24th April 2023 Newsletter

PRESIDENTS COLUMN

This week, I had the opportunity to speak with One News about a recent call from a Maori group to the UN for a halt on all radiata harvesting, and for an envoy to investigate the forestry industry. While the interview was originally centered around this topic, it quickly turned to discussions about forestry's impact on employment, GDP, and our responsibility to protect future generations from similar events.

During the interview, I stressed the importance of changing the narrative surrounding forestry, and why the media should start focusing on the land itself, rather than the industries which operate on it. I also highlighted the need for all land users to work to improve their practices, and protect against the effects of sedimentation and woody debris from future storms.

Unfortunately, despite my efforts, the media has largely focused on placing blame rather than delving deeper into these important issues. To date, I've conducted 23 interviews with media outlets, but have received very little coverage. However, I remain committed to my goal of promoting a more productive and nuanced conversation about forestry and the land, and will continue to work towards this end

Changing the narrative is very difficult. I have been asked (accused) why we are not doing more to counter the current media narrative. Let me assure you we are trying. However blame sells and reality does not seem to be a reporters main goal. Further we are relying on volunteers, volunteers who are up against well funded and full time media teams in Beef and Lamb, NGO’s, and other similar groups.

In other matters the Registration Board continues to plea if you anticipate the need to be registered before 06 August, please start the registration process as soon as possible. The Registration Board urges you not to delay, as the process takes time and the Board has limited hours to undertake the necessary reviews. It has come to our attention over 50 individuals are intending to register in the next few months, so please act promptly to ensure your registration is processed in a timely manner.

Save the date for our upcoming AGM and awards dinner on 08 July in Wellington. We are excited to offer a variety of CPD courses throughout the day and strongly encourage your attendance. More information regarding CPD offerings will be provided in future newsletters.

Additionally, we are now accepting nominations for the Forester of the Year and the PoW Sustainability Cup. If you know someone deserving of these prestigious awards, please submit your nomination to Raewyn. This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the outstanding contributions of our fellow members.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in the Institute.

James

INSTITUTE UPDATE

NZIF AGM and CPD - 08 July 2023

Because this year we have a combined ANZIF conference in Australia from 15-18 October in Coolangatta, Gold Coast, NZIF need to have an AGM before the ANZIF conference to meet the requirements of our Rules.  It is planned to also provide 2-3 sessions of CPD and the Awards Dinner at the same time.

The planned venue is the Wellington Club, 88 The Terrace, Wellington.

The draft programme is:

9am - Registration and coffee/morning tea

9.30am - 11am First CPD session

11am - 12.30pm Second CPD session

12.30pm - 1.30pm Lunch

1.30pm -3pm Third CPD session

3pm - 3.30pm Afternoon tea

3.30pm - 5pm AGM

5pm - 6pm Networking refreshments

6pm Awards Dinner

The Wellington Club has accommodation. 

7 Queen rooms at $195.00 / night and 3 King rooms at $225.00 / night.  Reservations need to be made by contacting Peter Hill ( 021 965 266  or pjint@outlook.com )

I would appreciate any ideas for timely / appropriate CPD sessions.  I have had a suggestion of a session on Mental Health management, this has been used by Future Foresters and comes recommended.  Your thoughts please?

This event will be updated as the programme firms up. When the event is finalised it will open for registration

Peter Hill

Vice President

Call for Nominations - Fellows, Forester of the Year and Prince of Wales award for Sustainable Forestry

Nominations need to be emailed to the Secretary at admin@nzif.org.nz no later than 5pm Sunday, 28th May 2023.

Recipients will be announced at the NZIF AGM and the awards dinner, 8th July 2023

To nominate a new Fellow by 28th May 2023, please Read more and fill in the form

To nominate a member for Forester of the Year award by the 28th May 2023 Read more

To nominate a member for Prince of Wales award for Sustainable Forestry by 28th May 2023 Read more

Lania Holt

NZIF Secretary

FOUNDATION AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NZIF FOUNDATION 2023 AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications are invited for the awards and scholarships offered by the NZIF Foundation for 2023.  The total value of awards offered is $11,500.

The awards open for application are:

• Otago Southland Award $2,000 to assist a project or projects of relevance to forestry in the Otago/Southland region
• A Mary Sutherland Scholarship of $2,000 for a polytechnic student
• A University Undergraduate Scholarship of $2,000
• A Frank Hutchinson Postgraduate scholarship of $2,000

• Chavasse Travel Award for $3,500.

• 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 Sunday 28th May 2023.  The awards will be announced at the NZIF AGM on the 8th July 2023.

