, matai and kauri feature. Also blocks of 1970, 1980 and 1989 redwoods.