Renowned and well-respected for their dedication to providing a better workplace environment, MJ Fraser Logging are celebrating 50 years in the industry. Owned by fourth-generation logger, Mike Fraser, whose name is synonymous with providing change and growth within the logging sector, we take a look at where it all began, and MJ Fraser Logging’s journey to becoming one of the region's most successful and influential operators in the region.
Robin Fraser, Mike’s great grandfather was the first in a long line of Frasers whose lives have been intrinsically linked to New Zealand forests. He was born in the late 1800’s and worked in forestry at Nydia Bay in the Marlborough Sounds. Roy Fraser, Mike’s grandfather was born in 1902 and followed in Robin’s footprints, operating a hauler for Oddland’s in the North Island’s Wairarapa. Don Fraser, Mike’s father was born in 1930 and continued on the family tradition working in forestry and lived in a hut in the bush with his brother Bill, cutting posts and firewood in 1948. The two brothers worked in a forestry crew in 1950, and then made the move to the South Island to work on Rabbit Island in the early 50’s using cross-cut saws and axes to trim trees.
In the late 50’s Don went to work for the Hunt Brothers. On the hauler side they used a horse to pull the main rope out. Don competed in a range of industry competitions, winning various New Zealand chopping records, and the New Zealand Jigger Board Championship in the late 60’s which resulted in an invitation to chop for HRH Queen Elizabeth II at Trafalgar Park during a Royal Tour.
In 1972 Don and his wife Doreen purchased the logging business from Bob Hunt and this was the beginning of the Fraser 03 crew and Fraser Logging family business. Back then the crew consisting of one loader, a bulldozer and five men, produced approximately four to five truckloads per day. Mike joined his father in the operation in 1980. An experienced mechanic, Mike was surprised at the lack of qualifications and training systems required to work in the industry and used this as a driving motivation for change and growth into leading the business.
Working side by side with his father for many years, Fraser Logging purchased their first new machine in 1981 – a CATD6D dozer, and by the mid 80’s they had purchased their first skidder. It was a CAT518, and the first step into mechanisation when a grapple was fitted to it the following year. With a strong focus on health and safety in the industry, Mike took full ownership of the company in 1990 with the vision to create a fully mechanised operation. Finally taking the leap, and not without some trepidation, Fraser Logging purchased a Hahn Harvester in 1994 to mechanically process logs and, subsequently, a CAT325 with a waratah processing head in 1998.
A successfully won contract for Weyerhaeuser New Zealand in 1999 saw a growth period for the business and the beginning of the 740 crew. Mike continued investment to training his staff, and his contribution and input to forestry in the region has seen him and his team receive numerous awards for their excellence within the industry. Since its inception, the strength of the business has been within its people, and their wellbeing continues to be one of the driving forces behind its success.
In 2022 Fraser Logging gained the OneFortyOne tender to carry out harvesting and road engineering on approximately 2000 hectares of forest in the Manuka Island forest estate in the top of the Wairau Valley. It was a four hundred thousand tonne contract and the first time Fraser Logging had entered into a deal including roading. The company now employs 37 people, including management, collaboratively totes up 351 years of service, and their four fully mechanised crews produce approximately 340 thousand tonnes per year working in the OneFortyOne forests.
Hugely valuable to the forestry industry, Mike Fraser is considered a real leader and a true professional amongst his peers. He draws on an extensive rugby background, having played NPC for Nelson Bays and coached at Mako level, bringing through many of those sporting practices into his business, saying “Rugby is doing some really cool stuff and I have tried to utilise what happens there. We can teach people how to use a chainsaw, how to operate a machine, and other skills that are needed, but we need to give them the tools to grow and see them be who they really are.” Decades before mental health was widely discussed, Mike knew that ensuring his workers had solid support around them would lead to success and enlisted the help of a psychologist to support his crew.
Jim Forsyth has been providing psychological and counselling support to Fraser logging for many years and says that Mike is clearly motivated not only to run a great operation but is also acutely conscious that an organisation is only as good as its people. “I have always admired Mike’s proactive and caring approach to the welfare of his staff. I have invariably found him approachable, generous with his time and resources, and keen to make a positive contribution to people’s lives.”
Their continual dedication to health and safety, training plans and developing leadership skills result in a multi-skilled efficient workforce who are dedicated to the business. Recent 2022 Top of the South Forestry awards for MJ Fraser Logging saw Mike being honoured as Hero of the Industry for his massive investment, contribution and input to forestry in the region, and also winning Training Company/Contractor of the Year. In 2021 team members of MJ Fraser Logging were recognised for their outstanding contributions at the Top of the South Forestry Awards taking away runner-up for NZ Apprentice of the Year, Crew of the Year and winners of the Harvesting Excellent and overall winner - Skilled Professional of the Year.
A true legend in the industry, Mike and his family have drawn on their extensive knowledge and experience to create a thriving and respected work culture that is second to none. Mike’s long-standing enthusiasm for technology introduced a safer working environment for his staff at a very early stage and paved the way for a more efficient and better work environment for all. The addition of Mike’s daughter to the team now makes for family of fifth generation loggers who continue to make their mark in the industry and lead the way forward to new era of logging.
“On reflection of the last 50 years, while so much has changed in the industry, one thing has remained constant and that is the need to grow and develop both personally as individuals and professionally as a business. Fraser Logging has always believed in the well-being of our people being the key to the future of our business.” The former contractor representative on the Logging and Forest Industry Training Board is also quick to praise others in the region, tipping his hat to the world-leading technology and innovation that continues to happen.
