Resources for Industry
Statistics, guides and more
Explore the sections below to find valuable tools and information to support you in your work.
Pine, the Perfect Choice
Pinus radiata is a versatile, light-coloured softwood known for its excellent working properties, easy drying, and ability to be treated for all durability levels; available in a range of qualities capable of yielding lumber grades to meet almost any requirement, it is an ideal building material.
Helpful Resources
Choosing the Right Timber
Find out more about how timber is graded and how to choose the right timber strength and preservative grade for the job in hand.
News and Updates
Keep up to date with all of the news from the New Zealand timber industry.
FAQ’s
Find answers to our frequently asked questions about timber.
Discover our collection of design guides, industry standards, and inspirational resources, specially curated to assist you in specifying and designing with timber.
Whether you're an architect, builder, engineer, or student, our downloadable materials provide the essential tools, knowledge, and creative ideas to ensure your timber projects are both compliant and beautifully crafted. Let our resources inspire your next build and help you achieve excellence in every timber application.
Publications for Professionals and Students
Timber Design Guide
The New Zealand Timber Design Guide is a comprehensive reference document for designers, engineers and students about the use of timber and wood products in large buildings.
The Timber Design Guide is edited by Andy Buchanan, Emeritus Professor at the University of Canterbury, a Chartered Professional Engineer, past President of the NZ Timber Design Society and Principal at PTL Structural Consultants.
The Guide is a useful reference for building designers and an educational reference for tertiary students in construction and design.
The Guide features 29 chapters on the use of timber including the properties of timber and wood products, engineered wood products, durability, acoustics, fire resistance, moisture content, structural elements, design data and connecting systems.
The genesis of the Timber Design Guide started in 1987 when the Timber Use Manual was published. The Guide has been revised several times with the current version, the Third Edition, republished in February 2019.
Order Forms
Please complete the relevant order form to order your copy.
Once you have submitted your order form, please make the required payment (noted on each form) into our bank account.
Failure to make payment will result in us being unable to process your order.
Payment Details for NZ orders:
Account Number: 01 0535 0003814 000
Account Name: New Zealand Timber Industry Federation
Bank: ANZ, Lower Hutt
Payment Details for overseas orders:
Telegraphic transfer only. Payment to be made to: New Zealand Timber Industry Federation Inc
Account Number: 01 0535 0003814 000
Swift Code: ANZBNZ22
Other Useful Websites
Verified Timber
A quality assurance programme designed to ensure that structural timber meets its claimed strength and stiffness characteristics.
BRANZ
BRANZ is an independent research organisation offering evidence-based advice, testing, and consultancy services for the building industry in New Zealand. They provide valuable information, including resources on timber treatment, to help address challenges in the built environment.
Farm Forestry New Zealand
Farm forestry is a community of people that have been growing trees in New Zealand since 1957.
The website has useful information including a glossary of timber terms, information about saw milling hard woods and speciality timbers in NZ.
Think Wood
The Think Wood website has ideas on how wood can elevate your projects, meet budgets, achieve sustainability goals, and create awe-inspiring structures.
NZ Timber Preservation Council
The (NZTPC) is the leading authority on timber treatment in NZ and the proprietor of the WOODmark® quality assurance programme.
Standards New Zealand
Standards New Zealand is a business unit within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. They specialise in managing the development of standards, and publish and sell New Zealand, joint Australia-New Zealand, and international standards. They have a range of building related standards available.
Worksafe
WorkSafe is New Zealand’s main workplace health and safety regulator, and their website offers a variety of information on health and safety in the timber treatment industry.
Te Uru Rakau / Forestry NZ
Te Uru Rākau is focused on supporting the planting of exotic and indigenous forests and sustainable forestry management.
Statistic Dashboard
As part of NZTIF’s dedication to industry excellence, we provide a comprehensive range of dashboards and statistics about the timber industry, updated quarterly to enhance knowledge of sawmilling in New Zealand. Our members receive regular newsletters containing detailed reports and tailored statistics, ensuring they stay informed with the latest industry data. These reports are meticulously compiled from various sources, including Statistics NZ, Infoshare, and MPI, offering both curated insights and access to raw data.
