fica

FICA ROUND UP FOR 2021 Prue Younger, CED Message

There must be more to life than COVID but it was hard to not start my AGM Report off last month with anything but, as it has had a huge impact on our industry and other sectors over 2020-2021. So significant that we had to postpone the

Safetree Conference and our FICA Conference in Queenstown due to COVID. Last year we just made it through the COVID lockdown when Auckland had been put into lockdown earlier in

August. The Wellington event worked well as a joint event with

Safetree - FISC being our partners in crime. I think at that time, we were unsure where this was all going to end up, but we all enjoyed a great summer off. Then the COVID factor emerged again but this time with a new Delta variant and one which is not giving up easily. Level 3 is a positive level for our industry, we might have to stay indoors at Level 4,but we get back to a normal environment at Level 3. With much admiration, most of the industry appears to be a resilient bunch and we have progressed with life well I believe. FICA and the collective industry organisations have been working tirelessly with

Government to ensure the industry remains a high priority for economic contribution during COVID.

At the last AGM, we spoke about a new Strategic Plan and setting three key pillars and in this past 12 months we have most certainly channelled our time and energy into these key topics rather than a multi-scatter gun approach. I remind you that for the next few years our priorities sit with: • Influencing Reform ofVocational Education • Strengthening Safetree Certification • Co-designing partnerships

That partnership and relationship-building has most definitely improved, and I believe COVID first time up has taught us to be respectful and work closer with others in the industry. Working with forest owners' regional companies has been top of the list and invitations to attend their contractors' meetings have been invaluable – thanks Hancock, Timberlands, Port Blakely, Rayonier Matariki and PF Olsen. This has been an invaluable opportunity to get in front of more than just our members. It is our aim to work hard with the most appropriate groups and sign up more woodlot members, whether that be with NZFFA - Federated Farmers or NZIF, while maintaining and supporting our existing membership base.

A couple of highlights that FICA has been working on through the year included the MSD Silvi culture Subsidy, and we have had just over 125 registrations made for 2021 with claims of $500,000 paid out to that sector. On the back of the silviculture subsidy, we have been fortunate to get the opportunity from MSD to roll out a substantial campaign with the harvesting sector.

With limited spaces restricted to 50, I suspect this will be at high demand as the pay-out totals over $8K per employee if they remain in employment for the six-month period. I would like to compliment MSD on the relationship that has grown and been maintained with forestry and we are grateful for their support.

FICA has been identifying several other funding opportunities and has pending funding proposals in place to support

FICA initiatives which have included our second year of the

National Frontline Recruitment campaign. We thank the WIDE

Trust and FGLT for successful funding support and MOE funding to allow FICA to deliver School Career Expos in the

Waikato region. We also thank the support of the late Grant

Duffy who we remember fondly for his passion and commitment to the Forestry sector right up to his untimely passing. He really encouraged the National Contract template project amongst other aspects of forestry and wanted FICA to take the lead on this. For many years supply chain factors have consistently been recognised as a critical but a hard to influence factor in forestry workplace wellbeing, health and safety. You will appreciate for many years this has been explored and, as a There must be more to life than COVID but it was hard to not start my AGM Report off last month with anything but, as it has had a huge impact on our industry and other sectors over 20202021. So significant that we had to postpone the Safetree Conference and our FICA Conference in Queenstown due to COVID. Last year we just made it through the COVID lockdown result, it remains a focus for the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and its partners. We have a project team working on this and albeit there have been delays through COVID, we are looking at mid-2022to complete this. when Auckland had been put into lockdown earlier in August. The Two years ago, we started an upgrade Wellington event worked well as a joint event with Safetree - FISC to the integrity of our Yarder Tower being our partners in crime. I think at that time, we were unsure Inspectors' credentials, andwe areclose where this was all going to end up, but we all enjoyed a great to achieving the final outcomes to ensure our industry has a sound summer off. Then the COVID factor emerged again but this time and credible system behind tower inspections. Implementation and with a new Delta variant and one which is not giving up easily. use of a Yarder Tower APP and development of a dashboard report is Level 3 is a positive level for our industry, we might have to stay now available on the FICA website and updated Best indoors at Level 4, but we get back to a normal environment at Practice Guidelines will be available by the end of this month. Level 3. With much admiration, most of the industry appears to be The complexities of the Reform of Vocational Education continue a resilient bunch and we have progressed with life well I believe. and now two years down with an end date of 2023 to complete the FICA and the collective industry organisations have been working reform, forestry has been beavering away to stay very connected. tirelessly with Government to ensure the industry remains a high We are pleased to have FICA and forestry represented with priority for economic contribution during COVID. positions across the various ROVE entities and the

