
Wood Transport
Mechanised Harvesting
Log Measurement & Scaling
HarvestTECH provides an essential and independent platform to showcase new innovations and operating practices suited to our local harvesting and wood transport operations.
HarvestTECH 2021 | Event Details
The HarvestTECH conference and exhibition that ran in June 2019 SOLD OUT well in advance of the event being run. Exhibitor space sold out months before. It was the largest gathering of its type ever seen in New Zealand. Close to 500 harvesting contractors, harvest planners, forestry managers and equipment and technology suppliers into the region’s logging industry attended.
In addition to most major New Zealand contractors being there, a large contingent came across from Australia, North and South America and SE Asia. It well and truly established itself on the international stage.
The planned event for 2020 was indefinitely postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event was to focus on wood transport and logistics.
Looking ahead to HarvestTECH 2021, we have the support from industry leaders, major equipment suppliers and the local sector to make this an even more exciting event for 2021. A full speaking programme is now ready and exhibitor space will be sold out shortly. Read below for all the details.
Limited Seats Available!
Spaces will be filled on a “first come-first served” basis. The last event sold out quickly. With the eagerly awaited sister event, the Forest Safety & Technology Summit also running, space will be at a premium. The message is clear; Register early to avoid disappointment.
What's Planned?
There are a number of exciting changes to HarvestTECH in 2021. We’re confident that, in the current uncertain environment, the following features will cater for our growing HarvestTECH community and the many enquiries that we’re already fielding from those outside Australasia.
One location
Like the 2019 event, the physical event (on-site presentations and trade exhibitions) for HarvestTECH 2021 will again be run in just one location, Rotorua, New Zealand. This enables delegates and exhibitors to plan with some degree of certainty.
LIVE + Virtual On-Line Event
Live video links for companies outside of New Zealand are available. This ensures:
- Active involvement of Australian and international delegates. Timing for the HarvestTECH 2021 programme is being set up to enable live links to the Rotorua event and all presentations throughout the two days. On-line questions from virtual conference delegates will be able to be made to all presenters - live.
- Significant savings on travel and accommodation costs. As well as being involved during the live event, recorded sessions for the presentations will also be made available post event to all virtual event delegates.
Increased international involvement
The live or virtual hybrid format for HarvestTECH 2021 enables a much wider cross section of International presenters to be involved in the event. They will be joining local presenters at HarvestTECH 2021, either with a live remote presentation or, alternatively, through a pre-recorded presentation.
Alignment with the Forest Safety & Technology 2021 event
The very popular forestry safety event run by the Forest Industry Engineering Association is also being held at the same venue on the first day, Tuesday 13 April. This will enable delegates from both events to network during the breaks and to capitalise on the large number of trade exhibitions that are anticipated to be present in Rotorua.
Programme Content
With the theme of the postponed HarvestTECH 2020 series being on wood transport and log scaling technologies, this will still form an integral part of the planned two day-event in 2021.
Day One of HarvestTECH 2021
The focus is on log scaling, log segregation and loading, wood transport, logistics and data integration through the wood supply chain.
With 30% – 40% of delivered log costs being contributed by transport, the objective of the 2021 technology event is to profile the very latest technologies for moving wood efficiently and safely from the forest through to the log yard, processing plant, port or market. New initiatives and operating practices being employed to improve log measurement, planning, logistics & operations within the wood supply chain will be showcased.
Day Two of HarvestTECH 2021
Like the sold out 2019 event, this will detail new equipment and operating practices being used to increase the mechanization, productivity and the safety of steep slope logging and new technology being rolled out by local harvesting contractors.
This will also cover the integration of automation & robotics into wood harvesting operations and best practices around ensuring environmental sustainability (roading, stream crossings and harvest residues management) in felling and extracting wood from the forest.
Who Will Attend?
