June 19, 2018
Fast track offer to forestry career
A veteran Māori forester says the government’s billion trees programme is creating a huge demand for workers and it’s a great time for young Māori to join the industry.
Kevin Ihaka from Northland-base Forest Protection Services says while some companies are putting pressure on the government to bring in temporary migrant labour, his preference is to train up locals.
There is already a high percentage of Māori in the industry, attracted to the outdoors life and the strong team culture.
His company has developed training programmes to prepare people for solid careers.
"We’re really short of leaders at a crew supervision level right up to management and we can't grow this industry without those people getting there so hopefully what we're creating is an on-job learning experience where people can get a fast track to those leadership positions," Mr Ihaka says.
Forest Protection Services and its partner Te Matarau Education Trust are holding an event tomorrow to give Whāngarei based tai tamariki a taste of forestry work,
It starts at the Ministry of Education (The Old Money Factory) in Onerahi at 10am.
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