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Muka Tangata advice TEC on funding, consult on new Future Forestry qualification

Muka Tangata, the People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council (WDC), is one of six WDCs established to provide industry and sector voice and advocacy within the vocational education system of Aotearoa New Zealand. The WDCs were set as part of the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) to create a unified and sustainable system that is fit for the future.Muka Tangata helps industries get the skills and training they need by designing solutions to skill needs, including qualifications, sta...

Heath McMurtrie - Wood Processing Excellence

Heath McMurtrie (Donelley Sawmillers) is deemed a very highly skilled operator and is the winner of the 2022 Wood Processing Excellence Award at the Central North Island Wood Council Awards. Starting from the floor and progressing his way up through mill operations, Heath McMurtrie is now deemed a very highly skilled operator. Running day to day operations, he is a dedicated team member, developing up mentoring skills and actively working with younger members and new employees to understand pr...

Distribution Excellence - Jody Reti

Jody Reti from Trimble Forestry has gone beyond the standard expectations of a dispatcher and has a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. She is the Distribution Excellence Award Winner at the 2022 Central North Island Wood Council Awards. Jody’s work ethic is complimented by her relationship and communication skills that allow her to positively interact with all stakeholders she works with. Constantly delivering above the KPI’s required in her work planning, Jody’s cu...

Harvesting Excellence – Rob Davy

Taking a difficult situation and making it look easy, Rob Davy from G White Logging Ltd is the recipient of the Harvesting Excellence Award at the 2022 Central North Island Forestry Awards. A testament to his skill, knowledge, and experience, Rob is respected not only by his peers but other crews in the industryNever a procrastinator, Rob actions everything immediately and manages zero personal turnover under his leadership. His mechanical processing is exceptional and time management is excelle...

Fastidious clearing - Campbell & RJ – J Swap Ltd

Campbell & RJ – J Swap Ltd are winners of the Forest Engineering Excellence Award at the Central North Island Forestry Awards 2022. The duo has a very high level of environmental awareness within their operation. They’ve managed fastidious clearing along steep ridgelines, native forest boundaries, wet gullies and stream margins as well as managing stream crossings with no sediment run-off or impact.Together over the last 10 years they have been instrumental in ensuring an excellent relat...

Is the Fair Pay Agreement Fair?

The Fair Payment Agreements (FPA) Bill has now become law with significant amendments added to the version considered by Parliament’s Select Committee. Labour’s majority ensured it became law despite vigorous objections from the opposition parties. National, if elected to Government next year, has stated it will repeal the Fair Payment Agreements Act.The FPA purpose, however, remains clear, namely to enable employment terms to be improved for employees by providing a framework for ...

Legend Fire and Protection Services - Evan Rarere

Evan Rarere is a legend who has built a strong regional firefighting capability that benefits a wide portion of the Central North Island region. He took out the top award for Fire Protection and Services at the CNIWC Forestry Awards this month. Evan has worked for Timberlands in some key capacities since 2003, but as Fire and Security Manager. Evan is a nationally recognized fire manager, representing Timberlands and the industry on the NZ Forest Owners Fire Committee, FENZ Deployment Working Gr...

An exemplary worker - Glenn Fountain

An exemplary worker and by the nature of the task, Glenn Fountain – Fast Harvesting is the recipient of the Silviculture Excellence (SWIFT) award at the Central North Island Forestry Awards 2022. Always working on his own, Glenn consistently maintains high levels of discipline required for onsite safety procedures, production, quality and environmental requirements. This is married with his own career training and aspirations to grow his expertise and professionalism. It takes a very special ...

A Rising Star – Jayme Walker

Described as a sponge soaking up knowledge at every opportunity, Jayme Walker from Fast Harvesting is the 2022 Trainee of the Year at the Central North Island Forestry Awards. Although originally heading to university, the attraction of the bush was too great, and Jayme started on the ground learning skid skills before progressing into machinery operating where he has really excelled. Jayme has continued to achieve a number of National Certificates, earning 90 credits since 2020. Known for his a...

Hero of the Industry - Mike Fraser

Mike Fraser is the Hero of the Industry at the 2022 Top of the South Forestry Awards. Read more about this legend of logging. With a long history of investing in personnel, Mike Fraser has seen results in high-quality personnel providing benefits both to his company and to the forest owner and industry. A keen rugby player in his day and now a coach, Mike quickly saw the benefits of players being able to review and analyse what they were doing.Mike believes contributing to the wider Forest indu...

Adding real value – Tamara Eggers

Tamara Eggers has been a huge part of the success of improvement and development in health & safety for her principal employer. She is the Woman in Forestry at the 2022 Top of the South Forestry Awards. Self-driven, hands on and able to come up with solutions, Tania is entirely competent. She adds real value to her employers, Tasman Forest Services & Stuart Drummond Transport. Working across transport and silviculture workplaces gives her a great range of skills and knowledge in the fo...

FICA E-newsletter - October 2022

The sun is shining today and long may it last, global warming certainly has been rampant and modified a normal spring/summer for us all.There has been a bit happening in the space of the Industry Transformational Plan and submission gone through to Te Uru Rakau on the focus on a workforce that will be capable and skilled to manage any changes that the Plan is looking at, more mechanisation, domestic processing, biomass generation and opportuity for new markets. What is proposed with th...

Always looking for improvements – Chris Lambert

Known to always be looking for ways to improve safety and the environment he and his team operate in, Chris Lambert is the recipient of the Wood Processing Excellence Award at the Top of the South Awards 2022.He consistently role models the values of the company (OneFortyOne NZ Limited) and doesn’t hesitate to step in and contribute greatly to the safety improvement journey of the company. He volunteers his time to ensure equipment is tested for safety and successful start-up fo...

