HB Today - Hawkes Bay Forestry Awards 2022

CHAIRACKNOWLEDGES keysupports

ChairoftheHawke’sBayForestryGroup, Damon Wise,steppedupto recogniseand welcomenotonlythedistinguishedguests, VIPsandtheindustrytothesecondHawke’sBay Forestry Awards2022 -buttoacknowledgethose thatdeserved aspecialmention.First,Damon spokeaboutthemenandwomenthatgetupin thedarkeverymorning,pulltheirbootsonand headouttotheforeststodothemahi.Ittakes real commitmenttodotheselongdays,dayindayout, notedDamon.“Everybodyelsealongtheforestry supplychain reliesonyourexpertiseandenergy,” heemphasised.

Second,heacknowledgedthecontractors,noting thatthissectoroftenputeverythingtheyowned onthelinetoprovide asafeenvironmentinwhich theworkerscanearnanincometoprovidefor theirfamilies.

“Notonlydoyouhavetokeepthemachinery movingbutyouwillbethecouncillor,financial advisor,oftenthebankandthe‘FixIt’personto keepthejobgoing.Kiaora!”

Thethirdgroup,whoDamonconsideredtobe thebackboneoftheNewZealandforestindustry, werethewives,husbands,andpartnersthatkept thewharewarm,theshoppingdone,thekidsfed, wateredanddeliveredtoschool.

“Youholdthefamilytogether,soourmenand womenhave aplacetocomehometoafter along dayinthengahere. Youare oursupportteam,”he remarked.

DamonendedthenightbyacknowledgingBen Douglas,MattCroft,SteveBellandKeithDolman fortheirsupportaspartoftheorganisinggroupfor the Awards.

HighlightsoftheHawke’s Bay ForestryGroup

ThepurposeoftheHawke’sBayForestryGroup istoenhancethe roleofcommercialforestry andprocessingintheHawke’sBay.TheGroupis madeupofforestownersandprocessorsthatare activeinour region.Ofthe165,000haofforests inHawke’sBay –127,000haaremanagedby membersofthegroup.

Fundingcomesfrommembershipleviesandthis moneyallowstheGrouptoemploy apart-time CEO,KeithDolman.Italsoallowsthemtooffer scholarshipsforstudentswantingtofurthertheir educationinforestry-relateddisciplines.Damon acknowledgedHannahMunroewhowasthe recipientin2021as athird-yearforestryscience student.Hannahhassincegraduatedwithhonours andisworkingfull-timeintheindustry.

Alargeamountofthefundingandtimethisyear hasgonetosupportingtheNZForestOwners Associationapplicationof aJudicialReviewofthe WairoaDistrictCouncil’sRatingPolicy.TheGroup didnotthinkthewaythatforestryhasbeensingled outtopayhigherratesinthe regionwasfair,so theyfoughttheproposal.

Thisyeartodate,theGrouphascoordinated severalprimaryschoolvisitswithloggingtrucksto enablestudentstogetupclosetothetruckand driverandunderstandwherethelogscomefrom.

Thetrainingandcareerscommitteehas attended amultitudeofschoolcareersdays spanning WairoathroughtoCentralHawke’s Bay,wheretheypromoted acrosssectionof vocationalopportunitiesfromthegroundup. Theenvironmentalcommitteeworksclosely with regionalauthoritieswhilecollaboratingata nationalleveltoensuretheforestryactivitieswithin our regionmeetorexceedlegislativeexpectations. Overall,the regionhas averygoodindustry communityandtheHawke’sBayForestryGroup istheretosupportandmaintain athrivingforestry sectorlongterm.

FORESTRYHEROSTRIKES

Despitehavingtobetoldabout hiswinbyworkcolleagues andmanagementtheday aftertheFridaynightHawke’sBay Forestry Awardswereheld, Terence (Pnut)Rosswasunabletomakethe awardsandisstillshockedandtruly humbledaboutbeingawardedthe SkilledProfessionalofthe Year2022. Terenceisdescribedashavinga goodcharacterandfullydedicated totheircrewsandfellowcontractors. Thequalityofhisworkforthe companyandclientsalongwith theirskillandprofessionalismand servicetothecommunityovermany decadesmakesthispersonsecond tononeamongtheirpeers.

