Mature East Coast forest cutting rights

Makiri Forest is 41km northwest of Gisborne's port. Photo / Supplied

The rights to a mature 313ha pine forest in the East Coast growing region are for sale through Colliers International.

Forestry sales specialist Warwick Searle is marketing the rights to Makiri Forest, for sale by deadline private treaty, closing at 4pm on May 3, unless sold earlier.

Searle says the forest is only 41km northwest of Gisborne's Eastland Port — one of New Zealand's primary ports for log exports.

"This is a rare opportunity to secure a mature forest of established crop with significant roading and harvest infrastructure already in place.

"The forest has been privately owned and managed since establishment, but with all of the radiata pine nearing maturity, the current owners have decided to realise their investment.

"Some 86ha of crop has already been harvested at the road boundary, but the owners are now offering the balance of the crop for sale by way of forestry rights, with a five-year harvest term and no requirement to replant on handback."

Searle says Makiri Forest was planted in 1993 and 1994 with the intention of supplying the export market.

Now 24 to 25, the entire crop comprises unpruned pinus radiata with a stocking rate of about 376 stems per hectare. A new inventory has been carried out to provide confidence as to the remaining crop.

Searle says there is already some forward roading in place, ensuring significant savings when it comes to harvest.

"Established over what was previously farmland, the productive area of the forest is mostly of medium to steep contour. The contour means most of the forest is expected to be harvested by hauler."

The vendor will retain the carbon credits associated with the forest.

Searle says Makiri Forest is off Duncan Rd, in the Gisborne region, making it well placed for log exports.

"Located only 41km from the forest gate to Eastland Port, the forest is accessed via a public road that already services a significant volume of logging trucks from other forests in the region." he says.

"In recent years the neighbouring Makiri Station has also been established as a forest, while Hikurangi Forest Farms also hold significant neighbouring forestry assets."