Eastland Forestry Awards 2024

SKILLEDPROFESSIONAL OFTHEYEAR

CURTISHAWKES

Forestryindustryreflectsonthepast,asit celebratesitscolleaguesatAwardsevening

ChallengestheEastCoasthavefacedinthe past18monthswerereflectedon,atan eventacknowledgingtheforestryworkforce.

TheEastlandForestryAwardstookplacein GisborneonFriday24May,with500colleagues comingtogether.Theaudiencewerethereto celebratethenomineesandwinnersputforward bytheirpeersandtheircompanies.

TakingoutthetopgongwasCurtisHawkes, HawkesLogging.Curtiscametotheregionfrom Northlandwithhisfamilyandleadshiscrewonthe extremeterrainoftheEastCoast.

MPDanaKirkpatrickwhopresentedthetop awardsays:“Curtisisdescribedashavingshown nothingbutahighlevelofprofessionalism andworkethic,inallaspectsofthejob.Hewas recognisedasatrueleaderbyexample,notasking anythingofanyonethattheythemselveswillnot do.”

CurtistookawaytheSkilledProfessionalofthe Year2024trophyaswellasHarvestingExcellence, CrewoftheYearandOutstandingHealth&Safety awards.

TotalnominationsfortheEastlandForestry Awardsstoodat66,arecordhighforthisregion In severalcategories,therewerecloserunnersup

“Therewasatruesenseofcamaraderieand compassionamongstthosethatattended,but alsoalotofreflection.

Ithasbeenadifficultperiodfortheindustry, throughCyclonesHaleandGabrielle,soitwasnice

tocometogethertoacknowledgeourcolleagues whohaveworkedtirelesslyandresiliently throughoutthistime,”WarrenRanceoutgoing ChairofEWCsays.

Thoseinattendancealsoreflectedonthe supportgiventoworkersandtheircommunities, votingontheGoodDeedawardonthenight.This waseventuallyawardedtoPourauIncorporation &KuruContracting,jointwinners.Pourau Incorporation(ownedbythePotaefamily) andKuruContractingworkedtogethertomeet theneedsofthecoastalcommunityaswell asprimaryindustrybybuildingabypassroad betweenHikuwaiOneandHikuwaiThreeBridgeto reconnectthestatehighwayfollowingthelossof HikuwaiOneBridgeafterCycloneGabrielle.

TaniaGibb,RaWhakaponoLoggingtookoutthe topprizeforWomaninForestry.Tania’spassion forensuringtherightsandsafetyofworkerswas describedastrulyinspiringinhernomination, andhersignificantimpactonthelocalforestry communitywasacknowledged.

IncomingCEOfortheEastlandWoodCouncil (EWC),PhilipHopewasacknowledgedforhis unwaveringadvocacyacrosstheregionwithlocal andnationalgovernmentandiwiduringhistenure atthehelm

“TheEastlandForestryAwardseveningwasa truetestamenttooutstandingrolemodelsand innovativeinitiativesandservicesthathaveseen theindustrycontinuetooperateandsurvivethe lastfewyears.

CurtisHawkeswontheSkilledProfessionalofthe Year2024trophyaswellasHarvestingExcellence, CrewoftheYearandOutstandingHealth&Safety awards.

“Wearegratefulforourworkforcewhohave continuedthroughoutsignificantadversitythis past18months,andwelookforwardtoourfuture togetheraswecontinuetoworkhardforourEast Coastcommunity,”Ranceadds

MahiNgatahi-workingtogether

ByJulianKohn–ChairEastlandWoodCouncil

Throughthe80sandearly90s theNewZealandGovernment believedthatplantingpine ontheEastCoastwouldsolvethe erosionproblemsaswellascreating employment.Thisbroughtback largenumbersofyoungpeopleto thecoast.Subsequentsilviculture andharvestingworkhasgenerated $100mincomeforthosefamilies.If wewanttomaintainandimprove thequalityoflifethosefamilieshave enjoyedweneedtoresetthedial andworktocreateasustainable environment.