“FunnilyenoughmycousinKere ElliotwontheinauguralSkilled Professionalofthe Yearin2019so thisis arealpleasuretowalkinher footsteps”, Terencesmiles. WorkingatGairs,heisthelongest servingteammemberintheir team,withover32yearsofservice tothecompany. Hecontinuesto runalloftheforest roadingand maintenanceoperationsandhas dedicatedhimselftogrowingand trainingmanyoperators,andtoform

high performing teams in the bush. Terencehavebeen pivotalinthe growthofthecompanydedicated toboththebusinessandthatof theforestownerswhilealsodriving productivity.

Terencehasaneyefordetailand understandtheimportanceof

toupskillwhileonthejob. StirlingprovidesPastoralCare/Mentoringtoemployees.

PnutRoss

beforeretirement

delivering acompletedjobrightthe firsttime.Noproblemistoobigfor himtotackle,ortoosmallforhim totakethetimetoworkthroughto completion.Hisemployerthanks Terenceformanyyearsofexcellent execution,leadershipandsettinga fineexampletoothers.

Startingoutintheforestryindustryas aWoodsmanattheforestryschool heworkedfortheForestServiceand atKaiangaroaForestin1962.Hehas stayedinforestryeversinceworking atGaavasat Tikikino,Hawke’sBay thenmovinguptoMohakain1967–workingforForestServiceallhislife untiltheyfinished.Thenhemoved ontoworkforJoGairinthe roading sectorin1989andhasbeenthere eversince.Heattributeshisskillsand trainingtoJowhoisacknowledges taughthimeverythingandwas areal perfectionist.Johassincepassedand thebusinessonsoldtoGoodmans.

TerencelivesinKotemaoriwith hiswifewifeHanaandoneofhis twindaughter’swhousetodrive thegraderforthecompany.He has fivechildrenand“heaps”of grandchildren.

Terencevaluestheabsolute

ownershipofour responsibilitiesto Te Whenuaandis aKaitiakitangain theforests.Harvesterswilloftendefer to Terence(Pnut)forassessment ofwhatcanbeachievedandto comeupwith asolutiontogive themthebestpossibleoutcome. Terence’sreputationprecedeshim, andhisnicknamePnut represents

hisphysicalstaturebutcertainlynot theirprofessionalism,andcharacter, allofwhichmakeshimwellknown and respectedbothwithinthe forestryindustryandtheHawke’sBay community.

Theaccoladescomeat agreattime for Terenceasheisaboutto retire

inthenextfewweeksandgetto workontheir 5acreblockoflandat Kotemaoriwherehewillclearsome ofthelandandplantnativesand keepsomestock.“It’sbeen agreat lifebut Iamtoyoungtokeepupthis sortofwork,timetokickback,”he saysstillhumbledbyhis recentnews.

2022 AWARD NOMINEES JUDGESRETURN with enthusiasm

EdSaathof,convenorofjudges ofthisyear’sawardcampaign spokeonbehalfoftheother twojudgesJamesPowrie,Bob Pocknall,commentingitwasan honorand agreatpleasureto bepartofthewonderfulevent again.Thiswastheirsecondpanel assessmentofnominations,and theywereallverykeentomanage this roleagainforthe regional awards.

“IwouldliketomentionPrue Younger,oureventorganizer, thanksPrueforyourtirelessefforts inputtingthiseventtogether!”, commentedEd.

“ThankstoCovid,thiseventhas been alongtimeinthemakingbut neverthelesstheindustrywasall heretocelebrateforestryandto celebratetheheroesandheroines withintheHawke’sBayindustry,”Ed highlighted.

Edcontinuedtosay,“We havea fantasticindustry,itissovaried, dynamic,andif alargescale.And yetwetypically‘fly undertheradar’. Well,tonightwewon’tbedoing that,ratherwewillbecelebrating andputtingon apedestalsomeof usthathave reallyshinedoutand areextraworthyof recognition.”

Thejudgesthankedallthose whohadnominatedworkmates orcolleagues.Therewerealot ofgreatendorsementswhich wereveryusefulinthejudging processandattimesthesewere thedefiningedgebetweenclose winners.

