KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP
Members Voice
The Journal plus some new ideas!
The email from NZIF on 20 December about reading the Journal online prompted me to write to President James saying that I would probably not do that as I can't stand being glued to a screen for long periods of time. I guess I'm just old-fashioned but I still read newspapers, proper books, magazines and actual journals. I find it a lot easier and quicker to just pick up a real publication, read for as long as I wan and put it down again.
James told me that the decision to go online was for cost-saving and I understand that. He said that members had been advised of the plan several times, and I'm embarrassed to say that I missed those warnings. He also said that only about three members sent feedback and just one member wanted the printed version. Others seemed uninterested in a Journal at all. I appreciate the excellent work that James and the Council do on our behalf and although I'm sorry that some members couldn't care less about our Journal I'll accept whatever decisions Council make.
I receive hard copies of journals from other professional bodies I subscribe to and note that some include advertisements from relevant organisations. I now wonder if NZIF could take a new step or two to boost our own income and maybe the continuation of a hard-copy Journal. So, how about some appropriate ads in the Journal, from commercial forestry companies, and others?
Furthermore, how about considering "Corporate Membership" of NZIF, from appropriate forestry companies and institutions? SCION as a Crown Research Institute might well become a Corporate Member. Tim Payn and other SCION staff often write for our Journal and are now regular writers to the numerous farming newspapers I receive. Incidentally, there is great value in having professional foresters contributing to farming publications these days.
Given that only one other of our members seemed to want an actual Journal I'm not optimistic but I would be pleased to get responses to my ideas for improving our income and broadening our membership.
Dave Field, Rotorua.
Success Story
NZ School of Forestry Schlich Memorial Award
The recipient of this award for the 2023 academic year is Liam Walker.
The cash prize and the Graduate Membership of NZIF are not only a recognition of his accomplishments but also a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Wishing Liam continued success in his future endeavors and that he enjoys the great experience of being a Graduate member of NZIF. May his career choices be rewarding and bring about even more accomplishments in the future.
Congratulations again to Liam!
Media Release
NZ Institute of Forestry President Challenges Newshub's Unprofessional Reporting
Member Search
We are constantly trying to keep the NZIF database up to date. We're in search of a member, Simon Anderson, who left his MPI job, on file there is no secondary email address, making it a bit of a challenge to reconnect. If anyone has information on Simon's whereabouts, please encourage him to get in touch with us at NZIF.
Additionally, it's a good time to remind everyone to review and update their membership details. Ensure your email is current and consider providing a secondary contact email or a phone number. Your cooperation is much appreciated. Thank you.
Forest Industry Wide COVID Survey
In December 2022 the Government announced the appointment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look at lessons learned from Aotearoa New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 that should be applied in preparation for any future pandemic.
Forestry has been invited to provide a submission relating to the areas in scope for the Inquiry.
To create the most useful report possible, the NZ Forest and Wood Sector Forum (Pan Sector Group) felt it important to have you share your experiences, perspectives, and information for the purposes of putting together one industry wide submission to Government. Your information will be confidential.
Once the report is published from the Royal Commission, our submission, along with other evidence provided to the Commission, will become part of the public record.
We are asking for forestry centric feedback in relation to the Government response to CoVID-19 through this survey. Please answer the short survey that follows on behalf of your forestry business/organisation. The final submission will be shared with you as a valued playing in the forestry supply chain.
SURVEY FORM CLICK TO OPEN
With thanks and appreciation for your time – the survey closes this Friday 2 February 2024.
Expressions of Sympathy
John Richard Purey-Cust
John P-C died in his 90th year at Parata Anglican Rest Home in Gore, Southland. Born in England to parents who spent most of their lives in India, John was educated in England but studied Forestry at Edinburgh University. He emigrated to NZ in the early 1960’s where he was posted to Hanmer Forest.
John spent most of his working life with the NZ Forest Service in Southland Conservancy, having been based at Tapanui and Invercargill. He did, however, have a short stint at Head Office in Wellington, after he returned from some of his overseas assignments where he worked for a number of organisations in a wide range of countries.
John was an active member in the NZ Institute of Forestry, where he was elected as a Fellow, and he was also Journal Editor for a period. John was also a member of Royal Forest and Bird, and was a much-valued member of the NZ Farm Forestry Association.
Towards the end, John had lost his sight, a mortal blow for a man who was a prodigious reader, but he died from the effects of a serious stroke. John will be remembered for his generosity, his kindness, his intelligence, and his wit.
Warren Parker
Although Warren was not an NZIF Member, many members will have worked with or collaborated with Warren.
Warren was a strong supporter of forestry as well as showing how forestry and farming should/can work together.
Chair of Pamu, past CEO of Scion, Director Predator Free 2050. His advice and counsel will be missed.
Our condolences go out to his family, friends and all those who had the privilege of working with or knowing him.
Dear members