Thepast12-18monthshaveseen theTairāwhitiforestindustryface themostchallenginganduncertain environmentinageneration.This ishavingadebilitatingimpacton theindustryandtheeconomyof Tairawhitiincluding:

•severeservicesproviderand experiencedstaffattrition

•lackofinvestmentcapitalin forestry

•lackofinvestmentcapital forwood/andorwoodwaste processingforbioenergyorother markets

•reductioninharvestvolumes whicharehavingdire financialandenvironmental consequences •valuechaindisruptions impactingviabilityofthevalue chainsweneedtoworktowards amoresustainablefuture •significantreductioninexport volumesimpactingrevenueand GDPforGisborne,andCouncils interestintheEastlandPort Company

•theindustryhasbeenheavily criticisedforitsmanagement fortheforests.Someofthishas certainlybeenjustified.

Mitigationworkcontinues throughoutthedistrictwith stakeholdersandforestcompanies workingtogethertore-establish infrastructurethroughoutTairāwhiti.

Forsomeyearsnowforest companieshavebeenworkingon“in forest“mitigationtoreducetheriskof wooddebrisandsiltmovementfrom harvestingandroadingactivities. Theseinclude:

•endhauling:removingfillfrom high-riskareasandtakingtolowriskareas

•skidredesign:additional benching,compactionand replacementofskids

•slashplacement:movingslash offtheendofskidstosaferareas

•burningslashpiles:reduces volume/weightofwooddebris onsite

•roadingdesign:improving infrastructureengineering

•silviculturalchanges:considering specieschanges,placementand stockingratesetc

•ripariandesign:extending riparianareasandreplantingin alternativespecies.

•culturalchanges:trainingof staffandcontractorsin“anew andimproved”wayofforest stewardship.

Forestmanagementisalong-term process,andchangescantake25-30 years.Woodandsiltfromforestsand farmlandwillcontinuetocomedown thewaterwaysuntiltheyareflushed. Forexample,localswillhavenoticed wholetreesinwaterways.This hasnothingtodowithharvesting andrelatestomid-slopefailure. Significantvolumesofthewood debriswasnotpinusradiata.

Theindustrycontinuestowork withthelocalCouncilontermsand conditionsforresourceconsents. Theseneedtobetargetedat longtermimprovementinland stabilisationandinfrastructure protection.Whileremediation workcontinuesitistimetochange thefocusandlookforlongterm solutions.Thiscanonlyhappenwith informeddebate,goodscienceand research.

Ifthecommunitywantstohavea vibrant,safeandthrivingeconomy thenitneedstotakethelong-term viewofhowasustainableforest industrywouldfitintothatvision.

TheEastlandWoodCouncil membersandthewiderindustry lookforwardtoworkingwithall stakeholderstoprovidebetter outcomesforourwhenuaand whānau.

EastlandForestryAwardsresults2024

Ahugecongratulationsfromthepeople ofTairāwhiti.Forestrycommunityforthe winnersandexceptionalskillsofthese peoplethattookthestagelastmonth.Thankyou alsotothesponsorsforsupportingtheawards campaignandensuringtheywereabletobeheld torecognisetheheroesoftheindustry.Welldone!

SkilledProfessionaloftheYear2024sponsoredby EastlandWoodCouncil:CurtisHawkes (HawkesLogging).

EmergingLeader(sponsoredbyErnslaw): RowenaMarshall(SummitForest).

LogisticsExcellence(sponsoredbyQubeForestry -PacificHaulage):RogerCallow(ISOLtd).

WomaninForestry(sponsoredbyBlackstump Logging):TaniaGibb(RaWhakaponoLogging).

Guestsenjoythemselvesduringtheevening.

OutstandingHealthandSafety(sponsoredby QubeForestry-ISO):CurtisHawkes (HawkesLogging)

IndustrySupport(sponsoredbyAPPlant& Machinery):KrissyMackintosh(Hear4U).

ForestryandEstablishmentExcellence (sponsoredbyCompetenz:TePukenga): SamuelaDonu(VaileaSilvicultureLtd).

FallerManualExcellence(sponsoredbyAratu Forests):BenHohepa(TairawhitiTimberTraining).

FallerMechanisedExcellence(sponsoredby ForestEnterprises):LeviGibson-Parks (ForestEnterprises)

HarvestingExcellence(sponsoredbySummit): CurtisHawkes(HawkesLogging).

