Forestry is an industry that offers great career opportunities. Find the one that fits you here.
Meet Sarah-Jane
Meet Sarah-Jane .
“I wish I’d known about forestry as a career opportunity sooner! I made the move to forestry after working for a Regional Council and the Department of Conservation. Looking after people and the environment has always been important to me and it’s great to work in an industry where those values are top priorities.”
Work almost anywhere.
There are great forestry jobs right around the country.
Meet Emily
Meet Emily.
“I’m basically a disease specialist. I study what diseases affect pine plantations, track them and the climatic conditions that encourage disease and find controls and solutions. I love the large-scale, long-term approach of the forestry industry – it takes about 25 years from seedling to harvesting!”
Earn as you learn or study.
On-the-job or tertiary training works well for everyone.
Meet Shaydan
Meet Shaydan.
“I’m doing my NZ Certificate in Forest Harvesting and have started training on the Hauler. I really enjoy these amazing machines, the people and the challenges. I was looking for something different and I’ve found it.”
Earn as you learn or study.
On-the-job or tertiary training works well for everyone.
Meet Amy
Meet Amy .
“I graduated with a Bachelor of Forestry Science degree, and since then new opportunities and experiences have created a rewarding career in forestry. I now have my dream job as Production Manager, working with a fantastic team and loving the challenges that my dynamic and ever-changing environment brings.”
Work almost anywhere.
There are great forestry jobs right around the country.
Meet Tynan
Meet Tynan.
“I sharpen a wide range of cutting tools and maintain some of the machinery in the saw mill. The job’s not going to get done if the saws aren’t sharp – we’re the heart of mill. I was 17 when I got the job – it was really good coin for a young fella.”
Indoors or Outdoors?
Work inside, outside or a bit of both, Forestry has it covered.
Meet Henry
Meet Henry.
“I love everything about my job - working in the outdoors, working with the bros, making new friends and I get to work all over the place. No two days are the same.”
Indoors or Outdoors?
Work inside, outside or a bit of both, Forestry has it covered.
Pick three things that interest you and check out forestry jobs that might work for you
Your career as a forestry engineer
Forest engineering is a hybrid of engineering, forestry and management. Forest engineers are a critical part of forest planning and particularly forest harvesting operations.
Snapshot info
Earning Potential
$60,000 – $120,000+
Qualification Required
Degree
Physically Demanding
Mix of on-site and office work
Absence from home
Varies with employer
Talk to someone in the know
www.ernslaw.co.nz
Ernslaw’s forests are located on the East Coast, Southern North Island, Otago/Southland. As a family-owned business, there is a focus on people, quality and smart solutions. We offer career opportunities across the whole forestry lifecycle, from seed to sale with a focus on safe, environmentally sustainable practices and providing great career paths for our people. Whatever your skills and passion, there is a place for you at Ernslaw.
www.jnl.co.nz/
JNL is a vibrant, integrated company with intensively tended forests. We create a high quality pruned resource, enabling our processing plants to manufacture premium wood products for the domestic and international markets. We require motivated people as we improve our forest management practices, ensuring we meet the demands of our mills and processed product consumers.
www.aratuforests.co.nz
Aratu Forests is the East Coast’s largest forest company with a freehold land base of around 35,000 hectares. The management team consists of 30 staff including an inhouse waste thinning crew. Aratu offers an opportunity to work in a tight knit team experiencing management in some of the most challenging but rewarding forestry environments in NZ.
www.futureforesters.com/
Future Foresters is a group of young people in the forestry industry who aim to connect with other young/new foresters to provide networking, professional development opportunities and to promote forestry. We can provide insights into the industry and how to get involved in it. We are passionate about forestry and love connecting people.
www.facebook.com/JForestryServices
Johnson Forestry Services Ltd (JFS) primarily offers services in Establishment, Silviculture and Woodlot Management. We run two Forestry courses: the first is the Pathways course, targeting year 11, 12 & 13 students looking at a career in any aspect of the forest industry. The second is a 6-week course offered to anyone interested in a career change, we offer Industry Training and assessment by a registered Forest Industry trainers and assessors.
www.turanga-ararau.org.nz/akoranga-programmes/forestry-programmes/
Turanga Ararau is an Iwi owned education and training provider based in Te Tairawhiti (Gisborne/ East Coast region). Turanga Ararau provides forestry education and training: Level Two introductory forestry programmes; Level Three industry aligned programmes (silviculture, harvesting, mensuration) and Level Four micro-credential programmes specific to forest operations management. In 2023 we will offer Whakatiputanga Ngahere programme that is aligned to the New Zealand Diploma in Forest Management Level 6.
www.scionresearch.com
Scion is a professional forestry research organisation, full of talented and motivated individuals from around the world, undertaking innovative science that contributes to New Zealand. If you are a New Zealand university or polytechnic student, we recommend you keep an eye out for our Summer Studentship opportunities in September and October each year. These and other openings vary depending on the needs of research projects and scientists. If your skills and studies fit one of these opportunities, we would love you to apply.
www.nztif.co.nz/
The NZTIF is an Industry body located in Wellington, and we will register your Interest in a Wood Processing Career with a number of Wood Processors in your area.
www.facebook.com/mikehurringlogging/
MHL is a Logging & Contracting company based in South Otago employing over 60 staff across 8 crews including production thinning, ground based & hauler operations. MHL employs two trainers and students come to complete both practical and bookwork for their New Zealand Forestry Apprenticeship qualification through Competenz. The course aims to upskill those new to the industry from employers throughout Southland, Otago & South Canterbury.
www.woodisgood.co.nz
Wood is Good is New Zealand’s only primary school forestry and log transport engagement program. Enjoy a log tuck visit to your school with local forestry professionals who can talk all things wood, provide story reading, activities and careers talks. We’d love to visit your school….contact us now!
growmeforestry.co.nz
Grow Me is the only nationally coordinated secondary school tree crop sector engagement programme in New Zealand. Got a careers expo? Want a presentation to hear about our variety of careers, or zoom with a forester? Fancy a bus trip to visit a harvesting crew, or a sawmill? Want to know about carbon, or wood products? Visit our website and we can send you information or real people!
www.discoverforestry.co.nz/
Discover Forestry New Zealand is a website with interesting information, links and regional facts about the forestry sector in New Zealand. Discover what forestry is and how it fits into our communities in New Zealand.