US Forestry Giant Health and Safety At Bottle Lake and In NZ In Spotlight

US giant Rayonier figures show New Zealand-based contractors dominated health & safety incidents (2020-2022) across NZ and the US. It has a 60-year lease on Bottle Lake Forest Park & Chaney's Forest.

Rayonier Matariki Forests, which logs trees at Bottle Lake Forest Park and Chaney’s Forest, had more than 3000 near misses and hits involving employees and contractors between 2020 and 2022, its 2022 Sustainability Report shows.

“With respect to Bottle Lake and Chaneys Forest, 50 incident reports have arisen since 2020. 40% of those are to do with the public (walkers, mountain bikers and dirt bikes) ignoring signage erected for their protection and entering active work sites, exposing themselves to risk.  The balance (60%) of incident reports relate to non-harm incidents within our contractor’s operations.”

Hamish McConnon, Regional Manager for Rayonier Matariki Forests

Bottle Lake Forest Park/ Credit: Doug Payne

Background - The Christchurch City Council-Rayonier Connection

City Councillor Anne Galloway signed off on a Christchurch City Council-Matariki Forests forestry licence in 2011. The licence gives Matariki the right to use parts of Bottle Lake Forest and Chaney’s Forest for up to 60 years.

In 2011, the Commerce Commission gave Rayonier permission to buy 5,500 hectares of forestry, forestry rights and farms (Stuff, sic) from a joint venture called Selwyn Plantation Board Limited. The Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council were the only shareholders. In late-2011, the Overseas Investment Office approved of the deal.

Since 2011, Matariki Forests, Rayonier’s New Zealand business arm, has also held a licence at Bottle Lake and Chaney’s Forest north of Christchurch (below) for an undisclosed sum.

SPB’s asset sale price appears to have been kept private.

In March 2013, a liquidator was appointed to SPB, and the final 2014 report showed the venture had distributed nearly $51.3 million.

Chaney’s Forest (North) and Bottle Lake Forest Park (South). Source: The Christchurch City Council.

In May 2021, city councillor Anne Galloway renewed Matariki Forests licence for another 30 years with a right to renew it for a further 30 years. The licence will expire in 2080.

Rayonier Matariki Forests’ Health and Safety Record