- Harvesting and wood flow planners
- Wood harvesting and haulage contractors
- Transport operators
- Forestry managers
- Forest owners
- Technical foresters
- Forestry consultants
- Forestry researchers
- Wood supply chain and logistics companies
- Key suppliers to forestry, wood harvesting & transport operations
Programme Details
The HarvestTECH 2021 programme has pulled together leading experts from around the world.
Two Main Themes
The first day, Tuesday 13 April 2021 will cover log measurement and scaling, wood transport and logistics. This theme was originally going to be run as a stand-alone two-day event in 2020 but had to be postponed because of COVID-19. The second day, Wednesday 14 April 2021 will be focussed on innovations around mechanised harvesting operations and technologies and operating practices aimed at improving the sustainability of wood harvesting operations.
Forest Safety & Technology 2021
On the first day of the two-day HarvestTECH 2021 event, the very popular Forest Safety & Technology 2021 event will also be running in an adjacent room. This enables those that missed out on a physical event in May 2020 to attend (during lockdown an on-line webinar series was instead run). It also ensures maximum interaction of forestry managers, harvesting contractors and log transport operators from both conferences at the one venue.
Virtual Online Event
Because of the current uncertainty that still surrounds the virus with travel and border restrictions, the event will be run only in Rotorua, New Zealand. An on-line or virtual programme will also be run for international delegates that may in April 2021 be unable to travel into New Zealand.
Pre-Conference Workshop: Remsoft User Group
This workshop will be hosted by GM Asia Pacific, Corinne Watson in person in Rotorua and supported by Senior Analyst, Sandy Loder and Technical Sales Analyst, Sacha Gascoigne remotely from Canada.
HarvestTECH 2021 Programme
Pre-Conference Workshop
Monday 12 April 2021
Remsoft Workshop/User Group: Developing an Intelligent Roadmap for Harvest and Wood Flow Planning
Leveraging analytics technology to meet harvest and wood flow planning goals, with tech tips and take-away tools to develop your Planning Roadmap. More details can be viewed via this link.
Corinne Watson, Asia Pacific General Manager, Remsoft, New Zealand (in-person), Sandy Loder, Senior Analyst & Sacha Gascoigne, Technical Sales Analyst Remsoft, Canada (live remote)
DAY ONE
Tuesday 13 April 2021
Wood Transport, Log Measurement & Scaling, Wood Flow Logistics
Welcome & Introduction
FIEA
Keynote Address: Effectively Managing your Supply Chain
Technology changes impacting on just how your business and operations might run.
Graeme Muller, Chief Executive Officer, NZTech
Managing Wood Haulage Operations in Brazil
Challenges and solutions being employed by Suzano, the world’s largest eucalyptus pulp producer and owner of the largest eucalyptus plantations in Brazil
Angelo Moura, Operational Development, Suzano, Brazil (live remote OR live)
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Taking disruptive technologies out of the lab and operationally, out into the forest
Stephan Hoffmann, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury (live or live remote)
TECH Showcase
Short presentations on new product innovations
Lunch & Networking
1.00pm
COM3TS: A new automated system for Australasian mobile log scaling operation
Gavin Hudson, COO, C3 NZ and Pederson Group
1.20pm
Digitising Log Measurements on Truck and Tracking Shipments through the Wood Supply Chain
Recent trials and operational use of the technologies in Europe and with Chile’s major pulp and paper company, CMPC
Martin Kambla, Chief Technology Officer, and Co-Founder, Timbeter, Estonia (pre-recorded OR live)
1.40pm
Automated Volumetric Measurements of Truckloads and Log Piles
Results from recent operational trials using laser, photogrammetry and stereoscopic sensing technologies in Australia
Mauricio Acuna, Senior Research Fellow, FIRC/AFORA - University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia (live remote OR live)
2.00pm
A World Log Scaling First: The development and roll out of automated robotic log scaling solutions