CartageExcellence(sponsoredbyMITO): RodelCalipes(PacificHaulageLimited)

CrewoftheYear(sponsoredbyUDC): HawkesLogging

EnvironmentalInitiativeManagement (sponsoredbyTDX):EastsideLogging

RoadingCivilExcellence(sponsoredbyEastland Port):ValMilham(KuruContractingLtd).

OutstandingInnovationExcellence(sponsoredby JNL):AceofSpadesContractingLtd

WoodProcessing&ManufacturingExcellence (sponsoredbyAratuForests):DavidRameka (KiwiLumber(Gisborne)Ltd)

Valuedinourindustry,partofourcommunities andcriticaltothewayforward.

Targetsettodoublevalueofexports

MPDanaKirkpatrickwasa guestspeakerattheEastland WoodCouncilForestry Awards.2024.Sheacknowledged thehugechallengesthathave facedtheindustry.Shealsothanked theEastlandWoodCouncilboard andexecutivePhilipHopefortheir leadershipduringseveraltrying years.

MsKirkpatricksuggestedashard asitmightbe,allsectorshavehadto regroupsincethecycloneandhow forestryforgesitswayforwardwillbe criticalintheshorttomediumterm.

Ithasbeenchallengingbuta glimmerofhopeexists.TheMinister ofForestrytheHonToddMcClaywas inTairāwhitirecentlyanddiscussed theGovernment’sapproachto dealingwiththeeffectsofthe cyclones.Nationalhashonoured thecommitmentsoftheprevious Governmentintheclean-upand resilienceplanningforourregion. Thatincludestheextractionof 362,539tonnesofwoodydebris fromtheregion’scatchments andbeaches.Thisrepresents approximately75%ofthevolumeto beremoved.

MsKirkpatrickreinforcedhow importantforestryistotheongoing successoftheregionandNew Zealand.TeTairāwhiti’seconomy

isbuiltonfarming,fishingand forestry.Forestrymakesamassive contributiontotheregionalGDP–inthevicinityof$203mperannum basedon2022figuresor8%ofthe regionalGDP.

TheCoalitionGovernmenthas setatargettodoublethevalue ofNewZealand’sexportsoverthe next10yearsincludingforestry.To achievethisthegovernmentaimsto provideanoperatingenvironment thatcanenablemoredomestic processingandexportofhighervalueproducts.Currentlyonlyabout 40percentofNZ’sannualforest harvestisprocessedonshore,while approximately60%isexportedasraw logs.InTairāwhitiin2022theindustry exported96%ofthe2.3mtonnesof logsdirectoutoftheEastlandPort. Thisrepresentsahugeopportunity toincreaseprocessingandexport ofhigher-valueproducts.“The regionhasgreatopportunitieshere topowerthisupinlinewithglobal marketparameters,”suggestedMs Kirkpatrick.

TogrowNewZealand’sforestry exports,Governmentrecognises theneedfortherightsettingsand addressingregulatorybarriersfor business.Thisincludeseliminating redundantbureaucracyandensuring regulationisfit-for-purposewhile alsoprotectingtheenvironment.The

DanaKirkpatrick,MPforEastCoast,GovernmentThirdWhipParliamentary PrivateSecretarytoMinisterMarkMitchellforCycloneRecovery

governmentwantstosettherules, providetheguidelinesandthenget outoftheway.Theyacknowledge thereissomeworktodobutinsist thatthisisdonecollaborativelyand withallthepartiesaroundthetable.

Providinggreatercertaintyis importantforlong-terminvestment, andthegovernmentarecommitted torestoringstabilityandconfidence totheforestryandwoodprocessing sectortosupportinvestmentand exportgrowth.

Alreadyactionedistheending oftheEmissionsTradingScheme (ETS)ReviewandMinisterMcClay’s announcementinFebruaryof anindependentreviewintothe operatingcostsoftheforestry componentoftheETStoensureitis efficientandcost-effective.

“Webelievethatthesemeasures andotherswillhelptorestore confidenceinthesectorandensure thatthereisongoinginvestment,” confirmedMsKirkpatrick.

GrandSlamattheAwards

CurtisHawkesofHawkes Loggingwalkedawaywith significanttrophiesunderhis beltattherecentEastlandForestry AwardsinGisborne.Theseincluded theSkilledProfessionaloftheYear 2024trophyaswellasHarvesting Excellence,CrewoftheYearand OutstandingHealth&Safetyawards.

