About Us

Trevor Mitchell from the Ministry of Works and Development initiated formation of the Society which held its inaugural meeting on 7th November 1979. Also at the meeting were Dr Bryan Walford, Bob Gale, Murray Mitchel and Wally Dixon.

​

Object
To foster and improve the design of timber structures through the advancement and dissemination of knowledge with a New Zealand focus.

Our Activities Include:

• Dissemination of up-to-date information, technical or non-technical, related to timber design, manufacturing and construction processes and techniques. 

• Publication of technical papers, including research reports, technical notes, reports on successful design and construction methods, design procedures and sample designs. 

• Establishment and maintenance of direct communication and liaison with any other organisation with objectives similar to those of the Society. 

• Promotion of applicable and relevant standards to ensure the economic and efficient use of timber buildings and other structures. 

• Arrangement of conferences, seminars, webinars and symposia at international, national and local levels. 

• Formation of branches and specialist groups. 

• Initiation and maintenance of our support for research in timber design, manufacturing and construction processes and techniques. 

​

From early on TDS was aligned as a technical group of the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ) (now Engineering New Zealand) as many members were engineers, however membership has always been open to other people with an interest in timber design such as architects and scientists.