Steve Saunders, Chairman & Founder, Robotics Plus
Replacing Paper Log Dockets across the Log Supply Chain
Lessons from implementing a new system of electronic log docketing across a forestry business
Nigel Brabyn, Process Improvement Leader, OneFortyOne
2.45pm
Afternoon Tea & Networking
Harnessing Data to Drive Business Decisions
A new virtual intelligence tool turning 10 years of collected data to more effectively drive port and customer efficiencies
Jan Augustyn, General Manager - Business Performance Improvement, C3
Don’t Just Stop at the Dockets - think Digital Ecosystem
Tracking wood supplies from forest compartment to customer location (mill, port). Case studies of local implementation
Grant Hull, CEO LOGR, Australia & OneFortyOne, Green Triangle Forest Products and Timberlands Pacific (live remote OR live)
A Paperless Exchange – from Harvest to Delivery
Case study of recent implementation across a major North Island log haulage operation
Campbell Gilmour, Eastern Group General Manager, Pacific Haulage/Williams & Wilshier & David Joll, General Manager, Trimble Forestry Logistics
4.15pm
Tall Timber & Tall Tales
Paul Mahoney, NZ Logging Historian
5.00pm
Drinks, Refreshments & Networking
DAY TWO
Wednesday 14 April 2021
Innovations in Mechanised Harvesting Operations and Technologies
Timezone: NZDT
Welcome & Introduction
FIEA
Weiler Forestry now in NZ
How a family owned business with a long-standing history of successfully manufacturing purpose-built equipment has expanded its reach “down under.
Bill Hood, Vice President, Weiler Forestry, USA (live remote OR live)
9.30am
Mechanised Felling & Extraction using T-Winch Traction Assist
Case study of a Northland ground-based harvesting operation moving to steeper terrain.
Peter Davies Colley, Owner/Operator, The Tree People & Ian Wilton, Business Director, FORCO
Automated Grapple & Hauler Control: Results from recent in-forest trials
Iain May, Director, Rosewarne Cable Loggers & Keith Raymond, Theme Leader Harvesting, Forest Growers Research
10.10am
Smart Technology
Matt Flood, Product Marketing Manager, Precision Forestry, John Deere Forestry, USA (live remote)
Teleforest’s Self-Propelled Carriage Cable Yarding System
Early results from Northland harvesting operations
Frank O’Meara, Sales Manager, Teleforest (NZ)
Maximising the Benefits of Mechanical Log Processing
A case study using 120,000 logs drawn from 27 harvesting crews from across the central North Island.
Thornton Campbell, Woodflow and Distribution Scheduler, Hancock Forest Management
Winch-assist System Utilization and Productivity Measures from New Zealand and Canadian Operations
Overview of recent winch-assist studies.
Cameron Leslie, Harvest & Forest Manager, Leslie Forestry
TECH Showcase
Short presentations on new product innovations.
12.00pm
Lunch & Networking
Session 5: Ensuring the Sustainability of our Wood Harvesting Operations
Technologies and environmental best practices in harvest planning, roading and stream crossing design and management of harvest residues.
A New System for Merchantable Volume Assessments
Drone data collection, AI and post-harvest analysis using VR. Opportunities for assessing cutover residues on steeper terrain..
David Herries, GM, Interpine Group
Managing Harvesting Residues on Steeper Slopes
Quantifying the volume and distribution of post-harvest residues. Early recommendations for slash management guidelines and future management.
Campbell Harvey, PHD Student/Researcher, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury
Using Data Collected from Truck Mounted Lidar for the Construction and Surfacing of Forest Roads
Fernando Paredes, Chief of Productivity and Quality of Forest Operations, Forestal Mininco, Chile (live remote)
Observations from the 2018 Tolaga Bay Storm
A review on debris flow triggers and the effectiveness of different types of slash catch catchers. Thoughts for current and future debris flow mitigations.
Andy Costello, Harvest Planning Manager, Aratu Forests
Extracting Slash from Waterways in High Risk Erosion Prone Steepland Forests
Results from recent trials using the HeliHawk slash grapple.
