Student Profiles
Chris Groome
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Chris Groome, born in Kaitaia and bred in Tauranga is skilled with being both hardworking and talented. Born into a family with a long history of working in forestry, from an early age Chris looked up to his grandfather who was a Forest Ranger. With his dad driving logging trucks Chris knew what line of work he wanted to be in. Early on in his career Chris moved to Australia and found work with a firewood merchant. After a few years of hard labour he returned to New Zealand with the dream of working in forestry. He enrolled on and successfully completed a Certificate in Practical Logging at Waiariki Institute of Technology. At the end of that course he was employed by McIntosh logging for whom he worked for a number of years. Once again Chris shipped off overseas in 2004, this time to the United States. He saw a lot of the country while driving interstate trucks delivering various goods. After Chris’s work visa expired the call of forestry was still strong so he made his way back to Waiariki to grow his skills and knowledge. “I had heard about the Diploma in Forest Management from a Practical Logging Tutor, which was mentioned during my course. I decided this was the route I wanted to pursue.” With the support of his Waiariki tutors Chris learned about the practical and theoretical elements of forestry and he also developed a broad set of ground skills that he could enter the industry with. While studying Chris approached PF Olsen in Rotorua and was offered a three month internship. During his internship, Chris was offered a permanent position within the forest industry as a Harvest Supervisor. Having successfully completed his Diploma in Forest Management, Chris now works full time for PF Olsen. The diversity of tasks and the great indoor, outdoor ratio of work have inspired Chris to further his career with PF Olsen. His aim is to become a Harvest planner. Harvest planners are an integral part of Forest Management as they plan the harvesting of forests, and have a very hands on role. “I get a lot of job satisfaction as I am constantly challenged throughout the harvesting phase. There are great benefits in a job like this. There is so much I can strive towards.” |
