About Pentarch

Pentarch Forest Products began its journey in the New Zealand’s forestry sector in 2001. We started in harvesting and log exports, but in 2019 made a deliberate pivot to move beyond raw logs and lean into what we do best—smart international trade and timber know-how.

That shift started with the acquisition of Pentarch Technical Services (PTS) in Kawerau – a specialist lab that tests woodchips and biofuels for wood processors, and animal feedstock for agricultural clients. It gave us a stronger technical backbone and closer ties to local industry.

Today, we’re channelling decades of relationships in Japan to source and supply premium Japanese timbers for the New Zealand market. We’ve added to this by building a trading platform to Australia through our parent company, Pentarch Forestry, opening efficient export pathways for New Zealand wood processors to access Australian markets.

Across the Tasman, Pentarch Forestry is privately owned and active across the value chain—hardwood processing (one of Australia’s largest suppliers), prefabricated housing, and log and chip exports. Our range of Australian hardwood products, including decking, solid 19mm flooring, engineered flooring, and F27 KD structural timber, are imported to New Zealand and sold to building product wholesalers and timber specialists.

If you’re exploring Japanese timbers, NZ–AU timber trade, testing services, or hardwood decking and flooring, we’d love to talk. Pentarch welcomes enquiries across all our business lines.

The Original Sustainable Choice

If we’re honest, the conversation about sustainability in building starts — and largely ends — with wood. No other cladding material comes close. Compare it to PVC, steel, brick, or concrete, and the answer is clear: timber is lighter on the planet and better for your health. Full stop.

Now, let’s talk about yakisugi, because its story is even more remarkable.

While some might assume importing timber from Japan is less sustainable, the truth is far more balanced. Thanks to today’s highly efficient marine freight, the carbon footprint of shipping sugi from Japan is on par with sourcing local materials. But the real magic lies in how yakisugi is made.

Unlike typical cladding, which requires intense kiln drying and heavy surface treatment to stabilize the boards, yakisugi achieves its durability in just a few minutes of carefully controlled fire. No long weeks in a kiln. No energy-hungry machinery. Just heat, skill, and patience.

And because the charred surface replaces the need for chemical stains or synthetic paints, yakisugi skips another step entirely — meaning fewer resources used, and a more natural product on your walls.

In short, yakisugi lets nature do the work. And as it turns out, nature has been doing it best all along.

Yakushima is a magnificent forested island known for its impressive cedar trees and and its mystical moss-covered scenery which became the setting for the award-winning animated film Princess Mononoke. Approximately 20% of the island is designated as UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site for its unique ecosystem, which included the Jomon Sugi, a giant cedar believed to be the oldest tree in Japan. The name Jomon Sugi references the Japanese word for cedar (sugi) and the Jomon period, the earliest historical era in Japanese history. The Jomon Sugi is believed to be more than 7,000 years old, though conservative estimates date the tree to be 2,000 years old.

In Japan, timber is more than a building material — it is part of the nation’s soul. For thousands of years, it has shaped homes, temples, and landscapes, with the Horyuji Temple, still standing strong today, as the world’s oldest surviving wooden structure. Built over 1,400 years ago from Hinoki timber, it reminds us that when wood is used wisely, it lasts far beyond a single lifetime.

But history also taught Japan a hard lesson: that even the finest forests are a finite gift. During the Edo period, as cities grew and timber demand soared, deforestation swept across the country. Faced with the stark reality of depleted resources, Japan made a choice that would shape its future — it turned towards sustainable forestry, long before the word “sustainability” was ever coined.

Today, forests cover 67% of Japan’s land, a result of generations of thoughtful stewardship. Timber harvesting here isn’t rushed. Seeds are carefully chosen for the soil they’ll grow in. Trees are planted in the right places, and harvests are timed to maintain the health of the entire forest. Selective logging ensures that only the finest trees are taken, reducing waste and minimizing transport impacts.

At Pentarch New Zealand, we are proud to work with these ancient, sustainably managed forests. All of our timber is sourced under Japan’s GOHO certification system, a modern standard designed to ensure ethical forestry and fight illegal logging worldwide.

This is timber with a conscience — responsibly grown, respectfully harvested, and ready to shape buildings that will stand for generations to come.