Careers
Just how important is forestry to New Zealand?
The forest industries sector is vitally important to the
New Zealand economy - as an export earner and as an employer.
- In 2005/06 the New Zealand forest industries sector accounted for 3.4% of GDP (gross domestic product).
- Forestry is the country's third largest export earner with international sales in excess of $3.2 billion.
- More than 22,500 people are directly employed by forestry and wood products companies.
- The sector is based on a sustainable, managed, planted production forest resource of 1.8 million hectares.
- Harvest volumes in this country are projected to grow to approximately 30 million cubic metres, by 2010.
- The projected lift in New Zealand's wood production has the potential to create 20,000 additional full time positions and export earnings of $5 billion.
What about forestry in Otago and Southland?
In the lower South Island, the volume of wood harvested has doubled from 1990 to over 1.5 million cubic metres in 2006. The harvest from the combined Otago and Southland region has the potential to increase from the current level to around 2.6 to 2.8 million cubic metres in the early 2020’s. The increase in wood supply has been matched by new investments in processing capacity. In line with increased production, the forestry and wood products sector in Otago and Southland now employs over 1,650 full time equivalent workers with a wide range of skills.
The sector has been a key growth driver in this region with employment in forestry and wood products growing over three times the regional average. The number of skilled workers required by forestry and wood products companies, both in this region and in New Zealand, is going to grow substantially.
What career opportunities are open to me?
It's believed that there are more career choices within forest industries than any other sector in New Zealand industry. As one of New Zealand's principal economic drivers over the next generation, an extensive array of career opportunities is now open to school leavers.
Forestry companies utilise a broad range of skills in the management of plantations or in the operation of a timber processing or re-manufacturing plant. These skills include:
- Silviculture and harvesting knowledge;
- Solid wood processing abilities;
- Engineering experience (structural and roading);
- Plant science training;
- Resource management experience;
- Business management and marketing skills.
The forestry industry is an increasingly competitive and capital-intensive industry, which requires advanced skills, particularly at the managerial level.
Visit http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/industry/i1_agr/i1e_for.htm and read about the exciting careers of people in a wide range of forestry industries within New Zealand. Click on ‘Related Jobs' before going to ‘Personal Profile'. This site offers a range of general information on Forestry.
http://www.fitec.org.nz should also be one of the first links that you check out. On this website is a specific section called the Career Centre which enables you to investigate further what forestry is about and just how quickly it is growing, the immense and wide ranging opportunities that are open to you, more on how to plan your career path, what careers are available, detailed training and education information and where to get further advice.
What training and educational opportunities are open to me?
An increasing number of educational providers are offering forestry related courses. These range from full time training programmes, at a tertiary institution, through to on-site, vocational courses. A wide range of other skills at an operational level is also required from managing and tending the forests through to working in wood processing and manufacturing operations. These skills are generally taught through on job training.
Other useful sources of information on forestry and links to some of the main training providers are:
New Zealand Qualifications Authority, www.nzqa.govt.nz
Tairawhiti Polytechnic, www.tairawhiti.ac.nz
Universal College of Learning, www.ucol.ac.nz
Waikato Institute Of Technology, www.wintec.ac.nz
Waiariki Institute of Technology, www.waiariki.ac.nz
The New Zealand School of Forestry, www.forestry.ac.nz
Lincoln University Canterbury New Zealand, www.lincoln.ac.nz
Massey University, www.massey.ac.nz
School of Science & Technology - The University of Waikato, www.sci.waikato.ac.nz
School of Biological Sciences - The University of Auckland, www.sbs.auckland.ac.nz
Telford Rural Polytechnic, www.telford.ac.nz
Northland Polytechnic, www.northland.ac.nz
Like to know a little more about forestry, visit:
Forestry Insights:http://www.insights.co.nz
New Zealand Forestry, www.nzfoa.org.nz
Scion, www.scionresearch.co.nz
For more local information on the forestry industry and careers opportunities, you may also contact Southern Wood Council members who are listed under the members section of this website, www.southernwoodcouncil.co.nz
Careers DVD
What is it? One of the first DVDs produced in New Zealand to promote career opportunities within the forestry and wood products industries.
Who’s it for? It’s designed as a tool to assist Careers Advisers, Teachers, parents and those looking to explain the breadth of the forest and wood products industries and the wide range of career options open to young people in making forestry their career choice. While it’s designed to be viewed by secondary school students, ages 14-18 years of age, it is also great introduction to the industry for younger students and those considering the direction of the tertiary study.
What it contains: Produced by the Southern Wood Council in 2006, the 15 minute DVD profiles a wide cross section of people employed within the sector in their work places. They explain their enthusiasm for their profession, what their job entails, how much they and their colleagues are earning and their future career potential, the subjects which should be taken at school for those who may be interested in the profession and the employment opportunities that are open to students.
How much it costs and how to get it: Enquiries in the first instance should be sent to caroline.carter@innovatek.co.nz Pricing for most enquiries, if the DVD is being utilised in schools to outline career opportunities in forestry to students, will cover the DVD production, postage and handling costs.
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