Mountain biking has increased in popularity in many countries over recent decades. Production for... more Mountain biking has increased in popularity in many countries over recent decades. Production forests provide not only an outstanding space for mountain bike riding, but also specific characteristics conducive to purpose-built track building. With recreational access to production forests, managers must balance commercial operations and industry environmental obligations with the interests and actions of riders. Production forests in New Zealand have accommodated mountain biking activities for decades. The trend from 1991 to 2022 showed overall increasing opportunities for mountain biking in production forests, particularly in smaller commercial peri-urban plantations and forest parks maintained as dedicated mountain bike parks. Over the same period, public mountain biking access to larger (>1500 ha) forests peaked in 2008. These recreational changes within forests, and the impact these changes have pressed onto forest managers, have not been well documented. This paper explores ...
Internationally there is a desire to transition farming systems towards more sustainable producti... more Internationally there is a desire to transition farming systems towards more sustainable production in response to global and local social and environmental challenges. This transition has often been linked with a movement towards ‘sustainable intensification’ which, although having advantages, has raised questions about a lack of attention to, for example, social and ethical consideration of food and fibre production. Whilst there is general consensus that a transition is required, what is much less clear is what transitioned agricultural sectors would look like in terms of land-use configurations and how such a change can be achieved. Using New Zealand as an example, this paper provides some initial views on what such a reconfiguration may entail. The paper identifies and assesses a range of possible alternative land use configurations that, in general, lead to landscape/regional diversification. The importance of incorporating new high value low intensity (niche) systems into the...
Buying a property can be an exciting, but also daunting, prospect for home buyers. A recent innov... more Buying a property can be an exciting, but also daunting, prospect for home buyers. A recent innovation for potential buyers and sellers which can aid this process has been the introduction of real estate websites, containing searchable databases of property listings and several interior photos of the property on offer. These websites are often touted as offering convenience and efficiency for the house buyer by enabling them to narrow the number of homes to seriously consider, and make a more informed market choice (Littlefield, Bao and Cook, 2000). This thesis explores the adoption of real estate websites by recent house purchasers in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand, with particular focus on the determinants explaining attitudes to use and moderating factors affecting their decision to use the real estate website. Exploratory interviews were undertaken with realtors, and a mailout survey used to gather both behavioural and attitudinal data from recent home purchasers. The r...
New Zealand grown radiata pine competes with other softwood species and supplier nations within t... more New Zealand grown radiata pine competes with other softwood species and supplier nations within the international market across a range of applications. In terms of fitness for end use, wood quality goes beyond basic wood property measures and encompasses aspects of fitness from cradle to grave, from silvicultural and extraction requirements to service in use. Radiata pine holds its own against northern hemisphere species in many applications, and the New Zealand resource is of high quality compared to other radiata pine supplies. To lift the resource out of a commodity mode into niche production of desired rather than just suitable offerings, we must begin to determine what our customers appreciate at all points in the value chain from the timber supplied. Matching of these features to wood properties and the components of the resource containing those properties to appropriate processing pathways is required.
SWI has developed a project proposal around increasing the use of NZ and Australian radiata pine ... more SWI has developed a project proposal around increasing the use of NZ and Australian radiata pine in residential construction. The overall approach is to “define options for using lower grade or mixed grade timber for a range of building products for the Australasian residential construction and building markets - thereby increasing the use of timber.” SWI has requested Scion investigate the market pull aspects of any potential technologies or designs that are deemed to increase the use of timber products. For a new “option” to be successful in the marketplace, it needs to satisfy some gap or shortcoming of existing solutions that has value for downstream end-users, such as the architect, builder or home buyer. The market issues, both at a macro and a micro level, need to be considered for any system that looks ‘promising’.
