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CHEERS TO SOME BEERS - Forestry Contractor Gathering

Women in Forestry and Shaws are coming together to organise this casual gathering for forestry contractors. Let's cheers to some beers! There are no formalities - we just want to keep it completely casual as a catch up for forestry contractors in what has been a rubbish year for most!Although Women in Forestry is organising it in partnership with Shaws, this is not limited to women - bring the boys along and let's have a good time.This is a ticketed event and spaces are limited. Ticket...

ACC levy invoices – support if your circumstances have changed

If your business and financial circumstances have changed over the last year, you may have some questions around your ACC levy obligations.Women in Forestry has been working with ACC on options specifically for forestry contractors. ACC have advised us of several options to help reduce the financial impact:You can set up a payment plan of up to 10 months to spread payments across a longer period.You can request a reassessment of your invoice if your payroll is likely to be different in the 2023/...

Tauranga Catch Up A Success

Thanks to everyone who came along to our Tauranga event at Trinity Wharf. A big WIF shoutout to our amazing speakers Morgan Strong from UDC Finance, Jen McIvor from Creating Wealth and Nigel Airey from Whangamata Fire Brigade. A massive highlight was boarding a vessel at Port of Tauranga - it definitely had us all buzzing and made a few of the guys holding down the fort at home jealous! We're already working on the next event so watch this space. In the meantime, you can see ...

Upcoming Event - Tauranga Catch Up

Join us in Tauranga for a Women in Forestry catch up. The main day is Thursday 4 May but we'll also be there for plenty of catching up from the evening before for those who want to join us. Wednesday 3 May- OPTIONAL Drinks and Dinner from 5 pm (venue TBC in central Tauranga)Thursday 4 May- Port of Tauranga Tour- Seminar / roundtable / speakers session- OPTIONAL Thursday Night DinnerFriday 5 May - Homeward bound  Registration There is a ticket charge of $75pp for the Thur...

Business Advice and Support available for Women in Forestry affected by Cyclone Gabrielle

Following Cyclone Gabrielle, qualified business consultant Janet Brooker is providing some tailored support to female business owners in forestry affected by the Cyclone. As a qualified business consultant and business owner, Janet has seen it all. With this Women in Forestry support package, Janet will be providing tailored help and advice including: A friendly ear to listen - as an independent and non-judgmental sounding board, Janet can talk you through your concerns and curren...

We’re highly skilled, safe and professional – let’s highlight it

Growing up on a diary farm and working as a registered nurse, Christine Axtens didn’t always picture a future in forestry. But after meeting partner Mike, who founded Mike Harris Earthmoving, one thing led to another and she’s been working in the business for the past 20 years. Christine is passionate about highlighting the talent and skill in the industry, and attracting more great people to the vocation. Read more in our latest blog.  From a South Auckland dairy farming family, Christ...

Taupo Gathering Coming Up - 3 November 2022

Women in Forestry is proud to be bringing you our last catch up for 2022. We have a great line up including planning for succession with forestry succession expert Garth Beker and all you need to know about forestry insurance with Nic Flowers. EVENT DETAILSDate: Thursday 3 November 2022Venue: Suncourt Hotel, TaupoTime: 10.30am - 3.00pm with optional drinks / dinner to followCost: User pays TBC SPEAKERS Succession and forestry accounting expert Garth Beker from BFAInsurance pro Nic Flowers from M...

Women in Forestry meet in Rotorua

Our Rotorua Roundup event was held on Thursday 12 May 2022. It was great to reconnect with so many women of forestry after all the disruptions Covid has brought. With a great line up of informative speakers, excellent catering, wonderful company and a stunning venue at the Pullman Hotel Rotorua, the event was a great success. Thank you to CAT for the caps and drink bottles, Shaws who subsidised the event with the WIF kickstarter funding, and everyone who came along. See y'all next time...

Regional Update - Juliette Allen

'We’re not having much pain at the moment, a lot of our wood is being directed to Kiwi lumber rather than export. I’ve noticed in the trucking yards a lot more trucks parked up so there mustn’t be as much wood going. We haven’t had quotas put on us yet but have heard of other crews parked up at the moment. ...

Regional Update - Sarah Wilson

'North Waikato/South Auckland regional update The latest industry downturn has impacted our region in different ways with reports of “business as usual” from contractors supplying Indian markets to contractors working at 70% with an extended Christmas break to crews being parked up indefinitely.  The other challenge our some of our contractors are facing is having to cross over the Auckland boundary requiring business travel documents and regular COVID testing to be able to work. There ...

