Message from the Acting Chair: Marcella Pitt 

He Karere nā te Heamana:

Tēnā koutou katoa

Amidst a current council review, several projects continue to make progress through the combined efforts of our members. With only about 6 more weeks until Christmas, the momentum of our projects is tracking well. 

The Forestry Employment Standard project has undertaken some minor changes regarding the statement of intent and its wording. It was presented by Prue Younger to the Forest Industry Contractors Association Board last week and has been sent to the Forest Owners Association. 

The Forestry Universal Hub continues to implement its marketing strategy and is present on various media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as well as on the radio. The content involved is reaching a wide audience across the motu and is redirecting more users to the forestry careers website. 

Erica Kinder presented to the Forestry Ministeral Advisory Group and the Wide Trust on the Unified Approach to School Engagement project, discussing some of the findings from her forestry in New Zealand Schools report, social licencing, and forestry programmes within our kura (school). 

Mahi continues to be done to assess and promote effective pre-employment programmes, led by Christine Ewart. 

Progress has also been made on the Workforce Operational Model project, thanks to David Evison’s lead, with proposals for under-graduate and post-graduate studies to be undertaken by university students to provide valuable data and information on forestry workforce requirements within the regions. 

The efforts and hard work from our council members is never unnoticed and I am extremely appreciative of the time that members give to these projects and the passion for our industry. 

Ngā mihi
Marcella 

Find Your Fit in Forestry update

He Kōrero mō te kaupapa Kimihia tō Ara

Since its launch in early August, the forestry careers social media campaign Find Your Fit in Forestry has attracted increasing interest.

Early results, for the month of August, showed there were 2,617 page views.

In September, Google ads accounted for 32 percent of web traffic and a high proportion of these visitors spent over a minute on the site.

Other outlets are engaging with the campaign including the Fast & Forward Forestry Expo and Newshub’s The AM Show which will be profiling the campaign on one of their shows during the next month.

Project Lead and Forest Industry Contractors Association CEO, Prue Younger, says the association will be promoting the campaign in its press release for National Fieldays in late November.
 

Council members

Ngā Mema Kaunihera

Each issue we will profile two different members of the Council.  For this issue, we would like to introduce you to New Zealand School of Forestry Associate Professor David Evison and Forest Owners Association Technical Manager Glen Mackie.

What is your role? 

My role includes teaching, research, consultancy and administration. I specialise in Forest Economics.

Where are you based?

I am based at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi (Christchurch).

How long have you been in the industry?

I completed a Bachelor of Forestry Science in 1979 and a PhD in Forest Economics in 1988.

How did you get into the Forestry industry?

I have worked in the forestry sector since 1980, in research, industry and academia. I also spent 10 years working in the banking industry, as a senior manager. 

What do you enjoy most about your mahi?

As an academic I am privileged to be working with rangatahi (young people) who have made a choice to follow the profession of forestry. I very much enjoy researching a range of topics which look at the economics of forestry-growing, processing and markets.

What is your role on the Council?

I represent the School of Forestry on the Council. I think it is important to have a voice from the tertiary education sector on this group. I also represent the Council on the Food and Fibre Data and Forecasting Working Group.

What are you trying to change?

It is particularly important to ensure high quality training and education for our workforce, and I would like to ensure that this is available right across the spectrum of training needs. It is also important to ensure that forestry is fairly represented as a career choice and that school leavers and other job seekers have the information they need to consider a career in forestry.

What is your role? 

I’m the Technical Manager. I provide secretariate functions for the Training and Careers Committee, the Transport Committee and the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee.

I also support the FOA Executive and the Forest Grower Levy Trust Board. 

How long have you been in the industry?

A while – since 1976.

How did you get into the forest industry?

I started as a Ranger Trainee in 1976 in Lake Taupo Forest. Once I completed my Ranger Diploma, I enrolled as a Forester Trainee at Canterbury, graduating in 1982. I commenced with the FOA in 2008, so have been with them for 14 years.

What do you enjoy most about your mahi?

The people I work with and meet. People working in our industry are nearly always very proud of the industry and what they are doing. This makes for a great environment.

What is your role on the Council?

I am a Forest Owner representative – ensuing the interests and needs of the growers are known. 

What are you trying to change?

The forest industry workforce is very complex. There are very few simple answers, or solutions that can be applied universally. The workforce’ needs vary from region to region, season to season and are affected by government policy. I am trying to ensure these complexities are known and worked into the solutions and initiatives the Council develop.
We are part of an amazing industry we can take pride in.

Students engaged about opportunities in forestry

Ka whai wāhi ngā ākonga ki ngā ara ahumahi ngahere

Holly Chapman, field service advisor speaking to the students from Haetea Community Campus in Wainoni in Christchurch

Ākonga (Students) from Haetea Community Campus, Wainoni, Ōtautahi, gathered at Orton Bradley Park on 20 and 21 September to attend the first ever ‘Inspiring the Future’ event in Canterbury. 

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service representative, Holly Chapman, was one of the six role- models and spoke to ākonga (students) about her role in the Field Services Team, Forestry Engagement and Advice. 

Ākonga were fascinated that flying a drone could be part of a job and they were highly engaged about the opportunities in the forestry industry.
 

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