Stakeholders in plantation forestry are increasingly aware of the importance of the ecosystem ser... more Stakeholders in plantation forestry are increasingly aware of the importance of the ecosystem services and non-market values associated with forests. In New Zealand, there is significant interest in establishing species other than Pinus radiata D. Don (the dominant plantation species) in the belief that alternative species are better suited to deliver these services. Significant risk is associated with this position as there is little objective data to support these views. To identify which species were likely to be planted to deliver ecosystem services, a survey was distributed to examine stakeholder perceptions. Stakeholders were asked which of 15 tree attributes contributed to the provision of five ecosystem services (amenity value, bioenergy production, carbon capture, the diversity of native habitat, and erosion control/water quality) and to identify which of 22 candidate tree species possessed those attributes. These data were combined to identify the species perceived most suitable for the delivery of each ecosystem service. Sequoia sempervirens (D.Don) Endl. closely matched the stakeholder derived ideotypes associated with all five ecosystem services. Comparisons to data from growth, physiological and ecological studies demonstrated that many of the opinions held by stakeholders were inaccurate, leading to erroneous assumptions regarding the suitability of most candidate species. Stakeholder perceptions substantially influence tree species selection, and plantations established on the basis of inaccurate opinions are unlikely to deliver the desired outcomes. Attitudinal surveys associated with engagement campaigns are essential to improve stakeholder knowledge, advancing the development of fit-for-purpose forest management that provides the required ecosystem services.
Credence or believability are paramount values in trade. The role of products’ credence attribute... more Credence or believability are paramount values in trade. The role of products’ credence attributes has been well-analysed in the agricultural and food sector. This study examined the application of credence attributes to forest management and forest products marketing for the first time. We describe specific credence attributes of forest products and highlight their values, benefits, and importance in international trade. We used Delphi interviews of experts and surveyed forest and trade experts to assess the perceived merits of credence attributes in the forestry sector. We also compared certification schemes and sustainable forest management (SFM) indicators against credence values. We found that credence attributes play an important role in the forestry sector for both timber forest products and non-timber forest products (NTFP). While some credence attributes, such as the legality of forest products, already form the basis for trade and certification and are standard practice, o...
This paper makes a contribution to understanding the impact of relational trust, as embodied with... more This paper makes a contribution to understanding the impact of relational trust, as embodied within bonding, bridging and linking social capital, on rural innovation. Using cases of multi-stakeholder groups who work together on shared problems it explores how social capital and different forms of trust (companion, competence and commitment) influence rural innovation processes. Looking at both the ‘bright’ and ‘dark’ side of social capital, our focus is on how social capital and trust constrain and enable the process of innovation. The study highlights both positive and negative effects of social capital in the context of three fixed term projects that were part of New Zealand's Primary Innovation programme (2012–2017). Our findings show that there was a unique composition of social capital and trust at the outset of each project and that dark social capital was a critical constraint in each case. Enabling innovation processes required committed and dedicated brokers who provided bridging social capital and embodied competence trust to enable participants' confidence. Such brokers are capable of recognising and managing different ‘shades’ of social capital and trust in pursuing desired project outcomes. A main theoretical implication of this study is that a better understanding of social capital and trust is needed to enable innovation facilitators and project managers to design and undertake fixed term rural innovation projects effectively. This is because social capital determines whether the composition of relationships within networks of actors involved in innovation projects enables innovation, or to the contrary constrains innovation. Specifically the implications and implementation of bridging social capital and competence trust are key determinants of successful innovation processes.
In order to drive forest sector productivity, an emphasis has been placed on effectively transfer... more In order to drive forest sector productivity, an emphasis has been placed on effectively transferring science knowledge to technical foresters. Having a communications plan and engaging the right stakeholders early can induce a rich learning environment that strengthens context, knowhow and ensures mechanisms are in place for knowledge to be transferred. Formalized structures such as reports and seminars have evolved to improve the science transfer process, but it appears that the key success factor in enhancing uptake and learning may require an environment that encourages relationship building, particularly trust building between parties in developing informal and formal relationships. Informal interactions, though not often acknowledged in business, foster the conditions conducive to good knowledge exchange – co-ordination, co-operation and communication. Enhancing conditions in which these three aspects grow can lead to increased social capital, changed paradigms and reduced bus...
