The2022Northland Forestry Awards have provedtobeahugewinner in more ways than one. Notonlydid theannualevent attract record nominationsbut it wasclose to asell-outawards eveningthatcelebratedall that wasgood about forestry andthe region.
LukeRosewarne,fromRosewarneYarding, wasthesupremewinneroftheSkilled ProfessionaloftheYear(sponsored byNorthlandForestryHealthand SafetyGroup)andalsowalkedawaywiththe ABEquipment&TigercatsponsoredHarvesting Excellenceaward
TheRosewarnefamilycompanieshaddone verywellintheawards,withRosewarneCable Loggers’SeanMetewinningtheBreakingOut Excellencecategory(sponsoredbyMcFallFuel) andKerryPellegromtheWomaninForestry Excellence(sponsoredbyPFOlsen).Kerrywas alsorunner-upinOutstandingHealthandSafety Management(sponsoredbySummitForestNZ Ltd)division.
JudgesstruggledtoseparatetheWilsonfamily fromNorthpineandtheZielinskifamilyfrom SilvicultureContractors,jointlyawardingthem theForestryFamilyoftheYearaward(sponsored byNorthernForestProducts).Ononehandwas thepioneeringWilsonfamily,withgenerations involvedovermanydecadesintheindustry.They
haveworkedacrossmultipleregions,arestill committedtoallaspectsofthewoodprocessing industryandareproudtocallNorthlandhome.
Ontheotherhand,wastheZielinskifamilywho maynotgobackquiteasfarbutintheirdecades workhaveentrenchedthemselvesasahugeasset toforestry.ThecompanyisledbybrothersCraig andJohn,withthewiderfamilyalsoinvolved.
Headjudge, MandieSkippsduringjudgingsaid ithadbeenexcellenttoseesomanynominations. “Recognisingourgreatworkforceissoimportant,” shesaid.“Wewerereallypleasedtoseemany woodlotcontractorssteppinguptoputpeople forwardandalsothemid-sizedcompaniesputting theiremployeesforward.”
Thehealthandsafetycategoryhadattracted severalstrongnominationswhichpleasedjudges immensely
Lastyeartheawardswereheldvirtually,dueto COVID,soitwascertainlyexcitingfortheindustry togatheratMcKayStadiuminWhangareitobe entertainedbyMCJeremyCorbetttotoastforestry andthosewhomakeitwhatitis.
•SkilledProfessionalofthe Year(sponsoredbyNorthland ForestryH&SGroup): LukeRosewarne(Rosewarne Yarding).
•ForestryFamilyoftheYear (sponsoredbyNorthern ForestProducts): TheWilsonFamily(Northpine)and theZielinskifamily(Silviculture Contractors).
•ContractoroftheYear (sponsoredbyISO): IKandSMNeweyTransport.
•OutstandingHealthandSafety Management(sponsoredby SummitForestNZLtd): AztecForestryTransport Development. Runner-up:KerryPellegrom (RosewarneCableLoggers).
•OutstandingEnvironmental Management(sponsoredby WiseonWood): DuaneDoughty(DOCLivestock).
•ForestryExcellence(sponsored byNorthlandForestmanagers): KimKire(JSBConstruction).
•RoadingExcellence (sponsoredbyFortuna): DylanRead(JSBConstruction). Runner-up: ScottJohnson(ScottJohnson Contracting).
•DistributionExcellence(sponsored byPMG–PacificMotorGroup): Justin(Gus)Collins(MikeLambertLtd)
•HarvestingExcellence(sponsored byABEquipment&Tigercat): LukeRosewarne(Rosewarne Yarding). Runner-up:StanHouston(TheTree People).
•WoodProcessingExcellence (sponsoredbyWhangareiITM): PaulRupapera(RosvallSawmill).
•BreakerOutExcellence (sponsoredbyMcFallFuel): SeanMete(RosewarneCableLoggers).
•TreeFallerExcellence (sponsoredbyManulifeInvestment management): Edward(Blue)Lloyd(LloydLogging).
•WomaninForestryExcellence (sponsoredbyPFOlsen): KerryPellegrom(RosewarneCable Loggers).
•LogTruckDriverExcellence (sponsoredbyPatchellGroupof Companies): WayneThornton(AztecFTD).