Hestartedoutin2003asa “breakerout”inahaulercrew.Asa schoolleaverCurtishadastrong careeraspirationthatwastooneday ownhisownbusinessand15years laterthatwasachieved.

Movingasignificantdistance acrossthemotu,thisloggeruplifted hisfamilyandarrivedinEastland withasignificantreputationasa proficientLoggingContractor.With thereductionofvolumeinNorthland andtheplantingprogrammelooking atbeinginalullforseveralyears,the Hawkesfelttheyneededtomakethe movebeforeitwastoolate.

TheymovedfirsttoSouthAuckland andworkedwithRayonierbutwhen themarketcrashed,thecutwas postponedsotheyneededtomake anothermoveandtherewaslittle around.

AratuForestsLimitedputatender outinEastland,andHawkesLogging wonthatwork.Theyoperatewithone crewbutwouldliketohavemorein thefuture.

AstheoverallSkilledProfessionalof theYear2024,Curtisshowsnothing butahighlevelofprofessionalism andworkethic,inallaspectsofthe job.Curtisisacknowledgedforhis communicationwhichisoutstanding withbothhiscrews,forestprincipal managementandstaff.While HawkesLoggingareconsciousof keepingupwithproduction,the healthandsafetyofthecrewis priority.CurtisandhiswifeSarahare veryfocusedonensuringwhatdoes thebestjobpossibleofcomplying withallhealthandsafetysystemand jobrequirements.

HawkesLogging’sachievements includethehighestaveragepass rateintheirin-houseMonthlyHealth andSafetyAudits.

Theyhaveanaverageof99% last10yearswhichdemonstrates aconsistencythatismore thanadmirable,itshowstheir commitmentnotonlytothejobbut thehealthandsafetyoftheircrew. TheyhaveneverhadanLTIintheir crewandinarecentthirdpartyaudit achieved100%inaHealth&Safety assessment.

“Wehaveproceduresinplace,and westicktothoseprocedures.While followingproceduresisastrengthin ourcharacter,beingabletoadapt, adjusttochangeandtoalwayslook forwaystoimprove,isourmantra”, confirmsCurtis.

Theyrunatightshipandthey haveacommitmenttopersonal improvementbycontinuouslylooking toincreasetheirknowledgeinall areasofforestry.

Curtisisatrueleaderbyexample, notaskinganythingofanyonethat hehimselfwillnotdo.Theircrewhave alotofrespectforhimdescribed byhavingawholesomecharacter, beingconfident,sincereand steadfast.

TheentirecrewcamewithCurtis andSarahintheinitialmovewhich hasbeentestamenttothecompany andtheacknowledgementofthe

respecttheyhavefortheiremployers. Nowthecrewdoesextendtolocal workerswhichcamethroughwordof mouth.

“Theforestcompanyhasbeen brilliantsonocomplaintsthere,and theyhavearealinterestinfamilylife,” Curtissays.

“Itwasaverysuccessfulevening, anditwasgreatthatthecrewwere involvedintheaccolades,topped offwithacceptingthecrewofyear award.Alltheguysareproudtobe partoftheteam.Welookforwardto ourfutureinthisbeautifulregion,” Curtissays.

Regionalfacts-Tairāwhitiforestry

PreparedbytheNewZealandForestService

TheTairāwhiti/Gisborneregionisinthenorth-eastcorneroftheNorth IslandofNewZealand.ItextendsfromHicksBayinthenorthtoWairoa Districtinthesouth,betweentheRaukūmaraRangeinthewestandthe PacificOceantotheeast.

TheregionhassomeofthehighestgrowthratesofpinusradiatainNew Zealand.

Existingforestestate

Exoticforestcovers19.12%(160,308ha)oftheregion’stotallandarea. Deciduoushardwoodsuchaswillows,poplars,oaks,elmsandashes,which areexoticwoodland,cover0.77%(6,474ha).

Indigenousforestcovers15.24%(127,744ha)oftheregion’stotal landarea.Mānukaandkānukascrub,typicallyasanurserycropina reversiontowardsforest,covers8.9%(75,040ha).

Broadleavedindigenoushardwoodssuchaswineberry,mahoe,pittosporum spp,fuchsia,tutu,titokiandtreefernscover7.19%(60,278ha)oftheregion’s land.Forest-harvestedismadeupofbaregroundwhereexoticforestwas harvestedor,lesscommonly,indigenousforest.Itcovers2.25%(18,828ha)of Tairāwhiti.

