A group of New Zealand’s young foresters put their best foot forward at Otago’s annual Careers Expo in mid June. More than 2000 secondary school students from the region attended the event, the purpose of the event is to showcase future employment and career opportunities. Source: Timberbiz
Southern Wood Council, member companies and other forestry and contracting businesses planned the stand in the lead up to the event which meant that the forestry collective, that took up at least two stands, had the largest, most interactive, and one of the most popular stands at the Expo.
Young foresters spoke passionately about the industry to interested students and shared their personal forestry stories and advice on potential career paths.
In addition to new resources and displays provided by the Forest Owners Association, an interactive logging simulator from Mike Hurring Logging was a major drawcard to the stand, as were piled logs where a phone app could be used by students to determine their volume.
High vis vests, wilding pines, native and exotic trees, chainsaws and other forestry equipment displayed completed the look that made the display really stand out.
The other major drawcard this year was a just completed www.forestrycareers.nz website that was displayed via computer and TV on the stand that proved popular for many of the students who were exploring future career paths, available scholarships, the diversity of jobs available and the earnings in a variety of occupations within the industry.
In addition to local forestry companies, representatives from the new training course, Tokomairiro Training, were also on hand to discuss options for local school students in their course.
Feedback from students along with careers advisers was overwhelmingly positive. What largely piqued their interest was the ability to work outdoors, staying away from a typical office 9- 5 job, the array of new technology that now formed an integral part of the industry and the ability to be working out in nature.
Nearly all of the students the group spoke to, appreciated New Zealand’s unique landscapes and the ability to make parts of these landscapes their places of work, especially given that a large portion of the population doesn’t get the chance to make the forest their worksite.
The group acknowledges the support and enthusiasm of all the companies involved; City Forests, Wenita Forest Products, Mike Hurring Logging, Matariki/Rayonier, Venture Forestry, Competenz, Tokomairiro Training and Johnson Forestry Services.
