The annual harvest from Wenita's plantation forest estate is presently 340,000 cubic metres of logs, predominantly Radiata pine. The sustainable level of harvest from Wenita's forest estate is projected at 350,000 cubic metres per annum.
Of this annual log volume, approximately 50% is sold to domestic processors with the balance exported as logs.

• Firstly the Board of Directors reviews the strategic business plan and policy statements.
• Then the annual work program including the physical and financial budget is finalised.

A summary of the relevant policies and objectives is provided here for public scrutiny. While Wenita is committed to providing full public disclosure there are certain matters that must remain confidential for commercial reasons.

Wenita will always strive to maximise the wealth of its shareholders within the parameters defined by the company's Mission Statement

2. Environmental Management

Wenita is committed to being an environmentally responsible plantation forest owner and producer of wood-based products. To meet this objective Wenita has implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS). Underpinning the EMS is a commitment to sustainable forest management, the protection of cultural and historic sites and areas of significant indigenous habitat, and to continual improvement of environmental management.

3. Corporate Citizenship

Wenita is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen. While this is reflected in all of the Company's policies, specifically it will

• Support local community group initiatives where there is a direct relationship.
• Promote educational and recreational use of the forest environment.
• Support pan-industry initiatives where directly relevant. (Wenita is a member of the NZ Forest Owners Association).

4. Land Management

Wenita accepts its responsibility, as a significant rural land owner and occupier, to practice sustainable land management and mitigate off-site effects, and manage its estate consistently with that ethic.

5. Silviculture

Wenita will adopt sound silvicultural practices to meet the objective of maximising the value of its forest resource while minimising the risk to the growing crop and land. More specifically Wenita is committed to planting and tending Radiata pine on a clearwood regime, except where environmental conditions give other regimes or species an economic advantage, or where there is a need to diversify risk.

6. Resource Management and Monitoring

Wenita is committed to maintaining a non-declining annual wood yield from its forest estate. Wenita has linked computer based mapping software; (Geographic Information System) with information from forest surveys to build up a database of forest resources. This information is used to monitor forest growth, regulate yield, identify endangered species and protected areas, and for long, medium and short term planning. All activities are monitored and the database and plans are regularly updated as new information is gathered.

7. Harvesting

Wenita is committed to maximising value recovery from its harvesting operations, whilst maintaining the position of being a cost competitive producer and recognising the need to comply with its Environmental, Health and Safety, and other responsibilities. Wenita has an ongoing commitment to introducing new and innovative technology that improves economics and worker safety, protects soil cover and enhances ecological diversity, to complement traditional harvesting techniques.

Havesting maps:

• Allanton
• Berwick
• Kaitangata
• Maungatua
• Mt Allan

Mt Allan Harvest:

After considerable evaluation, Wenita has elected to harvest Mt Allan Forest using a super skid to centralise log-making. This means that full-length stems are trucked to the super skid where they are scanned, cut to log lengths and fleeted by grade into bins by a stem merchandiser, and then loaded out for distribution to export (via Pt Chalmers) and domestic customers. This differs from Wenita's previous harvesting approach and should improve productivity and quality.

At the super skid a wider range of log grades can be cut than is possible on a conventional bush skid site, allowing better value recovery and improved efficiency in the log-making process.

Residues arising from the superskid (bark, sawdust, etc) will be accumulated in sufficient quantity to be saleable.

By early 2009 all gangs are producing a combined total of about 1100 tonnes of stems per day, and that level of production should continue for the next 8 years. The total harvest is forecast to be approximately 2 million tonnes.

8. Marketing

Wenita is committed to remaining an influential supplier of choice for softwood products for local and export markets by maintaining its position as a reliable supplier of products of a consistent and high quality.

9. Processing

Wenita is committed to encouraging and supporting the development of further log processing in the region where this can improve the value of the log supply available from its forest resource.

10. Research and Development

Wenita is committed to an ongoing program in forestry research that is consistent with achieving its management objectives. This research is generally undertaken through pan-industry associations.

11. Health and Safety

Wenita is committed to the health and safety of its employees, contractors and visitors and to the elimination of work-related illness and injury, and adopts health, safety and welfare as a fundamental business objective.

12. Personnel Management

Wenita is committed to being a good employer, providing a safe and healthy working environment with equality of opportunity for all employees by:

• Advocating equal employment opportunity
• Supporting ongoing training by individual staff,
• Undertaking annual performance reviews for individual staff members.

13. Contract Workforce Management

The forest industry is characterised by a high proportion of operations being performed by piece rate contract, viz. logging, cartage and silviculture.

Wenita is committed in employing this contract workforce to:

• Only use primary contractors who comply with the Wenita policies on health and safety, environmental management and personnel management.
• Giving preference to local contractors who employ locally.
• Maintaining a long-term relationship with a low risk.
• Maintaining relationships with the lowest number of contractors practicable.
• Periodic controlled tendering of work to ensure market rates are maintained.

14. Public Use

Wenita recognises that commerce can be a compatible partner with conservation and recreation interests and is committed to making a significant area of its forest estate accessible to the public, where safety and crop security is not compromised. These areas provide a stimulating environment in which the public can enjoy a range of outdoor activities including firewood collecting, hunting, walking, orienteering and picnicking, while at the same time gaining an appreciation of plantation forests as a valuable asset and provider of employment for local people. Supervised motor rallying, including national events, is also permitted in some areas of the forests.

• Growing the export from New Zealand of Radiata pine products to diversified markets throughout the world.
• Identifying new opportunities to expand and maximise the return from the Otago region forest resource, with particular emphasis on pruned logs and value added processing.
• Undertaking sustained replanting and resource management in order to secure the long term viability and profitability of the Company.
• Actively participating in the New Zealand forestry and wood products industry.