Tait’s conventional and digital technologies are right at home in our forests

FALLERMANUAL EXCELLENCE

PROUD

FORESTRY&ESTABLISHMENT EXCELLENCE

SAMUELADONU

VAILEASILVICULTURE

PROUD SPONSOR

WOODPROCESSING&

MANUFACTURINGEXCELLENCE

DAVIDRAMEKA KIWILUMBER(GISBORNE)LTD

FALLERMECHANISED EXCELLENCE

LEVIGIBSON-PARKS FORESTENTERPRISES

PROUD SPONSOR

HARVESTING EXCELLENCE

CURTISHAWKES HAWKESLOGGING

LOGISTICS EXCELLENCE

2024EastlandForestryAwardnominees

AaronGrahamForestEnterprises

AbbeySaywellDiacks

AbbyWaru-AtkinsonDiacks

AceofSpadesContractingLtd

BenHohepaTairawhitiTimberTraining

ByronAllenPFOlsen

ChrisArcusForestEnterprises

Chrystal&GavinEdmondsStirlingLoggingLtd

ChrystalEdmondsStirlingLoggingLtd

CoreyKahurangiKuruContractingLtd

CraigWymerTDXLtd

CurtisHawkesHawkesLogging

DavidRamekaKiwiLumber(Gisborne)Ltd

EastsideLogging

HannahKohnErnslawOne

Hear4U

JaydenSaywell“Bing”Diacks

JesseNoanoaBBLContractingLtd

JessieBourkeLogicForestSolutions

JoshStylesBlackstumpLogging

KaraunaWaititiAdvancedTreeSolutions

KrissyMackintoshHear4U

LeviGibson-ParksForestEnterprises

LOG26StirlingLoggingLtd

MartyBayleyEastlandPort

MateneBlandford

MaxSheltonForestEnterprises

MckayCartageForestEnterprises

MitchellJamesQube

MontyM.F.LLoggingLtd

Osea&CrewImpactForestryLtd

RaWhakaponoLoggingLtd

RaywoodContracting

ReihanaChaseBlackstumpLogging

RichardPowellAratuForestsLtd

RodelCalipesPacificHaulageLtd

RogerCallowISOLtd

RowenaMarshallSummitForest

SamuelaDonuVaileaSilviculture

SophieArcusForestEnterprises

SpeirsLogging

TaniaGibbForestryLeasingSolutionsand RaWhakaponoLoggingLtd

TeneHicksRaWhakaponoLogging

ValMilhamKuruContractingLtd

Publicvoteforgooddeed

IntroductionoftheGoodDeed Awardhappenedbackin2022 andthisyearatthe2024Forestry Awards,thenomineesreceivedvotes fromtheguestsonthenightagain. Thefinalvotecountwasveryclose. However,thefinalwinnerwasPourau Incorporation&KuruContracting.

Thisjointnomination acknowledgedPourauIncorporation (ownedbythePotaefamily)and KuruContractingforworkingtogether tomeettheneedsofthecoastal communityaswellasprimary industrybybuildingabypassroad betweenHikuwaiOneandHikuwai ThreeBridgetoreconnectthestate highwayfollowingthelossofHikuwai OneBridgeafterCycloneGabrielle.

The2.2kmroadtookjustfive weekstobuild(dayandnight)bythe dedicatedcrewatKuruContracting whoonlypausedduringheavyrain.It wasopenedon27March,becoming thestatehighwayforfourmonthsfor allvehiclestravellingnorthandsouth, untilabaileybridgewasestablished onPotaelandtothesouthofthe failedHikuwaiOneBridge.

ThePotaefamilyhadwillingly adaptedfarmingoperationsand offeredconsiderableareaoftheir ancestrallandontheirKatikati Blockandmetsignificantcosts,not coveredbyNZTransportAgencyor GisborneDistrictCounciltoensure theroadremainsopentoallvehicles totravelfreeofcharge.

Theothernomineeswere:

#Hear4UCharity-Since2019, #Hear4Uhasenrolledover200+ forestrywhānauinto8-week wellbeingchallenges,inpartnership withPrimalFitness.Theyhavealso encouragedover200+forestry whānautoparticipateinTheTaupo HalfMarathonoverthelastthree years.

