China's demand for wood products is forecast to continue growing faster than its own domestic production, says New Zealand market data provider AgriHQ.

From his office window Mick Clout can see the outline of Hauraki Gulf islands in the hazy distance.

A company offering small forest owners less risky options for realising their investment was launched in Wellington today.

Machines which fell trees under remote control by operators standing at safe distances are being hailed as important new tools and a world first for reducing deaths and injuries in forests.

Get out the gumboots and spades, urges Dionne Christian, and plant natives to spruce up the region's parks.

Pellets laced with 1080 poison will be fed to trout to assess potential risks from the planned massive dump of the pesticide in native forests.

The humble radiata pine might not seem an obvious target for millions of dollars of research and development.

Officials have been impressed at new results of a C02-powered pest trap, which has matched 1080 poison in wiping out entire rat populations.

Tony Abbott's administration has been accused of being the most conservation-hostile in living memory.

Opponents of the controversial poison 1080 are furious at a planned bombardment and say the Conservation Minister is misleading the public.

Pest poison 1080 will be used to deal with an expected 30 million extra rats this year which threatens to "annihilate" the country's native endangered birds.

The export of logs to China is driving an increase in the value of NZ's forestry products - now worth more than $4.5 billion a year.

Labour spokesman says foreign firms' drive for big profits putting local industries in jeopardy.

With six deaths already this year, the forestry industry has been warned to clean up its act. But in the search for solutions, politics and money are distracting from the focus on the lives lost.

As more Kiwis look to South America for adventure, Karen Phelps compiles a bucket list for the continent.

Toilet paper maker Cottonsoft is keeping secret rainforest test results which it says proves its product is environmentally friendly.