About Aratu Forests

WE ARE ARATU FORESTS LTD

Aratu Forests Limited is one of the largest forestry estates in the Gisborne District (Tairāwhiti) of New Zealand’s North Island and a significant contributor to the regional economy. We manage around 27,000 hectares of radiata pine plantation on 35,000 hectares of freehold, forest rights and leasehold land.

Through structured investment in our land and assets we have managed to
build a high-yielding and sustainable forest.

In July 2019 Hikurangi Forest Farms was purchased by a consortium of offshore institutional investors being clients of New Forests, an Australian-based international forestry investment manager.

Click here to read more about New Forests.

Our History

1980

Hikurangi Forest Farms (HFF) incorporated as a private company by Fletcher Challenge to establish forest on the East Coast.

1988

HFF expands following Cyclone Bola incentives for plantation expansion

1997

Samling purchased HFF from Fletcher Challenge

2001

Harvesting commenced

2009

Debarker plant commissioned under Eastland Debarking Ltd, a Joint venture with Eastland Group

2017

Optilog log processing plant commissioned

2019

1 February 2019 – Samling and New Forests sign a sale & purchase agreement for the sale of HFF, with settlement pending OIO approval

2019

1 July 2019 – Following OIO approval, New Forests managed funds (ANZFF3 and co-investors) acquire HFF and relaunch as Aratu Forests Ltd

2020

Optilog log processing plant decommissioned