31st July 2024 Newsletter
PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
Dear Members
Have you registered for the conference yet? If not, please do so now! Visit our website and find the conference banner at the top of the page to register. We would love to see you in Nelson. While you're there, don't forget to sign up for the CPD sessions. Continuing professional growth is something all members should strive for. To be at the top of our game, we need to continue learning and exploring. I encourage you to attend the CPD sessions.
I would also appreciate your attendance at the AGM. We need your feedback. Next year, we must have formed a new constitution, to replace our rules, under the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022. We need to decide if we take a lot of the detail from the rules out of the constitution and perhaps have the constitution refer to rules and policies. There is also a decision required around officers. We have just under a year to draft our constitution, but we will need to have it approved at the 2025 conference to be held in Napier in June.
We have received a number of nominations for Fellows, which is encouraging as it shows an active membership. Please keep an eye out for the vote on Fellows, which has to be held before the AGM, but will be after the Council meeting on August 8th. Please vote, as the process to become a Fellow requires a high bar of more than 80% of members approving the election of a member as a Fellow.
I would like to thank all the members who returned the recent survey we sent out. There were lots of interesting comments and suggestions, and the Council will consider the results over the next quarter and implement changes based on them. Understanding members' views is very important to the Council to ensure NZIF remains relevant, financially sound, and worthwhile. Please never hesitate to email Veronica or me if you have concerns about the direction we are (or are not) taking. Feedback is imperative if we are to represent you well.
We continue to promote professional forestry and forests. Since the last newsletter, I have been interviewed by various news organisations, including TV3, RNZ, and The Post. While not something I particularly enjoy, I believe it's important for us as a sector—and more so as the professional body—to speak up when incorrect information is being placed in the public domain. Furthermore, it's important we uphold standards and speak for all forests.
Veronica, the councillors, and I will be busy over the next month with the conference, awards dinner, and AGM planning. Please be patient with us if we do not respond as quickly as you would like. If something is urgent, I suggest you try phoning instead of emailing. Currently, Veronica and I are receiving approximately 50 emails a day each, so urgent emails can sometimes get hidden in the large volume. We do our best to respond to all of you, but sometimes we also feel like taking a break from NZIF for a day or two over the weekend!
I look forward to seeing many (most) of you in Nelson.
Thanks
James
JOB VACANCY
Senior Adviser, Indigenous Forestry
Company: Ministry for Primary Industries
Location: Rotorua
Job Description:
The Indigenous Forestry Team operates across the length of the country - from kauri and tōtara forests in Northland to native beech forests in Southland - meeting some interesting characters along the way.
This role is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Forests Act relating to the sustainable use of privately owned indigenous forests from harvest through to export. This includes ensuring compliance with the regulations in their capacity as a warranted forestry officer (note that training to become a forestry officer will be provided to the successful candidate).
We are looking for a Senior Indigenous Forestry Adviser for this permanent role within the Forestry System directorate at Te Uru Rākau - New Zealand Forest Service based in Rotorua. The role is a balance of office and field work, with the field work generating the office work. As a senior position this role will also involve project/trip leadership and mentoring of junior staff members.
Mōu - About You
We are looking for someone with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships, who is capable and comfortable working autonomously and within a team, as well as outdoors and on challenging terrain in any weather.
Key requirements for this role are:
- Tertiary qualification in a relevant or closely related discipline (e.g. forestry science, ecology, botany, or environmental science)
- Resource management or forest management training and / or experience.
- Technical knowledge / background in ecology, with an understanding and knowledge of indigenous forest ecosystems preferred. Indigenous species and timber recognition is an advantage.
- Excellent written and analytical skills
- High level of physical fitness required (This is a partially field-based role)
- Understanding of the indigenous forestry sector in New Zealand, and the practice of sustainable forest management is desirable.
- Experience working in a regulatory environment
- Compliance experience highly desired
Applications Close: 18th August 2024
To complete your application visit the MPI Careers Site.
To view the full job description please select the following link:
Senior Adviser, Indigenous Forestry
Contact Information: Sophie Hallett
UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CPD
July Webinars Review
If you missed either of these events and would still like to listen, then go to our NZIF Shop (ensure you are logged in) and purchase the webinar for $10.00. Once purchased a confirmation will be sent with the link and password.
The feedback on both of these has been very positive!
Improving decision making for red needle cast management
Red needle cast (RNC) has been affecting New Zealand’s radiata pine (and Douglas fir) plantations since at least 2008. RNC is broadly known to follow seasonal patterns, in which the foliage gradually turns red over winter before casting in spring. New foliage grows over the spring, with little new disease development over summer, resulting in trees that appear healthy by late summer, although with reduced needle retention. The natural decline in severity and the emergence of healthy flush over summer can lead to a general lack of concern over the impact of this disease, which has not been well quantified before now. Despite this strong seasonal pattern, the extent and severity of RNC outbreaks have been largely unpredictable, often resulting in boom-and-bust disease years. Research on the epidemiology and impact of RNC, complemented by improvements in remote sensing, have vastly improved our understanding of what drives these outbreaks, and the growth impacts they cause. I will present a prototype model which predicts the infection risk under different climate conditions, the impact RNC has on basal area increment in a range of case studies, control methods that are in development and how this information together may be used to make decisions on RNC management.
New Forest Valuation Standards
This was held on the 23rd July 2024, speaker Professor Bruce Manley.