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.

REGISTRATION BOARD

The NZIF Registration Board wants to remind you

The NZIF Registration Board wants to remind you of the email of 13^th December you should have received last year advising if you were giving forestry advice “for reward” the law required you to be registered on the Government’s Registered Forestry Advisor (RFA) Register, and being on this Register would become mandatory from 6^th August 2023.  You were also advised NZIF had arranged a 90% discount on the costs of that registration on the RFA Register for NZIF Registered Members.  The email went on to tell NZIF members who were not registered, but wanted to take the advantage of the concession to NZIF Registered members:

if a member wants to be reasonably sure there is enough time for their application to be processed by the NZIF Registration Board before the statutory requirement to be registered comes into force on 6 August 2023, they need to have it submitted to the NZIF Registrar no later than Monday 1^st May 2023.  This should allow the application to be notified in the NZIF newsletter of 8 May 2023.  But if everyone waits till that date, it is likely the Board will not be able to process your applications before 6 August and you may miss the deadline to be registered by the due date.

Note your application must be complete (all documentation etc., including your referee reports must be provided) before your application is notified in the newsletter or considered by the Board.  The NZIF registration scheme requires all applications for registration to be notified in the NZIF newsletter so that other members can, if they so wish, to object to registration.  Those who wish to lodge an objection have 20 business days from the first notification of the application to lodge an application.  To maintain the integrity of the NZIF scheme, the Board cannot shorten that period, which is a significant element in the time needed to process an application.

The NZIF Council has arranged to provide MPI/Te Uru Rakau (the Ministry responsible for the statutory register of forestry advisers) with the relevant details of NZIF registered members needed for the statutory scheme and will also pay the requisite fees on your behalf (taken from your NZIF registration fee).

The NZIF Registration Board is not responsible for the legislation.  However, NZIF Registration Board members are spending a lot of their time reviewing applications for NZIF registration and revising aspects of the registration process to smooth the path for you.  They are also writing the specifications for the NZIF Early Career Development Programme that will help those NZIF graduate members who have not had the length of experience required for NZIF registration, to be recognised under the statutory scheme (which has a lower standard of experience than NZIF requires).  Board members, individually and collectively, are making every effort to process as many applications as possible before 6^th August 2023.  But you must also accept that Board members have their day jobs and other responsibilities to manage as well.

The NZIF administrator (admin@nzif.org.nz) and the NZIF Registrar (registrar@nzif.org.nz) will endeavour to answer your questions or pass them on to someone who can help

Please help us to help you.  If you need to be registered, please do not leave your application for NZIF registration to the last minute.

Thank you.

Peter Casey

Chair, NZIF Registration Board

From the Registrar

APPLICATION FOR REGISTERED MEMBER

The following Members have applied to become Registered Members:

• Saulo Barboza of Auckland
• Michael Bergin of Atiamuri
• Jason Syme of Tauranga
• Trevor Mitchell of Hastings
• Russell Dale of Rotorua

SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION FOR REGISTERED MEMBER

The following Members are now Registered Members:

• Boon Tan of Rotorua
• Campbell Harvey of Christchurch
• James Kerr of Havelock North

SUCCESSFUL 5 YEAR REGISTRATION REVIEW

• Erin Jeffrey of Rotorua

NOTICE OF 5 YEAR REGISTRATION REVIEW

The following Members are due for their 5-Year review of registration in 2023 and have not yet submitted their application;

• Steven Croskery of Masterton
• Gareth Buchanan of Rotorua
• Julian Kohn of Gisborne
• Angus Malcolm of Richmond
• Kirsten Stuart of Christchurch
• Brett Gilmore of Napier
• Rene Weterings of Taupo
• Simon Rapley of Taupo
• Jeremy Waldegrave of Auckland
• Dennis Neilson of Rotorua

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 (24 April 2023) 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

24 April 2023

MEMBERS VOICE

NZIF Submission to Ministerial Inquiry

Thank you Kit for the detailed submission you have put together on behalf of NZIF and the profession of forestry in NZ.  You have put a huge amount of work into it and provided very real examples of the complexity of the issues faced on the East Coast – issues that were identified at least a century ago and for which the solutions were being identified as far back as the 1950s (I go back to the committee that reported in the 1950s (i.e. a decade before the Taylor committee and over 3 decades prior to cyclone Bola), and were starting to be addressed when the government told the Forest Service in the late 1950s to purchase and establish a forest in the headwaters of the Waipaoa catchment.  That work was well underway when the Taylor committee was set up a few years later.) and by the time of cyclone Bola the Forest Service had established over 33,000 ha of forest in Mangatu, Tokomaru and Ruatoria State Forests, which was directly funded by not by grants.  Mangatu was shown to have a very positive impact on the Waipaoa flood protection scheme established in the 1950s.