•EmergingTalentoftheYear (sponsoredbyNorthTecTai TokerauWānangaandTePukenga): JourneeHouston(MidNorthern ForestryLtd) Runner-up:HarryHarrison(Wiseon Wood).
•TraineeoftheYear(sponsored byCompetenzandTePukenga): TroyWilson(Northpine).
•TrainingCompany/Contractor oftheYear: WiseonWood.
seekoutsideguidanceonasitwasjusttoodifficult todecidewhotheclearwinnerwasbecausethe calibrewassohigh.Thejudgesdidhaveafew runnersupsastheyfelttheywereimpressive nominationsandclosecontenderstothewinners.
“Asourindustrykeepsevolvingand innovating,wefoundthisyearwehaveafew newnominations.Wehadseveraltalented peoplenominatedforthetreefallerexcellence category,notonlymanualfallingbut mechanisedfallingandthat’strickytojudgeas you’renotcomparingappleswithapplessowe willbeconsideringanewcategorytobeadded atthenextawards,”explainedMandie.
MandieSkippswhowasintentionallyto bepresentingasconvenorofjudges onthenightwasunabletomake theeventonthenightbuthadthis tosayaboutthe2022AwardProgrammeinfull agreementwithBrettGilmoreandNikJessop,the otherreturningjudges.Sheemphasizedhowit wasawesometoallbeheretogethercelebrating inpersonandnotonazoomaslastyeartheevent forthefirsttimeduetoCOVIDwasavirtualevent Thisyeartheregionbroketherecordforthemost nominationseverinNorthlandwhichwasareal testamenttotheregion.
Asalwaystherewereafewstandoutwinnersin somecategoriesandthenafewthejudgeshadto
Thejudgesacknowledgedthatthisyear hasbeenmorethanchallengingforpeoplein forestry.Manyhavehadtodigdeepandmake changesintheirbusinessestheydidn’tplanto justtoadapttothecurrentclimate,andithas beenahardslog,soit hasbeenreallypleasing toseesomanywoodlotcontractorsthistime aroundputtingtheirpeopleforward.
Judgingtheseawardsforasecondyearin arowhasbeenanabsoluteprivilegeforthe judgesandtheywantedtocongratulateallthe nomineesandofcoursethewinners,whowere allforestrysuperstars.“Togetherasanindustry, let’skeepeveryonecominghomesafeeveryday!” proclaimedMandie.
AngusSyminton hasalways hadapassion for forestry andoutdoorssince he wasyoung.
Hehadworkedonhisfather’sdry stockfarminWellsfordwhich includedmanydifferentactivities includingextensiveweedcontrol, soilimprovementandriparianzone management.Earlyin2022Angusspentone monthworkingforWoodbankinKumeuandwas introducedtoalargearrayofforestryactivities includingbutnotlimitedtoenvironmental management,plotsurveyingandland assessmentforthegovernment.
AllthroughhighschoolAnguswasaSurf Lifeguardaswellasaninstructorforbothup andcominglifeguardsandcompetitors.Hehad completedaDukeofEdinburghbronzeaward. Heisalsointheprocessofpreparingashort videoforhishighschoolpromotingforestry whichwillbeusedforcareereveningsand availableonlineforseniorstudentswhoare planningtheircareers.
Anguswillputthescholarshipfundsinto universitycoursefeesandotherforestryrelated coststhatmaycomeup(e.gchainsawticket). Hewouldalsoadvocatetoothersthinking aboutforestrythatitissuchacoolindustry thatprovidessomanyvariedopportunities.The futureofforestryinNewZealand,especially
Northland,islookingverypromisingand excitingfornotjustAngusbutfuture generations.
HisongoingpassionledAngustobe highlyinterestedincommercialforest plantationmanagementandtheroles availableinthatsector.Ashisfamily movedtoTaiTokerauhewishedto haveaninvolvementincommercial forestrythere.Soonaftercompletion ofhisbachelor’sdegreeAngusis aimingtoworktowardbecominga harvestmanagerasthishasbeenthe aspectthatpresentlyinterestshim themost.
Angusiscurrentlyundertakinga BachelorofForestryScienceatthe UniversityofCanterburyandisinto hissecondyearofafour-yeardegree. Hebelievesthatmorerepresentationof forestryinhighschoolswouldraisemore interestbutapartfromthathebelievesitis promotedwell.
