Willie Rapana can be found 5 minutes out of Rotorua at the TITC Waipa Campus. It is here that Willie first stumbled upon teaching.
When Willie was 17 he enrolled on a Woodsman Forestry Course, he had jumped at the chance to gain practical skills and venture out of his home region of the Waikato. However on arrival he found the prospect of working in the Kaiangaroa Forest and receiving $33.00 a fortnight soon put a damper on the whole expedition.
After completing the course he was given the chance to work in the Waipa Sawmill on the tables. He gained knowledge and skills; and through hard work Willie was offered the position of Head Grader at Fletchers in Taupo. He took on the challenge and worked at Fletchers until the great Waipa strike.
At this point Waipa Sawmill offered Willie the task of over seeing all the Tables and Graders, so Willie returned to Rotorua and it was during this time Willie was introduced to teaching.
As part of his job of over seeing operations, he was responsible for the introduction of new staff members to the job. Forest Corporation then got all the team leaders into training and supervisor roles and Willie has not looked back, he later accepted a job with Waiariki Institute of Technology's School of Forestry, Wood Processing & Biotechnology; Waipa's division.
Willie has a wealth of knowledge and experience which he has gained over the years through multiply exchange programmes with Finland, Sweden and Morocco. Here he learnt to use highly advanced technology.
Willie said “we thought Waipa Sawmill was advanced, but after being overseas and working with their technology Waipa was behind”.
Willie's job at Waiariki Institute of Technology involves him actually going into the industry and teaching the required units of the Sawmill process; that FITEC and RTAS have set out.
By actually going into the industry Willie has a close relationship with them and is able to give them hands on experience in their own environment. This takes him all over the North and South Island, with an upcoming trip to Gisborne scheduled.
Outside of work Willie is often found choosing the perfect sea fishing spot, getting his adrenaline intake in Whakawerawera Forest or playing a spot of rugby or touch on the field.
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