At the last AGM, we spoke about a new Strategic Plan and establishment of a new group FRAG - Forestry ROVE Advisory setting three key pillars and in this past 12 months we have most Group. The FRAG is working closely with the Forest & Wood certainly channelled our time and energy into these key topics Processing Council, playing both a strategic role and an advisory rather than a multi-scatter gun approach. I remind you that for role, with the vision to develop a skilled, qualified, safe and the next few years our priorities sit with: effective workforce achieving recognised qualifications which are • Influencing Reform of Vocational Education current and fitfor purpose. • Strengthening Safetree Certification • Co-designing partnerships That partnership and relationship-building has most definitely improved, and I believe COVID first time up has taught us to be respectful and work closer with others in the industry. Working with forest owners' regional companies has been top of the list and invitations to attend their contractors' meetings have been invaluable – thanks Hancock, Timberlands, Port Blakely, Rayonier Matariki and PF Olsen. This has been an invaluable opportunity to get in front of more than just our members. It is our aim to work hard with the most appropriate groups and sign up more woodlot members, whether that be with NZFFA - Federated Farmers or NZIF, while maintaining and supporting our existing membership base. A couple of highlights that FICA has been working on through the year included the MSD Silvi culture Subsidy, and we have had just over 125 registrations made for 2021 with claims of $500,000 paid out to that sector. On the back of the silviculture subsidy, we have been fortunate to get the opportunity from MSD to roll out a substantial campaign with the harvesting sector. With limited spaces restricted to 50, I suspect this will be at high demand as the pay-out totals over $8K per employee if they remain in employment for the six-month period. I would like to compliment MSD on the relationship that has grown and been maintained with forestry and we are grateful for their support. FICA has been identifying several other funding opportunities and has pending funding proposals in place to support FICA initiatives which have included our second year of the National Frontline Recruitment campaign. We thank the WIDE Trust and FGLT for successful funding support and MOE funding to allow FICA to deliver School Career Expos in the Waikato region. We also thank the support of the late Grant Duffy who we remember Review of the Safetree Contractor Certification has taken most of the year but in 2022, the work to relaunch a developed 'Safetree Certification' with sizeable changes will ensure the credibility of the programme. Not only a name change, but broadening it to both the worker and forest management certification and enhancements which will encourage transparency to government agencies that the continued health, safety and welfare of our industry is a priority. The relationship with FISC is very close and benefits from across the industry with relationships with Te Uru Rakau, the regional wood councils, and LTSC. My finale to this last issue for NZLogger2021 goes without any reservation, firstly, support from our sponsors, partners and associates has been amazing and remains positive with their willingness to continue being part of our industry. Their contribution continues to ensure FICA can operate and work in many spaces of interest and importance. Equally I thank you, the members for your resilience to continue waiting patiently through lockdown. It has been a saviour to our industry getting back to work in Level 3, it may not seem fair at times, but we are ahead of others in that lockdown list and the supply infrastructure has stood up to significant challenges. My final thanks go to my Board as volunteers that work alongside me, some on a dayto-day basis and my administration colleague – she probably gathers more information from members than I often do as she is the day-to-day contact for the FICA organisation in the office, so a huge thanks Jo for your ability to read ahead of the game and read ahead of me! I end with an uncertainty about what the next few months bring for New Zealand let alone our industry. I guess the thing that keeps me awake for our industry and for life in general is, what will "normal" look like going forward? Wishing you all, a fondly for his passion and commitment to the Forestry sector right family/whanau-centric festive break. up to his untimely passing. He really encouraged the National Noho ora mai Contract template project amongst other aspects of forestry and Stay well, look after yourself, goodbye

wanted FICA to take the lead on this. For many years supply

chain factors have consistently been recognised as a critical but a hard to influence factor in forestry workplace wellbeing, health ;Drue--

and safety.