Thereisonescholarshiptobeawarded calendaryearandthescholarshipisacashgrant tothevalueof$3,000sponsoredbyNorthland timbermanufacturerNorthpineLtd.
NZSafetyBlackwoodsisgrowing fasterthanyouraverageRadiatapine andtheirbranchesnownumber33 nationwidewhichisgreatnewsbecause nomatterwhereyouare,anNZSafetyBlackwoods TradeCentrewon’tbefaraway.
Theyarespecialistsinsafety,workgearand footwearandhaveeverythingyouneedtogetthe jobdone.They’vealsogotastellarlineupwhen itcomestopowertoolsandhandtools,stocking yourfavouritebrandslikeMilwaukee,Bosch, MakitaandDeWalt
Whenyou’reworkingatheightandwith equipmentthatneedstobehandledwithcare, theyareyour‘goto’forfit-for-purposegear They’vegotyoucoveredfromheadtotoeandif youneedtopowerup,theycanhelpwiththattoo DidyouknowthatNZSafetyBlackwoodshave over70years’experienceinNewZealand?They don’tjustsellproducts,theyoffertrainingtoo.
NZSafetyBlackwoodsWorksafeTrainingservice offerscoursesthatkeepyousafeatworkincluding ElevatingWorkPlatforms,ConfinedSpaces,Height Safetyandmore.
TheirdedicatedtrainingvenuesinAuckland, Tauranga,Wellington,andChristchurcharewell equippedwithclassroomsandpurpose-builtfacilitiesto providetechnicaltrainingwhereworkplaceconditions canbereplicatedinasafe,controlledenvironment
Additionallytheyconductpubliccoursesata rangeofvenuesthroughoutNewZealand,providing nationwidecoverage
Butwait,there’smore.NZSafetyBlackwoods TechnicalSolutionsteamcaninspectandservicefall protectionequipmentsuchasharnesses,fallarrestersandretrievalwinches.
Theycaresomuchaboutsafety,it’s intheirnameandtheyhavethe equipmentandtrainingoffer thatcankeepyousafeas youwork
Tofindoutmorewhy nothaveabrowseof theirwebsitewww nzsafetyblackwoods. co.nzorgivethemacall tofindoutmore 0800660660.
Eachyearfromthebeginning,theNorthland ForestryAwardshaverecognisedthetopForestry FamilyoftheYear(sponsoredbyNorthernForest Products)andithasbeenhumblingforthosethat havebeenboughtuptothestagetoacceptthisaward.
Thisyearthejudgeswerechallengedtoseparatethetop twonominationsfortheForestryFamilyoftheYear.On onehandwasafamilywithgenerationsinvolvedsincethe 1930’sintheindustry.Theyarepioneerswhohaveworked acrossmultipleregions,arestillcommittedtoallaspects
NZ Safety Blackwoods andwinnersatthe Northland Forestry Awards 2022.
ofthewoodprocessingindustryandareproudtocall Northlandhome.
Ontheotherhand,wasafamilywhomaynotgoback quiteasfarbutintheirdecades,workhaveentrenched themselvesasahugeassettoforestry.Comprisingoftwo principalswiththewiderfamilyalsoveryinvolved.
Itbecametheimpossibletasktosplitthetwo,sothey congratulatedtheWilsonfamilyfromNorthpineANDthe ZielinskifamilyfromSilvicultureContractorsLtd,asjoint winnersoftheForestryFamilyoftheYearaward.
Before aguest list of 450 at theNorthland Forestry Awards last month, PeterDavies-Colley Chair of theNorthland WoodCouncil, opened theawardseveningto distinguished guests includingWhangarei MP Dr EmilyHenderson andhusbandThomas, VIPS andthe industry, welcomingthemall to the sixth Awardcampaignfor theregion.
Peteracknowledgedthesponsorsand theirgenerosityandloyalsupportofthe industryinmakingthenighthappen.He alsothankedAndrewWiddowsonfrom ManulifeForestManagementassomeonewhohad madeallsixawardcampaignshappen.“Through sheerhardworkanddetermination,Andrewhas madetheseeventsthesuccessesthattheyhave been.HehashadtodealwithCovidlockdowns, mis-behavingpoliticians,sponsorsfrontingwith marginaljokesandalotmorebutthankfullyhe perseveredandhereweare”,commentedPeter.
