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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:
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c. Computer: Install Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader. Then the orange megaphone icon should appear in the top right of your web browser - you can use the controls to play / stop / skip as needed.
2. The FICA page content will appear below when Logger Mag comes out on the shelves. If on your iPhone, select / highlight the text and click 'speak' to listen. If you're on your computer, press the orange megaphone icon (normally in the top right of your web browser).
The Importance of Annual Health Checks in the Forestry Industry
We have a group of forestry mates who meet every year on the first weekend of March—a tradition we’ve kept going for 24 years. It’s a time to catch up, swap stories, and enjoy the camaraderie of the industry we’ve spent our lives in. But two years ago, for the first time, someone didn’t turn up.
Tamati Smith had passed away from cancer. We all knew Tamati as a good bastard—someone who lived a reasonably healthy lifestyle, worked hard, and never complained.
But his absence hit home. It made us question our own mortality in ways we hadn’t before.
Come this year’s gathering, the reality sank in even further. Three more of our mates had faced cancer scares.
Thankfully, through early detection and treatment, they are now in remission. But the fact remains—cancer, heart disease, and other serious health conditions don’t discriminate.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
In the forestry industry, we’re well aware of acute incidents—tree fallers, equipment accidents, logging injuries. We probably even know exactly how many occurred last year and who the contractor was. Workplace safety is a constant focus.
As contractors, we generally look after our workers with our annual crew health checks, but what about ourselves as business owners?
When you start conversations about health-related illnesses, a troubling reality emerges: the scale of these issues dwarfs acute incidents. Cancer, heart disease, and other conditions silently take their toll, often going unnoticed until it’s too late.
That’s why an annual health check matters for you as well. It’s not about being paranoid or weak—it’s about being smart. Just like we check our gear, assess risks, and look after the safety of our crews, we need to apply the same diligence to our own health.
A Birthday Tradition Worth Keeping
An easy way to make health checks a habit? Tie it to your birthday. Every year, around the time you celebrate another trip around the sun, make an appointment with your doctor.
It’s a gift to yourself—the chance to ensure you’re in the best shape for many more years to come. These checks can detect conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancers early enough to make a difference. They take little time but can buy you years of life.
Forestry has always valued toughness. But real toughness isn’t just about enduring—it’s about making sure we’re around to do the things that matter, to be there for our mates, whanau and mokopuna, and to take care of ourselves the way we take care of our work.
So, let’s start treating health checks like any other safety measure—because this is one risk we can actually do something about.
Resources for extra reading
If you’re ready to take charge of your health, here are some places to start:
New Zealand Cancer Society – Information on early detection and cancer support services. www.cancer.org.nz
Health Navigator NZ – Comprehensive health advice, including check-up recommendations. www.healthnavigator.org.nz
Men’s Health Trust New Zealand – Dedicated to improving men’s health through education and awareness. www.menshealthnz.org.nz
Women’s Health Week - Dedicated to helping women prioritise their health with information / resoources. www.womenshealthweek.nz
Meeting with Todd McClay
FICA organised a meeting with the Minister of Forestry Todd McClay at his Rotorua Office on 17 April. We invited FOA who were represented by Joseph Brolly and Dean Witehira (KT and FOA Vice President). FICA members Mahi Rakau (Stewart Hyde and Joe Taute) also attended.
The meeting focused mainly on Immigration but also vocational training, NES-CF slash standards, Tairawhiti and an update on the ACOP.
Once again, it was a positive meeting with the minister who was well engaged on all issues and vowed to support the Meeting with Todd McClay industry’s position on immigration. FICA has been asked to write a letter to the Minister that he can endorse with other Ministers and government agencies.
As Dean Witehira said “Securing a reliable, safe and productive workforce is critical if forestry is to double export earnings over the next 10 years. Securing ongoing access to immigrant workers is critical if we are to lift the productivity and performance of the industry. This coupled with well resourced and structured training are key enablers for succeeding against this vision.”
FICA Secures Seat for Forestry Innovation on the Forest Research Committee (FRC)
For months, FICA has advocated for a position on the Forest Research Committee (FRC), believing that contractors—often the true innovators in the industry— deserve a voice at the governance level of forestry research and development. This week, that vision became reality.
Ian Hinton, Chair of the FRC, extended an invitation to FICA to join the committee, recognising the unique perspective that contractors bring to industry discussions.
“The different viewpoint that FICA will bring will help the committee to make more informed decisions,” Ian stated.
FICA gratefully acknowledges the support of the New Zealand FOA in facilitating this opportunity. The appointment of Nick Tombleson, FICA Chair, to represent contractors marks a significant step forward for our members in shaping strategic forestry research and development.
A Voice for Innovation
This appointment ensures that contractors, who are deeply embedded in forestry operations, play an active role in guiding research priorities.
“Many of the best examples of innovation in the industry have come from contractors on the ground. This move strengthens collaboration between research and practical application, ensuring that forestry R&D aligns with realworld challenges,” says FICA CEO Rowan Struthers.
“This milestone highlights the importance of collaborative leadership in forestry research—ensuring that all voices, from governance to contractors, contribute to a thriving and forward-thinking industry.”
