Empowering women in Tairāwhiti forestry

Networking, support and wellbeing are key elements of Women in Forestry evenings, the fourth of which was held in Gisborne recently. Around 25 women attended.

The future of forestry in Tairāwhiti is promising with the region poised to lead the country in a new wave of environmental practices.

This was a key discussion at the fourth Women in Forestry evening held at the Tahu restaurant in Gisborne, where around 25 women gathered for networking and support.

Creating women-focused networking opportunities like this was important in a male-dominated industry, Right Here Consultants’ Kahurangi McLeay said.

“We can uplift each other, celebrate the hard work and add to everyone’s skill bucket.”

Among the attendees was Tania Gibb, who, alongside her husband, runs Ra Whakapono Logging – a harvest contracting business with a crew of 12.

She’s also a mum of five with another on the way.

“It’s all about having good relationships,” she said. “As contractors, we give it 100% to make sure we do a good job and it’s clean to get regulatory sign-off.”

Gibb said forestry got a bad rap yet it was such an important part of making the money wheel go around in the city.

“I saw in the media about the shops not doing well in the CBD. It’s because forestry is struggling. When forestry has a downturn, no one has any money to buy.”

East Coast Forest JNL general manager Kate Richards goes to the Women in Forestry evenings to keep in touch and relate to the wider industry.

“It’s a tough time in business right now,” she said. “Change is occurring, so it’s also an exciting time to be part of the industry. There’s an opportunity here for the community to look at forestry through a different lens.”

Richards, born and raised in Gisborne, saw the scale and impact forestry had on the region environmentally, economically and socially as she grew up.

“We can’t change what happened, but we can be part of the future.”

Nati Growth Health safety and environmental manager Jessie Bourke has chaired the Women in Forestry group for the last six months.

Bourke said the social evenings were for the wellbeing of women in forestry – whether it was those who had boots on the ground in crews or truck driving, supported at home, in the office, as business owners/contractors or in forest management roles.

“The events and training are for all women in forestry.”

Bourke organised the evenings, with support from Rebecca Halbert and McLeay from Right Here Consultants on behalf of Te Kawa a Tāne, alongside Eastland Wood Council (EWC) manager Allysha Ah-Nau.

The evenings started in June and are funded from $50,000 through Te Kawa a Tāne.

Bourke said about six months after Cyclone Gabrielle funding was offered and, after some consideration, EWC was chosen to manage and distribute it for maximum impact to women in forestry.

“Planning began in February with several surveys to determine the best use of the funds.”

Bourke said it had been used to upskill more than 40 women through training in business courses (Traktion), civil defence (CIMS4), psychological first aid, and health and safety certifications (Levels 3 and 4).

There are also speakers at each event to share information.

Sarah Briant, from Gisborne’s Skin Aware, was at the Tairāwhiti event to talk about the importance of sunscreen when working outside and how to look out for skin changes because New Zealand has the highest death rate from melanoma in the world.

Ernslaw One harvesting supervisor Marcella Pitt was also at the event.

Pitt is a graduate of the University of Canterbury’s Bachelor of Forestry Science. A third of graduates are women.

“There’s a reason why so many people choose a career in forestry.”

Her days include working outside with contractors in remote rural areas some people don’t even know exist.

“It’s a real community with space for everyone, and forestry provides jobs and careers. We knuckle down every day – boots on the ground – and do our work.”

Pitt said it bugged her when people don’t try to see a different perspective.

“There is a lot of misinformation flying around out there so I would encourage people to keep a balanced view with what has happened in Tairāwhiti. Forestry is important to our region.

“With the weather patterns, sensitive geology and a strong regulatory environment, Tairāwhiti will be leading the way with environmental practice going forward.

“Using a science-based approach, our forestry practices are changing. The future of forestry is exciting.”

Ah-Nau said that was already being backed up. She referenced an EWC-commissioned report done by Kees Weytmans of Forest Measurement New Zealand Ltd in which data collected after the June 2024 storm event showed radiata pine on beaches had dropped by more than 20% since cyclones Hale and Gabrielle in 2023.

Over the next five years – a full harvest rotation – the public would see this decrease even more, Ah-Nau said.

She hoped through continued conversations with local and central government, there could be an understanding of the specific areas forestry needed help with right now.

- Sophie Rishworth is a freelance writer