Logging detritus brought down by heavy rain sits at the Mangatokerau Bridge, near Tolaga Bay on the East Coast. Photo: Supplied/Gisborne District Council.
Last week's torrential rain dumped one million tonnes of forest debris on Tolaga Bay farms. Even mature trees wouldn't have stayed standing in those conditions, forest experts say.
Iain McInnes is chairman of the Eastland Wood Council which provides a collective voice for the forestry industry in the Eastland region, as well as regional manager for Earnslaw One.
He says companies try to build buffers to stop slash from washing downstream. Some of them worked effectively, others were ineffective.
It could be months before the debris is cleared away. Iain McInnes says forestry companies neighbouring the damaged farms will be helping in the cleanup, but he has no comment to make about financial assistance.
Three companies are involved: Earnslaw One, Hikurangi Forest Farms and PF Olsens.
