http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.fica.org.nz en-us Wed, 20 May 2026 07:31:06 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/164691/fica-e-newsletter--may-2026/ In this update: Message from CEO Rowan Struthers Visiting the back-blocks of Whangarei - Peter Davies-Colley, The Tree PeopleWhangarei Fry Up Contractor BreakfastSkipps Logging Achieves Canopy Class Certification with Safetree Contractor Financial Health Check Let's Have a Say on Innovation Research Update your info with FICA 10th Worker Certification for Logger Mark Brown One News Coverage - What did Rowan Say? FGR Roundup of Tech Reports Q1 2026 N3 ... Tue, 19 May 2026 09:20:28 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post164691 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/164672/visiting-the-back-blocks-of-whangarei-with-peter-davies-colley-the-tree-people/ If you’re in Northland, you’ve probably heard the name Peter Davies-Colley (The Tree People) mentioned more than once or twice. Passionate about Northland and Forestry, Peter is a member of NZFFA and a recent appointment to the FGLT Board. He also rejoined as a FICA member in 2024 after a hiatus. I have a long-standing connection with the region, having spent five years in Northland earlier in my career. While based in Auckland, Peter’s younger brother Tony was once my biggest competitor i... Mon, 18 May 2026 12:46:48 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post164672 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/164657/ports-of-auckland-case--what-it-means-for-contractors/ What the Ports of Auckland Case Means for Forestry Contracting Business Owners and Directors: Are You Meeting Your Due Diligence Duties?A recent court decision involving the former CEO of Ports of Auckland is a timely warning for forestry contracting company owners and directors.Following a fatal workplace incident in 2020, the CEO was convicted under the Health and Safety at Work Act — and his appeal was dismissed in April 2026. The case reinforces a clear message: individual leaders can be p... Mon, 18 May 2026 09:39:23 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post164657 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/164656/nz-foa-welcomes-sigining-of-india-free-trade-agreement/ The New Zealand Forest Owners Association welcomes the signing of the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, saying it marks an important step forward for forest growers, wood processors, exporters and regional communities.New Zealand Forest Owners Association Chief Executive Elizabeth Heeg, who is in India for the signing, says it is an honour to witness the progress of an agreement with such significant potential for New Zealand forestry. “Forest growers welcome the signing of this agreemen... Mon, 18 May 2026 09:35:29 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post164656 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/163406/health-and-safety-amendment-bill-2026--what-contractors-need-to-know/ The Government’s Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill proposes changes aimed at reducing compliance burden, improving clarity for businesses, and sharpening the focus on preventing death and serious harm through better critical risk management.FICA supports the overall intent of the Bill. Forestry contracting businesses already operate in one of New Zealand’s highest risk sectors and have long prioritised critical risks through mechanisation, system redesign, competency frameworks, stron... Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:11:43 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post163406 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/163404/managing-slash-on-steep-hill-country/ Te Uru Rakau recently completed Harvesting Operations Handbook: Managing Slash on Steep Hill Country. This is an abbreviated version of the Slash Risk Management Handbook and is targeted more at contractors and forestry operational staff.FICA had some input into the handbook, particularly with regard to responsibilities on page 3. We believe the key to good slash management is understanding what is required and who is responsibility before a single tree is fallen.Some of the key lines ... Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:10:21 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post163404 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/163402/we-all-need-to-be-advocates/ We all need to be advocates for our industry when we get the opportunity.  "Kia ora koutou, Steven and I have been in forestry harvesting for 25 years. This year, we joined the Taupo Chamber of Commerce. Through this, I was offered a seat at a roundtable with Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour and MP Andrew Hoggard. We were told they were keen to hear directly from businesses about red tape issues local businesses are facing.To prepare, I contacted our Women in Forestry Board Chair Sarah D... Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:10:00 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post163402 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/163399/otago-visit--mike-hurring-training-school/ As part of the roll-out of the consultation on vocational training, we delivered a presentation in Balclutha for the Southland/Otago region. Of all the vocational training meetings we have had over the past two months the meeting in Balclutha was the most interesting. The real passion for training was apparent, driven by strong collaboration between contractors, forest owners and the local Competenz staff. Apparently, the training activity in Otago/Southland is second only to the CNI (and o... Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:05:27 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post163399 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/163398/forestry-consultation-training-complete--overwhelming-support/ We completed our final forestry training consultation workshops in Balclutha and Nelson this month. The response from all consultation workshops was overwhelmingly positive, particularly with regard to a dedicated forestry business unit with stronger industry oversight, an advisory group and a governance role. As a reminder: Major changes are underway in New Zealand’s vocational education system. Competenz will move to a new PTE for engineering and manufacturing in 2026, but forestry... Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:03:49 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post163398 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/post/163397/otago-visit--southern-hospitality-with-tony-gamble/ Having had a good feed of steak and chips with an egg on top at Joe’s Garage in Dunedin,  I was looking forward to catching up with Tony Gamble (Gamble Forest Harvesting Ltd) for my tour of contractors located around Dunedin. He must have thought I was important because we took his town ute rather than the work ute. Tony runs a swing yarder/ ground-based combo for City Forests. Tony took the business over from his Dad, and all up, the business has worked for City Forests for close to... Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:02:29 +1200 http://www.fica.org.nz/blog/#post163397