Forestry is full of opportunities

New Zealand’s forestry industry creates jobs for more than 40,000 Kiwis.  

Forestry involves so much more than growing and harvesting trees. From working in a lab to and office or out in the forest there’s a huge variety of careers to suit all skills.  

You could be developing new technologies to support our forests, planting and maintaining trees or harvesting and processing timber. These vital jobs support communities and contribute significantly to our economy. 

Make a start today by looking at the careers available, the training you may need and then prepare to join one of New Zealand’s fastest growing industries. 

Why forestry

A lot goes on in our forests. They produce timber for a variety of needs, help us meet our climate change goals, provide jobs and support the economy. 

By caring for them today, we ensure they continue to look after us tomorrow.    

  • New Zealand has over 10 million hectares of forests, both native and exotic, covering 38% of our land.
  • Of that, 2.1 million hectares are production forests.
  • The value of forest exports The value of forest exports are expected to reach $6.0 billion in the year to 30 June 2025 

People of all ages and abilities will find great careers in forestry - planting and managing forests, caring for the forest environment, managing people and resources, working with state-of-the-art technology, and operating multi-million dollar machines and equipment.