Rātā Forest Management Limited
The Rātā team gathered beneath a large tree
Our people

The people behind Rātā.

Local knowledge. Connected expertise. A shared commitment to the future of our whenua.

Meet the team
Rātā directors Matene and Sue-Ann Blandford standing in front of a large tree

Our story

Transforming Forestry in Te Tairāwhiti

Our mission is to be recognised as the most responsible, effective and efficient forest managers throughout Aotearoa.

This land will be an important legacy - to be handed down from generation to generation. We are investing in the future and want to leave a thriving Aotearoa for our children.

We are ecologically responsible and socially conscious. People are at the heart of everything we do.

Rātā Forest Management Ltd was formed to provide transformative forest management based on the legend, Rātā me te rākau - Rātā and the tree.

Mō tātou, a, mō ngā uri e whai ake nei.

For us and our children after us.
Our Directors

Leadership for a resilient future.

Our directors provide strategic direction, governance and long-term stewardship, bringing together forestry experience, regional knowledge and business leadership.

Portrait of Matene Blandford

Matene Blandford

Managing Director

Forestry leadership, operational delivery and regional relationships.

Portrait of Sue-Ann Blandford

Sue-Ann Blandford

Managing Director

Governance, partnerships and business leadership.

Forestry Team

Forest management, engineering and environmental expertise.

Our team supports forest owners and investors in Te Tairāwhiti with forest management, harvest planning, forest infrastructure, geospatial mapping and environmental assessment.

Members of the Rātā forestry team
Portrait of Matene Blandford

Matene Blandford

Forest Manager

Forest operations, engineering, planning and management experience.

Portrait of Mike Noble

Mike Noble

Forestry Supervisor

Forestry supervision and operational delivery.

Portrait of Max Brinkhurst

Max Brinkhurst

Resources Forester

Resources forestry and geospatial mapping.

Portrait of Bonnie Watene

Bonnie Watene

Civil Engineer - Forestry Infrastructure

Civil engineering, harvest planning and forest road survey.

Portrait of Luke West

Luke West

Forestry Technician

Forest plotting, quality checking and contractor supervision, backed by practical forestry experience since 2018.

Portrait of Kim Murdie

Kim Murdie

Technical Environmental Forester

Forest planning and environmental management experience across Australia and New Zealand.

Portrait of Lincoln Stone

Lincoln Stone

Health & Safety Manager

34 years of forestry experience, with a practical approach to health, safety and supporting safe operations.

Portrait of Bully Halley

Bully Halley

Forest Operations Supervisor

30 years of East Coast forestry experience across silviculture, forest operations, quality control, crew supervision and training.

ETS Team

Carbon opportunity. Real outcomes.

Our ETS team helps landowners understand, access and manage carbon opportunities, from initial assessment through to registration and ongoing obligations.

Portrait of Duncan Harrison

Duncan Harrison

ETS Manager

ETS assessment, registration and ongoing management, helping landowners understand their carbon opportunities and obligations.

Portrait of Di Lidell

Di Lidell

ETS Administrator

ETS administration and ongoing client support.

Tech & Innovation

Spatial intelligence and innovation on the ground.

Our technology and innovation team combines spatial intelligence, GIS, drone operations and IT systems to support informed decisions and practical forestry outcomes.

Members of the Rātā technology and innovation team
Portrait of Andrew Sutherland

Andrew Sutherland

Tech & Innovation Manager

Geospatial solutions, data quality control, tech and innovation supervision.

Portrait of Orlo Dennison

Orlo Dennison

Spatial Consultant

Geospatial solutions, spatial modelling and land management support.

Portrait of Ben Blandford

Ben Blandford

I.T Systems Engineer

Systems engineering, technical support and reliable IT infrastructure.

Portrait of Ethan Watene

Ethan Watene

Tech & Innovation

AI workflow and system design and automation, marketing, and drone operations.

Administration

Keeping things moving.

Our administration team keeps our people, projects and clients supported, ensuring smooth operations across the business.

Portrait of Sue-Ann Blandford

Sue-Ann Blandford

Administration Manager

Governance, partnerships and business leadership.

Portrait of Tarquin Stone

Tarquin Stone

Administration

Day-to-day administration and business support.

Meet the Rātā team

Image 3.1

Matene Blandford

Managing Director

Image 3.2

Sue-Ann Blandford

Managing Director

Image 3.3

Duncan Harrison

ETS Manager

Image 3.4

ETS assessment, registration and ongoing management, helping landowners understand their carbon opportunities and obligations.

Tech & Innovation Manager

Team members

Image 4.1

Orlo Dennison

Spatial Consultant

Image 4.2

Mark Lumsdem

Forestry Team Manager

Image 4.3

Di Lidell

ETS Administrator

Image 4.4

Mike Noble

Forestry Supervisor

Field team

Image 5.1

Ben Blandford

I.T Systems Engineer

Image 5.2

Max Brankhurst

Resources Forester

Image 5.3

Max Brinkhurst

Resources Forester

Image 5.4

Bonnie Watene

OPEN PROFILE

Image 5.5

Tarquin Stone

Innovation & Marketing Specialist

Get in touch

Let’s work
together.

Have a project in mind or want to learn more about what we do? We’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch
Office

101/4 Reads Quay,
Gisborne 4010

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