Rural Delivery - Series 11, Episode 38

Television (Full Length Episode) – 2015

A safer future for forestry workers is in focus in this episode of farming and horticulture show Rural Delivery. First up, scientist and onetime tree feller Richard Parker (from Crown Research Institute Scion) discusses using robots to fell trees. The development would improve physical safety for workers in the high risk forestry sector. The second story is an in-depth profile of New Zealand's biggest blueberry orchard. Family-owned company Blueberry Country is heavily invested in research and development, makes minimal use of fertiliser, and sells most of its product in overseas markets.

I don't think we want to move people from the bush. The bush is a nice place to be; everyone doesn't want to sit in an office working. But the idea is to get the man or the woman away from THE dangerous places in the bush.So they can still be operating this machine, but they're not right in under the tree.
– Richard Parker on the potential of felling trees using robots