Regional Update - Erika Herries

'As always with any kind of blip or downturn, Gisborne is 1st cab off the rank for what I'd call 'evasive manoeuvers'! At least 10 crews have been given notice (ours included). Some have been stopped for a few weeks now and others finishing dates are rapidly approaching. Some have been given 90 days but I'd like to think that when the upswing happens, they will be reinstated. There are no current available jobs in the area, though corporates are looking ahead and planning for the future. I'd lik...

Regional Update - Julie Yeoman

Central North Island - Like everyone else, we are watching closely the developments of the decline in industry demand and the direct impact this is having on our colleagues particularly on the East Coast and other regions in NZ. For the moment, we are ok but this looks like only a certainty up until Xmas. I understand that woodlot work has dried up, which is a usual first impact consequence of a downturn. Overlaying this is the recent arrival of Covid into our communities. Our own crew has had a...

Let’s Keep Working, Let’s Get Vaccinated Giveaway

Women in Forestry, Shaws and Life of a Bushman are working together to bring you this awesome giveaway. Get fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and go into our Women in Forestry Vaccination Draw. Prize includes a $500 Shaws Voucher OR a $500 Hunting + Fishing Voucher sponsored by Shaws, and a Life of a Bushman singlet. People who are already fully vaccinated are also eligible to enter. Terms and conditions apply – read more below....

Kristy Ready for the Challenge

Qualified Chartered Accountant and Northland Contractor Kristy Kewene has joined the Women in Forestry Board, bringing a raft of governance and finance experience underpinned by practical contracting knowledge to the role. In this blog, we get to know the understated but highly competent Kristy a little better....

Loving Logging

Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in the Wairarapa, Allen Logging’s Juliette Allen didn’t ever imagine she’d end up with a logging business. But when husband Mike had the opportunity to start a crew, it was too good to pass up....

Giving Back

Jonny Schick, owner of Shaw's in Cambridge, has a reputation for innovation and building strong relationships throughout the forestry industry. He recently pledged kick-starter funding to the Women in Forestry network and does heaps of good for forestry in general. In this blog post, we delve deeper into some of the awesome work Shaw's and Jonny do, as well as say a massive thanks for their support.  ...

Increase in sick leave entitlement

There have been some recent changes to employment law that you may not be aware of and will affect your business if you have staff members....

Appreciating Ange

Fast Harvesting’s Ange Alexander met her husband Smiley across the bar in Tirau Pub. Many years later, with 3 adult children, 6 logging crews and a bunch of good memories, she’s looking back on their journey and looking forward to taking a step sideways within the business to spend more time out in the bush appreciating the team....

Competenz Apprenticeship Boost

Apprenticeship Boost helps employers support new and existing apprentices in their first two years of training in a level 4 apprenticeship qualification with a wage subsidy. You could receive up to $16,000 per apprentice, across 20 months of their working and training....

Forestry lessons from Covid lockdowns

It’s been almost a year since New Zealand had a 4-week nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19. We caught up with some of our WIF members on specific things they learned during the disruptions, so that should it happen again, we’re better prepared to face the challenge....

Driver check for peace of mind

NZTA have a driver check service to help you keep up to date about what licenses your workers hold. This is a handy tool for contractors, helping to reduce your stress levels when managing work vehicles and the workers you have driving them....

Tackling challenges with a proactive approach

Working alongside husband Hayden, Sarah Wilson is helping to run their Logging Contracting business Mahuta Logging. While tackling the recent challenges of the log price downturn, Covid-19 lockdown, tighter finance parameters and the day to day ups and downs of doing business, plus juggling a young family and a farming job, Sarah is up for the challenge by taking a proactive approach to being involved....

Jodie's Heart and Soul

After more than 13 years working alongside husband Bruiser, Jodie Phillips says it’s all about the people and caring for the extended Whanau they’ve created through their harvesting business Bruiser Contracting. Currently based in the Waihi / Paeroa area, the husband-and-wife team employ 7 staff with a tower hauler crew. Jodie says working together as a team with Bruiser and knowing their individual strengths helps them to look after their people, the heart and soul of their business. “Br...

Managing Personal Finances in the Downturn

Everything that’s currently happening in the forestry industry is unprecedented. Financially, it’s getting more difficult for both contractors and workers to stay afloat every day, with less or no money coming in. In this article, we catch up with budgeting expert Jen McIvor, who shares some practical ideas for how to take control of personal finances to make ends meet. If you've ever looked at your bank account and wondered where your money's gone, this is a sign you are not in control of y...

Skipping to good health

Mandie Skipps hasn’t always worked in forestry. With a background in media & marketing and a passion for fitness, she brings a unique skill set to Skipps Logging, the Northland contracting business she runs with husband Tommy.Working in Senior leadership roles in media for 13 years, Mandie Skipps accumulated a heap of experience working with and managing different people. At the same time, husband Tommy was running Skipps Logging since 2007, with 2 crews operating in Northland. “I’ve alw...