FICA ROUND UP FOR 2021 Prue Younger, CED Message

There must be more to life than COVID but it was hard to not start my AGM Report off last month with anything but, as it has had a huge impact on our industry and other sectors over 2020-2021. So significant that we had to postpone the Safetree Conference and our FICA Conference in Queenstown due to COVID. Last year we just made it through the COVID lockdown when Auckland had been put into lockdown earlier in August. The Wellington event worked well as a joint event with Safetree - FISC being our partners in crime. I think at that time, we were unsure where this was all going to end up, but we all enjoyed a great summer off. Then the COVID factor emerged again but this time with a new Delta variant and one which is not giving up easily. Level 3 is a positive level for our industry, we might have to stay indoors at Level 4,but we get back to a normal environment at Level 3. With much admiration, most of the industry appears to be a resilient bunch and we have progressed with life well I believe. FICA and the collective industry organisations have been working tirelessly with Government to ensure the industry remains a high priority for economic contribution during COVID. You will appreciate for many years this has been explored and, as a result, it remains a focus for the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and its partners. We have a project team working on this and albeit there have been delays through COVID, we are looking at mid2022 to complete this. Two years ago, we started an upgrade to the integrity of our Yarder Tower Inspectors' credentials, and we are close to achieving the final outcomes to ensure our industry has a sound and credible system behind tower inspections. Implementation and use of a Yarder Tower APP and development of a dashboard report is now available on the FICA website and updated Best Practice Guidelines will be available by the end of this month. The complexities of the Reform of Vocational Education continue and now two years down with an end date of 2023 to complete the

At the last AGM, we spoke about a new Strategic Plan and reform, forestry has been beavering away to stay very connected. setting three key pillars and in this past 12 months we have most We are pleased to have FICA and forestry represented with certainly channelled our time and energy into these key topics positions across the various ROVE entities and the establishment rather than a multi-scatter gun approach. I remind you that for the of a new group FRAG - Forestry ROVE Advisory Group. The FRAG next few years our priorities sit with: is working closely with the Forest & Wood Processing Council, • Influencing Reform ofVocational Education playing both a strategic role and an advisory role, with the vision to • Strengthening Safetree Certification develop a skilled, qualified, safe and effective workforce achieving • Co-designing partnerships recognised qualifications which are current and fit for purpose.