Annual production of timber
Timber available to the NZ market
New Zealand New Dwelling Consents
NZ North Island New Dwelling Consents
NZ South Island New Dwelling Consents
New Zealand New Dwelling Consents
| Location | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | 1,302 | 1,210 | 1,119 | 1,052 | 1,140 | 1,501 | 1,480 | 1,028 | |
| Auckland | 10,199 | 11,192 | 13,874 | 14,932 | 17,495 | 21,477 | 20,312 | 14,699 | |
| Waikato | 3,555 | 3,477 | 3,915 | 4,195 | 4,296 | 5,135 | 4,511 | 3,228 | |
| Bay of Plenty | 2,566 | 2,368 | 2,045 | 2,103 | 2,257 | 2,533 | 1,919 | 1,579 | |
| East Coast | 68 | 95 | 86 | 92 | 109 | 183 | 174 | 170 | |
| Hawkes Bay | 486 | 620 | 586 | 843 | 1,093 | 996 | 784 | 758 | |
| Taranaki | 575 | 492 | 455 | 659 | 712 | 836 | 588 | 388 | |
| Manawatu/Whanganui | 889 | 1,006 | 1,200 | 1,186 | 1,397 | 1,527 | 1,331 | 1,171 | |
| Wellington | 2,076 | 2,558 | 2,708 | 3,304 | 3,037 | 3,836 | 3,607 | 2,358 | |
| Nelson/Marlborough | 851 | 971 | 1,004 | 1,028 | 1,044 | 1,311 | 1,219 | 780 | |
| Westland | 105 | 101 | 128 | 145 | 129 | 230 | 245 | 209 | |
| Canterbury | 5,769 | 4,906 | 4,915 | 5,446 | 6,083 | 8,557 | 8,171 | 6,575 | |
| Otago | 1,930 | 2,136 | 2,211 | 2,2226 | 1,874 | 2,506 | 2,186 | 1,952 | |
| Southland | 250 | 256 | 262 | 405 | 353 | 480 | 397 | 340 | |
| North Island | 21,716 | 23,018 | 25,988 | 28,366 | 31,536 | 38,024 | 34,706 | 25,379 | |
| South Island | 8,905 | 8,370 | 8,520 | 9,250 | 9,483 | 12,831 | 12,218 | 9,856 | |
| New Zealand | 30,621 | 31,388 | 34,508 | 37,616 | 41,028 | 50,858 | 46,925 | 35,236 |
Year Ending 31 March (Source: Infoshare)
Sawn Timber Export Data
Annual Timber Exports by Country of Destination by Quantity (m3)
| Annual Timber Exports by Country of Destination by Quantity (m3) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| China | 471,791 | 346,685 | 180,290 | 206,827 | 182,762 |
| United States | 191,196 | 257,831 | 221,366 | 229,378 | 212,921 |
| Vietnam | 151,919 | 205,963 | 106,872 | 71,751 | 99,344 |
| Australia | 119,863 | 134,102 | 132,659 | 125,880 | 132,697 |
| Taiwan | 69,598 | 97,001 | 97,990 | 71,838 | 95,777 |
| South Korea | 79,069 | 74,470 | 124,005 | 126,024 | 154,089 |
| Thailand | 108,880 | 90,364 | 88,369 | 90,409 | 103,574 |
| Japan | 57,181 | 53,899 | 57,442 | 42,283 | 33,280 |
| Netherlands | 46,437 | 45,653 | 62,781 | 65,249 | 40,245 |
| Indonesia | 82,625 | 71,739 | 55,364 | 44,067 | 61,934 |
| Other destinations | 318,996 | 337,592 | 353,614 | 267,961 | 293,878 |
| Grand Total | 1,697,557 | 1,715,301 | 1,480,756 | 1,341,665 | 1,410,501 |
| Derived from MPI data |
Annual Timber Exports by Country of Destination by NZD’000 (free on board)
| Annual Timber Exports by Country of Destination by NZD'000 (free on board) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| China | 130,705 | 105,405 | 62,874 | 69,690 | 55,801 |
| United States | 204,029 | 262,155 | 254,822 | 322,724 | 285,996 |
| Vietnam | 50,203 | 71,648 | 49,709 | 26,142 | 37,009 |
| Australia | 105,596 | 126,110 | 132,635 | 140,774 | 142,472 |
| Taiwan | 26,123 | 39,071 | 51,306 | 35,282 | 39,288 |
| South Korea | 22,675 | 21,299 | 52,244 | 44,947 | 51,475 |
| Thailand | 26,573 | 25,086 | 38,822 | 33,321 | 30,706 |
| Japan | 28,047 | 25,868 | 30,974 | 23,872 | 17,777 |
| Netherlands | 43,675 | 43,745 | 58,952 | 66,163 | 44,557 |
| Indonesia | 27,402 | 24,712 | 27,113 | 19,944 | 22,475 |
| Other destinations | 143,504 | 164,921 | 213,775 | 154,045 | 158,114 |
