Supporting current and future workforce needs
The Forestry and wood processing workforce action plan 2020–2024 aims to support the development of a skilled workforce. The action plan:
- supports the current and future needs of the sector's workforce
- brings new initiatives together to form a cohesive and comprehensive way forward
- leverages areas of shared interest with the wider primary sector.
Four focus areas
The action plan has 4 focus areas for the forestry and wood processing sector.
- Knowledge: Making good workforce decisions based on robust information and data.
- Attraction: Inspiring and attracting a larger, more diverse workforce.
- Education and training: Ensuring people have the rights skills and knowledge to be successful.
- Employment: Having people thrive in workplaces with good practices and work conditions.
Forestry and wood processing workforce action plan 2020–2024 [PDF, 3.5 MB]
Related documents
Summary of the Forestry and wood processing workforce action plan 2020–2024 [PDF, 464 KB]
Food & fibre skills action plan 2019–2022 [PDF, 3.1 MB]
Summary of the Food & fibre skills action plan 2019–2022 [PDF, 414 KB]
Work has already started
Many actions in the plan build on work already underway to help address workforce challenges. These include the following government and sector initiatives.
- One Billion Trees Programme, which provides direct grants for landowners to plant trees on their land or revert land to native forest, and partnership funding for organisations and community groups who have ideas to support tree planting and improve how we grow and plant trees.
- Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarships for Māori or female students enrolling in the University of Canterbury's Bachelor of Forestry Science or Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in forest engineering.
- Joint Te Uru Rākau and the Ministry of Social Development silviculture recruitment campaign.
- Forestry workforce roadshows for forestry employers and contractors, run by Te Uru Rākau with support from the Ministry of Social Development, Forest Industry Contractors Association, Forest Industry Safety Council, and Forest Owners Association.
- Provincial Growth Fund to help regional communities sustainably increase their productivity and prosperity.
- Safetree Certification for forestry contractors and workers to get official recognition from the sector that their skills are up to date.
- Forestry roadmap for Aotearoa New Zealand 2020–2050, a strategic vision for the sector which clarifies drivers and strategic priorities for stakeholders, government, and the wider sector.
Find out more
Ngā Karahipi Uru Rākau – Forestry Scholarships
The Forestry and Wood Processing Workforce Council
The Forestry and Wood Processing Workforce Council has been established to oversee the actions specific to developing workforce capability and capacity for forestry and wood processing. It will take the lead in the sector's workforce development challenges.
The council will collaborate with the Food and Fibre Skills Establishment Group and the sector to ensure that the workforce development needs across the wider primary sector are considered and aligned.
Council communications
Job enrichment through mentoring − final report 2022 [PDF, 4.9 MB]
February 2021 NZ Logger article [PDF, 125 KB]
27 November 2020 [PDF, 114 KB]
11 November 2020 [PDF, 137 KB]
He Rākau Taumatua – Council newsletters
Subscribe to the Forestry and Wood Processing Workforce Council email newsletter