This webinar provided an overview of the updated standards and the new carbon standard and is of value to all those professionals involved in the valuation of commercial forests and investment analysis of forestry investments. Results from the 2023 NZIF discount rate survey will also be presented.
Are Redwoods our second species?
Hear from our Redwood experts!
After radiata pine, Californian coast redwood has been the next most common species planted in commercial forests in New Zealand over the last decade.
Its growth rates in the right areas, long life, durable wood properties, freedom from pests and diseases and coppicing nature have resulted in increased investment in the species, in particular in the South Waikato, King Country and Inland Manawatu and Taranaki.
To provide members with an update on the current state of knowledge of redwoods – markets, site preferences, genetics, silviculture, carbon and economics of growing - we have assembled a team of leading redwood industry practitioners and researchers- to present the next NZIF webinar.
Speakers:
- Rob Webster
- Simon Rapley
- Paul Silcock
- Michael Watt
Date: 6th August 2024
Time: 7:30 pm
Ticket Costs: $NZD
$10 NZIF Members
$30 Non Members
Free: NZIF Student members only
Ticket Sales close: 3:00pm, 6th August 2024
REGISTER HERE!
Everyone who completes registration:
- receives a link and joining instructions
- receives a recording of the webinar, so if you can’t listen live you can listen later.
2024 NZIF CONFERENCE NELSON - Have you registered yet?
SOWING TOMORROW'S FORESTS - 4 - 6 SEPTEMBER 2024
We hope that the NZIF membership is enjoying our daily highlights for the upcoming conference and you are looking forward to attending. Thank you for registering early, this assists in our planning and ensures a successful event for all.
We have a good line up of speakers and some of these will be highlighted in emails in the coming weeks so you have an idea what to expect. You may even see posts on our LinkedIn page, don't forget to share it with whoever you know, non members are more than welcome.
Read all about it via the links below:
2024 Nelson Conference Field Trips
2024 Nelson Conference Sponsorships
2024 Nelson Conference Speaker Profile
2024 Nelson Conference Information Page
Accommodation: Go to the Conference Information page to find out about the special deal at the Rutherford Hotel.
We look forward to seeing you in September 2024.
NZIF Nelson Committee
2024 CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP
Events can not happen without the support of the industry. We would like to acknowledge our Sponsors who have come forward to acknowledge the NZIF Conference and its importance.
Read more about some of our sponsors.
NZCF is one of the largest contributors to New Zealand’s climate change efforts. The New Zealand company directly manages more than 75,000 hectares of forest lands – over 95% of which are planted on marginal LUC6 or greater land. On behalf of more than 6,000 local land-owner partners, NZCF also manages the carbon for 40,000+ hectares of trees, in a programme that has returned more than $120 million to farmers and forest owners in the last decade. With a team of 70 employees, as well as supporting a range of local businesses and jobs, NZCF is focused on both the urgent demands of the climate crisis and the long-term restoration of New Zealand’s biodiverse native environment, through the process of actively managed forest regeneration.
For more information on New Zealand Carbon Farming, who we are and what we do, please refer to our Website including our Prospectus, Videos, Farmer and Forest Owner product solutions, and contact details for our Local Experts.
Manulife Investment Management Forest Management (NZ) Limited (MFM (NZ)), formerly Hancock Forest Management (NZ) Ltd, was established in 2004 to manage forests on behalf of Manulife Investment Management Timberland and Agriculture Inc’s (MIMTA) clients. MIMTA is one of the longest-tenured and largest timberland investment managers in the world and forms part of Manulife’s Global Wealth and Asset Management business.
In Aotearoa, MFM (NZ) protects and manages approximately 200,000 hectares of plantation forest on behalf of our three clients, producing an annual harvest volume of approximately 4.5 million m³. Providing a safe and inclusive workplace for its employees and contractors and managing all operations to ensure excellence in environmental outcomes are MFM (NZ)’s highest priorities.
Known for entrepreneurial business ventures and enduring relationships, Ernslaw One has been a core part of the industry for over 30 years. Today, Ernslaw One has a fresh face with a new leadership team and a unified focus. Connecting our employees, contractors, communities, regulators and industry, we are working as one, to find a new path for operational forestry. At Ernslaw One, we embrace diversity, challenge the status quo and celebrate the people in our industry with a specific focus on developing young forestry professionals and attracting more women into this sector. We are committed to a prosperous and highly valued forest industry and Ernslaw One is here for the long haul. Proud supporter of NZIF and 100% proud to be part of this industry!
Anderson Lloyd is a full service national law firm that has market leading legal expertise advising on all aspects of forestry legal matters.
Our clients include some of Australasia’s largest forestry owners and forestry management companies. Our team of forestry law experts is capable of handling the full spectrum of legal issues affecting forestry owners and management companies, as well as a broad range of commercial matters.
Our forestry law expertise covers:
- acquisitions and disposals of significant forestry estates (including share sales, freehold transfers, forestry right transactions, grants of cutting rights and leasehold estates)
- Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) obligations
- Overseas Investment Act advice (including applications under the special forestry test, benefits test and standing consents)
- health and safety
- log supply agreements
- forestry management contracts
- harvesting contracts
- carbon trading agreements
- transportation contracts
In addition to the above forest-specific matters, our team also provide advice to the broader wood products sector, including saw mills and pulp mills.