Edemphasizedthatitwas importanttoalsothankthewhanau, whosupporttheirworkersout intheforestasstrongfamilies makestrongpeople.Currentlythe industryisinfullemploymentand thereare positivecareerpathways foreveryone,andtheseawardsdo reflectthatquitewell.

Thereweresomeverystrong categoriesbutthenotherslike logcartageandsilviculture,who havepotential,havenotstepped upasmuch.Thejudges really encouragetheindustry,contractors, andcorporatesaliketoshowtheir supportbygettingnominations throughinallthecategories.

Someoftheawardrecipientshave shoneoutbydemonstratingthe ‘softerside’ofthejobsuchas pastoralcaretotheirstaff,also inthewidersocialaspectssuch asstronglysupportingtheirlocal communitiesoutsideofwork.

Thereare somesmalleroperators awardedandthis recognitionis worthy,astheycomprise alarge partofourindustry.

Ed remarked,“Asjudges,we wereallquiteunanimousand thedecisionmakingwasmade easierbythehighqualityofthe nominationsandendorsements.”

Thejudgeswouldliketoencourage thosenomineesnot receivingprizes thisyeartokeepondoingwhat theydowell.Mostforestryfrontline workersareinthatcategory,thatis whotheindustryis,justdoingthe necessaryworksolidly.

Edfinishedbycongratulatingall ofthewinnersfortheaccolades thatthey receivedandthenight wentonwithmanybeingawarded respectivelyacknowledgingthem forthehardmahitheycarryout.

WINNERSPECIALIZES inslopefailures

AttheHawke’sBayForestry Awards,the Outstanding Environmental Management wenttotheworthywinnerCharlotte Holdsworth.Sheis apersondisplayingprofessional andpersonalcommitmenttoachievingthebest environmentaloutcomesthathasbeeninstrumental inprovidingboththeplanningandcommunication thatset abenchmarkforeffectivecollaboration betweenCouncilandtheHawkesBayforestry industry.Notablythishasbeenaroundslash managementandensuringthebiodiversityofthe forestwasmaximised.

Charlottehas abackgroundingeologyand geomorphology,includingmonitoringalarge, slow-movingtranslationallandslideaspartoftheir master’sdegree,specialisinginslopefailures. Charlottemaster’sdegree,hasmeantshehas avery thoroughapproachtoassessmentandmanagement oftheenvironmentalriskthattheharvestingand earthworksactivitiesmayposeintheirwoodlots, andhasinitiatedboththedesignandbuildofan innovativegeospatialcloud-baseddatacollection, management,and reportingsystem,which integrateswithportable fielddevicesfor real-time datacapture.

Hawke’sBayRegionalCouncil,thesponsorsof thiscategory,werepleasedtoannounceasthe winnerCharlotteHoldsworth,John Turkington Limitedandhercontributiontotheindustry.

GROWING TALENT everyday

Eachawardsthejudgesgettheoptionof awarding aspecialwinner,acompanyor anindividualthatdoesnotconfirmtothe generalcategorytitlesbutoutsidethesquare.The awardisalways achallengetoseewhatwealthof talentwehaverightacrossthenominations,but onealwayssparklesforitsownmerits. Thenameofthisbusinessissynonymouswith workinghardandgettingthejobdone!For over25yearsGPFShavesupportedanarrayof individualcontractorsandcontractingbusinesses toprovideforestry,fire andagriculturalservices throughtheHawkesBay regionandanarrayof localPrivate Woodlotsandlandowners.

BelindaandKevinHumphreysarepassionate aboutthegrowthoftheforestrysectorinthe HawkesBay regionandtakegreatprideto providesafepractices,qualityoperationalservices andeffectivenessbyfosteringthiscultureinto developingtrainedforestryworkers,alreadywithin andnewtoourindustry.

“Trainingfortheforestryindustryisnotjusta job,itispartofwhoweareandtopromote aculturethatholds aclearunderstandingof thefundamentalsoflearningandtodevelop positiveaptitudeandmindsetsiskey,”states Kevin.

Thetrainingextendstolifecoaching/mentoring, healthmonitoring,chiropracticcare,successful rehabilitationservicesfortheirstaffandFirstAid qualificationstoname afew.

InjointownershiptheHumphreysdon’tneedany introductionfortheworktheydoaroundengaging youththatattimesareatalooseend,untilthey find anewplace,andnewopportunitiesinthis industry.