Keith Raymond, Theme Leader Harvesting, Forest Growers Research
Meeting more Restrictive Requirements for Stream Crossings during Harvesting
Building in low profile-low level crossings to an East Coast forestry operation.
Andy Costello, Harvest Planning Manager, Aratu Forests & Craig Langsford, Engineer, Bridge It NZ
Supply Chain Innovation & Optimisation R&D
Application of advanced sensors into harvesting operations and log identification and tracking technologies
Dr Glen Murphy, Project Leader, Forest Growers Research
3.20pm
Conference wrap-up
Conference Concludes
Workshop
Pre-conference workshop, Monday 12 April, 1.00 – 4.00pm
Remsoft Workshop/User Group: Developing an Intelligent Roadmap for Harvest and Wood Flow Planning
Where: Cards Room, Distinction Hotel Rotorua, 390 Fenton Street, Rotorua
When: 1.00 – 4.00pm, Monday 12 April 2021
Attendees: Limited to 35 attendees
Cost: This workshop is free
This user group will be hosted by GM Asia Pacific, Corinne Watson in person in Rotorua and supported by Senior Analyst, Sandy Loder and Technical Sales Analyst, Sacha Gascoigne remotely from Canada.
This user group will cover;
- An overview of commonly queried scenarios at Strategic, Tactical and Operational planning horizons and the Remsoft software modules best suited to getting optimal answers.
- A worksheet to capture the opportunities in your own modeling or operation where Remsoft can assist in automation, optimization or other advancements in your organization’s processes and outcomes.
- An overview of some of Remsoft’s add-on software modules and “tech tips” from our Analysts.
- Question and Answer session.
Places can be booked on-line for those registering for the HarvestTECH 2021 conference. Tea and coffee will be available on arrival. Enquiries can be made to: corinne.watson@remsoft.com.

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
HarvestTECH 2021, particularly in the current environment, offers a tremendous opportunity for companies involved in developing or selling wood harvesting, transport or log haulage equipment to showcase their company, technology or associated products to New Zealand’s (and this region’s) forestry industry. Exhibition spaces are always at a premium. As mentioned, last time the event ran, spaces SOLD OUT month’s in advance of the event being run.
Added Bonus: As an added bonus, a Forest Safety & Technology 2021 event is being held by the Forest Industry Engineering Association at the same venue on the first day that the HarvestTECH 2021 event will be running. This ensures an even larger audience to you as a HarvestTECH 2021 sponsor or exhibitor. It will though put immediate pressure on available exhibition or trade spaces at the Rotorua venue.
Many of the Forest Safety Exhibitors have already been allocated exhibition spaces as a consequence of the 2020 event having to be run as an online webinar series because of the COVID-19 lockdown. Their exhibition spaces allocated in 2020 have been kept for this year’s event. So, if keen on securing a space in Rotorua for HarvestTECH 2021, the clear message here is to get in early to avoid disappointment. Exhibitor spaces are already close to being sold out for 2021.
FIEA has a well-deserved reputation of providing both sponsors and exhibitors with a unique platform for promoting their products and services to the industry.
HarvestTECH 2021 is already being planned. We always receive strong interest in the sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities available. Sponsors and exhibitors will benefit from exposure in the regions wood harvesting and wood transport platform, www.harvesttech.news, which provides monthly communication to well over 6,000 wood harvesting contractors, harvest planners, forest managers and owners and wood transport operators across the region.
Sponsorship and branding opportunities are also available for other Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) events and in the region’s most widely read weekly e-newsletters, Friday Offcuts and WoodWeek.
For a full range of sponsorship, exhibition and branding options, please contact our Sponsorship Manager, Gordon Thomson on (+64) 7 921 1384 and marketing@fiea.org.nz.
You are welcome to view our updated Terms and Conditions.

