1st August 2022 Newsletter
PRESIDENTS REPORT
I feel I am a bit of a stuck record here and it makes me wonder if this newsletter is read. I have been asking members to register for the conference and whilst some have we are well down on numbers. Please, if you are coming to the conference register now. It makes life so much easier for the organisers to plan and gives confidence to the venue around catering numbers. This conference in Auckland has a fantastic line up of speakers, and there is something there for everyone. I encourage you to come to the conference. If you are the head of a company, I encourage you to send your staff along. There are non members rates so they do not need to be a member to attend (however if they are working in professional forestry I encourage them to join your institute).
Your council are meeting this week and we have a number of large decisions to make. The next steps to take in regards to the Forest Advisors scheme will be discussed and how best to make this work for members. I will outline a summary of the discussion and proposed way forward in the next newsletter for members to view and give their own thoughts via the members voice in the newsletter. We also need to look at the changes being brought in under Incorporated Societies Act and the Charities Act and how they may effect NZIF and the Foundation.
There is still time to nominate a member for one of the awards this year as well as for Fellow. Please make sure you get your nominations in on time and early to allow the awards committee to review and choose the worthy winner. We also need to start planning for the AGM. If there are any items or rule changes members wish to be discussed at the AGM, please send these to Admin@nzif.org.nz. Please address them to the Secretary (Lania Holt).
Since May six submissions have been made, they are
- The Government’s discussion document, “Adapt and Thrive: Building a climate-resilient New Zealand”.
- MPI/TUR Discussion document “Managing Exotic Afforestation Incentives”
- “Overseas Investment (Forestry) Amendment Bill”
- MPI’s Draft “Code of Ethics for Forestry Advisors”
- MFE – Exposure draft –“National Policy Statement- Indigenous Biodiversity”
- MPI – Select committee Bill- “Forests (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill
As mentioned numerous times, the amount of consultation and therefore submissions is at an unprecedented level. I have asked for members to put their hands up to offer to help draft submissions, especially in areas where they have expert knowledge. I thank the two members who have, but request others to do likewise. Whilst Kit will never complain I know he is snowed under by the amount of submissions coming out (and at a Friday meeting with MPI four more consultation documents were mentioned as coming out soon). If we can’t share the load we may need to not submit on some consultations. NZIF as the professional body of the Forest Sector should be submitting on any consultation which may effect forests (of all types) so it will be disappointing if we can not do this due to lack of resource. All submissions are placed on the website under the members section for members to view. Please note these are not public documents and are for members only, however we often give permission for the party seeking submissions to publish our submission if asked.
I encourage all members who feel they may be ‘caught’ under the Forest Advisors Scheme to consider becoming a NZIF Registered member. In fact if you feel you would come under the scheme then you probably should already be a NZIF Registered member. Being a registered member will not mean additional cost if you have to apply under the Advisors scheme as we have been told by MPI they will ensure the effect is cost neutral; however a NZIF Registered member will have a higher standing than a Forest Advisor. The Board and registrar are ready to turn around applications asap, but they would prefer they did not all arrive in the last few months before it is a requirement to register as a Forest Advisor. So please start putting your application together and start the process. NZIF will help you if you need it, and attending the conference will help you meet your CPD requirements!
It is a busy time at NZIF, we are here for you the members, but we are also volunteers. I therefore encourage any member to offer us a hand, we want your institute to be as successful as possible, but we are currently very resource limited.
Have a productive fortnight.
Thanks
James
CONFERENCE
With just 6 weeks to go until the conference, this week we profile the Tuesday morning conference sessions. Thanks to Murray Parrish and his powers of persuasion, we will have an address from Jon Ryder on Oji’s role in the circular bioeconomy and supporting sustainability in Tāmaki Makarau Auckland. We will also hear from Brian Cox on the role of wood residues in sustainable energy supply and this will be complemented by Linda Mulvihill discussing Fonterra’s practical experience transitioning processing facilities away from coal.
Please keep the conference registrations flowing in as it increases your chance of getting your preferred field trip and makes life a bit easier for the organizing committee. Also last call for sponsors before the program gets printed and to those that have already committed we our extend our sincere appreciation for helping make the conference possible.
To register for Conference Register here
Accommodation Option for Conference Delegates:
The Hilton Auckland see here
Other options
Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland see here
Auckland Harbour Suites see here
ibis budget Auckland Central see here
NZIF would like to thank our sponsors for the upcoming Auckland Conference.