Freely sharing his felling expertise – Paul Gardiner

Experienced on all felling machines and operationally, Paul Gardiner from Kelly Logging is the Tree Faller - Mechanised of the year at the 2022 Top of the South Forestry Awards.His vast experience gained during many years in and around forestry equipment has allowed Paul to input to the design and operation requirements of the latest machines. This has been invaluable, and his willingness to make himself available inside and outside of working hours to share his expertise and knowledge speaks vo...

A collaborative approach with continuous improvement - M J Fraser Logging

M J Fraser Logging is the Training Company / Contractor of the Year at the 2022 Top of the South Forestry Awards, recognised for placing a great deal of emphasis on upskilling its employees and fostering good training development programmes.  The collaborative approach and continuous improvement to reach solutions is typical of their way. They have a strong health and safety culture where it is not a blame game, along with a wide range of training plans for harvesting tasks. The leadership...

Ready and willing – Joseph Horner

A solid worker with a broad skill set across silviculture, Joseph Horner from Tasman Forest Services Limited is the 2022 Top of the South Forestry Awards’ Trainee of the Year. Joseph has embraced the training opportunities presented to him and displayed a very positive attitude towards training and gaining new skills. He has proved to be a proficient leader and has become a role model for the younger generations coming through. His reputation amongst his peers is as a person with a positive ...

Highly skilled and experienced - Paul O’Sullivan, Mike Edridge Contracting

As an integral part of the Mike Edridge Contracting Limited forestry earthworks team, Paul O’Sullivan is versatile and has the ability to operate a range of machinery and equipment. He is the recipient of the Roading Excellence Award at the Top of the South Forestry Awards 2022. Paul’s high level of skill and experience with forestry roading and infrastructure, including environmental controls sees him never compromise safety, quality, or environmental compliance. He also seeks clarification...

Unsung Heroes – Buck Forestry Services

Buck Forestry Services have filled the gap and display flexibility and diversity working across New Zealand. They have been recognised at the Top of the South Forestry Awards for Outstanding Regional Service Performance. Their technical expertise reflects a long time of experience and of gaining results. They have created a business out of a gap and a role that others don’t want to do. Seen as true leaders in their field of service, Buck Forestry Services are unsung heroes offering essential ...

Winners Announced for Micro-Innovation Challenge

Winners of the very first Forestry Micro-Innovation Challenge 2022 have been announced!  In no particular order, the three winners are: Remote Controlled Felling Banner (David Johnston)Slash Grapple (Harper Logging)Mud Mats (Lukas Krkavec) While there can only be 3 winners of this challenge who will receive funding towards developing their idea, organisers of the Mirco Innovation Challenge (supported by FICA) believe in the potential of the ideas you have taken the time to share.   The...

Outstanding Health & Safety Management - Steve Borlase – Borlase Transport

Forestry Awards Winner Snapshot Taking on a role in health and safety, Steve Borlase at Borlase Transport has expanded the role and implemented improvements all round. He has innovated and his leadership is evident with health and safety practises and a focus on positive culture. This also has been a priority across his other management roles. Experienced in his field, Steve also has high expectations of others, but they can walk the talk. Excelling in training and involved in investigat...

Outstanding Environmental Management – Kelly Logging

Forestry Awards Winner Snapshot Kelly Logging have a long history of excellence in environmental management and are recipients of the 2022 Outstanding Environmental Management award at the Top of the South Forestry Awards. They continue to develop, excel and go above and beyond with environmental protection, particularly in their work to protect waterways, which is a key focus. They have been committed to investing a lot of money into equipment and machinery to be at the top of environmental exc...

FICA E-news - September 2022

Another month goes by with uncertainity if markets are righting themselves but the logs still keep flowing on our NZ roads and ships stll keep coming into the Ports. I have had a chance to travel about a bit last month and the regional variations with domestic processing or not have such a huge influence on the forestry community.A recent hui in Tairawhiti with contractors shed light on the lack of communications and engagement regional leaders undertake with the sector. In a region so reliant o...

Keen and likeable - Jackson Goldsworthy

Forestry Awards Winner Snapshot  Considering he’s learnt everything about forestry from scratch, Jackson Goldsworthy at Moutere Logging has come along way already, with both his studies and his skills. He’s been recognised for his awesome achievements as the NZ Apprentice of the Year Accolade at the 2022 Top of The South Forestry Awards. Supported by great references and endorsements, Jackson’s communication would have to be one of his best strengths. He is keen and likable, and peo...

Press Release - First Ever Forestry Expo Coming to NZ 18-19 November 2022

New Zealand’s first ever forestry expo event, the Fast & Forward Forestry Expo, is coming to Rotorua from 18-19 November 2022. The expo will bring forestry to the rest of New Zealand, showcasing innovation and advancements, career opportunities and the contribution forestry makes to the New Zealand economy, while also providing a chance for industry to come together. Brought to you by the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA), the Fast and Forward Forestry Expo is all about showcasing...

A highly motivated and disciplined operator - Keith Anderson

Forestry Awards Winner SnapshotDescribed as the consummate professional with great endorsements, Keith Anderson at Borlase Transport Limited is the winner of the Log Truck Driver Excellence Award at the 2022 Top of the South Forestry Awards. Known a legend with a very good work ethic, above all Keith is a great driver who has earned gold level status in the Log Transport Safety Council Training Pathway. He recognises the need for balance with exercise, sleep and nutrition and is described as la...