12 December 2005
Blakely Pacific (NZ) Limited Acting Managing Director Appointment Honours
Established Legacy
The appointment of Andrew Cocking, previously New Zealand Operations Manager to the role of acting Managing Director of
Blakely Pacific (NZ) Limited, continues the fine legacy established by the company's outgoing Managing Director/Vice
President Michael Buchanan.
The appointment, confirmed by Michael Mosman, Vice President Resources, Port Blakely Tree Farms LP, Seattle,
USA.,(parent company of Blakely Pacific (NZ) Limited), is effective immediately.
“Andrew Cocking will hold the role of Managing Director until the arrival in April 2006 of the company's new incoming MD
Phil Taylor, who joins Blakely Pacific from City Forests in Dunedin. The interim tenure of Mr Cocking's appointment has
been necessitated by the decision by outgoing Managing Director/Vice President Michael Buchanan to take early retirement
and return to the USA,” said Mr Mosman.
Andrew Cocking, aged 34, has been employed by Blakely Pacific since 1995, initially in the North Island, and since 1997
in the South Island. As South Island Establishment Manager, one of his early roles was to manage the planting of 10,000
hectares of new Douglas Fir trees on farmland that had previously been operated as sheep stations.
In 1999, following Blakely Pacific's purchase of the 9700 hectare Herbert and Geraldine forests, formerly owned by the
Ngai Tahu Incorporation, Andrew Cocking was appointed South Island Manager, extending his portfolio of operational
duties to include the marketing and production co-ordination of all South Island forest operations. Together with a
small team of skilled forest managers, Mr Cocking has furthered customer relations with the North Otago and South
Canterbury region through a planned relationship marketing strategy.
In 2002, Andrew Cocking was appointed New Zealand Operations Manager, continuing his South Island role, and also
assisting his North Island counterpart with marketing and operational decisions on a company wide basis. His area of
operation was further increased in 2003 with an additional purchase from Ngai Tahu of the 3268 hectare Waimate Forest.
“My interim appointment will continue the legacy established by Michael Buchanan over the past 11 years,” said Andrew
Cocking. “Michael Buchanan came to New Zealand to head an operation that was essentially a greenfields scenario. He has
established a company that is highly respected by its fellow foresters, business associates, the communities and people
in which it operates and local Iwi. He has overseen forest acquisitions to build our forest estate and has worked
carefully to ensure the purchase transitions from seller to buyer have been smooth and seamless. His dedication and
contribution have been immense. He leaves Blakely Pacific with a huge legacy for the future.”
Blakely Pacific (NZ) Limited is a New Zealand forestry company with its historic roots in the Northwest of the United
States. The company's head office is located in Seattle. In New Zealand, the main office is situated in Christchurch,
and there are three regional offices – in Tauranga, Geraldine and Timaru.
In New Zealand, Blakely Pacific owns or manages a total of 27,472 hectares of which 4005 hectares is located in the
North Island and 23,467 are in the South Island. In addition to fast growing Radiata Pine, Blakely Pacific also grows
Eucalyptus and Douglas Fir and also Macrocarpa, Luisitanica, Ponderosa and Corsican Pine, Cedar and Larch. All of
Blakely Pacific's forests are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
ENDS