31st January 2022 Newsletter
PRESIDENTS COLUMN
I trust all of you have had a relaxing and safe holiday. I feel the next six months are going to be difficult and busy for most of us as Covid once again causes disruption to our work and personal lives.
There are a number of important items we need members to consider and take action on:
- Council Elections. We have a number of councillors retiring, and it is always good to have an election for council and the officers. Please consider putting your name forward, or convincing someone else to do so. NZIF does not run on its own, and we rely on members volunteering their time. Is it time you gave back? If you are not sure what this would involve, don’t hesitate to contact me to find out.
- Registration Board. Likewise we need members to put their hand up for election to the registration board. This role over the next 2 years is going to be very important to members as we move into compulsory registration under the Forest Advisors bill, regardless if NZIF holds the delegation or not. Again if you are unsure what is involved, don’t hesitate to contact Peter Casey to find out. The Board, with the approval of Council, can co-opt members to the Registration Board for a term of one year. If members stand for the Registration Board and they are not successful, but they bring experience and skill sets the Board needs, being co-opted is an option for consideration.
- Fees. If you have not paid your 21-22 fees yet (you are well overdue), please do so ASAP. Council will be reviewing all unpaid member fees in February and recommending removal of members who have not paid their fees.
- Registration. Registration of Forest Advisors will be compulsory in one form or another from August this year. I encourage any member who is giving advice to consider getting a head start and applying for NZIF registration.
Over the next six months we will be working very closely with MPI on the formation of the Forest Advisors registration scheme. Regardless of being given delegation or not, the structure of the scheme, the rules, definitions and requirements are very important to our members. We have appointed John Schrider to work alongside MPI, basically in a full time capacity, to help with the formation of the scheme. Peter Hill (Vice President) will also be closely involved and responsible for keeping members fully informed on progress and seeking feedback. Peter Casey (Registration Board Chair) and I will attend weekly meetings to ensure we are up to speed and to provide feedback.
Additionally I have been told by TuR there will be at least 5 submissions being put out to the sector over the next 6 months or so. Submissions take time, research and knowledge to write and there seem to be more and more required as Government increases consultation. It is likely council alone won’t be able to keep up with this number of submissions and therefore we will be looking to shoulder tap members with the best knowledge on the topic to help write the submission for NZIF.
I would like to challenge all local section chairs to hold at least 3 and preferably 6 local meetings. Peter Houston is working closely with all sections and has a list of ideas on topics. It does not take much effort to set up a meeting, what is required is for a local member to volunteer to organise a speaker and find a location and we can do the rest. It is a great opportunity for members to network with those outside of their workplace as well as build CPD; which will be especially important for those applying for registration. I am happy to travel to a meeting (Covid allowing) to provide an update on the Institute if sections would like me to. We are also going to try to have presentations from one section meeting live streamed to other meetings, including the ability of the remote meeting to ask questions.
As we start 2022 and I reflect on the coming year, I see this year as pivotal for NZIF. In five years we will be 100 years old. We have a long history and I hope a long future. However if NZIF is not the delegated authority of the Forest Advisors registration scheme, then I foresee a very different institute. It is highly unlikely members would want to be registered under our NZIF scheme as well as to have to register under the Government scheme. I encourage all members to take the time and effort to understand and keep up to date with the proposed Forest Advisors scheme. At the 2021 SGM it was agreed we would continue working with MPI over the conditions and responsibilities of implementing and managing the Forest Advisors scheme, but we also recognised the need for NZIF rule changes if offered delegation and these must be passed by members at another SGM this year. These rule changes and indeed the delegation will effect all members and I encourage all members to stay informed, ask questions either directly to the team above or via the newsletter, encourage debate and then to turn up to the SGM to vote. For proposed rule changes to be approved 2/3rd of full voting members who are present at the SGM must approve them.
There is a lot to do. As such this year of all years I ask members to get involved and volunteer to help where they can. This is your institute and our success is dependent on your involvement.
Thanks
James
MEMBERS VOICE
Have your say
Have something to say? comments? or just want to exchange idea's, then send an email to admin@nzif.org.nz
