vocational training

As you may be aware, the Government is proposing significant changes to vocational training in NZ. To navigate our way through this, FICA and FOA (Forest Owners Association) formed a joint Forestry Training Committee.

The committee is chaired by Kevin Ihaka (FICA) and has four members from FICA and four from FOA. The committee is recognised as the industry advisory group (IAG) to the government and its agencies, making it the voice of industry. The committee has been very active in recent months, looking at options for Forestry vocational training.

Under the new structure, Competenz will not be the training provider for Forestry. The committee has been looking for a new provider for Forestry training. One of the main objectives is to ensure that there is a seamless transition from the existing structure under Competenz to a new entity that protects learners, employers, trainers and assessors and the culture and intellectual property developed by the industry over many years.

With the assistance of Competenz, the committee is now in a position to consult with industry on what the solution may look like. The committee will be meeting online with the respective Wood Councils around the country, followed by a series of meetings arranged around the country. These meetings will be led by the committee (Kevin, Rowan and Joseph (FOA)) with the assistance of Competenz.