PRESIDENTS COLUMN

I attended a Predator Free 2050 presentation over the last fortnight and it started me thinking about what our role as professional foresters and large land managers should be in regards to this worthy goal. How many of us are putting in any effort to control predators within forests we manage. It seems most of us have delegated this out to other authorities or we are doing very little. I remember we use to work hard to control possums; now, we as Foresters, seem to do little; leaving it to Regional councils or TB NZ.

I note on Predator Free 2050 website strong support from Federated Farmers but no support from the Forest sector. We should at least acknowledge support for the idea. But I would love to see us go further. What more as land managers should/could we be doing? Do we have a role to protect NZ’s native biodiversity; and if so what are we really doing to actively do this? Do we as Foresters pay any attention to stoats and rats in our forests? I would love to hear stories where Foresters are actively working to control predators within their forests. This is exactly the good news story we need to get into the media.

I would be interested in hearing your views. Should we as Foresters be concerned about predators? What should we be doing about them on land we manage? Should the sector actively support this goal for Aotearoa?

On other matters; registration for the annual conference and AGM is open. I am well aware we all like to register last minute; but can I please encourage you to register early (ie now). It helps with our planning and gives comfort to the committee who have worked hard to bring you the conference. Remember attending the conference helps towards your CPD hours and you all need to be thinking about these, as one way or the other, most of us will need to be registered under the Foresters Advisors Bill, and showing CPD hours will be a major part of getting registered / certified. Further it is expected every member attends at least one conference every five years, so if it has been a while since you attended one, maybe consider this year in beautiful Wairarapa.

In conjunction with the Conference we run the AGM. If any member has a motion they wish to raise at the AGM can you please get these to Raewyn at admin@nzif.org.nz.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM and conference. Until then keep adding to the ‘members voice’ in the newsletter or don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Thanks

James

NZIF 2021 CONFERENCE

REGISTRATION CLOSES 10TH JUNE!

27th to 29th June 2021

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park
High Street
Masterton 

We are excited to be presenting a varied and inspiring lineup for our next conference to be held in Masterton in the mighty Wairarapa.  We all know how passionate our sector work force is about what we do, and we are seeking to showcase some of this pride with our lineup of speakers and CPD sessions. 

Read more

NZIF Conference Programme   

Sunday 27th June 2021

10am - 11am - Registration Opens

11am - 1pm - CPD workshop - Forest Fire protection - How can we stay ahead. Presenter Murray Dudfield.
As a forestry professional what are the key elements and knowledge which then empowers us to contribute to the efficient and effective management of fire in the forest and rural landscape.
New Zealand is not shielded from periods of extreme wildfires normally associated with Australia or North America.  The 2017 Port Hills and 2019 Pigeon Valley forest fires are an example of what has occurred in recent years. The annual average direct financial impact of unwanted forest and rural fires on the New Zealand's economy is estimated at $67 million, with indirect costs estimated to be at least 2-3 times this.
In the management of fire in the forest and rural landscape the frequent challenges for agencies and individuals responsible for making decisions relating to forest and rural land use, and uncontrolled vegetation fires, lies in testing the effectiveness of such decisions. Decisions need to take account of the uncertainties and risks, and opportunities that may be the consequences of these decisions.
    “…the ability to deal with a crisis situation is largely dependent on the structures that have been developed before chaos arrives. The event can in some ways be considered as an abrupt and brutal audit: at a moment’s notice, everything that was left unprepared becomes a complex problem, and every weakness comes rushing to the forefront.”      Preventing Chaos in a Crisis, Lagadec, p. 54
The management of fire in the forest and rural landscape is both an art and a science. Topics to be covered in this NZ Institute of Forestry CPD session includes fire legislation, funding of fire services, fire research, fire weather monitoring, exposure, capability and liability.