Peterremindedtheaudiencethattheconceptof theseawardshadalwaysbeentohaveanevening whichcelebratedtheskillandtheprofessionalism ofthepeoplethatworkintheNorthlandForest Industry.AndrewWiddowsonmovedupinhis organisationrecentlythisyearandhehashad tohandtherunningoftheAwardsovertoanew team.“Buthekepthiseyeonittomakesurethat wegotitright”,confirmedPeter.
Hewentontocongratulateallthenominees
astheydonotgetnominatedunlesstheirpeers recognisetheirabilityandwhethertheywere awinneronthenightornoteverynominee hasalreadybeenrecognisedfortheirskilland professionalismintheindustry.
Peterfinishedbythankingthejudges:Brett Gilmore,MandySkippsandNikJessop.“Therole ofjudgewassignificant,anditisallvoluntary”, commentedPeter.
Peteralludedtotherecentlyreleased“Forestry andWoodProcessingIndustryTransformation Plan”suggestinginanutshelltheplansaysthat NZshouldbeestablishingmoreplantationforests, usingplantationgrownwoodinallitsbuildings, formostofitsfuelandawholelotmore.By doingthisNZcouldstarttomeetitsInternational Environmentalobligations.Peterremarked,“the absoluteironyisthatthisIndustryTransformation PlaniswhattheNorthlandindustrydoevery day-grow,tend,harvest,transportandprocess plantationgrownwood.”
“AsanIndustrywedonotsellourgoodnews
storiesverywell.Mediaportrayforestryasthecause ofenvironmentalproblems,andthisisnotcorrect”.
Theforestrysector’spowerfulopponentsuse anyindiscretiontotryanddiscredittheindustry andwerarelytrytocorrectthemisinformation.Itis timethatthischanged,anditneedstostartwithin. Theindustryneedstobeproudofwhattheydo andtheyneedtochallengemis-informationto showtherestofNZthatPlantationForestryisan economicsolutiontoenvironmentalproblems.
Formedin2011,theNorthlandWoodCouncil (NWC)isaregionalassociationrepresenting thelargerplantationforestownersandforest managersoperatinginNorthland.
TheNWCworkstorepresentorlobbyforand onbehalfofitsmembersinarangeofareaswhere commonobjectivescanbebetterachievedwhen workingasacohesivegroup.
ThemissionoftheNWCistoprovideaforum foritsmemberstopromote,enhanceandcoordinateareasofstrategiccommoninterestinthe Northlandregion.
Northpoweractivelycuttrees close to ournetwork lines to reduce the riskofunplanned outagesfromtrees beingblownorfallinginto lines.
Northpower’svegetationteamof16 includesarborists andtreeofficers. Theteamare busy year roundcutting treesand vegetation near power lines to ensure we keepthelightson.
“Safety is the numberone concernfor ourteam” says Rameka Arani–Field Services Manager-vegetation, “wedoall thatwe cantokeepthe team safe,includingwearing the correctprotectivegear, activating allthe safety features onthe chainsawsandensuring wehave acleararea aroundwhereyou are cutting” says Rameka. Rameka advises thatforthe public the main thingyou candotokeep safeisto acceptwhen ajob istoo bigand to callin an arborist.
Youshouldnevergowithin 4meters of apowerlineorattempt to trim treesaroundourhigh voltagelines yourself –pleasecallNorthpoweron 0800104040 to report trees near network lines –we’ll sendoutone of ourteamtohavealookand put in placeaplanto trim or remove thetrees.
If youare concernedabout trees near your serviceline(thelinebetween your boundaryand your house) youcan request asafety disconnectionfromus anduse aprofessional todo thework.
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When workingnearoverheadlines andpowerpoles, keep acarefulwatch and makesurethatyou maintain asafe workingdistancefromoverheadlines at alltimes.Whenoperatingmachinerysuch as adiggerorcranenearlines you must keep at leastfourmetresclear oftheoverheadpowerlines. Do notdig within fivemetresofpowerpoles unlessyou have beenissuedaClose Approach Consentfromusasthiscould causethe power pole to collapse.Instead contactusfor aClose Approach Consent, andwewill work with you to ensure the workscan be done safely. If your work means youneed to be closerthan 4meters away fromthe lines thatsupply your house,
afreesafety
Pleasecalluson 0800 10 4040 to
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alterationstothe ground covermay reduce or increase thedepthsovertime.
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