MateneBlandford-Intheaftermath ofthefloodingatTeKarakasomeone withtechnicalexpertiseanda communitymindset,passionate aboutthevulnerablepeopleand vulnerableinfrastructure,awaand whenuaneededtostepup.Thatwas Matene.

StirlingLogging-FollowingCyclone Gabrielle,theStirlingLoggingteam hadmorethanhalfoftheirteam outandabouthelpingtocleanup. Theyneedtobeacknowledgedon howwelltheyredeployedtheirstaff afterthecyclone.Theywerethe firstloggingcontractorstosecurea clean-upcontractandmanagedto keeptheirworkersinfulltimework duringtheclean-up.

TaniaGibb(RaWhakaponoLogging) -PostCycloneGabrielle,Taniahas becomeanemergingleaderwithin Women/WahineofForestry.She hasbeennominatedduetoher commitmentasastrongadvocate ofourkaupapa,andavaluable connectorformanydistressed whānau,andTane.

Earlyadopterofmechanisation

EastsideLoggingwasrecognised fortheirexceptionalenvironmental excellenceattheEastlandWood CouncilForestryAwards.While effectivelymanagingwindthrow clearance,andmaintaining mechanisation,theyarealways ensuringthatproductivityis outstanding.Theirabilitytooperate atsuchahighstandardwithout compromisingenvironmentalintegrityis trulycommendable.

MartyStrijboschandhisteam havebeenworking20yearsacross challengingterrain,ofteninremote areas,andworkingcloselywiththeir principaltoextractwindthrowmaterial safely,andminimisethematerialleft behindonslopes.Thisalsoincluded takingtimetoremoveat-riskmaterial fromwaterways.

Marty’soperationsarefully mechanised,andhehaswell-planned landingslashmanagementembracing theprincipal’senvironmental improvementstrategytomeetthe goalsset.

Mechanisationisaboutusing machineryandremote-controlled equipmentforharvestprocesseslike fellingtreesandpullinglogsonto landings,evenonsteephillsides. Mechanisationissaferforforestry workers,withreducedneedfor, orrelianceon,high-riskmanual techniqueslikeusingchainsawsand breakingoutneartensionedcables. Harvestoperationsthataremechanised enablecrewstoproduceagreater

volumeoftimber,withlesswoodwaste andlesssoildisturbance.

OfnoteisEastsideLogging’s achievementofaverycleancutover, reflectingtheirdedicationtoleaving minimalimpactonthelandpostharvesting.Theircommitment tosustainablepracticesand responsiblelandmanagementsetsa commendableexampleforothersinthe industrytofollow.

MartyhasworkedcloselywithErnslaw toextractwindthrowmaterialsafely, andminimisethematerialleftbehind onslopes.Thisalsoincludedtaking timetoremoveat-riskmaterialfrom waterways.

EastsideLogginghasproventobe exceptionallyresilientoverthepast year,enduringperiodsoflimitedaccess withoutsacrificingtheircommitment toenvironmentalexcellence.This resilienceisatestamenttoMarty’s professionalism,adaptability,and unwaveringdedicationtotheir environmentalresponsibilities.

Thisexemplaryperformancein windthrowclearance,productivity, andenvironmentalstewardshipmade EastsideLoggingastandoutcandidate fortheEnvironmentalInitiativeofthe YearAward.

Thisawardrecognisedthe performanceofanindividualor companythatdemonstratedabove andbeyondthegeneralcomplianceof environmentalmanagementrulesand regulationswithintheforestryindustry.

RemarkableWahine

TaniaGibbcameouttopsof alonglistofgreatwomen nominatedinthiscategory, WomaninForestry.Taniaand herhusbandSmurfworkintheir businessRaWhakaponoLogging. Shewasrecognisedforher remarkablededication,leadership, andcontributionstotheforestry industry,aswellasherunwavering commitmenttohercommunity, whichmadeheranoutstanding candidateforthisprestigious award.

Notonlyahighlyskilledand successfulbusinesswomanbut alsoadevotedmotheroffive children,Taniamanagestobalance herprofessionalandpersonal responsibilitieswithgraceand determination.

