Smarter Technologies to Improve our Industry
- 10-11 November 2026, Rotorua, New Zealand
About the event
For over a decade Innovatek’s HarvestTECH and Woodflow Logistics conferences have served as a key combined technology forum for professionals in the forestry and wood harvesting and log transport sectors across Australasia.
The events focus on the latest technologies, industry innovations, and operational best practices. Case studies from industry leaders among logging contractors, harvesting managers, logistics and transport operators are always valued. Since 2022 our industry speaker also join in technical Q&A panels to allow good delegate interaction. Business leaders, manager and supervisors all benefit from knowledge sharing, networking, and live demonstrations, fostering collaboration and industry advancement.
Over the years, HarvestTECH has become recognised for spotlighting emerging trends, digital solutions, and machinery developments, helping industry stakeholders remain competitive and informed in a rapidly evolving sector. The combination of wood logistics now brings a wider supply chain perspective with technologies spanning these key parts of our Australian and New Zealand forestry sectors.
Interested in presenting?
Planning for this event has already started. If you, or one of your colleagues, are interested in presenting, please forward details to john.stulen@innovatek.co.nz or phone (+64) 27 275 8011.
Who will attend?
- Harvesting and wood flow planners
- Wood harvesting and haulage contractors
- Transport operators
- Forestry managers
- Forest owners
- Technical foresters
- Forestry consultants
- Forestry researchers
- Wood supply chain and logistics companies
- Key suppliers to forestry, wood harvesting & transport operators
Niklas Moore
Managing Director, Tui Technology
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Oliver Boakes
BDM, BOA Hydraulics
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Raymond Dobbe
Director, BiocharTP Ltd
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Dale Ewers
Managing Director, DC Equipment
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Ian Wilton
Managing Director, FORCO
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Paul Milliken
Director, Applied Teleoperation Limited
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Lance Burdett
Founder & Director, WARN International
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Ian Piebenga
Managing Director, PermaPine
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Ian Hinton
GM Strategy & New Ventures, Kaingaroa Tipu
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Charan Ashokraj
Global Business Leader - Logistics Products, Trimble Forestry
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Chile
Maite Pedulla
Marketing Manager, WoodTech
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Mike Casey
CEO, Rewiring Aotearoa
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Programme
If you have any questions about the programme or are interested in speaking, please contact John Stulen at john.stulen@innovatek.co.nz or (+64) 27 275 8011.
DAY ONE
Tuesday 10 November 2026
11:00am
REGISTRATION OPENS
11:30am
Lunch and Networking for Conference Delegates
Exhibition Stands, Distinction Hotel, Rotorua
SESSION 1
Chair: John Stulen, Director, Innovatek
12:20pm
Conference Welcome and Introduction
John Stulen, Director, Innovatek
12:30pm
Keynote Address | Energy Resilience for Forestry Supply Chains — Learnings from Other Sectors
Mike Casey, CEO, Rewiring Aotearoa
1:10pm
Electrification. PermaPine’s Journey and What We've Learned
Ian Piebenga, Managing Director, PermaPine
1:45pm
KANG2050 – Kaingaroa Tipu’s vision for the Future of Forestry in New Zealand
Ian Hinton, GM Strategy & New Ventures, Kaingaroa Tipu
2:15pm
From Reactive Dispatch to AI-Assisted Logistics: The Next Generation of Forestry Transport Planning
Charan Ashokraj, Engineering Manager, Trimble Forestry
2:35pm
TECH TALKS
- Connected Harvesting: Solving the Last-Mile Connectivity Challenge in Remote Forest Operations
Aaron Oxenham, Eagle Technology - BOA — Turning Downtime into Hydraulic Uptime™
Oliver Boakes, BOA Hydraulics
2:50pm
Q&A Panel Session
All Session 1 Speakers
3:00pm
Afternoon Tea, Coffee & Networking
Coffee Cart kindly sponsored by:
SESSION 2
3:40pm
Case Study: Cut To Length Grapple Swing Yarder Operation
Blain Cox, Owner, Cox Forestry Services
4:10pm
Going Paperless – What Australian Forestry Learned the Hard Way / So New Zealand Can Skip
Craig Hull & Pablo Asiron, Remsoft
4:40pm
Mechanised Steep Slope Harvesting: What's It Going to Take to get the last 15%
Dale Ewers, Managing Director, DC Equipment
5:10pm
Q&A Panel Session
All Session 2 Speakers
5:30pm
Drinks, Canapés & Networking
DAY TWO
Wednesday 11 November 2026
SESSION 3
Chair: Carolyn Glasson, General Manager, APAC, Remsoft
8:00am
Staying Sharp in a Dynamic Industry: The Neuroscience of Focus and Resilience
Lance Burdett. Founder & Director, WARN International
8:30am
First High Production, Commercially Available, Autonomous Forestry Machine Globally –
The first autonomous high production skidder. Built for clear-felling and currently operating in NZ
The first autonomous high production skidder. Built for clear-felling and currently operating in NZ
Ian Wilton, Managing Director, FORCO
9:00am
Managing Productivity in a High Production Logging Operation
Scott Saunders, Owner, Trimax Logging
9:30am
Digital Transformation of Log Reception: AI Driven Automation for Efficient, Transparent Operations
Maite Pedulla, Marketing Manager, WoodTech, Chile
9:50am
Q&A Panel Session
All Session 3 Speakers
10:00am
Morning Tea, Coffee & Networking
Coffee Cart kindly sponsored by:
SESSION 4
Chair: John Stulen, Director, Innovatek
10:40am
TECH TALKS
David Murray, SGS
11:00am
Solving the Slash Problem at Source: There's Money in that Waste
Raymond Dobbe, Director, BiocharTP
11.30am
Advances in Harvester Head Technologies for Streamlining Operations
Daniel Honore, Forest Operations Manager, Waratah
12:00pm
Semi-automated Cable Yarding
Paul Milliken, Director, Applied Teleoperation Limited
12:20pm
Protecting our Livelihood with AI — FGR and Tui Technology's Solution for Detecting Bark on Export Logs
Nik Moore, Managing Director, Tui Technology
12:40pm
Q&A Panel Session
All Session 4 Speakers
1:00pm
Lunch & Networking
2:00pm
WORKSHOP: Forest Industry Contractors Association Workshop (FICA)
Collaboration for Improving Harvesting Productivity: Why does it take a WINDTHROW?