Distinction Rotorua Hotel
Rotorua, NEW ZEALAND
390 Fenton Street, Rotorua, New Zealand
Distinction Rotorua Hotel, NEW ZEALAND
390 Fenton Street, Rotorua, New Zealand
With its beautiful garden setting and located just minutes from the city centre, Distinction Rotorua Hotel is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a big day at the conference.
After the event, this hotel is also a great base to enjoy the wealth of attractions and activities Rotorua has to offer. Free car parking is available at the venue, however, spaces are limited and hotel guests take priority.
Special accommodation rates:
- Superior Room | $160 | per room per night (single, double or twin share occupancy)
- Deluxe Room | $180 | per room per night (single, double or twin share occupancy)
- Junior Suite | $220 | per room per night (single or double share occupancy)
- Executive Suite | $250 | per room per night (single or double share occupancy)
All accommodation prices include GST

Registration Rates
Early-Bird Rate
(Ending 12 March 2021)
NZ$890 + GST
Standard Conference Rate
(From 12 March 2021)
NZ$990 + GST
Group - 3 or more
(Min of 3 delegates)
NZ$795 + GST
Virtual/Remote Rate
(Available to attendees based outside of New Zealand)
NZ$595 + GST
Registration Details
- The Conference Rate refers to your attendance in person at the Rotorua conference and exhibitions
- Virtual/Remote registrations can be booked. These apply to companies from outside of New Zealand. This will ensure on-line attendance by Australian and other international companies.
- All prices exclude GST (15%). For registrations from outside New Zealand, GST does not apply.
- A credit card processing fee of 2.9% will be charged for all transactions.
- Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) Member Discounts of 10-25% apply to the listed Standard Conference Rate. FIEA Membership Details and Benefits can be seen on www.fiea.org.nz Membership status and discounts available can be checked by calling our FIEA offices.
- The Early Bird Rate applies only to the standard two-day conference rate. To be eligible for the Early-Bird Rate, registrations and payment must be received ON or BEFORE Friday 12 March 2021. All 'Early Bird' discounts require payment at time of registration and before the cut-off date in order to receive any discount.
- Your Conference Registration payment, if attending the event in Rotorua, covers morning and afternoon teas, lunches, refreshments, a conference handbook and post-event access to presentations for a limited time (electronic download for those presentations where presenter approval has been given).
- For Virtual/Remote registrations, your registration payment covers live access to all conference presentations, post-event access to presentation PPT’s for a limited time (electronic download of PDF’s for those presentations where presenter approval has been given) and links to all recorded presentations where speaker approval has been given.
COVID-19 related information:
- The event organiser will work diligently to ensure that all instructions provided by the New Zealand Government and Health Authorities, relating to travel and the running of events because of COVID-19 are strictly adhered to. You can be sure that we will have all measures in place to safeguard your health and safety.
- It is the responsibility of the sponsor, exhibitor or delegate, if intending to travel to attend the Rotorua conference, to check on all updated health and Government guidelines for any specific entry requirements.
- If for any reason the Rotorua venue was unable to be used because of COVID-19 restrictions that were imposed by the New Zealand Government, those registered to attend the physical event would be transferred to a new virtual on-line event that would be set up by the organisers.
- Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions relating to any event related issues around COVID-19.
Cancellation policy:
For cancellations on or before Friday 12 March 2021, a 10% administration fee applies. Cancellations received after 12 March 2021 are non-refundable but are transferrable. Please allow 30 days for refunds to be processed. If you wish to transfer your registration to another individual from within your company, please provide us with at least 24 hours advance notice.
To read our full Terms and Conditions, Click Here.

Contact Us
FIEA Contact Details
(+64) 7 921 1382
1800 126 398 (from Australia)
Rotorua Office
Forest Industry Engineering Association
Building X91, Sala Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
PO Box 1230, Rotorua 3040, New Zealand
Ph (+64) 7 921 1382
Dunedin Office
Forest Industry Engineering Association
c/o Distinction Dunedin Hotel, 6 Liverpool Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
PO Box 904, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
Ph (+64) 3 470 1902