Whatsetsthiswahineapartwas thatTaniaservesonmultipleboards whereshetirelesslyadvocatesfor thewellbeingandfairtreatmentof forestryworkers.

Herpassionforensuringthe rightsandsafetyofworkersistruly inspiringandhasmadeasignificant impactonthelocalforestry community.

Shewaspivotalroleinorganising andplanningfamilywhānaudays, fosteringasenseofcommunityand belongingamongforestryfamilies.

Shehasundoubtedlymadea lastingandpositiveimpactonthe forestryindustryandthecommunity atlarge.PostCycloneGabrielle, Taniahasbecomeanemerging leaderwithinWomen/Wahineof Forestry.Shehadbeennominated duetohercommitmentasastrong advocateofourkaupapa,and avaluableconnectorformany distressedwhānau,andtāne.

Itisbecauseofthese contributionstocommunitywe havebeenabletoimplement healingpathwaysandmental healthsupportforthosethathave neededit.

Taniaalsowasputupfor theGoodDeedAwardasher collaborativeworkwith#Hear4U, Iwi,andtheTeKawaaTāne programmeiswhereherheartlies. Shehasdemonstratedthisbybeing adrivingforcebehindForestry WhanauDaysandvolunteeringat #Hear4UWellbeingevents.Post CycloneGabrielle,shevolunteered hertimetohelp#Hear4Udistribute over$300kworthofawhito thoseimpactedbyjoblosses, discrimination,andflooding.

Herabilitytoconnectwithall walksoflifeisofhugebenefit totheregion,especiallyduring unpredictabletimes. TaniaGibb.

MartyStrijbosch.

FIRSTSecurityisthetopchoiceforforestrysecurity,offeringcomprehensiveservices tailoredfortheforestryindustryandregionalNZbusinessesfacingdiversechallenges.

FIRSTSecurityisamarketleaderinforestrysecurity,providingservicesto theforestryindustryandregionalNZbusinesseswithvaryingchallenges.

customerservicesetsusapart.Forestrycompaniestrustustosafeguardtheirpeople andassetsdaily.

Significantmahibehindthescenes

OntheAwardsnight onFriday24May,the EastlandWoodCouncil Chair,WarrenRancetook thestagetoacknowledge theoutstandingworkPhilip Hope,CEOfortheCouncil,had carriedoutoverthepastyears, especiallysincethecyclones. Rancecommented,“Ithasbeen verychallengingfortheindustry andallofyouintheindustryplay averyimportantroleinkeeping theforestrysystemfunctioning efficiently.”

Hemadespecialemphasis thatbehindthescenesthereare numberofpeoplethatworkin thebackground,whoareequally asimportant.

PhilipHoperepresentingthe EastlandWoodCouncilhasover thepastyearsandespecially sinceCyclonesHaleand Gabrielle,hasworkedtirelessly, goingaboveandbeyondto advocateforindustry The specialawardHopereceivedon thenightwastorecognisethat commitmenthehadshownto theindustrytheenvironment andthepeopleoftheTairāwhiti Region.

Rancealsoaddedthatthe EastlandWoodCounciland

industry,wouldalsoliketo recognisethesupportthat Philip’sfamilyhaveprovided duringthistime,hethankedhis wifeRachaelandmembersof theHopeandPotaewhānau.

PhilipHopeleavestherolein Julyafterthreeyearsandfour months.Hopesaid“Mytimein therolehasbroughtsomeof themostchallengingconditions everencounteredbytheindustry (andTairāwhiti),beginning withCovid19,frequentweather events,culminatingwithCyclone HaleandCycloneGabrielle,as wellasvolatilemarketconditions andfatalities.Iamhappy tohavehelpedsupportour membersandourcommunities andstandbesidetheforestry industry’smostvaluedasset:its workforceandtheirfamilies”

Philip’sPotaewhānauwere alsoacknowledgedfortheir decisiontobuildPourauRoad followingCycloneGabrielle inconjunctionwithKuru Contracting PourauRoadisthe onlybypassbetweenHikuwai OneandHikuwaiThreeBridge andremainsthestatehighway forheaviesover50tonne.

Manaakiwhenua,Manaaki tangata,Haerewhakamua. ChairoftheEastlandWoodCouncilWarrenRancecongratulatesCEOPhilipHope.

TeUruR kau