Historic archives – Blow Down - 1976

Scion is digitalising its archive video collection, maintaining and honouring the work that was done in the earliest days of forestry research in New Zealand. This video covers the ‘blowdown’, a hurricane event that damaged millions of trees in North Canterbury back in August 1975. “In the early hours of 1st August 1975, a hurricane struck the plantation forests of North Canterbury. In a few hours millions of trees were uprooted or broken, leaving approximately 10 years of normal supply of wood on the ground. This film shows the way in which the then New Zealand Forest Service tackled the mammoth task of disposing of the wood and how they took precautions against fire, insects, and fungal attack.”

Produced and Directed by John Wright

Established in 1947, the Forest Research Institute (FRI), which is now called Scion, has played a significant role in forest research for New Zealand. Scion continues to deliver impact for Aotearoa, read more about our latest forest research and how we’re reducing wind damage in forests here: https://www.scionresearch.com/science...