New Zealand Forestry Market Update | November 2020

Blue has over 38 years valuation experience encompassing rural and resource interests, specialised agriculture  assets, public sector property (especially forest interests), expert evidence and management. His prior work in senior roles with both Valuation New Zealand and Quotable Value has given him broad property knowledge – with a particular emphasis in the forestry sector.

His client work for Crighton Anderson has traversed a range of property types and issues including; forestry land valuations (lessor and lessee interests), Emission Trading Scheme issues, specialised assets, agribusiness, lifestyle subdivisions, valuations for financing, tax compliance, trust formation, matrimonial disputes, Maori land issues, aesthetic land and compensation. In addition he has provided expert evidence and acted as an arbitrator in a number of judicial contexts.

Blue’s work previously encompassed managing the rating revaluation and roll maintenance programmes for six local authorities in the South Island, giving an in-depth understanding of rating issues and the valuation of exotic forests and national parks, and acting as Principal Consultant (Rural and Forestry) for Quotable Value. Blue’s more recent large-scale engagements have included the valuation of forest assets in Otago, Nelson, Marlborough, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa and Northland for financial and Treaty of Waitangi settlement purposes, as well as Crown Forestry License rent reviews. .

Blue’s personal involvement in agribusiness extends to ownership of a West Coast pine plantation and membership of the Farm Forestry Association. As past President of the Property Institute of New Zealand and former President of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers, Blue is highly regarded by both his clients and peers in the profession. He is based in our Nelson office and plays a key role in our agricultural and forestry sector practices and in our dairy pastoral and horticulture valuation teams..

Chris has 36 years valuation and consultancy experience across a wide variety of property related matters including compensation, financial reporting statutory compliance, acquisition and rural valuation. He previously held senior positions at both Valuation New Zealand and Quotable Value – where his primary focus was the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions.

His client work for the firm since 2008 has covered a range of property types and issues including; agribusiness, horticultural ,  lifestyle and residential development land, forestry land valuations, Emission Trading Scheme issues, specialised asset valuations, valuations for financing, due dilligence tax compliance, trust formation, matrimonial disputes and compensation. In addition he has provided expert evidence in the High Court, District Court, Maori Land Court, Environment Court  and Land Valuation Tribunal.

Chris’s infrastructure sector experience has included valuation and advisory projects covering compensation for easement and right of way property interests acquired by Transpower and other leading New Zealand energy companies, for new transmission lines and infrastructure upgrades, and compensation assessments for Crown entities taking property under the Public Works Act 1981 for motorways and pipelines.

His forestry sector experience has encompassed numerous valuation and advisory engagements throughout the country – including advice in relation to devolution of the New Zealand Forestry Service in the late 1980s, land value and rental review assessments as part of Crown Forestry license protocols and Maori Land rental review requirements, various Treaty of Waitangi settlement awards and providing expert evidence.

Chris is based in our Tauranga office and offers our clients sound market advice founded on a comprehensive understanding of the specific sector dynamics and balanced by experience gained working on behalf of owners, regulators and adjudicators in both the public and private domain. He is involved in a number of practice areas including forestry, dairy, Kiwifruit Avocados, infrastructure and pastoral.

Chris is the immediate past chairman of the Tauranga branch of the Property Institute of New Zealand and is a member of  the Waikato No. 4 Land Valuation Tribunal and the Directors Institute of New Zealand.