Stepping Up: Port Blakely’s Nick Henderson Joins Australian Wildfire Response

Nick Henderson, Production/Protection Forester for Port Blakely’s New Zealand South Island operations, recently joined Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ)’s Bravo international wildfire deployment contingent on assignment to Victoria, Australia. From January 30 to February 13, 2026, Nick supported post-containment bushfire recovery operations during a particularly intense fire season.

Nick leads Port Blakely’s Response Crew, comprised of Port Blakely staff and Central Forestry silviculture crew members. In this role, he oversees wildfire preparedness and response capability within the company and brings extensive operational forestry experience to interagency deployments. He joined 19 other New Zealand firefighters; all seasoned in challenging wildfire environments.

Although the assigned fire had been contained prior to the team’s arrival, significant recovery work remained. Selected for his advanced forestry and tree-felling expertise, Nick helped remove hazardous trees, reinforce containment lines, and reopen access routes, critical early steps in ensuring affected areas were safe for crews and supporting broader recovery efforts.

Feedback from Victoria praised Nick’s professionalism, technical expertise, and collaborative approach. His contribution reflects the depth of capability across Port Blakely and highlights the vital role forestry professionals play in wildfire response and recovery.