PRESIDENT'S COLUMN

Dear Members

After the conference, I took a much-needed week off to go tramping in Arthur’s Pass with my daughter. It was a fantastic experience to disconnect from mobile phones and laptops, free from the usual stream of requests and questions. It really hit home how essential it is to switch off every now and then to gain a broader perspective. I highly encourage you all to take the time to do the same when possible.

During my time away, our Vice President Adrian Loo kindly penned the last newsletter column, and I want to thank him for his thoughtful words. I couldn’t agree more with his reflections on what a resounding success the Nelson conference was. Special thanks must go to Committee Chair Rhys Black and his team—Alex Tolan, Dan Montgomery, Craig McMiken, Jess Brown, and Siobhan Allen—for their tireless efforts. I’d also like to extend a big thank you to Veronica for the hours of work behind the scenes, ensuring everything ran smoothly and on time. Conferences require a lot of management, and we all owe a debt of gratitude for the success in Nelson.

I also want to extend my congratulations to our 2024 award winners:

• Sarah de Gouw, our inaugural FRESTRA Young Forester of the Year
• Chris Ensor, recipient of the Prince of Wales Sustainability Cup
• John Hura, awarded Forester of the Year
• Bill Lily, Kirk Horn Award recipient (awarded every second year)

These individuals have done amazing things for New Zealand forestry, and their contributions deserve the recognition.

At the AGM, I challenged members to think about what they want NZIF’s future to look like. I was quite candid, stating I will not be standing again in 18 months, and the next President is unlikely to commit the 40+ hours a week I currently dedicate to the role. The demands on our time continue to grow as we aim to offer more to members and the sector. I appreciated John Schrider’s letter in the last newsletter offering one way forward. However, we need to hear from many more of you—either directly or through this newsletter. Planning for this transition is crucial, and we need to start now. The choice is straightforward but difficult: we can do less and risk losing our voice or providing the services members need, or we can bring in help, which will require increased revenue. I urge you to consider these options and share your thoughts with me, your local councillor, or through this newsletter.

In the meantime, you’ll notice more surveys coming your way as Council works through these issues. We’ll also trial some changes to see the impact of doing less. One proposal is to move this newsletter from fortnightly to monthly, starting next year. This would give me some time back and save half a day of admin work each month. However, we will only proceed if members are comfortable with a longer interval between newsletters. If you feel strongly fortnightly is still best, please let me know before year-end.

Looking ahead, 2027 marks NZIF’s centennial year. A small committee is already working on events throughout the year, including the ANZIF conference. Each committee member is responsible for a key action (e.g., speaker series, NZIF history, Arbor Day events, centennial dinner, etc.) and will form teams to help plan and execute these initiatives. We’ll soon be calling for volunteers, so if you can spare some time, please keep an eye out for those calls in this newsletter and your inbox.

Lastly, please mark your calendars for our 2025 conference, Emerging Stronger, in Napier from June 26–28, with CPD sessions on the 25th. The theme is Strengthening Forests, Infrastructure, and Community Post-Cyclone. We already have an exciting lineup of speakers, including John Hura (LTFT), Craig Little (Wairoa Mayor), James Palmer (MfE Director General), Neil Wood (Aratu), Rien Visser (SoF), Andy Lowe (Cape Kidnappers), and more. I also want to acknowledge and thank PanPac, who will not only present their experiences but also play a major role in one of the field trips. Save the date, and we’ll provide more details soon regarding accommodation and sponsorship opportunities.

Once again, thank you to everyone who contributed to making the 2024 conference such a great event—not just the committee, but our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and all the members who attended. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive, and I’m grateful to you all.

Thanks
James

TALK TO US!

Further to John Schriders Opinion Piece, we have received the following with permission to publish.

Comment from John Schrider in the last newsletter around the future of NZIF is well stated and should be fully supported; my opinion is similar, but I can comment further.

Voluntary contributions have been nothing short of outstanding throughout the years, and whatever the path forward looks like, such contributions will still form a part of supporting NZIF as a professional industry body. The need for pan-industry advocacy and positive support in the political arena is most important, and NZIF is best placed to put time and effort into these functions. The professional support for industry education and the foresters of tomorrow is absolutely important as well, and it is great to see the range of awards that those in Forestry education can aspire to achieve.

Having recently attended the Nelson Conference, I was really impressed with both attendance and support from the younger generation of foresters, and it behoves the whole organisation to support this growth on a continuing basis.

Following comments and discussion at the recent AGM, I believe the current Council should develop a plan for transitional management of NZIF, with the view to engaging a full time Executive Officer, with the aim of filling this role within the next term of Council (2 to 3 year timeframe). I am fully supportive of both member fee increases and marketing opportunities to garner funds, but the Council should scrutinise these needs in a fiscally prudent way: Member buy-in is crucial.

Above all, after being a member of NZIF for 50+ years, I believe we have the right mix of Councilors currently at the helm to drive the future successfully. I look forward to positive developments.

Bob Pocknall 

John Schrider’s opinion piece in the 11 September newsletter commented on the need for a full time salaried executive position for the NZIF and proposed a pathway forward. I would like to commend John on his thought provoking article.