1pm - 2pm - Light lunch

2pm - 4pm - CPD workshop - Arbitration and Mediation -

A representative of the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ) will take us through:

• Different types of resolution procedures.
• Costs associated with those procedures.
• Importance of dispute resolution clauses in contracts for services
• Achieving the best outcome at least cost

CPD opportunities offered by AMINZ

11am - 4pm CPD Workshop - Leadership Development Course, limited to 12pp, Presenter Matt Williams from The Learning Wave
A practical workshop gives participants real tools to:
Better understand their responsibility as a leader’s to influence participation and good results (individual/team and organisational
Engage other/team members to shift from their attitude towards a ‘professional who is proud of their work performance’
Understanding of their/others capability – current mix of skill and attitude (Capability Compass)
Positively challenge the ‘old boss’ attitudes and help set the tone
Adapt their leadership response to get better work and safety outcomes  

4.30pm - 5.30pm - NZIF 93rd Annual General Meeting
5.30pm - 6.30pm - After AGM drinks
7pm - 10.30pm - Future Forester Quiz night Venue: Gateway Motor Inn

Monday 28th June 2021

8am - 8.45am Registration Opens

8.45am - 8.50am Iwi Welcome

8.50am - 8.55am Conference Welcome by Conference Chair - Erica Kinder

8.55am - 9.15am Kieran McAnulty - Local MP for Wairarapa

9.15am - 10.15am Forest Learning in Australia, Presenter Beth Welden (via Zoom)

10.15am - 10.45am Supporting and cultivation the young crop, Presenter Dave Saathof

10.45am - 11.15am Morning Tea

11.15am - 11.45am What every NZer needs to know about climate change, its impacts and what we can do about it, Presenter Professor Tim Naish

11.45am - 12.30pm Review of Climate Change Commission Submissions, Presenter Professor Nicola Shadbolt

12pm - 1.15pm Lunch

1.15pm - 1.45pm Carbon Farming and small woodlots, Presenter Kevin Reardon

1.45pm - 2.15pm Forest Investments, Presenter Bert Hughes

2.15pm - 3pm An Update of the Forest Advisors and Log Trader Amendment Act, Presenter Kay Shapland

3pm - 3.30pm Afternoon Tea

3.30pm - 4pm History and Timber Properties of the Carterton Event Centre - A Wairarapa Timber story, Presenter Paul Jordan

4pm - 5pm Future of Te Uru Rākau, Presenter Henry Weston 

5pm - 5.10pm Closing for the day, Erica Kinder

5.15pm 6.15pm After Conference Cocktail Party

6.30pm Buses will be provided to/from the Conference Dinner which is being held at the Carterton Event Center.  Booking your Bus seat is essential when registering for the Dinner. 

7pm - 10.30pm Conference Dinner and Awards, Carterton Event Centre, After dinner speaker, Hon Stuart Nash TBC

10.30pm - Bus back to Solway Hotel, Masterton

Tuesday 29th June 2021

7am - 8.30am Women in Forestry Breakfast, (Women Only) Presenter Heather Miller, Manager Forest Land Use and Advice & Presenter Susan Kilsby, ANZ Bank’s Agriculture Economist

8.40am - 8.45am Welcome to Conference

8.45am to 9.45am Positioning the forest industry to be a major player in regenerating natural capital, growing regional economies and transitioning to new zero emissions, Presenter Warren Parker

9.45am - 10.15am Forestry Myth Busting, Presenter Tim Payn

10.15am - 10.30am Closing of the Conference, Erica Kinder

10.30am - 11am Morning Tea

11.15am - 4pm Field Trip -Town Tour – Log Distribution & Timber Processing

The Town Tour does not need to take you far to see industry best practice in motion.
To showcase the region’s timber processing capability, Juken NZ Ltd (JNL) is opening its doors for a tour of their Masterton sawmill for the production of high value engineered timber products.
Adjacent to JNL, the tour will continue through the Waingawa rail yard, where C3 operates the log marshalling and transit hub on behalf of partners CentrePort and KiwiRail. $8m was spent in 2020 upgrading this essential infrastructure and doubling its capacity.
Around the corner from the hub, specialist log cartage company McCarthy Transport will take a tour of their expanded Pakihi Yard and talk about its significant investments and changes.
Thanks to JNL, C3, McCarthy Transport, Forest Enterprises and LDL.

11.15am - 4pm Field Trip: Forest Tour – Farm Forestry & Advanced Logging Systems

The Forest Tour heads out to Tinui to an operational harvest setting and to Rewanui Forest Park.
Mechanised harvesting practices are key to improved safety and productivity outcomes. JNL’s logging operation will demonstrate a Logchamp swing yarder with grapple system and tethered felling machine in action.
Along the way is Rewanui Forest Park, a 334ha property near Masterton on the Castlepoint road. It has areas of native bush, open grassland, and sites suitable for growing both native and exotic trees. Rewanui is a trial site for native and exotic timber trees.
Thanks to JNL, Havard Logging, the Montfort Trimble Foundation and the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association.

