15th August 2022 Newsletter
PRESIDENTS REPORT
Thank you to those who have registered for the conference. We have approximately 130 registered but still have room for more. Make sure you look at the agenda the fantastic Auckland conference team have put together. It is well worth attending.
We will be sending out the AGM papers soon for members to view. There is one minor rule change we will be considering. We also will be putting to members a vote on two proposed Fellows. A reminder we need 80% of those who vote to agree to a member becoming a Fellow. Please take the time to vote.
Your council has agreed to explore the option of an exemption for members from MPI’s registered forest advisor scheme. We are seeking a legal understanding currently and we will keep members informed on this. In the meantime our advice stays the same. Do not register in the RFA scheme at this stage. You will not face penalties until at Aug 2023 so we have a year to fully consider options. We continue to work with MPI on the scheme however also continue to feel unheard and progress continues to be slow.
I note Andrews comments in the last newsletter. As a profession do members feel we should be involved in establishment of native forest? Personally I feel we should be front and centre. Therefore I have been surprised at the seemingly lack of interest from members. Are we now an organisation representing professional forestry in exotics only? I certainly hope not. Our rules and policies have always discussed all forests, so why the lack of interest? Is it members feel they are not qualified, have we lost the knowledge which used to exist under the NZ Forest Service, do members believe this is DoC’s area? Whatever the reason I feel we must be involved. We must provide excellent professional advice to ensure the establishment of native forests is successful and at a scale to ensure they can do their bit to help reduce / reverse climate change. We are talking about the life’s your grandchildren are going to live, so why the apathy?
I look forward to seeing many members at the conference and AGM. If you are not currently registered please register. This is your chance to tell council how you want your Institute to run and what is important to you. It is also an opportunity for CPD which is required by registered members and will be required by Forest Advisors. Open the website now and sign up.
Thanks
James
CONFERENCE
With an industry wide skills shortage, continuing to invest in your staff and in particular young professionals is more important than ever. Nothing says to a staff member ‘you are a keeper and your contribution is valued’, like being shoulder tapped to attend the Leadership Development Course being led by Filipo Levi on the Sunday of the Conference. Think about who in your organization would benefit from this and secure one of the last remaining spots today.
On a personal note I can say that having recently attended another industry conference (and yes there are a lot of them on at present), nothing beats catching up in person – the energy, sharing of ideas, meeting new people and opportunities to learn and work together. We are still down on expected attendance numbers and don’t know if this is just late registrations or people too busy with their day job. Whatever the reason – we encourage members and non-members alike to make the time to attend this year’s conference. We think we have put together a really interesting line up of speakers and are convinced attendance is worth your while. Please keep encouraging those in your network to register and we look forward to catching up with you soon.
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 UPDATE
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 (15 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:
- Scott Henry of Rangiora
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
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 (15 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
15 August 2022
OBITUARY
One of New Zealand's true forestry legends has passed. JJK (Jim) Spiers passed away peacefully on 10 August in Rotorua. He was a good keen man, whose interests in forest harvesting technologies led to his being part of the group to start the Logging Industry Research Association in the 1970's (LIRA, and later LIRO). He was always interesting in learning and developing our NZ forest industry and was a long-time member of NZ Institute of Forestry as well. His funeral is on Tuesday, 16 August at 1pm at Osborne Funeral Home, 197 Old Taupo Road, Rotorua.
Not only was Jim part of the group to start LIRA, but his was the inaugural director for a decade. His enthusiasm and vision created a research entity second to none with combined industry and state support. A man who deserves his place at the forefront of the history of our industry.
SPIERS, John James Kennedy (Jim). Slipped away from us on the morning of August 10, 2022 at Rotorua Hospital. Aged 99 - a great innings. Wonderful father of Mike, Julie, Pete and Lisa. A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 1pm, Tuesday 16 August, at Osbornes Funeral Directors, 197 Old Taupo Road, Rotorua. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Blind Low Vision NZ in Jim's memory would be appreciated
Photos: Jim spoke at the FIEA HarvestTECH 2019 Conference in Rotorua to promote a book he wrote that year “When Forestry Was Fun” to over 480 delegates.
More: https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/john-spiers-obituary?pid=202552940