Fortheirpartinsupportingtrainingwith exceptionalmahi,thejudgeswereveryhappy, andhumbledto recognisethiscompanywith thisSpecial Award-Growing Talent- Belindaand KevinHumphriesatGeneralandProtection ForestryServicesandGroundupForestry

JohnTurkingtonForestrywouldlike to congratulate allrecipientsand nominees fromthe2022HawkesBay ForestryAwards, representing theindustry andthe hardwork thatgoes into everymovingpart.

Thewinnersinclude twoofourown JTLteam,andwe’re incredibly proudofthe work they do.

John Turkington ForestryLimited (JTL) is an established family company,operating in thelower NorthIslandsince 1993.

Hannahhasbeenwithusfor 6yearsandwhe sheknewnothingaboutthejob. Hannahhascome nd haspassedherlevel reefelling tickets.Shecandoeverythingfrom fellingtreestoloadingthetruck.

Hannahhasbeentrainedbyher DadGeoffwithhelpfromHemi PoutufromCompetenzandboth areproudofHannah’saward Traineeoftheyear.

Itwas nosurpriseto seeDGGlenn LoggingLtd(DGL)pick up Awards intwocategoriesatthe recent Hawke’sBay Forestry Awards. Thefirstawardofthe eveningwas TrainingCompany /Contractorof the Yearsponsored by M.W.Lissette Ltd.

DGLhavealwayssupported industrytrainingand professional developmentpathwayswithin their operationsincludingleadership programmes,defensivedriving,and adulteducation.

Withthefast-changingmodern workenvironment,being adaptiveandgettinguptospeed quicklywithnewinnovations andtechnologiesiscritical.DGL recognisesthatstrong,capable, andwell-equippedpeopleare theirgreatestassetandhave demonstratedthis to averyhigh standard.

Thesecond Awardwentto Torben Hunt(Turbo), whowonthe Tree FallerExcellencecategory sponsoredby ZEnergy. Torben is atremendousassetto DGLwith hisenthusiasmthat permeates throughthe approachtohiswork

andmotivatesothersaroundthem. Hehasundertakentrainingin mechanisedfallingequipmentwhile keepingmanualtreefallerfitness andcurrency apriority.Torben hasconsistentlyperformedabove expectationand recently received 100%fromthreeseparateindustry auditors,acrossthreedifferentForest Owners.

DGLare now thelargestforestry contractorinHawkesBay andthe storybehindthecompanyisa fascinatingone.DennisGlennstarted theloggingbusiness37yearsago asonesmallharvestingcrew.His passionandcommitmenttonotjust gettingthejobdonebutdoingit betterthaneveryoneelsehasled to acompanythatprides itselfas beinganindustryleaderinmethod, technology,andsafety.Dennisstill playsacritical rolethesedaysand alongwiththeothertwodirectors of DGL,RobScurrandMikeLeitch canboastovera hundredyearsof logging experiencebetweenthem. BasedinOnekawainNapier, the harvestinggroupare supportedby aheavyhaulage divisionaswellas ateamoffulltimemechanicsand officestaff.

- stalwartsoftheIndustry

Thecompanyworkscloselywith forestowners,managers,and governmentagenciestoensure that theyarenotonlyadheringtothe Industriessafetystandards,butare constantlylookingforsaferwaysto conducttheirwork.Usingthelatest technologyandwatchingwhat others

bothlocallyandabroadaredoing arejusttwowaystheyminimise theinherentriskandensureasafer workingenvironmentfortheirstaff. Theeighteenharvestingoperations andonelogprocessingfacilityare madeupof amixtureofmechanised haulerandground-basedlogging

crews.Theprocessingfacilityis basedatthePanPacmillsitewhere itmanufactures18metrestemsinto feedstockforfurthervalueadd processingonsite. Thehealth &safety/human resources &traininggroupsconsists ofthreehealth &safetyadvisors,

andfourtrainer/assessorswith akey focusonhealth,safety,wellbeing andtheprofessionaldevelopmentof allDGLworkers.DGLManagement arecommittedtoprovidingand maintaining asafeandhealthy environmentfortheirworkers,visitors andallservicepersonnel.