Accomodation 

Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park Wairarapa

Group booking reference number #70947

Conference Rate $140.00 per room per night

Best way to book accommodation would be –

Email reservations@solway.co.nz or phone the hotel direct on 0800SOLWAY (0800765929)

Please state the booking reference number #70947 or that they are attending the NZIF Conference.

SPONSORSHIP

MEMBERS VOICE

I too spend a fair bit of time  - most of the time calmly – listening to various myths and legends about plantations and then attempt to provide the correct information on (in no particular order):

• Slash on beaches
• pines poison soils
• pines suck up groundwater
• pines are biodiversity deserts
• forestry is destroying communities
• they are all exported as raw logs
• pines die if they are left too long
• all the carbon sequestered is lost when they are chopped down

It would be nice to have a magic 8 ball which could spit out the answers to all those questions when anyone opined on them – preferably one that pre-empted the asking!

As a second best option could we collate a list of myths along with some useful resources for the answers?  They could span the range from a simple sentence to links to the science or economics or stats papers for those who really want to get into the detail.  Our own version of Wikipedia really.

Is there a way we could set up a file that multiple people could access to populate it?  or set up a series of headings that people can feed stuff into?

Regards

Bridget Robson

eland 2017 Ltd

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Me, thee and the PCE

Simon Upton was surprised by my remarks on his address to the March NZFFA conference. He invited me to talk to him, not to congratulate me on my brilliant analysis but to express concern that I might have misunderstood his approach. But it wasn’t really a discipline interview. I understood his approach, and it’s not his fault that I have trouble with some of the implications.

First, He Waka Eke Noa is working on “recommendations for an appropriate farm level emissions pricing system from 2025” as an alternative to the Emissions Trading Scheme. In short it is designing a stand-alone programme for farmers outside the ETS. Simon might be familiar with the details but since nothing has been released yet, his suggestion of a methane levy was new to me.

It raised the question of equivalence between a methane levy and a carbon price. The methane levy is likely to be set high enough to change farmer behaviour but not so high as to drive farmers off the land. How high that will be, and where it will sit vis a vis carbon under the Emissions Trading Scheme?

Second, a methane levy is another example of an ad hoc climate change policy, of which there is a growing number (e.g. no more coal-fired boilers). While these are understandable, every ad hoc policy makes investment in production forestry more uncertain.

Although there is general agreement that we need more forests, no-one is addressing the growing body of regulatory risk that puts new planting in doubt. Why expand when there are rising land prices, regulatory uncertainties and potential controls on how much carbon one might claim, after perhaps buying land at full value on the assumption of one credit per tonne sequestered? The commercial forest industry might easily turn its back on the Climate Change Commission and the Government’s expectations for the sector. It’s not obliged to help. In round numbers we can satisfy the aspirations of the Industry Transformation Plan by building say 25 new export-scale mills between now and 2050 without planting a single new hectare of production forest.

Third, if He Waka Eke Noa is successful then of course trees on farms will be useful for offsetting methane levies. Assuming it measures the changes in carbon storage from one year to the next (‘delta carbon’), farmers will be able to claim credits on land that was in forest in 1990, even though this is excluded from the ETS. And if those credits are tradable (why not?) prices for this land will jump, and there may be a sudden rush to become farmers.

Finally, there are 11 agricultural organisations and two Ministries committed to He Waka Eke Noa and 2,400 participants and two Ministries committed to the ETS. I have a mental picture of these two elephants lumbering across the veldt trying to escape a grass fire, while above them circles the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment giving two caws for right and one caw for left. If only I could draw.

Howard Moore

3 May 2021.

INSTITUTE UPDATE

From the Registrar

APPLICATION FOR REGISTERED MEMBER STATUS

The following Member has applied to become a Registered Member:

• Adrian Loo of Christchurch

Any member of the NZIF has the right to object to an application. Any objection should be lodged with the Registrar registrar@nzif.org.nz within 20 working days of the first appearance (17 May 2021) of the notice in this newsletter, specifying the grounds for the objection.

REGISTRATION REVIEWS 2021

The following members are due for 5-year review of their status as  Registered Members during 2021 and have not yet applied;

• Hamish Marshall
• John Galbraith
• Brian McKinlay
• Paul Jensen
• Brian Rust
• Paul Bradbury
• David Crawley
• Ross Wade
• Graham West

USE OF NZIF WEBSITE FOR APPLICATIONS, ANNUAL DECLARATIONS AND CPD.

