Editorial: New Treeland?
OPINION: Forestry is not all bad and planting pine trees on land that is prone to erosion or in soils which cannot support livestock farming makes sense.
Alex Wilson, director, forestry engagement and advice, New Zealand Forest Service, says the sector is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing industries and offers great careers for people of all ages and abilities.
"Forestry involves much more than growing and harvesting plantation forests. It also employs skilled professionals that care for the forest environment, plan and manage forests, manage people and resources, work with modern technology, and operate multi-million-dollar machines and equipment,” Wilson says.
She says the industry is ever evolving and for the industry to survive it needs to grow capability and diversity in its workforce.
"The scholarship programme, now heading into in its fifth year, provides another pathway into the industry and widens access to tertiary study for Kiwis interested in professional forestry degree programmes.”
To date, 30 students throughout New Zealand have received scholarships since 2018, with the first students expected to complete their qualifications at the end of this year.
"We are very excited to see our first cohort of students graduate this year and look forward to welcoming them to the workforce,” says Wilson.
"By taking up careers in forestry and wood-processing, these students will be an important part of a future forestry workforce that deliver for the climate, nature, people and economic outcomes."
The successful scholarship recipients for the 2023 academic year are:
- Charlotte Talbot from Wellington
- Jasmine Hagan and Jean Morton from Rotorua
- Maggie Crawford from Christchurch
- Mataia Cotterill from Auckland
- Rauiri Moorhead from Nelson, and
- Tuawhio Porima from Levin.
They will study Forestry Science or Forest Engineering at the School of Forestry - Kura Ngahere, at the University of Canterbury.
