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25 Years of Leadership in Log Transport Safety

On behalf of FICA , we want to acknowledge and thank Warwick for his exemplary leadership and enduring contribution to the Log Transport Safety Council (LTSC) over the past 25 years.Warwick played a pivotal role in uniting the log transport industry and establishing LTSC as the trusted forum where government, operators, and forest owners could work together to tackle critical safety challenges—most notably the truck rollover crisis.His leadership ushered in three defining shifts: a more profes...

Innovation in Forestry - A Contractor's View

What does innovation look and feel like from the contractor’s side? What’s working, where are the challenges, and what we can do to make progress easier and more effective? FICA Chair Nick Tombleson recently spoke at the Forest Growers Research (FGR) Conference in October 2025. His session “Innovation in Forestry: A Contractor’s View” was an opportunity for FICA to provide a contractor perspective within the FGR community. Here’s what he spoke about.This industry is something we shou...

The Origins of FICA and the Enduring Voice of Contractors

Kevin Reardon of FORME and Ross Davis, former President of FICA recently caught up at FICA’s spotlight on safety event in Palmerston North. A powerful reminder surfaced: FICA was born not just from necessity, but from vision, grit, and collaboration.Ross credited John Dey of FORME as instrumental in the association’s founding—a legacy that continues to shape our sector today.Kevin’s deep dive into FORME’s archives unearthed a compelling timeline that traces FICA’s roots to a pivotal ...

FICA E-newsletter - November 2025

We're excited to welcome some of you to Queenstown later this month for our Contractor Christmas in conjunction with Shaw's. Watch out for a confirmation email coming to your inbox over the next few days, which has all of the info. In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update ACOP Workshops still to come Managing Small Forest Harvest - Resource Download FICA Website - A Wealth of Information Costing Workshop Rotorua - 12 November Quarterly Meeting with Fo...

FICA E-newsletter - October 2025

In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update Costing Workshop Pilot Success - Rotorua NextACOP WorkshopsWorkSafe SurveyPan Sector Health and Safety CharterVocational Training UpdateFinal Call for Queenstown TicketsFICA Strategic Planning Day - Have Your SayETS Forestry Conversions Bill - What it means for Silviculture ContractorsWorkSafe looking for inspectorsHear from our Sponsors CablePrice Ensign ...

Crew Costing Principles - Workshop Slides

Download a copy of the presentation from the FICA Costing Workshop, which has been designed to help contractors and forest managers get on the same page when it comes to business costs. Presented by Forme Consulting and Blackburne Group. ...

FICA Logger Mag - October 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...

Health and safety when managing a small forest harvest

These guidelines provide owners of small forests with practical guidance on health and safety when managing a harvest.This document will help owners of small forest (the ‘you’ in this document) plan a safe and healthy forest harvest.It provides practical information on managing risks common to forest harvesting activities.It explains how to work with other duty holders to ensure everyone meets their health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA)....

FICA E-newsletter - September 2025

In our latest FICA update, we're covering:Market Update Waitomo Fuel Outlook ACOP - What you Need To KnowSafety Systems Work When Grounded in Reality (Message from Amy Satherley) FICA AGM Wrap UpCosting Workshop Gisborne - SOLD OUT PFAS Foam Restrictions Finalised Immigration Update Safety Charter AI and Wearable Tech Queenstown Tickets Hear from our Sponsors Weiler Waratah ...

Top 10 ACOP Changes for Contractors

The 2025 ACOP introduces a more risk-based, system-focused approach aligned with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Here are the top ten changes contractors should be aware of:Legal Framework Shift – Based on HSWA 2015, with clearer PCBU duties.Modular Structure – Six-part layout with practical tools and checklists.Worker Health & Wellbeing – Covers fatigue, mental health, UV, vibration, and noise.Worker Engagement – Requires formal participation in safety decisions.Drugs & ...

ACOP - WorkSafe Roadshow Workshops

The new ACOP comes into effect immediately. WorkSafe has confirmed its intent to support the sector through education and engagement—not enforcement—during the initial rollout and has scheduled regional workshops to help contractors and businesses understand the new ACOP. ...

Message to Contractors: Understanding the New ACOP

The new ACOP 2025 is now in effect. While it replaces the 2012 version, it doesn’t introduce radical new rules—rather, it reframes how we think about health and safety responsibilities in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA).What’s Changed—and What Hasn’tThe new ACOP is less prescriptive in language (e.g. “shall” is gone), but not less enforceable.You’re not required to follow the ACOP word-for-word—but you must implement practices that are at least as good a...

PFAS Foam Restrictions Finalised

The EPA’s final deadline for phasing out PFAS-containing firefighting foams is 3 December 2025, ending all contained use of PFOA-related compounds in New Zealand.At the recent CNIWC H&S meeting, fire experts Alastair Ramsey and Steve Smith from PSL Fire and Safety—confirmed that most suppliers have already transitioned to non-PFAS extinguishing agents.The industry appears well-positioned ahead of the deadline. If you have any questions contact Alastair on 021 5615 417. Thanks t...

Immigration Update

We’re pleased to share a major milestone in our ongoing immigration advocacy efforts, that marks a turning point for workforce stability in the silviculture sector.Last month, Immigration New Zealand announced the introduction of new seasonal work visas, designed to support employers who rely on seasonal labour. These visas will replace the Special Purpose Visa (SPV) in December, offering silviculture contractors an additional tool to source capacity alongside the existing Accredited Employer ...

ACOP Comparison

Chayne Zinsli (Summit Forests) has completed a comparison of the 2012 and 2025 versions of the ACOP. ...

Safety Systems Work When Grounded in Reality

“Safety systems only work when they’re grounded in reality” – that was the key message from Amy Satherley, Director of ATS Logging, while speaking on behalf of contractors at the Spotlight on Safety Event, held in Palmerston North on Tuesday 26th August.Organised by FICA, the event brought together 150+ guests from across the industry, including forestry and haulage contractors, forest management, regulators and Government representatives. Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Hon....

Safetree Certification and the New ACOP

Safetree Certification and the New ACOP: What Principals and Forest Owners Need to KnowSafetree Certification is now formally referenced within the updated Approved Code of Practice (ACOP), reinforcing its role in promoting safe and capable forestry operations.During the ACOP’s development, the industry strongly advocated for mandatory certification—both for contractors and for critical safety roles such as tree falling and breaking out. While current legislation did not allow for mandatory ...

FICA Logger Mag - September 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...

Immigration NZ Roundup - August 2025

Here is a 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....

ACoP and Health and Safety when Managing a Small Forest Harvest Good Practice Guidelines Launched

At the Spotlight on Safety Event held in Palmerston North on Tuesday 26th August, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Hon. Brooke van Velden officially launched new guidance for forestry. This included:the Approved Code of Practice [ACOP] for Forestry and Harvesting Operations, andthe Health and Safety when Managing a Small Forest Harvest Good Practice Guidelines (GPG)The guidance is now in effect and available on the WorkSafe website....

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. ...