All applications for 5-year Reviews and New Applications for Registered Member status should be made using the online facility on the NZIF website (must be logged in and go to the “Members Only” section). Note that if you do not have time to complete the application in one session there is a “Save” facility that allows you to come back and complete it before submitting.

The annual declaration for Code of Ethics/Professional Indemnity/Real Estate experience can only be entered online. Go to your Profile and click on APC (Annual Practising Certificate) and populate the boxes appropriately. All RM’s need to use the online entry from now on.

CPD – is still entered online but is Submitted only once each year, as at the end of December. Saving your CPD is not the same as Submitting it. If you have not Submitted it by clicking on the SUBMIT button then it is not accessible to the Registrar.

There are still 30 Registered Members who have not yet submitted their CPD. You are in danger of losing your Registered member status.

Alan Bell, Registrar 
NZIF Registration Board

registrar@nzif.org.nz

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Elevation Aotearoa

I’m reaching out to find out if NZIF would be interested in helping get the word out about a site that a project at Toitū Te Whenua LINZ has developed. As context, this project, Elevation Aotearoa is related to the national LiDAR capture programme currently being carried out in collaboration with regional councils. The goal of the programme is to cover at least 80% of the country with high quality LiDAR data within the next few years. Elevation Aotearoa aims to maximise the benefits of the programme by increasing awareness and capability of LiDAR data use. As part of this, a site has been developed with resources such as a web map showing people when data will be available for their area of interest. The site is here: https://arcg.is/1mXWv5

We would also be interested in finding out more about how we can assist NZIF’s members make greater use of the data and are keen for anyone to get in touch with us if they have any questions, please contact me on YLee@linz.govt.nz

Regards,

Yu-ching.

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Can you help with finding past recipients of the Mary Sutherland Award.

I am trying to get a more complete list of recipients of the Mary Sutherland award, and also their contacts so they can be invited to attend the celebration of the publication of a biography of Mary Sutherland in Rotorua on 3^rd June 2021.  If you know the names (and contacts of any recipients not shown on the list below, can you please let me know (and their contact if possible.  If you have a contact for any shown as “no contact” could you also let me know.

Thanks

Andrew McEwen, Chair NZIF Foundation, email am.mcewen@xtra.co.nz, ph 0274733262

Andrew McEwen

Mob:  +64 274 733 262

am.mcewen@xtra.co.nz

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Nominations for the 'Forester of the Year' and 

'The Prince of Wales Award for Sustainable Forestry'

FORESTRY EVENTS

CHCH - Get to know your fellow FFs/Social media workshop

Come enjoy some drinks and nibbles while catching up with you fellow Future Foresters.

We are lucky to have Clive Antony from Antony and Mates (Digital content + Advisory) joining up and giving a short presentation of the opportunities for Social Media and Forestry. Being the "young" person in the office we are often called upon to give advice on using social media by our employer - Clive's presentation will help highlight what can be achieved in the social media world and how to best do it.

We have also arranged for a photographer service to be floating around during drinks/nibbles so you can get an up to date headshot to make sure your LinkedIn is looking fresh for any upcoming job applications. Or perhaps you just simply want a new look for your Facebook/Insta/Tinder etc...

4pm - 4.30pm: Drink/Nibbles

4.30pm - 5pm: Clive Antony presentation

5pm onwards: Drink/Nibbles

Our 2021 Future Foresters shirts will be available at this event - First in first served so make sure you come along!

Event proudly supported by Forest Growers Levy Trust and Te Uru Rakua - NZ Forestry Service.

RSVP to Adrian adrianloo.nz@gmail.com by the 14th May

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Invitation to “The benefits of integrating native forests into our working lands”.

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the next NZIF Central North Island local section evening.

Jacqui Aimers and Gerard Horgan from Tane’s Tree Trust will be presenting on “The benefits of integrating native forests into our working lands”. NZIF members will also be treated to a short film associated with the recently released O Tatou Ngahere campaign.

Jacqui is a forestry scientist, ecologist and research analyst with  over 30 years of experience in forest research (exotic and native species) and sustainable land management. Gerard is an economist with over 40 years of experience in research, policy and forestry economics. Both speakers are trustees of Tane’s Tree Trust. Their combined knowledge, experience and passion for the subject is guaranteed to provide an informative and engaging evening for our members.