The Ministry for Primary Industries commissioned scientists from the Soil and Land Use Alliance (... more The Ministry for Primary Industries commissioned scientists from the Soil and Land Use Alliance (AgResearch, Landcare Research, Plant and Food Research, and Scion) to review research on nutrient management science for the primary sector between 1998 and 2013. The aim was to identify the current state of scientific knowledge, the use and uptake of this knowledge in the sector, and the ‘knowledge frontiers’ and gaps that needed to be filled. Payn T.W., Beare M., Shepherd M., Bayne K., Botha N., Collins A., Curtin D., Davis M., Fraser P., Hedley C., Hoogendoorn C., Johnstone P., Lucci G., Parfitt R., Xue J. 2013. Nutrient Management Science – State of Knowledge, Use and Uptake in New Zealand. Ministry for Primary Industries Technical Paper No: 2013/59. Pp.439. Prepared by the Soil and Land Use Alliance. ISBN No: 978-0-478-42320-4(online) ISSN No: 2253-3923(online)
This paper compares the structural performance of nine different light composite timber beams inc... more This paper compares the structural performance of nine different light composite timber beams including I-beams. Beams were made with 9 mm plywood webs, which were glued to timber/LVL flanges. Finished beams had 'I' or rectangular cross sections with a height of 290 mm and width of 88 mm or 106 mm depending on their cross section. The differences between the profiles were the method of connection and number of webs. Extensive laboratory testing carried out to determine the effect of circular web-openings on the load/deflection and the shear capacity of the different profiles is described. This is followed by determination of the maximum bearing capacity of each design. This study also introduces a new testing method to evaluate the tension resistance of the flange/web connection in single and Double I-beams. Increasing the diameter of the circular hole was found to lead to a significant reduction in the maximum loading capacity of the beams while it had less effect on load/d...
Mountain biking has increased in popularity in many countries over recent decades. Production for... more Mountain biking has increased in popularity in many countries over recent decades. Production forests provide not only an outstanding space for mountain bike riding, but also specific characteristics conducive to purpose-built track building. With recreational access to production forests, managers must balance commercial operations and industry environmental obligations with the interests and actions of riders. Production forests in New Zealand have accommodated mountain biking activities for decades. The trend from 1991 to 2022 showed overall increasing opportunities for mountain biking in production forests, particularly in smaller commercial peri-urban plantations and forest parks maintained as dedicated mountain bike parks. Over the same period, public mountain biking access to larger (>1500 ha) forests peaked in 2008. These recreational changes within forests, and the impact these changes have pressed onto forest managers, have not been well documented. This paper explores ...
Internationally there is a desire to transition farming systems towards more sustainable producti... more Internationally there is a desire to transition farming systems towards more sustainable production in response to global and local social and environmental challenges. This transition has often been linked with a movement towards ‘sustainable intensification’ which, although having advantages, has raised questions about a lack of attention to, for example, social and ethical consideration of food and fibre production. Whilst there is general consensus that a transition is required, what is much less clear is what transitioned agricultural sectors would look like in terms of land-use configurations and how such a change can be achieved. Using New Zealand as an example, this paper provides some initial views on what such a reconfiguration may entail. The paper identifies and assesses a range of possible alternative land use configurations that, in general, lead to landscape/regional diversification. The importance of incorporating new high value low intensity (niche) systems into the...
Buying a property can be an exciting, but also daunting, prospect for home buyers. A recent innov... more Buying a property can be an exciting, but also daunting, prospect for home buyers. A recent innovation for potential buyers and sellers which can aid this process has been the introduction of real estate websites, containing searchable databases of property listings and several interior photos of the property on offer. These websites are often touted as offering convenience and efficiency for the house buyer by enabling them to narrow the number of homes to seriously consider, and make a more informed market choice (Littlefield, Bao and Cook, 2000). This thesis explores the adoption of real estate websites by recent house purchasers in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand, with particular focus on the determinants explaining attitudes to use and moderating factors affecting their decision to use the real estate website. Exploratory interviews were undertaken with realtors, and a mailout survey used to gather both behavioural and attitudinal data from recent home purchasers. The r...
