Dry fire logs hard to find

HINERANGI VAIMOSO
Winter has put the heat on firewood supplies in Hawke's Bay. Thanks to a colder and wetter winter than normal, some Hawke's Bay merchants are out of wood while others have nothing left but damp or green logs.
Bronwyn McCulloch, part owner of Chambers wood yard in Onekawa, said it had been tough meeting the demands of customers this year. It had meant having to travel as far as Ongaonga and Takapau to source logs.
"There's just been more demand but because of the bad weather you can't get the logs out," Mrs McCulloch said.
"We're all out of wood at the moment and it just depends on how long it takes to get the paddocks dry before logs are available."
Dave Smith, of Quarry Firewood in Bridge Pa, agreed there had been a bigger demand this year and predicted his company had only just enough wood to see them through winter.
Mr Smith, whose company provided wood for the houses of IHC clients, said it was possible the contract may be shifted to another company next year.
Tony Bengston, of Tony Bengston Ltd, a logging contractor who is usually in good supply, said keeping up with customer demand had been difficult this winter with orders flooding in.
He said the problem was that though he had 300 tonnes of logs on the yard, they were not completely dry.
"We have been quite lucky because we're the only ones who still have reasonably dry wood," Mr Bengston said.
"We tell people straight off that it's not 100 percent dry, but people just want it fast."
Because Mr Bengston has more access to wood through his logging company, he has also been asked by other wood merchants to augment their low supply.
"We're all going to work on things to have a bit more volume on hand for next winter."
Petrol-price rises over the past year had also had huge effects on the wood supply industry, which in turn had pushed up the price of wood.
Mrs McCulloch said their prices had increased between $20 and $40 on the corresponding time last year. Formerly known as a cord, 3.6m2 of pine that would have cost $140 shot up to around $180 this year while gum rose from $200 to $240.
Mrs McCulloch said all yards varied in price according to the distance travelled to get the wood.
Mr Bengston said people have been more than willing to pay in order to keep warm.