Marsden Valley pine harvest starts mid-November, with log trucks through Stoke

By the Explore Nelson news desk · Published Thursday 12 November 2026

Stand Forestry will start felling pines at the southern end of the council's Marsden forestry block in mid-November. The work is expected to take about six months, with trucks carrying logs through Stoke and Tāhunanui to Port Nelson.

When

From mid-November for about six months; crews from 6am, first truck 7am

Summer break

No harvesting or log trucks from Friday 18 December to Friday 15 January

Closed

The harvest area and Glider Road, 24 hours a day

What to do

Allow extra time on the truck route and check the council's harvest updates before riding or walking

Set-up on Glider Road is already finished, according to Nelson City Council’s notice of 4 November. Crews will be on site from 6am and the first loaded truck will head down Marsden Valley at 7am.

The log truck route

Trucks will run from Marsden Valley Road to Songer Street, Main Road Stoke, Annesbrook Drive, Tāhunanui Drive and Rocks Road (State Highway 6), then into Vickerman Street at Port Nelson. People using those roads are asked to take care and allow more time.

Which tracks are open

The harvest area is fenced off and closed to everyone around the clock, including people on foot, and Glider Road is shut. The council lists these as staying open: the Involution mountain bike track (up and back only, as Widershins and Ridgeline are closed), the Scout track and the Pīwakawaka track. Follow the signs on site.

After the harvest

The block will be felled a section at a time, and each finished section will be sown with ryegrass to hold the soil. Replanting is planned for autumn 2027. The harvest will pause from Friday 18 December to Friday 15 January, so there will be no log trucks over the main summer holiday.

Explore Nelson news desk: news@explorenelson.co.nz. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we’ll correct it.