New Zealand grown radiata pine competes with other softwood species and supplier nations within t... more New Zealand grown radiata pine competes with other softwood species and supplier nations within the international market across a range of applications. In terms of fitness for end use, wood quality goes beyond basic wood property measures and encompasses aspects of fitness from cradle to grave, from silvicultural and extraction requirements to service in use. Radiata pine holds its own against northern hemisphere species in many applications, and the New Zealand resource is of high quality compared to other radiata pine supplies. To lift the resource out of a commodity mode into niche production of desired rather than just suitable offerings, we must begin to determine what our customers appreciate at all points in the value chain from the timber supplied. Matching of these features to wood properties and the components of the resource containing those properties to appropriate processing pathways is required.
SWI has developed a project proposal around increasing the use of NZ and Australian radiata pine ... more SWI has developed a project proposal around increasing the use of NZ and Australian radiata pine in residential construction. The overall approach is to “define options for using lower grade or mixed grade timber for a range of building products for the Australasian residential construction and building markets - thereby increasing the use of timber.” SWI has requested Scion investigate the market pull aspects of any potential technologies or designs that are deemed to increase the use of timber products. For a new “option” to be successful in the marketplace, it needs to satisfy some gap or shortcoming of existing solutions that has value for downstream end-users, such as the architect, builder or home buyer. The market issues, both at a macro and a micro level, need to be considered for any system that looks ‘promising’.
Stakeholders in plantation forestry are increasingly aware of the importance of the ecosystem ser... more Stakeholders in plantation forestry are increasingly aware of the importance of the ecosystem services and non-market values associated with forests. In New Zealand, there is significant interest in establishing species other than Pinus radiata D. Don (the dominant plantation species) in the belief that alternative species are better suited to deliver these services. Significant risk is associated with this position as there is little objective data to support these views. To identify which species were likely to be planted to deliver ecosystem services, a survey was distributed to examine stakeholder perceptions. Stakeholders were asked which of 15 tree attributes contributed to the provision of five ecosystem services (amenity value, bioenergy production, carbon capture, the diversity of native habitat, and erosion control/water quality) and to identify which of 22 candidate tree species possessed those attributes. These data were combined to identify the species perceived most suitable for the delivery of each ecosystem service. Sequoia sempervirens (D.Don) Endl. closely matched the stakeholder derived ideotypes associated with all five ecosystem services. Comparisons to data from growth, physiological and ecological studies demonstrated that many of the opinions held by stakeholders were inaccurate, leading to erroneous assumptions regarding the suitability of most candidate species. Stakeholder perceptions substantially influence tree species selection, and plantations established on the basis of inaccurate opinions are unlikely to deliver the desired outcomes. Attitudinal surveys associated with engagement campaigns are essential to improve stakeholder knowledge, advancing the development of fit-for-purpose forest management that provides the required ecosystem services.
Credence or believability are paramount values in trade. The role of products’ credence attribute... more Credence or believability are paramount values in trade. The role of products’ credence attributes has been well-analysed in the agricultural and food sector. This study examined the application of credence attributes to forest management and forest products marketing for the first time. We describe specific credence attributes of forest products and highlight their values, benefits, and importance in international trade. We used Delphi interviews of experts and surveyed forest and trade experts to assess the perceived merits of credence attributes in the forestry sector. We also compared certification schemes and sustainable forest management (SFM) indicators against credence values. We found that credence attributes play an important role in the forestry sector for both timber forest products and non-timber forest products (NTFP). While some credence attributes, such as the legality of forest products, already form the basis for trade and certification and are standard practice, o...
