Our History
ORIGINS IN THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW ZEALAND FOREST SERVICE
Frame Group was established after the New Zealand Forest Service was disestablished in 1987 by the Government. This change led to the formation of the New Zealand Forestry Corporation, which took ownership of the Crown’s commercial forestry assets; the Department of Conservation (DOC), which assumed responsibility for environmental and conservation functions; and the Ministry of Forestry, which was tasked with policy advice and biosecurity functions, as well as managing Crown forestry on leased Māori land.
During these early years, Frame Group was made up of former New Zealand Forest Service employees who provided the three new entities with a variety of technical-based consultancy services. A majority of the work at the time was in the commercial forestry sector.
Cave Creek DISASTER BRINGS FOCUS ON ENGINEERING PRACTICES IN THE CONSERVATION ESTATE
In 1995 the policies and procedures associated with New Zealand conservation estate were put under the spotlight following the Cave Creek disaster, in which a viewing platform collapsed on DOC land with a significant loss of life.
A Commission of Inquiry found that systemic engineering and funding deficiencies within DOC had led to the tragedy. This saw the creation of a programme to inspect the structural integrity of all built structures with the conservation estate.
Drawing on its experience of condition assessment work in the forestry sector, Frame Group provided a key role in assisting DOC with this work.
Frame Group carried out an initial baseline inspection of over 3,000 of these assets, and subsequently undertook ongoing inspections in a six-yearly cyclical program from 2001 until 2017. We continue to provide backup condition inspection services for DOC’s internal engineering staff.
Through this work, Frame Group helped pioneer outdoor recreation structure asset condition assessment, developing best practice processes around inventory management, data collection, compliance, safety, maintenance planning, and cost management.
Arising from this work, Frame Group was then engaged to undertake design and engineering services for DOC throughout the conservation estate in Aotearoa New Zealand.
New Zealand Councils come onboard
Frame Group’s specialist expertise soon became sought-after by Council clients, who were also responsible for managing a large inventory of outdoor recreation assets.
Frame Group has provided professional services to over 40 councils stretching from Northland to Southland. This reflects Frame Group’s deep focus on the parks and recreation sector, with the original forestry sector work now accounting for a minority of all projects.
Frame Group’s expertise has even been exported overseas, with the company providing conservation and environmental consulting services in Nepal, South East Asia and the South Pacific islands.
Walking Tracks, Cycle Trails, Suspension Bridges, and more
In its work with DOC, Frame Group was engaged to develop a means of verifying the safety of a large number of existing backcountry swing bridges and suspension bridges. The load testing regime Frame Group developed has become a key component of the ongoing safe management of such structures throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Arising from this work, Frame Group has designed a large number of swing bridges and suspension bridges, in the process developing new standard designs that incorporated developments in materials, construction techniques and capacity requirements.
Frame Group pioneered the application of computer aided geometric design of walking tracks and cycle trails in Aotearoa New Zealand. Using road design software and experience drawn from our origins in forestry, we are able to efficiently test the feasibility of designs prior to verification of the optimal solution on-site. Our approach also facilitates designs with appropriate gradient and curvature to provide enjoyable, safe use, together with a higher level of information to contractors to enable more efficient construction and better results.
Frame Group also applied the geometric design technology to the safe ergonomic configuration of multiple flights of boxed steps on steep climbing walking tracks . As a result, Frame Group is responsible for lifting the standard of stepped walking tracks throughout parks and reserves in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Developing national standards
Frame Group has also played a key role in the development of the Standards New Zealand Handbook (SNZ HB 8630). The document provides specifications for those responsible for designing, constructing, maintaining, and/or managing tracks and outdoor visitor structures.
These specifications are designed to ensure that tracks and outdoor visitor structures provide the right level of service to meet visitor recreation and safety needs. The specifications also help protect the facilities and the environment from damage.
Frame Group is one of only two consultants mentioned in the acknowledgments in this document.
the future REMAINS FOCUSED
Frame Group is a genuine specialist in the outdoor recreation and forestry sectors. It’s where we have come from, it’s what we are passionate about, and it’s where we will keep going.