Date: Wednesday 26^th May 2021

Time: 5:30 - 7:30pm

Venue: Room O3, Toi Ohomai Forestry School Building, Rotorua

There will be drinks and nibbles from 5:30pm and the speakers will start at approximately 6pm.

Please RSVP to Hazel Swanson Hazel.Swanson@tll.co.nz

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Celebration of Vivien Edward’s biography of Mary Sutherland

You are invited to join the Celebration of Vivien Edward’s biography of Mary Sutherland

To be held at

Eastwood Café, Scion Research

End of Titokorangi Drive (formerly Long Mile Road)

Rotorua

5pm, Thursday 3^rd June 2021

Open invitation (so pass on to friends)

But please RSVP for catering purposes to admin@nzif.org.nz by 24^th May 2021

Enquiries to Andrew McEwen, am.mcewen@xtra.co.nz or 0274733262

Book available for purchase at $45 per copy

Why you will be interested in the story of Mary Sutherland:

• First woman in the world to graduate with a forestry degree (Bangor, North Wales, 1916)
• Employed as a professional forester by New Zealand State Forest Service (1923 – 1932)
• Botanist, Dominion Museum Wellington, (1933-1946)
• Supervisor/superintendent, YWCA hostel at Woburn (Lower Hutt) for young women employed on war work (1943-1946)
• First farm forestry officer, NZ Department of Agriculture (1946-1954)
• Founding member of NZ Institute of Forestry in 1927, designed official seal (forms basis of today’s logo), served on Council in 1936 and as vice-president 1941-42.  Her legacy seeded the NZIF Foundation’s Mary Sutherland Scholarship
• Member of NZ Forestry League (elected to Council in 1936)
• Member of Botanical section of the Wellington Branch of the Philosophical Society.
• Member of NZ Federation of University Women (now Graduate Woman), served on Wellington branch and national committees

Professional forester, botanist and advocate for women’s access to higher education

A review of the book is available at https://www.ketebooks.co.nz/all-book-reviews/a-path-through-the-trees-vivien-edwards

Copies of the biography can be purchased on-line from the publisher at https://www.bookpublishing.co.nz/  or enquire at all good independent bookshops.

Thanks to sponsors

FORESTRY NEWS

Te Uru Rākau – NZ Forest Service explores biofuels as a major opportunity for New Zealand

Date: 03 May 2021

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service is laying the foundations for a new biofuels industry, to turn forestry waste into a potential billion-dollar industry, and working on a business case with help from global investment experts Indufor Asia Pacific Ltd.

"Establishing a biofuels industry in New Zealand will require significant investment, so we're moving ahead with developing the business case for this investment," says Jason Wilson, director of sector investments at Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service.

Mr Wilson says research shows a biofuels industry would help New Zealand to meet its emissions targets and provide jobs and new industries in our regional centres.

"Tackling climate change is an ongoing priority for Government. Investigating the potential to manufacture biofuels from New Zealand wood could supercharge our efforts and deliver significant returns for our forestry and wood processing sector, rural communities, and economy."

Biocrude, liquid biofuels and solid biofuels are made from the residues of trees milled in New Zealand and can help replace traditional fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.

"A key focus for the forestry and wood processing sector is maximising the economic and environmental benefits from wood through innovation, as it's a renewable and sustainable asset," says Mr Wilson.

"The business case will involve significant analysis and will underpin a core part of the Industry Transformation Plan (ITP) for forestry and wood processing currently in development. The ITP will include a focus on the emerging bioenergy role the sector can play."

The ITP aims to better utilise New Zealand's forest resources by increasing domestic processing, and a draft of the plan is expected later this year for the sector to consider. It is one of 6 transformation plans launched by Government, aimed at growing more innovative industries in New Zealand and lifting the productivity, sustainability and inclusivity of our key sectors.

"We're excited by the potential of producing biofuels in New Zealand, and we are committed towards working with the forestry and wood processing sectors to explore this opportunity, which could have lasting benefits for New Zealand," says Mr Wilson.

More information

Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service has contracted global experts Indufor Asia Pacific Ltd (Indufor) to develop viable business cases for producing biocrude and biofuels in New Zealand.

Indufor Asia Pacific Ltd will work with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, a large Finnish research, development, and innovation institution. 

Indufor and VTT have in-depth experience in providing advice to governments, investors, and businesses that are seeking investment or transformational change in the forest and wood processing sector.

For more information contact woodfibrefutures@mpi.govt.nz

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