This paper makes a contribution to understanding the impact of relational trust, as embodied with... more This paper makes a contribution to understanding the impact of relational trust, as embodied within bonding, bridging and linking social capital, on rural innovation. Using cases of multi-stakeholder groups who work together on shared problems it explores how social capital and different forms of trust (companion, competence and commitment) influence rural innovation processes. Looking at both the ‘bright’ and ‘dark’ side of social capital, our focus is on how social capital and trust constrain and enable the process of innovation. The study highlights both positive and negative effects of social capital in the context of three fixed term projects that were part of New Zealand's Primary Innovation programme (2012–2017). Our findings show that there was a unique composition of social capital and trust at the outset of each project and that dark social capital was a critical constraint in each case. Enabling innovation processes required committed and dedicated brokers who provided bridging social capital and embodied competence trust to enable participants' confidence. Such brokers are capable of recognising and managing different ‘shades’ of social capital and trust in pursuing desired project outcomes. A main theoretical implication of this study is that a better understanding of social capital and trust is needed to enable innovation facilitators and project managers to design and undertake fixed term rural innovation projects effectively. This is because social capital determines whether the composition of relationships within networks of actors involved in innovation projects enables innovation, or to the contrary constrains innovation. Specifically the implications and implementation of bridging social capital and competence trust are key determinants of successful innovation processes.
In order to drive forest sector productivity, an emphasis has been placed on effectively transfer... more In order to drive forest sector productivity, an emphasis has been placed on effectively transferring science knowledge to technical foresters. Having a communications plan and engaging the right stakeholders early can induce a rich learning environment that strengthens context, knowhow and ensures mechanisms are in place for knowledge to be transferred. Formalized structures such as reports and seminars have evolved to improve the science transfer process, but it appears that the key success factor in enhancing uptake and learning may require an environment that encourages relationship building, particularly trust building between parties in developing informal and formal relationships. Informal interactions, though not often acknowledged in business, foster the conditions conducive to good knowledge exchange – co-ordination, co-operation and communication. Enhancing conditions in which these three aspects grow can lead to increased social capital, changed paradigms and reduced bus...
The Ministry for Primary Industries commissioned scientists from the Soil and Land Use Alliance (... more The Ministry for Primary Industries commissioned scientists from the Soil and Land Use Alliance (AgResearch, Landcare Research, Plant and Food Research, and Scion) to review research on nutrient management science for the primary sector between 1998 and 2013. The aim was to identify the current state of scientific knowledge, the use and uptake of this knowledge in the sector, and the ‘knowledge frontiers’ and gaps that needed to be filled. Payn T.W., Beare M., Shepherd M., Bayne K., Botha N., Collins A., Curtin D., Davis M., Fraser P., Hedley C., Hoogendoorn C., Johnstone P., Lucci G., Parfitt R., Xue J. 2013. Nutrient Management Science – State of Knowledge, Use and Uptake in New Zealand. Ministry for Primary Industries Technical Paper No: 2013/59. Pp.439. Prepared by the Soil and Land Use Alliance. ISBN No: 978-0-478-42320-4(online) ISSN No: 2253-3923(online)
This paper compares the structural performance of nine different light composite timber beams inc... more This paper compares the structural performance of nine different light composite timber beams including I-beams. Beams were made with 9 mm plywood webs, which were glued to timber/LVL flanges. Finished beams had 'I' or rectangular cross sections with a height of 290 mm and width of 88 mm or 106 mm depending on their cross section. The differences between the profiles were the method of connection and number of webs. Extensive laboratory testing carried out to determine the effect of circular web-openings on the load/deflection and the shear capacity of the different profiles is described. This is followed by determination of the maximum bearing capacity of each design. This study also introduces a new testing method to evaluate the tension resistance of the flange/web connection in single and Double I-beams. Increasing the diameter of the circular hole was found to lead to a significant reduction in the maximum loading capacity of the beams while it had less effect on load/d...
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