INSTITUTE UPDATES
From the Registrar
Any member of the NZIF has the right to object to an application. Any objection should be lodged with the Registrar registrar@nzif.org.nz within 20 working days of the first appearance (1 August 2022) of the notice in this newsletter, specifying the grounds for the objection.
APPLICATION FOR REGISTERED MEMBER STATUS
The following Member has applied to become a Registered Member:
- Philip Orme of Timaru
REGISTRATION REVIEWS 2022
The following members are due for 5-year review of their status as a Registered Member during 2022 and have not yet submitted their application;
- Kevin Reardon
- David Evison
- Mark Morice
- Mort Shepherd
- Vern Harris
- Kenneth Tsang
- Paul Molloy
- Jessica Brown
- Mike Duckett
- Simon Papps
If you haven’t already done so, please make a start on the review procedure by filling out the online form and submitting it early in the year so that everyone’s review gets completed before December 2022. Please make sure you submit your applications in time to give the Registration Board time to review them.
You are responsible for ensuring that your review is completed by end of December 2022.
Any member of the NZIF has the right to object to an application. Any objection should be lodged with the Registrar registrar@nzif.org.nz within 20 working days of the first appearance (1 August 2022) of the notice in this newsletter, specifying the grounds for the objection.
Alan Bell, Registrar
NZIF Registration Board
registrar@nzif.org.nz
+64 27 444 7779
1 August 2022
FOUNDATION AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NZIF FOUNDATION 2022 AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications are invited for the awards and scholarships offered by the NZIF Foundation for 2022. The total value of awards offered is $24,700.
The awards open for application are:
- A Future Forest Scholarship for post graduate research of up to $10,000
- The New Zealand Redwood Company Scholarship of $5,000 for an undergraduate scholarship at the University of Canterbury School Forestry
- One or more Otago Southland Awards up to a combined total of $5,200 to assist a project or projects of relevance to forestry in the Otago/Southland region
- A Mary Sutherland Scholarship of $1,000 for a polytechnic student
- A University Undergraduate Scholarship of $1,000
- A Frank Hutchinson Postgraduate scholarship of $1,000
- Student poster prizes at NZIF Conference (1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes of $800, $500 and $200)
Applications are now open. Further details and an application form are available on the Foundation web page (https://www.nzif.org.nz/about-us/nzif-foundation/ )
Applications must be received by the Foundation administrator (foundation@nzif.org.nz) no later than 5pm on Monday 22nd August 2022. The awards will be announced at the Awards Dinner at the NZ Institute of Forestry conference being held in Auckland from 11th to 13th September 2022.
Enquires to the Foundation (foundation@nzif.org.nz) or phone +64 4 974 8421.
Please pass on this notice to your networks and to anyone you think may be eligible to apply. Membership of NZIF is not a requirement for application.
About the NZIF Foundation
The NZIF Foundation was established in 2011 by the NZ Institute of Forestry to advance education in relation to forestry. This includes encouraging and supporting forestry related research, education and training through the provision of grants, scholarships and prizes; promoting the acquisition, development and dissemination of forestry related knowledge and information and other activities that do not conflict with the charitable purpose. For the purposes of these awards, forestry is broadly defined to include all those activities involved in the management and use of forests and their products, the objects of which are the production of wood or other forest benefits and the maintenance of the environment in its most beneficial form. All forests in New Zealand, whatever their purpose, are encompassed in the definition.
FORESTRY UPDATES
Forestry Scholarships
Applications for Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – (Forestry Scholarships) are now open for study beginning 2023.
MEMBERS VOICE
Have something to say? comments? or just want to exchange idea's, then send an email to admin@nzif.org.nz
Ever been disappointed?
In the 20th June newsletter, I had an article referring to a recommendation from the Climate Change Commission. I asked if there were NZIF members interested in forming a special interest group to assess whether or not “New Zealand could create 300,000 ha of new native forests by 2035? How will it be achieved and what is involved?” Within the NZIF membership we have most of the professionals actively involved in researching and establishing native forests – scientists, practitioners, etc., so providing an answer based on sound knowledge should be possible.
My request came after hearing a number of NZIF members expressing views that NZ’s native forests have no part to play in climate change mitigation. By implication some seemed to omit any reference to the other valuable benefits our native forests provide to NZ - biodiversity, recreation, water quality, cultural & spiritual values, etc., and also to ignore the fact that the Commission’s recommendation was directed at providing a carbon store, not immediately, but after 2050. For the short term their recommendation was 380,000 ha more plantation forest.
President James supported the idea of a special interest group in the Newsletter of 4 July.
