Forest Industry Contractors Association - FICA

15/10/2026

Latest F**A news out now 👇
https://mailchi.mp/476c41178837/oct26?e=92e94e9449

07/10/2026

Part Two: East Coast forestry ‘a slow moving train wreck’ threatening communities

"Andrew Gaddum was born and bred in Gisborne. The 50-year-old remembers, as a boy, clearing away the silt from Cyclone Bola. He’s worked years in forestry.

Now, as chief executive of Eastland Port, he’s struggling to clean up the legacy of Cyclone Gabrielle and a different crisis."

Read the full story (behind paywall) 👇

Following our investigation into new legal challenges slowing logging to a halt, Gisborne leaders warn of the difficult balancing act they face. Jonathan Milne reports.

06/10/2026

We have 5 free slots available for ‘under 35 yrs’ operators/loggers who are part of a F**A Member Crew for this productivity workshop, happening in Balclutha 16 October.

PLUS, For out-of-region loggers/forest managers an optional field trip starting October 15, 11:30 am Wenita Office Mosgiel, visits will include Ecotec biomass, a couple of logging crews, tour of Mike Hurring training school and dinner Rosebank Lodge, Balclutha.


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🌲 IMPROVING PRODUCTION FOR COST-EFFECTIVE LOGGING
UC Forest Engineering Professional Development Workshop
📅 16 October 2026
📍 Rosebank Lodge Hotel, Balclutha, NZ
⏰ 8:30am – 4:00pm
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Learn How Leading Forestry Operations are Improving Productivity

Join industry experts, contractors, harvesting specialists, and equipment innovators for a practical one-day workshop focused on:
✅ Increasing logging productivity and efficiency
✅ Setting achievable production targets
✅ Mechanisation and new harvesting technologies
✅ Benchmarking and performance management
✅ Equipment innovation and reliability
✅ Real-world contractor case studies
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Featured Industry Speakers
• Rien Visser – University of Canterbury
• Rowan Struthers – F**A
• Tony Gamble – Gamble Logging
• Hannah Lawson – Matariki Forests
• Scott Saunders – Trimax Logging
• Jules Larsen – Waratah Forestry
• Mark Blackburn – Blackburne Group LP
• Kent Chalmers – City Forests
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Registration
💲 $325 + GST (but 5 free spots for F**A Members available as above)

Includes:
✓ Training materials
✓ Morning tea
✓ Lunch
✓ Afternoon tea
✓ Networking drinks sponsored by Waratah

🎟 Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/balclutha-16-oct-improving-logging-efficiency-tickets-1993979646800

Or to claim a free spot, email [email protected]

A 1-day course for logging productivity and efficiency

05/10/2026

WorkSafe New Zealand is recruiting for new health and safety inspectors across the country. Check out the details below 👇

Are you resilient, a great communicator and problem solver, with a passion for health and safety? You could be next to join our team of WorkSafe inspectors.

We are now hiring for inspectors in Wellington, Christchurch, Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth, Greymouth, Rotorua, and Timaru.

Applications close 18 October 2026.

Apply today: https://bit.ly/4yy7sqj

03/10/2026

Govt pushed to intervene as loggers abandon overgrown forests in ‘chilling’ standoff

"The East Coast’s forestry industry has all but ground to a halt. Contractors are going bust, or leaving the district. Ricky Kuru says his logging business has lost a dozen workers who were drained by the vitriol directed at them, and two who took their own lives."

Ministers differ over how to resolve impasse, as council crackdown holds directors personally liable with 'potentially catastrophic' consequences. Jonathan Milne investigates.

24/09/2026

A Tower Inspectors Workshop brought together virtually all active tower inspectors.

Key actions include:

☑ Developing a central knowledge database for different tower makes and models

☑ Establishing a working group to improve the ThinkSafe tower app

☑ Introducing app reminders for annual recertifications and open certifications approaching the 28-day limit

☑ Consulting on a proposal to standardise cab certification requirements

☑ Progressing discussions on future CPEng certification requirements for tower modifications

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A Tower Inspectors Workshop brought together virtually all active tower inspectors, along with representatives from CBIP, WorkSafe, ThinkSafe and Safetree. Hosted by F**A in Wellington it aimed t

24/09/2026

Supporting investment in Forestry's future

F**A will be supporting several funding applications in the 2027 Forest Growers Levy Trust round that align with key priorities identified by contractors and the wider forestry sector.

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F**A will be supporting several funding applications in the 2027 Forest Growers Levy Trust round that align with key priorities identified by contractors and the wider forestry sector.Working alongsid

23/09/2026

One of the more unexpected findings from F**A's 2026 Financial Health Survey was the level of interest in wellbeing and mental health support.

40% of respondents said they would be interested in wellbeing initiatives, while a further 27% said they might be interested.

Combined, that means more than two-thirds of respondents are open to some form of support.

See more here 👉

One of the more unexpected findings from F**A's 2026 Financial Health Survey was the level of interest in wellbeing and mental health support. 40% of respondents said they would be interested in wellb

23/09/2026

Productivity through Partnership

More than 50 forestry industry participants gathered in Nelson recently for the latest Productivity Workshop delivered through the collaboration between F**A and the University of Canterbury.

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More than 50 forestry industry participants gathered in Nelson recently for the latest Productivity Workshop delivered through the collaboration between F**A and the University of Canterbury. With an

23/09/2026

Next Harvesting Productivity Workshop in Balclutha - 16 October 2026 with optional field trip

You may be aware that the University of Canterbury and F**A are currently in the process of running a series of Harvesting Productivity Workshops.

The first of these was in Rotorua, the most recent was in Nelson last week, and was a huge success.

For the Nelson workshop we had a number of contractors come from out-of-region. Some arrived a day earlier and were able to spend time with other contractors in the Region. I know this was a valuable experience for them.

Taking this learning on board, it is proposed for out-of-region loggers/forest managers a field trip starting October 15, 11:30 am Wenita Office Mosgiel, visits will include Ecotec biomass, a couple of logging crews, tour of Mike Hurring training school and dinner Rosebank Lodge, Balclutha.

Can you please contact Rowan on [email protected], 0274712789 if you wish to go on field trip prior to the workshop on Friday, numbers will be restricted.

We already have 20 registered for the workshop, for the Nelson workshop we had to turn people away. Register now by clicking on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/balclutha-16-oct-improving-logging-efficiency-tickets-1993979646800

Thanks
Rowan

A 1-day course for logging productivity and efficiency