| Grand Total | 808,534 | 910,024 | 973,228 | 936,902 | 885,670 |
| Derived from MPI data |
Annual Sawn Timber Exports Average Value
| Annual Sawn Timber Exports Average Value (NZD/m3 fob) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| China | 277 | 304 | 349 | 337 | 305 |
| United States | 1,067 | 1,017 | 1,151 | 1,407 | 1,343 |
| Vietnam | 330 | 348 | 465 | 364 | 373 |
| Australia | 881 | 940 | 1,000 | 1,118 | 1,074 |
| Taiwan | 375 | 403 | 524 | 491 | 410 |
| South Korea | 287 | 286 | 421 | 357 | 334 |
| Thailand | 244 | 278 | 439 | 369 | 296 |
| Japan | 490 | 480 | 539 | 565 | 534 |
| Netherlands | 941 | 958 | 939 | 1,014 | 1,107 |
| Indonesia | 332 | 344 | 490 | 453 | 363 |
| Other destinations | 450 | 489 | 605 | 575 | 538 |
| Grand Total | 476 | 531 | 657 | 698 | 628 |
| Derived from MPI data |
Log Export Data
Annual Log Exports by Country of Destination by Quantity
| Annual Log Exports by Country of Destination by Quantity (m3) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| China | 15,368,458 | 19,933,608 | 18,257,998 | 18,121,106 | 19,086,260 |
| South Korea | 1,773,759 | 1,787,317 | 1,612,415 | 1,683,792 | 1,306,842 |
| India | 1,007,162 | 381,633 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | 317,911 | 299,293 | 271,647 | 205,876 | 222,762 |
| Hong Kong | 304,033 | 1,006,685 | 422,905 | 156,593 | 0 |
| China & Hong Kong | 15,672,491 | 20,940,293 | 18,680,903 | 18,277,699 | 19,086,260 |
| All other destinations | 150,377 | 145,626 | 197,356 | 199,680 | 502,642 |
| Total | 18,928,372 | 23,555,040 | 20,842,958 | 20,367,272 | 21,131,139 |
| Derived from MPI data |
Derived from MPI data.
Annual Log Exports by Country of Destination by NZD’000
| Annual Log Exports by Country of Destination by NZD'000 (free on board) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| China | 2,302 | 3,336 | 3,149 | 3,002 | 2,936 |
| South Korea | 250 | 295 | 290 | 280 | 179 |
| India | 139 | 60 | 20 | 0 | 37 |
| Japan | 48 | 44 | 52 | 39 | 32 |
| Hong Kong | 18 | 58 | 67 | 25 | 3 |
| China & Hong Kong | 2,321 | 3,394 | 3,215 | 3,027 | 2,939 |
| All other destinations | 32 | 36 | 50 | 42 | 40 |
| Total | 2,790 | 3,830 | 3,627 | 3,388 | 3,227 |
| Derived from MPI data |
Annual Log Exports Average Value
| Annual Log Exports Average Value (NZD/m3 fob) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
| China | 153 | 164 | 172 | 166 | 154 |
| South Korea | 144 | 165 | 180 | 166 | 138 |
| India | 150 | 159 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | 154 | 154 | 192 | 188 | 143 |
| Hong Kong | 129 | 149 | 158 | 159 | 0 |
| All other destinations | 374 | 327 | 294 | 198 | 154 |
| All exports | 152 | 164 | 174 | 166 | 150 |
| Derived from MPI data |
Data Sources
Exports and imports - Levels and destinations information:
PF Olsen - Log Price + Carbon Price information
Forestry production information:
MPI - Forestry statistics
Forest Owners Association - Facts and Figures
Sawmill production information:
Figure NZ - Businesses in the Log Sawmilling Industry in NZ
Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) Forest Products Industry Map
Become a NZTIF Member
Join us and help us look after NZ’s timber industry. By being an NZTIF member, you benefit from convenient, regularly delivered emails with statistics specifically relevant to your work, empowering you with the information needed to excel in the timber sector.
NZTIF welcomes new members and works hard to look after the membership community.