Student Profiles

My introduction to the Forest Industry started with a job working for the family business, Dennis Hayes Logging Ltd in 1991 and I was logging during school holidays for 6 years before I started & completed a Diploma in Business. Wanting to complete a Technical Forestry qualification, I enrolled originally at the Nelson campus but due to numbers I got transferred to Waiariki Institute of Technology to complete the National Diploma in Forestry (Forest Management). Which in retrospection was a better place to actively get an insight on how forestry in a large scale (CNI) works? I had the option of attending Canterbury University to do the Bachelor of Forestry Science degree but I thought that a good mix of practical as well as technical forest management would suit me better – my guess was right and I really enjoyed the technical forestry subjects such as Growth Modelling, Harvest Planning, forestry job costing and Pre-Harvest Inventory (MARVL),

Upon successful completion of the National Diploma in Forestry (Forest Management), I applied for the position of Forest Manager with Calder Stewart Industries in my hometown of Milton, Sth Otago.

Although Calder Stewart is probably known nationally as a Construction company, this division was started up in 1982 by one of the original founding members Bruce Stewart who has since retired but still actively show vast interest in the running of this division. Calder Stewart Forests aren’t scheduled for large scale harvesting until 2013, there is a lot of planning, silviculture, establishment to be completed before this. And the practical and technical knowledge gained from this course has set a good grounding for me to achieve goal in which our company has set for the future.

Once again I highly recommend this course as a good mixture of practical and technical learning which I believe will put any person in great stead for a successful career in Forestry.