Our Team

Family owned and operated
Southfields Forestry is a Southland owned and operated business. We have 3 young boys who love timber almost as much as their Dad. 

Extended Family:
Southfields now concentrate on the timber side. To allow a good family life balance.   Shelley is at the yard to assist with sales and dispatch. We have two great guys in the workshop. 

From our family to yours
bespoke timber pieces to turn your house into your home x

Craig Milne

​Craig Milne

Craig is Southland born and bred and grew up on a farm near Lorneville. He learned his farming and forestry skills on the farm first established by his grandfather Cecil Milne, a well-known Dalgety stock agent and a Ranfurly Shield winning Southland rugby player. 
Craigs Dad Keith sold off the majority of the farm when he was younger. His Dad was a builder and Craig was taken from work site to work site here started his interest for building and project management and an interest in trees. Running his own flax shelter belt business from the age of 16, he went on to work in Forestry on completing school in 1996.

Craig completed a Forestry Management degree in 2000 and worked in a management role in the Hawkes Bay Beech Forest industry for a couple of years. Being young and having a hankering to see the world, Craig took a break to explore working on farms in the UK then as a Captain and Project Manager around the world for super yachts. 

Initially working in Forestry since back from super yachts he has found his passion lies with building bespoke furniture pieces and helping people have a statement piece for their home. Whether this is a kitchen bench a wow factor entrance gate or raised garden beds. It also allows him time with his very busy 3 boys.  

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Jane Milne
Jane is busy most of the time with their 3 boys. She maintains the Facebook and Instagram pages and helps Shelley in the office when time and the need arises. 

She has a Bachelor of Laws Degree from Canterbury University. She was admitted to the bar as a barrister and solicitor when their oldest was 9 months old. 

Jane cooked and sailed her way around the world with Craig before retiring to come back to Southland and have a family near their family. 

Jane loves the timber products they make and has a wish list of her own. As the saying goes though the mechanic services his own car last. ​

Jane Milne & kids

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Testimonials

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"We have used Southfields timber for all of our home DIY needs. My husband built an amazing raised vegetable bed and recently a mezzanine floor for our girls room. We have used macrocarpa and it is the most beautiful wood which leads well with bespoke designs.
The service we received from Jane in the office was very efficient and Craig was most helpful before purchase, making sure we were happy with our choice of wood and calculating measurements exactly. Also they were always available for extra requirements with the building process. Overall an excellent Southland company. It’s great to know that we are purchasing local timber too ❤️"

Campbell Family 2020

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Really friendly company , great communication and the best prices , fantastic work. 

​Leonie Graves 2020

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"I was impressed with the tidy job they did, Craig has got an impressive team behind him that know how to get the job done with minimal impact on the environment."

​Steven Clarke 

Photo supplied by Steven Clarke