Featuring FICA’s Rowan Struthers and industry leaders, they will will share insights on improving productivity, meeting production targets, learning from case studies, and boosting profitability in a challenging operating environment.
Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities
We always receive strong interest in the sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities available. For a full range of future sponsorship, exhibition and branding options, please contact our Marketing & Sponsorship Manager, Gordon Thomson on (+64) 7 921 1384 or (+64) 27 275 8022 or email: gordon.thomson@innovatek.co.nz
Contact us about sponsorship
Event Partners
Premium Event Sponsor
Sponsors
Supporting Organisations
FIEA Partners
Media Partners
Venue & Accommodation
Rotorua, New Zealand
Distinction Hotel Rotorua
390 Fenton Street, Rotorua, New Zealand
With its beautiful garden setting and located just minutes from the city centre, Distinction Rotorua Hotel is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a big day at the conference. After the event, this hotel is also a great base to enjoy the wealth of attractions and activities Rotorua has to offer. Free car parking is available at the venue, however, spaces are limited and hotel guests take priority.
Special accommodation rates available:
EARLYBIRD ROOM RATES (booked prior to 10 August 2026)
- Superior Room $195 incl. GST (per room per night based on single, double or twin share occupancy)
- Deluxe Room $215 incl. GST (per room per night based on single, double or twin share occupancy)
- Junior Suite $275 incl. GST (per room per night based on single or double share occupancy)
- Executive Suite $305 incl. GST (per room per night based on single or double share occupancy)
STANDARD ROOM RATES (booked on or after 11 August 2026)
- Superior Room $220 incl. GST (per room per night based on single, double or twin share occupancy)
- Deluxe Room $240 incl. GST (per room per night based on single, double or twin share occupancy)
- Junior Suite $300 incl. GST (per room per night based on single or double share occupancy)
- Executive Suite $330 incl. GST (per room per night based on single or double share occupancy)
Book Hotel Accommodation
Rotorua, New Zealand
Avero Rotorua
18-20 Trigg Avenue, Rotorua, New Zealand
AVERO Rotorua is located just 100 metres from the Distinction Hotel, directly opposite the Distinction Hotel carpark, offering a convenient accommodation option within easy walking distance of the conference venue. Our newly renovated boutique-style accommodation features contemporary interiors with wooden flooring, air conditioning, fully-equipped kitchenette, 65-inch Smart TVs, spacious tiled bathrooms, and complimentary designated on-site parking. Selected rooms also include private wooden soaking tubs, providing a relaxing space to unwind after a busy day.
Innovatek delegates receive 10% off when booking directly through our website using the promotional code INNOVA10. Please use the link below to access the exclusive conference rate.
Book Motel Accommodation
Registration
Super Early Bird Conference Rate | $795 + GST (Save $160 pp)
Super early bird ends Friday 11 Sept 2026. Rates are per person. Standard rate is $955.
Group Rate (3-5) | $695 + GST (Save $260 pp)
Rates are per person. A minimum of 3 attendees is required for this special rate. Standard rate is $955.
Group Rate (6+) | $595 + GST (Save $360 pp)
Rates are per person. A minimum of 6 attendees is required for this special rate. Standard rate is $955.
Registration Details
Rates details:
- The Conference Rate refers to your attendance in person at the Rotorua, New Zealand conference and exhibitions.
- All prices exclude GST (15%).
- For New Zealand transactions, a credit card processing fee of 2.7% will be charged.
- The Super Early Bird and Early Bird Rates applies only to the standard conference rate. To be eligible, registrations and payment must be received ON or BEFORE the listed date above. All special discounts require payment at the time of registration and before the cut-off date in order to receive any discount.
- Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA) Member Discounts of 10-25% apply to the listed Standard Conference Rate. FIEA Membership Details and Benefits can be seen on www.fiea.org.nz. Membership status and discounts available can be checked by calling our FIEA offices.
- For those attending in Rotorua, the event registration payment covers morning and afternoon teas, lunch, refreshments, Networking Evening, workshops, a conference handbook and post-event access to presentation PPT’s (electronic download of PDF’s, for those presentations where presenter approval has been given).
Health & Safety related information:
- The event organiser will work to ensure that all instructions provided by New Zealand Health Authorities, relating to travel and the running of events because of COVID, or other such health emergencies, are strictly adhered to.
- It is the responsibility of the sponsor, exhibitor or delegate, if intending to travel to attend the conference, to check on all updated health and Government guidelines for any specific entry requirements.
- If for any reason the venue is unable to be used because of National restrictions that might have been imposed by Government, the event organiser may need to either reschedule the event or move the event online. Your registration will automatically transfer to the new dates and/or format. In this situation, no refunds will be given. If the event is not moved online or able to be rescheduled within 12 months of the original date, you will be entitled to a credit or a full refund.
Cancellation policy:
For cancellations on or before Friday 9 October 2026, a 10% administration fee applies. Cancellations received after this date are non-refundable but are transferrable. Please allow 30 days for refunds to be processed. If you wish to transfer your registration to another individual from within your company, please provide us with at least 24 hours advance notice.
Read full Terms & Conditions