The NZIF previously had a part-time General Manager for 18 months in 2017/18. I was the person that took on this position which initially included being Registrar of the Registration Board. There were no further appointments to the role after I left. The NZ Farm Forestry Association has also had several attempts in the recent past at appointing an executive officer, none lasting long term.

As a result of this, the cost, and uncertainty in my mind about what the position will do I am open minded about whether the NZIF appoints a full-time executive position. That is why I fully support John’s suggestion that the Council develops a longer time plan to progress the idea, even if it takes us up to 2030.

Tim Thorpe

Email us!  We love hearing from you.

Interaction with our members is important to assist the Council in moving NZIF forward into the future and thank those taking their time to give us some feedback.

Email:  Talk to us!

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LOCAL SECTION EVENTS

Hawkes Bay Event Review: Fire Presentation

Subject: What Has Gone Wrong-Is There a Way Forward

             Lessons Learnt from the Hawkes Bay Tangoio and Tikokino Wildfires 2020

Presenters: Murray Dudfield and Trevor Mitchell 

Murray's presentation was around the Transition to the FENZ model, embracing the Rural Fire function. When this model came into being, around 2017, which despite advice from the Forestry sector, and through Political interference around organization setup and funding model, the practical implications have been disastrous. Beauracracy and largely a lack of appropriate skills and equipment provision has played out in glaring incompetent management of fire events and huge cost overruns. FENZ were informed by Forest Industry stakeholders, that the reforms would not be successful, a true reflection of the present day!!!!

Where to from here: Forest Industry needs to engage and collaborate at a high level, assisted by concrete evidence of systemic failures, with all stakeholder involvement; then actively engage with Government for change; may be seen as a tall order, but to continue along the path set to date will end in the possibility of awful circumstances that NO ONE WANTS, despite their allegiance.

Trevor's presentation covered events related to two serious fire events in Hawkes Bay 2020. He covered the causes of these fires but the focus was around the investigation post these events. The investigations uncovered a whole raft of mistakes in managing these events, which identified many cost overruns. From the rhetoric, the level of incompetence in managing large events was clearly shown, including, incident management, personnel engagement, equipment provision and communication protocols.

It is clearly evident that FENZ need to do alot better, engage with Forestry experts in fire management, with training development and a greater understanding of the factors that influence fire behaviour, incident management etc!!! That is, if the FENZ Rural Fire Model is not thrown out!!!

Participants at the meeting engaged in lively discussion with the speakers, and it was very clear that something needs to change.

Bob Pocknall
Hawkes Bay Local Section

Gisborne: Thoughts and observations of a 60+ year career in forestry

Date:  Thursday, 26^th September 2024

Presenter:  Andrew McEwen

Time: 5:30pm

Venue: Ernslaw Boardroom, Level 3, 74 Grey Street, Gisborne

Register Here

Canterbury:  30 years managing a wilding forest at Mt Barker' by Nick Ledgard

Date:  Wednesday, 9th October 2024

Speaker: Nick Ledgard

Venue: Room F1, School of Forestry, University of Canterbury

Time: 5.30 pm

Register Here

Auckland: Investing in our Climate Future - Challenges and Opportunities

Date:  Thursday, 17^th October 2024

Speakers:
Scott Pollard (Head of Business Development)
Peter Casey (Chief Executive Officer), New Zealand Carbon Farming

Time: 5.30pm

Venue: Rayonier Matariki Forests, Level 1, 8 Mahuhu Crescent, Auckland

Register Here

Hawkes Bay: Esk Valley Forest Field Trip

Date:  14^th November 2024

Host:   Gavin Wright, Hawkes Bay Manager, Forest Enterprises and other FE staff as appropriate

Time:  Departure 9:30am at meeting place

Register Here

To view all the events on the NZIF website - Link

NZ JOURNAL OF FORESTRY

A reminder you can view all the NZ Journal of Forestry publications online.

Like one particular article, print out a pdf and read it at your leisure. Articles from the last issue include:

NZ Journal of Forestry Volume 69, Number 2 - August 2024

Dowload Full Journal

Guest editorial
Enhancing member value – NZIF Council initiatives
James Treadwell, NZIF President

Professional papers

Application of satellite sensing of under canopy soil moisture – a new approach for forest managers
Barbara Höck, Dean F. Meason, Tim Payn, Konstantinos M. Andreadis and Vanessa McWilliams

The development story of New Zealand pine nut business Pinoli Ltd
Andrew Wiltshire

Pine plantations a promising solution to New Zealand’s kiwi population decline
Erin Reilly and Craig Balsom

Addressing the wallaby problem in New Zealand’s production forest estate
Anne Beex

Ngutukākā – new hope for forest treasure kākābeak
Marie Taylor and James Powrie

Discount rates used for forest valuation – results of 2023 survey
Bruce Manley

Last word
Peter Casey

To view other issues of the Journal of Forestry, click HERE.

Note:  This Journal has a linked index to all articles within the Journal

How to Navigate the full pdf Journal Online

IUFRO CONFEENCE 2025

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or endorsements of NZIF. We make no warranties regarding the completeness or accuracy of the content provided. Readers are encouraged to use their own discretion when applying any information contained herein. Links to external sites are provided for convenience purposes only, and their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of the content found on those sites.