For more information on the establishment of Mangatu, have a look at the story of Mangatu, available here https://scion.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p20044coll6/id/648/

Peter Olsen’s review of the book in the Journal of Forestry is also worth a look (New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 1974, Issue N.Z.J.For. 19(1) 1974, pp 145, May 1974.

It is difficult to see what the current Ministerial committee can hope to accomplish in two months, other than to advise the submissions from entities like NZIF and also Tane’s Tree Trust (for which we can thank TTT trustee and NZIF Councillor Jacqui Aimers) highlight the huge knowledge that is already available on the issue.  It is the political will (at both central and local government) to promote land use change, not the knowledge of how to do it, that is missing.  The political will needs to include financing the not inconsiderable cost that the solutions require.  Since Bola, politicians have focussed on handing out some grants to land owners to encourage them to undertake land use change involving their land, efforts and finance (apart from the grant), to provide benefits that will mostly be received by downstream land owners and public infrastructure.  For the State forests, the government (taxpayer) provided the funding and the taxpayer received the benefit in the form of reduced downstream flooding and damage to infrastructure.

I was interested that some submissions, as reported in the media, seemed to focus on the employment and economy benefits of forestry on the East Coast.  The trouble is such data can be misinterpreted.  As an example, many road accidents are caused by bad drivers.  Road accidents require paramedics, tow operators, police etc.  Accident victims may finish up in hospitals.  The activity from all this contributes to GDP.  Can we conclude bad drivers are good for employment and the economy?

Andrew McEwen

NZIF Registered Forester

FORESTRY EVENTS

Auckland Local Section event

The ASIF event organised to recognise the Coronation is a tree planting day on Motutapu Island in support of the great work being done by the Motutapu Island Forest Restoration Trust (https://www.motutapu.org.nz/). The nursery on the island was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip making this an even more appropriate event. 

Date: Sunday 7 May.

Transport: 9.15am Fullers ferry from Downtown to Rangitoto and returning from Rangitoto on the 4.00pm ferry which arrives at Downtown by 4.45pm.

Cost: Return ferry ticket $30 (volunteer Tree Planter’s discount). Paid to Fullers.

Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first in first served basis!

Read more and register

“What we can do to empower Maori in the forestry sector”

Te Kapunga Dewes, CEO of Whenua Oho and Interpine Innovation will be speaking on;

“What we can do to empower Maori in the forestry sector”

Date: 23rd May 2023

Time: 6pm

Location: Toi Ohomai Forestry building

 The presentation will start at 6pm with networking drinks and nibbles to follow.

Read more and register

Webinar: Tackling life stresses | Recognising, asking and working together

Date: Thursday 27 April
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm (AEST)

About:
Sometimes life throws us curveballs. Challenging circumstances, natural disasters and uncertainty can impact our livelihoods, businesses, industry, families, and communities causing stress and impacting wellbeing. This webinar will present a tool kit and resource for dealing with life stressors, focusing on:

·         Recognising the signs that situational stressors are at a dangerous level, and what to keep an eye out for,

·         Asking questions to find out what’s going on, what needs to happen to reduce the risks and,

·         Work Together – reaching out for support and looking after those around us.

Registration:
Non-members: Typically, would pay $50 but this is offered to NZIF Members for free.

Use this link to register:  Register here

Everyone who registers will receive a recording of the webinar, so if you can’t listen live, you can listen later.

Registrations close: 10.00am Wednesday 26 April

Speaker: Barb Walters

Barb Walters will be presenting this webinar and is the CEO of Rural Alive and Well (RAW). RAW enables communities to tackle life stressors, stigma and isolation through innovative awareness, access and practical interventions. The team at RAW are committed to delivering proactive outreach support that increases protective factors to minimise the risk of poor mental health and suicide. A saw miller’s daughter, Barb understands the importance of forestry and the timber industry and the challenges that can sometimes come with it. The webinar will touch on Barb’s personal experience of the Tasmanian native forest downturn and the impact that had on a personal, family and community level. This personal connection to the industry motivated Barb to develop RAW’s Cutting Through Program, to support the wellbeing of Tasmania’s timber and forestry sector.

