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FICA e-newsletter - August 2025

In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update Waitomo Fuel Outlook Spotlight on Safety and 2025 FICA AGM Queenstown Contractor Christmas - Tickets Selling FastTasman Trip: Listening, Learning, Connecting Tower / Yarder Certification - What You Need To Know Collaborating on Safety Guidance: Kohurau Contracting Tairawhiti Standing Consents Under Scrutiny Gisborne Site Visit: Aratu Forestry Operations Giving Voice to the Coast: Ricky Kuru at NZIF 20...

Collaborating on Safety Guidance

The recent sentencing of Kohurau Contracting—following a serious safety breach that left a forestry worker with life-altering injuries—has prompted action across the sector. FICA and FISC have committed to supporting these efforts to collectively develop a new safety alert and guidance.The incident, which occurred in August 2021 near Waipu, involved a fractured stabiliser ram and the catastrophic failure of a tower system during cable winching operations, resulting in the worker having ...

Tairawhiti Standing Consents Under Scrutiny

Over the past month, FICA has been actively engaged in a renewed dialogue with Gisborne District Council (GDC) regarding standing consents, which continue to place unsustainable pressure on contractors and forest owners.GDC has agreed to reopen consultation on seven of the most contentious conditions. This includes the zero discharge requirement for sediment and woody debris, and the impractical 15m² cut-over rule—both of which have been cited as key contributors to contractor insolvency and ...

Logger Mag - August 2025

Want to listen to our FICA Logger Mag updates instead of reading them? Here's how:1. Update your settings (phones / tablets) or install this free audio reader extension (desktop / laptop):a. iPhone: To use the built-in text-to-speech feature on your iPhone, go to:Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content and enable "Speak Selection" or "Speak Screen" to have the iPhone read selected text or the entire screen aloud, respectively.b. Samsung: To activate and customize the text-to-sp...

FICA Constitution Vote - 2025 Annual General Meeting

FICA Members are advised that a vote will be held at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Forest Industry Contractors Association Incorporated Society, to adopt a new constitution under the The Incorporated Societies Act 2022. Members are invited to review and understand the proposed new constitution. The draft constitution document is available for download below. ...

Blown Away - Managing a plantation forest salvage operation following a major windthrow event

This report provides a summary of how the NZFM team approached and managed the salvage operation of windthrow in the Central North Island plantation forest, and some of the key learnings from it. Forest managers faced with a major windthrow event in future may find this record of NZFM’s experiences useful....

Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough flood recovery

Flooding across the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough areas in mid-2025 caused extensive damage. Support is available to help the primary sector and support rural communities with the clean-up and recovery....

FICA E-newsletter - July 2025

In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update Waitomo Fuel Outlook Spotlight on Safety and 2025 FICA AGM FICA Election - Nominations Open Now Queenstown Contractor Christmas - Tickets Selling FastPractical Slash Management Guidance Immigration Advocacy - Securing Workforce Stability through Silviculture Recognition AI and Wearable Tech - Step Change in Managing Manual Tree Falling Steady at the Helm - Ange McEwan, Blackstump LoggingACC Recovery at Wor...

Immigration Advocacy

We are pleased to share a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to safeguard forestry workforce stability: the Silviculture Operator role has now been officially included in the July 2025 National Occupation List (NOL) as a Level 3 role.This is a major step forward and reflects the value placed on the skills and experience of our silviculture workforce.Why This MattersInclusion in the NOL now allows current Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders in silviculture roles to extend their vi...

CNIWC Forestry Awards

The CNI Wood Council Forestry Awards aim to celebrate achievements, strengthen the industry, and underscore the vital economic value that forestry brings to the Central North Island. This year's awards will be held in Rotorua on Friday 31 October. We encourage members to put your names forward and showcase the awesome innovations and people within your businesses. ...

ACC Recovery at Work Trial - Register Interest

When an employee gets injured, it can have a significant impact on them, their workmates and their workplace.ACC data shows that over 18 million workdays were lost in New Zealand due to injury last year. And the longer an injured person is away from work, the less likely they are to return to their job. This can have a significant negative impact on both the worker and your business.Join the Safetree trial, in collaboration with ACC, to improve the process of employees returning to work after in...

Practical Slash Management Guidance

In collaboration with MPI, FICA has played a pivotal role in the development of the Managing Slash on Steep Hill Country Harvesting Operations Manual. This targeted manual offers a practical, operational tool designed to support contractors, forest managers, and regulators in managing slash risk in challenging terrain.FICA’s feedback focused on improving usability and aligning guidance with field realities—especially for contractors whose primary concern is managing slash during active harve...

