People wanting to process their own timber has led to a huge increase in sales of portable mills.
Photo: Supplied / Mahoe Sawmills
Mahoe Sawmills in Kerikeri makes two types of portable sawmills which come on the back of a trailer and only require one person to operate.
The smaller mill can produce up to 10 cubic metres of sawn timber a day and the larger mill does up to 14 cubic metres.
Company co-owner Ben Bergman said due to the shortage of timber around the country many people are buying a mill to process their own wood.
"Ever since the first lockdown we've been incredibly busy due to the timber shortage and some people who have lost their jobs have bought mills to start up their own little business.
Bergman said the increase in business means it had gone from four to 11 full time staff - but still could not keep up with demand.
"We used to be about 10 mills behind but now we are 40 to 50 mills behind so that's a pretty big increase.
"We are working to get the time it takes to make a mill down, previously we would build one very two or three weeks but we are now trying to build one a week to keep up with demand."
Photo: Supplied / Mahoe Sawmills
Bergman said about 50 percent of the wood mills were sold domestically and the rest were exported to countries all around the world.
"It's a bit tricky getting the mills onto ships at the moment which is causing delays in getting those international orders out but that hasn't stopped the orders," he said.