This webinar is available free of charge to NZIF members courtesy of Forestry Australia and it’s 2023 Webinar Program Sponsors:

Royal Society Te Apārangi Wellington Branch and

the Royal Society Te Apārangi

Joint Public Lecture

On Wednesday 3 May at 6.00 pm the Royal Society Te Apārangi Wellington Branch and the Royal Society Te Apārangi will host a free public lecture. We hope that you will attend and contribute to the discussion afterward. Please come along. Full details of the lecture are given below.

Wednesday 3 May 2023

6.00 - 7.00 pm at the Royal Society Te Apārangi premises,

11 Turnbull St. Thorndon, Wellington

Dr Tim Payn, Principal Scientist, Forest Ecology and Management, Scion Research

Cyclones, land use and forestry – how do we adapt?

In the last few years New Zealand has been hit by a number of extreme weather events, the latest being ex cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. Massive damage has been caused, especially on the east coast of the North Island, and recovery will require a very long-term effort. The intensity and frequency of these storms are expected to increase under climate change. A Ministerial Inquiry into Land Use is underway for the Gisborne/Wairoa regions which will assess causes and effects and make recommendations to Government based on their findings.

Forestry is one of the land uses affected by the extreme events and one of the land uses affecting the wider environment. There has been widespread media coverage of damage to infrastructure from logs and accumulations of logs on beaches and calls for changes to the way we manage our forests. This talk will focus on the history of production forestry in New Zealand, how forests are managed today, and what changes could be made to reduce impacts from these extreme events in the future.

Tim Payn is a Principal Scientist at Scion in Rotorua. His research focusses on sustainability, climate change and the environment. He is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.

We look forward to seeing you there.

David Lillis

Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington Branch

2023 ANZIF Conference

Date: Sunday 15 to Wednesday 18 October 2023
Location: Twin Towns Conference Centre, Gold Coast, QLD
www.forestryconference.com.au

Read more

RECENT MEDIA ARTICLES

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487820/cyclone-gabrielle-most-pine-wood-debris-was-from-erosion-not-slash-hawke-s-bay-council-says

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487737/some-forestry-crews-still-without-work-following-cyclone-gabrielle

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/climate-change-nz-could-face-24-billion-bill-to-hit-2030-international-paris-agreement-targets-in-carbon-credits-officials-warn/HPCLSJELQZABFJ3FZ6JLUZK7IM/

https://businessdesk.co.nz/environment

https://businessdesk.co.nz/primary-sector

https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/policy/carbon-prices-rise-slightly-but-market-confidence-still-shattered

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487894/government-boosts-science-funding-to-prepare-for-more-extreme-weather

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487902/climate-change-commission-tells-govt-change-emissions-scheme-or-risk-targets-failure

https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/300852917/momentum-for-cyclone-victims-must-not-dissipate?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/487879/construction-cost-inflation-at-its-peak-survey

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/131757746/you-cant-keep-coal-and-petrol-cheaper-and-also-stop-climate-change-commission-warns-government?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/apr/14/fast-build-modular-homes-an-answer-to-the-uk-housing-crisis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/131758838/government-moves-to-restore-confidence-in-carbon-credit-pricing?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487549/we-haven-t-learnt-much-environmental-advocate-lays-down-challenge-to-councils-over-flood-mitigation

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131805911/national-promises-to-double-rse-worker-cap-ban-foreign-investment-in-farmtoforestry-conversions?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300847622/the-government-wanted-to-improve-a-law-on-major-polluters-it-might-be-worse?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/488222/sweet-little-orbs-of-good-taste-marlborough-pine-nuts-scoop-prestigious-food-prize

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/488175/beef-lamb-wants-changes-to-on-farm-emissions-plan

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/488156/nz-rural-land-company-buys-north-island-forestry-block

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/19/dont-fool-yourself-billions-more-needed-to-protect-tropical-forests-warns-new-report-aoe?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/131834767/land-rights-group-takes-forestry-concerns-to-un?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/488068/high-risk-of-gisborne-pipe-failure-found-before-cyclone-report

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487671/what-scientists-just-discovered-about-nz-s-critically-endangered-kakapo

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/487866/nz-s-gross-greenhouse-gas-emissions-drop-for-second-year-in-a-row

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/131834678/markets-wrap-cyclone-gabrielles-devastating-impact-lingers?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/131727761/from-treetops-to-traps-businesses-join-forces-to-boost-predatorfree-campaign?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/131712551/bid-to-save-critically-endangered-parakeet-breeding-success-in-arthurs-pass?cid=app-iPhone

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/24/more-than-half-nsw-forests-lost-since-1750-and-logging-locking-in-species-extinction-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/21/costa-rica-uk-land?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other