Summit Forests New Zealand

Name

Summit Forests New Zealand

Legal name

Summit Forests New Zealand Limited

Website

https://summitforests.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forestry and Timber Operations

NAICS

Timber Tract Operations (11311), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Timberland & Forest Asset Management (IMAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Silviculture & Reforestation Services (Nurseries, Planting, Tending) (IMAMAJAC), Timberland Operations Planning & Contractor Management (AFAMAKAE)

Keywords

• Plantation forest management
• Timber harvesting services
• Log export operations
• Sustainable forestry management
• Forest asset investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Timber Harvesting and Sales: Harvesting plantation forests and selling timber to domestic sawmills and export markets. Volumes expected to increase to over 1.1 million tonnes in 2024. Northland heavily weighted to local mills with ~85% domestic sales.
2. Log Export: Own dedicated log export business operating export sales primarily to China with smaller volumes to other Asian countries
3. Private Woodlots: Marketing logs and managing private woodlots for third-party forest owners
4. Forest Asset Investment: Investing in New Zealand forestry assets for future returns, with acquisitions of productive forest land

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Summit Forests New Zealand manages approximately 50,000 hectares of plantation forest across Northland, Coromandel, Whanganui, and the Gisborne/East Coast regions. The company provides end-to-end forestry operations including forest establishment, silviculture management, harvesting, and log export. It also offers third-party forest management services for private woodlots and iwi/Māori landowners.

Product overview

Summit Forests New Zealand operates as a vertically integrated forestry company offering a unified suite of services centered on plantation forest management and harvesting. The core offerings include Forest Management Services (strategic forest planning, planting, tending, and maintenance), Forest Harvest Services (harvesting, road construction, and logistics), and a dedicated Log Export Business that handles international sales through Sumitomo Corporation's network. The company also provides Private Woodlots Management for external forest owners. These services work together to deliver end-to-end forestry operations from tree establishment through to timber sales and export.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forest Harvest Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Biggest supplier to domestic wood mills in Northland
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Project Kiwi TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit engages Project Kiwi to manage predator control programmes (trap networks) within Whangapoua Forest's Biodiversity Block for Coromandel brown kiwi conservation. Includes 193 traps checked 24 times/year. Project has released 100th kiwi into Whangapoua Forest.
• Tāne's Tree TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit participates in Tāne's Tree Trust's 'Transitioning Exotic Forest to Native' research project, supported by MPI Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. Five-year research program studying understory of pine canopy densities across Summit forests at Whakaangiangi, Buddo, and Pine Park stands.
• Discover ForestrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Discover Forestry to deliver 'Wood is Good' primary school education programme teaching children about plantation forest cycles, wood products, and safety around large vehicles. Programme delivered to 350+ students in Far North schools.
• KJS LogtranzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLog transport partner involved in delivering 'Wood is Good' programme to Far North schools alongside Discover Forestry and Summit Forests.
• Kerikeri Mountain Bike ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSince 2021, Summit opened Whitehills Forests to the 180-member mountain bike club for trail riding. Club maintains and builds tracks suitable for intermediate to expert riders. Area closed Wednesdays and first Saturday for hunting.
• Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Ngai Takoto (Te Hiku Collective)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour iwi collectively own Te Hiku Forest (18,000 hectares) with Summit managing operations. Summit collaborates with iwi on cultural aspects, kaitiakitanga, and whānaungatanga values. Iwi represented at office blessing ceremony.
• Department of Conservation (DOC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOC collaborates on restoration projects including Lake Little Gem, dune lake restoration, and provides BBQ at annual Arbor Day planting events. Also involved in Waingaro Wetland bird protection initiatives.
• Bushland TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBushland Trust grows eco-sourced seedlings at Kaitaia Intermediate School for Lake Little Gem restoration. Trust educational representative teaches students about pre-human wetlands and eco-sourcing.
• Northland Regional CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Lake Little Gem restoration project and dune lake conservation efforts. Joint environmental restoration initiatives in Northland region.
• Holmes GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in 'Wood is Good' safety programme, providing truck driver demonstration and safety education to school children about large vehicle blind spots and road safety.
• Forest Owners Association (FOA)minorOthersSummit participates in industry workshops with FOA, Te Uru Rakau, MPI, and Northland Regional Council on best practice guidelines for kauri protection and biosecurity management.
• Sport NorthlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSummit is headline sponsor of annual Kaitaia Trail Run/Walk through Te Hiku Forest. Sponsorship saves event ~$10,000 in track preparation costs.
• FNR Forestry 2019 LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContracted thinning crew that discovered baby kiwi in burrow at Takakuri Forest. Part of Summit's contractor network for silviculture and harvesting operations.
• Northland Wood CouncilminorOthersSummit partners with Northland Wood Council for industry events, awards sponsorship, and 'Wood is Good' programme delivery.
• Eastland Wood CouncilminorOthersSummit partners with Eastland Wood Council for Gisborne region operations, contractor workshops, and annual forestry awards.
• Paparore SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain contributor to Lake Little Gem Arbor Day planting over years. Students and teachers regularly participate in restoration activities and outdoor education programmes.
• Kaitaia CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird year of partnership hosting Tūranga Kāinga programme students at Lake Gem for environmental education. Students contribute to restoration through track marking, planting, and stile building.
• Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit donated ~16 tonnes of pine wood for EIT chainsaw training course for young forestry students. Donation enabled course to proceed.
• ScionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestry research institute partnered with Summit for Forest Flow Research programme developing methods to predict and optimise water use in planted forests.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hancock Natural Resource Group: Global timberland investment manager (Manulife subsidiary) with extensive plantation holdings worldwide. Comparable institutional timberland operating model though much larger scale and globally diversified.
• New Forests: Asia-Pacific forestry investment manager (Australian HQ) overseeing institutional timberland assets. Comparable in managing institutional capital against forest portfolios across the region, though broader in geography and tree-species exposure.
• Rayonier: US timberland REIT and former employer of Summit's Head of Forest Strategy. Comparable as a publicly listed pure-play timberland owner-operator; broader geographically but similar vertically integrated forestry economics.

Direct peers

• Kaingaroa Timberlands: One of the largest plantation forestry companies in New Zealand (~80,000 ha of radiata pine). Directly comparable to Summit as a vertically integrated forest owner-operator in the same NZ market with similar species mix.
• Ernslaw One: NZ-based forestry investment manager from whom Summit acquired 15,100 ha. Operates in similar NZ regions with comparable radiata pine estate management and harvesting business.
• Blakely Pacific: New Zealand and Australian forestry investor and manager with significant plantation holdings. Closely comparable in scale, species mix (radiata pine), and vertical integration into harvesting and marketing.
• Juken New Zealand (JNL): Japanese-owned (Woodone Holdings) NZ forestry company and the original seller of the Juken Northern Estate to Summit. Comparable business model of plantation ownership, harvesting, and Japan-aligned log exports.
• Matariki Forests: NZ-focused forestry investment vehicle managing radiata pine estates. Comparable as a forest asset manager and producer operating in the same regulatory and end-market context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/summitforestsnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/summit-forests-new-zealand-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Summit Forests New Zealand