I was expecting quite a bit of interest in the idea of a special interest group, both from those who would like to show the Commission’s target could be met, and from those who gave the impression they have conclusive evidence it could not be achieved and was a waste of time.
Were my hopes met? Not at – there have been only two responses, so not even enough to form a special interest group.
But Hope is at Hand
Perhaps the issue is that NZIF members don’t know much about native forests but don’t want to admit it? Well now you are in luck and can remedy your lack of knowledge. Over the last 22 years, Tane’s Tree Trust has carried out high class research on many aspects of establishing, managing and using native forests, often on a shoestring budget. The Trust has partnered with Pure Advantage to run a two day conference highlighting aspects of the Trust’s research and demonstrating the need for Aotearoa to complement its existing productive land uses by weaving more native forest back into our working lands. The conference is being held at Te Papa in Wellington on 28/29 of October and features a great line up of top quality speakers.
For more information, see the conference details later in this newsletter – and then register to attend.
Andrew McEwen, NZIF Registered Forester
(Disclosure of interest – Andrew & his wife Mary are joint patrons of Tane’s Tree Trust)
FORESTRY EVENTS
Tāne’s Tree Trust Conference
Tāne’s Tree Trust has partnered with Pure Advantage to produce a two-day conference at Te Papa Tongarewa on 27-28 October 2022. The group’s aim is to highlight the need for Aotearoa to complement its existing productive land uses by weaving more native forest back into our working lands. Research shows that this will result in a myriad of benefits, which include (but are not limited to) biodiversity enhancement, erosion control, water quality, carbon sequestration, adaptation to climate change, cultural values, and high-value timber and non-timber forest products.
There are roles for different species of trees and types of forest in Aotearoa – as part of wise, sustainable land use. However, the focus of this conference is on native trees and diverse forests.
We welcome you as someone with common interests in this subject, to support O Tātou Ngāhere: Regenerating our landscapes with native forests and, as appropriate, encourage you, your team and community to attend and participate.
You can get tickets and find out more about the programme and speakers here on the conference website - www.otatoungahereconference.org.nz.
INTERESTING ARTICLES
Bangor University recognition for one of NZIF’s founding members
We have received advice from Bangor University in North Wales, that a portrait of Mary Sutherland was commissioned by the University and is now hanging in the University Council Chamber. I am sure most NZIF members are aware that Mary Sutherland, in 1916 was the first woman in the world to graduate with a degree in forestry. Mary emigrated to New Zealand in 1923, and was employed by the State Forest Service. In 1927 she became one of 18 foundation or chartered members of the New Zealand Institute of Foresters. She served on the NZIF Council, including a term as Vice President and also designed the official seal, the design of which forms the basis of the NZIF logo still in use today.
In 2020 a biography of Mary, A Path Through the Trees: Mary Sutherland – forester, botanist and women’s advocate, researched and written by Vivien Edwards, was published by Writes Hill Press. The NZIF Foundation facilitated a grant covering publication costs from the Stout Trust. The Foundation also offers a Mary Sutherland Scholarship each year.
Below is a copy of the portrait and a statement on the unveiling at Bangor University.
Mary Sutherland (1893-1955) was the world’s first female Forestry graduate in 1916. She had a distinguished career in forestry in the UK and New Zealand and is one of the founding members of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry in 1927. A Mary Sutherland Memorial Redwood can be found in Whakarewarewa Forest.
Mary’s portrait is by the contemporary Welsh artist, Ceredigion-based Meinir Mathias.
Meinir said “I feel very honoured that it is the first portrait of a woman by a female artist commissioned to hang in the Council Chamber alongside artists such as Kyffin and Whistler. I was also really pleased to have a close look at the wonderful and inspiring mural by Edward Povey.”
Dr Becky Heaton unveiled the portrait during the day in which she received her honorary degree. Becky said, “Even 70 years after Mary Sutherland graduated, it’s not always easy being a woman in forestry – as I well know! I hope it is getting easier but can only imagine how hard it would have been for Mary, she had no role models. I want to pay tribute to her and to two female foresters, Dr Pat Denne and Dr Christine Cahalan from Bangor who were my role models and inspired me. I hope that Mary’s achievements continue to inspire female foresters today."
Professor Oliver Turnbull, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said, “We are proud to pay tribute to Mary Sutherland and Sir Robert Edwards, who made hugely significant contributions in their fields and had lasting impact on the world. These paintings, created by talented artists, will form a visual reminder of their pioneering work.”
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