That partnership and relationship-building has most definitely improved, and I believe COVID first time up has taught us to be respectful and work closer with others in the industry. Working with forest owners' regional companies has been top of the list and invitations to attend their contractors' meetings have been invaluable – thanks Hancock, Timberlands, Port Blakely, Rayonier Matariki and PF Olsen. This has been an invaluable opportunity to get in front of more than just our members. It is our aim to work hard with the most appropriate groups and sign up more woodlot members, whether that be with NZFFA - Federated Farmers or NZIF, while maintaining and supporting our existing membership base. A couple of highlights that FICA has been working on through the year included the MSD Silvi culture Subsidy, and we have had just over 125 registrations made for 2021 with claims of $500,000 paid out to that sector. On the back of the silviculture subsidy, we have been fortunate to get the opportunity from MSD to roll out a substantial campaign with the harvesting sector. With limited spaces restricted to 50, I suspect this will be at high demand as the pay-out totals over $8K per employee if they remain in employment for the six-month period. I would like to compliment MSD on the relationship that has grown and been maintained with forestry and we are grateful for their support. FICA has been identifying several other funding opportunities and has pending funding proposals in place to support FICA initiatives which have included our second year of the National Frontline Recruitment campaign. We thank the WIDE Trust and FGLT for successful funding support and MOE funding to allow FICA to deliver School Career Expos in the Waikato region. We also thank the support of the late Grant Duffy who we remember fondly for his passion and commitment to the Forestry sector right up to his untimely passing. He really encouraged the National Contract template project Review of the Safetree Contractor Certification has taken most of the year but in 2022, the work to relaunch a developed 'Safetree Certification' with sizeable changes will ensure the credibility of the programme. Not only a name change, but broadening it to both the worker and forest management certification and enhancements which will encourage transparency to government agencies that the continued health, safety and welfare of our industry is a priority. The relationship with FISC is very close and benefits from across the industry with relationships with Te Uru Rakau, the regional wood councils, and LTSC. My finale to this last issue for NZ Logger 2021 goes without any reservation, firstly, support from our sponsors, partners and associates has been amazing and remains positive with their willingness to continue being part of our industry. Their contribution continues to ensure FICA can operate and work in many spaces of interest and importance. Equally I thank you, the members for your resilience to continue waiting patiently through lockdown. It has been a saviour to our industry getting back to work in Level 3, it may not seem fair at times, but we are ahead of others in that lockdown list and the supply infrastructure has stood up to significant challenges. My final thanks go to my Board as volunteers that work alongside me, some on a day-to-day basis and my administration colleague – she probably gathers more information from members than I often do as she is the day-to-day contact for the FICA organisation in the office, so a huge thanks Jo for your ability to read ahead of the game and read ahead of me! I end with an uncertainty about what the next few months bring for New Zealand let alone our industry. I guess the thing that keeps me awake for our industry and for life in general is, what will "normal" look like going forward? Wishing you all, a family/ whanau-centric festive break. Noho ora mai Stay well, look after yourself, goodbye amongst other aspects of forestry and wanted FICA to take the lead on this. For many years supply chain factors have consistently been recognised as a critical but a hard to influence factor in forestry workplace wellbeing, health and safety. You will appreciate for many years this has been explored and, as a result, it remains a focus for the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and its partners. We have a project team working on this and albeit there have been delays through COVID, we are looking at mid-2022to complete this. Two years ago, we started an upgrade to the integrity of our Yarder Tower Inspectors' credentials, andwe areclose to achieving the final outcomes to ensure our industry has a sound and credible system behind tower inspections. Implementation and use of a Yarder Tower APP and development of a dashboard report is now available on the FICA website and updated Best Practice Guidelines will be available by the end of this month. The complexities of the Reform of Vocational Education continue and now two years down with an end date of 2023 to complete the reform, forestry has been beavering away to stay very connected. We are pleased to have FICA and forestry represented with positions across the various ROVE entities and the establishment of a new group FRAG - Forestry ROVE Advisory Group. The FRAG is working closely with the Forest & Wood Processing Council, playing both a strategic role and an advisory role, with the vision to develop a skilled, qualified, safe and effective workforce achieving recognised qualifications which are current and fitfor purpose. Review of the Safetree Contractor Certification has taken most of the year but in 2022, the work to relaunch a developed 'Safetree Certification' with sizeable changes will ensure the credibility of the programme. Not only a name change, but broadening it to both the worker and forest management certification and enhancements which will encourage transparency to government agencies that the continued health, safety and welfare of our industry is a priority. The relationship with FISC is very close and benefits from across the industry with relationships with Te Uru Rakau, the regional wood councils, and LTSC. My finale to this last issue for NZLogger2021 goes without any reservation, firstly, support from our sponsors, partners and associates has been amazing and remains positive with their willingness to continue being part of our industry. Their contribution continues to ensure FICA can operate and work in many spaces of interest and importance. Equally I thank you, the members for your resilience to continue waiting patiently through lockdown. It has been a saviour to our industry getting back to work in Level 3, it may not seem fair at times, but we are ahead of others in that lockdown list and the supply infrastructure has stood up to significant challenges. My final thanks go to my Board as volunteers that work alongside me, some on a dayto-day gathers basis and my administration colleaguemore information from members than I – she probablyoften do as she is the day-to-day contact for the FICA organisation in the office, so a huge thanks Jo for your ability to read ahead of the game and read ahead of me! I end with an uncertainty about what the next few months bring for New Zealand let alone our industry. I guess the thing that keeps me awake for our industry and for life in general is, what will "normal" look like going forward? Wishing you all, a family/whanau-centric festive break. Noho ora mai Stay well, look after yourself, goodbye ;Drue-44 NZ LOGGER | December 2021/January 2022