AI and Wearable Tech

FICA is proud to announce a groundbreaking initiative that has received universal support across the industry—leveraging AI and wearable technology to transform the management of manual tree falling.Addressing the Unseen RisksManual tree falling remains one of the most hazardous tasks in forestry. While audits can confirm a faller’s competence, the real challenge lies in what happens when no one is watching—99% of the time. Tragically, many incidents occur when critical safety rules are br...

NZ Firefighters Head to Canada

FICA Board Member Kevin Ihaka (pictured back row, right) has been sent as part of a  seven-person specialist team to Manitoba, Canada to support the province’s wildfire response.Canada is experiencing a severe wildfire season, with 4.6 million hectares already burnt only a month and half into the season. That’s nearly a fifth of Aotearoa New Zealand’s total land area. NZ Fire and Emergency's specialist team consists of an Incident Commander, Operations Section Chief, Planning Sec...

Logger Mag - July 2025

Want to listen to our FICA Logger Mag updates instead of reading them? Here's how:1. Update your settings (phones / tablets) or install this free audio reader extension (desktop / laptop):a. iPhone: To use the built-in text-to-speech feature on your iPhone, go to:Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content and enable "Speak Selection" or "Speak Screen" to have the iPhone read selected text or the entire screen aloud, respectively.b. Samsung: To activate and customize the text-to-sp...

FICA E-newsletter - June 2025

In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update Waitomo Fuel Outlook Terra CAT Quiz Night photos Queenstown Contractor Christmas Ticket ReleaseSpotlight on Safety and 2025 FICA AGM Minister of Forestry Acknowledges challenges FICA Voice with FRC Gains Momentum  Budget 2025: What it means for contractors Resource Management Reform Consultation Rubber Hits the Road - LTSC WorkSafe Looking for Inspectors Hear from our Sponsor - Gre...

Resource Management Reform Consultation

Proposed regulatory change continues to come at us. The Resource Management Reform consultation commenced on 29 May 2025 and will close on 27 July 2025. The proposed new and amended national direction is part of the Government’s push to enable primary sector growth and development.The Government is seeking feedback on whether changes should be implemented under the existing RMA or under new resource management legislation.  Package 2: Primary Sector can be found on the Minis...

Budget 2025 - What it means for contractors

The Government’s 2025 Budget, dubbed The Growth Budget, presents several key opportunities and challenges for forestry contractors. While economic forecasts predict a slow recovery, businesses are being encouraged to invest in productivity-boosting assets through new incentives. Here’s what forestry contractors need to know.Economic Outlook & Industry ChallengesNew Zealand’s economy has faced sluggish growth in recent years, with GDP expected to contract by -0.8% in 2025 before rebound...

Logger Mag June 2025

Want to listen to our FICA Logger Mag updates instead of reading them? Here's how:...

FICA FOA Joint Immigration NZ Submission - Seasonal Visas

FICA and the FOA have developed a joint submission to MBIE / Immigration New Zealand on saesonal visas. We welcome the introduction of the proposed Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and Surge Capacity Seasonal Visa (SCSV).The overall design appears well-considered and broadly aligned with the stated objectives, including supporting regional economic growth, reducing displacement risk, and maintaining system integrity. We support the targeted approach to visa eligibility and the intentio...

FICA E-newsletter - May 2025

In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update Fuel Update from Waitomo Meeting with Todd McClay FICA secures seat for forestry innovation A gift to yourself - the importance of annual health checks Immigration Advocacy Advocating for practical immigration policies - an update from FICA Member Pat Carroll FOA Facts and Figures 2023-2024Save the Date - Contractor Christmas Queenstown in partnership with Shaws - 20-22 November You're invited - TERRA...

Immigration NZ Roundup - April 2025

Immigration NZ has released their latest summary of recent key operational and policy updates about the immigration system. Please note this is not an exhaustive list of updates. For more information about any of the updates below, please visit the relevant page on INZ’s website.The primary role of the New Zealand immigration system is to facilitate the travel of visitors, students, workers, families and refugees to New Zealand, and protect New Zealand from immigration risk. Read more about ho...

Tangata Matatau - 2025 Conference

FICA Members / Forestry contractors who are operating in the wildfire industry are invited to attend the Tangata Matatau Conference happening 9-11 July 2025 in Christchurch. FICA Board Member Kevin Ihaka is chairing a session focusing on forest contractors alongside FICA member Warren Heslip. This is a chance for contractors to ask questions of the panel and to participate in a workshop to seek ideas to improve the way we work at wildfires. ...

Logger Mag May 2025

Want to listen to our FICA Logger Mag updates instead of reading them? Here's how:...

FICA e-news April 2025

In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update Fuel Update from Waitomo Increasing productivity and striking the right trade relationships key for New Zealand business ACOP - Important Update: WorkSafe's Forestry ACOP Consultation closes 17 April FICA response to Immigration Challenges FICA and FOA strengthen industry collaboration Informe - your go-to guide for forestry costs Small-scale forestry initiative to strengthen safety and representation ...