About Aratu Forests Limited
Aratu Forests Limited is one of the largest forestry estates in the Gisborne District 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 New Forests, an Australian-based, international and sustainable forestry investment manager, on behalf of its institutional investment clients. The company was renamed Aratu Forests Ltd on 1 July 2019.
Click here to read more about New Forests.
Mission
Our mission is to be recognised as the most responsible, effective and efficient forest manager in Aotearoa.
- Responsible
- Effective
- Efficient
Values
We protect and invest in our people
We seek to ensure that no one is harmed as a result of our operations. We invest in developing and upskilling our staff and contractors. We ensure our staff have fulfilling and challenging occupations in a safe and stimulating work environment.
We manage for the long term
We seek to ensure our business practices generate positive social, cultural, environmental and economic outcomes from the assets we manage, over multiple rotations.
Continuous improvement
We seek excellence through ongoing review and improvement.
We are active, open and honest
We seek to develop respect, integrity and trust with our staff, contractors, customers and the communities we operate in through active, honest and transparent engagement.
Our Name
Aratu is a combination of two Māori words, ‘ara’ which means path and ‘tu’ which means to stand. The name captures our business’ intention and values.
- We are on a path (ara) to actively pursue improvement and manage for the long term.
- We stand (tu) to protect and invest in our people and act in an open and honest manner.
Our name shows our respect for the traditional owners of the land on which the business operates and the personal and professional ties our staff and contractors have to the Māori community.
Our Philosophy
Our mission and values are deeply engrained in our business philosophy and shape every aspect of Aratu Forests Limited – including our logo.
The circular shape of the koru, styled as a fern-leaf, conveys the idea of perpetual movement. The koru is commonly used in Māori art as a symbol of creation and growth due to its fluid circular shape. This resonates greatly with Aratu Forests through our commitment to sustainability and continual improvement.
When turned on its side, our logo resembles the number six which represents the mountain slopes rising from the East.
The koru in our logo stands proud off the ground. This symbol also represents a new start as we move forward by acknowledging the past. Our involvement in the Gisborne region will open a new pathway that will seek to enhance social, environmental and economic outcomes.
We strive to build long-term, sustainable relationships, and incorporate all points of view. This is represented in the hidden symbol of the eyes, similar to that of the Tekoteko. The eye reflects the need to view all perspectives to ensure we continue to drive excellence.
Our logo encompasses the shape of the number six which represents our links to the East Coast and the unique whenua.
Aratu Forests Limited
Level 2, 77 Peel Street
Gisborne
4010
P.O. Box 242
Gisborne
4071
Phone: +64 6 867 9799
admin@aratuforests.co.nz
© Aratu Forests Limited