Forestry sector firmly behind community footy

(l~r) Hugh Morrison (Port Nelson), Steve Chandler (Tasman Pine Forests), Murray Sturgeon (Nelson Pine Industries), Sharon Adlam (AICA) & Mark Forward (OneFortyOne).

The Tasman Rugby Union (TRU) is very pleased that Tasman Pine Forests Ltd (TPFL) has joined its family of Brand Sponsors, joining other regional businesses involved in the sustainable and innovative forestry sector that are backing community rugby in the top of the South (Te Tauihu) and the flagship Tasman Mako teams. 

TPFL’s brand logo will appear on the back of Tasman Mako apparel, below the numbers, for the next three seasons. They will join fellow Sumitomo Forestry NZ Limited subsidiary Nelson Pine Industries Ltd whose GoldenEdge logo adorns the Tasman Mako front of jersey as Principal Sponsor. 

As a renewable resource, TPFL’s objective is to grow wood for an economic return to both the business and to the local community. They are of the firm belief that wood is a life source and that “Happiness Grows from Trees”. 

The Wakefield-based business manages a forest estate of some 36,200 ha of exotic plantations throughout Te Tauihu. The wood is utilised in both domestic and international markets for a range of end-uses including medium density fibreboard (GoldenEdge MDF) and laminated veneer lumber (Nelson Pine LVL), sawn timber, posts and poles.? 

Another Te Tauihu forest management company and owners of Kaituna Sawmill near Blenheim, OneFortyOne New Zealand, also feature on the Mako jersey as collar sponsors. Formerly known as Nelson Forests, the business has had a long partnership with rugby in the region, taking pride in backing community rugby for males and females of all ages as well as the successful Tasman Mako. 

Another business partner of Nelson Pine Industries, AICA NZ Ltd is the Tasman Mako sleeve sponsor. AICA provide the adhesive resin that helps with the manufacture of MDF and LVL products. 

The link between these outstanding businesses and their global markets is Port Nelson, “the Region’s Gateway to the World” and the Tasman Mako side of jersey sponsor for the next three years.