Ngā Pou a Tāne kicks off a vertically integrated FWP skills stewardship model and plan of action.
On 4th June the Chair of Ngā Pou a Tāne presented to the forestry and wood processing Pan Sector Collaboration Group (PSG), a collaborative mission for the industry to undertake skills stewardship, decisions and accreditation of unit standards, skills, and micro-credentials. The PSG includes Ngā Pou a Tāne, Wood Processing Manufacturing Association (WPMA), NZ Farm Foresters Association (NZFFA), NZ Forest Owners Association (FOA), Log Transport Safety Council, Verified Timber NZ (wood councils), Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC), NZ Institute of Forestry, (NZIF), Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA), and the Forest Growers Levy Trust (FGLT). The concept was unanimously supported.
KPI #10 measure of success in the national Māori forestry strategy is “Elevating the natural leadership of Māori in forestry (outcomes for Māori in safety, participation, ownership, and uptake of mātauranga Māori)”. This implementation puts our people on an enabling path to experience equal footing with all. Since June 2023, we have been working with Food & Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence (FFCoVE) and Muka Tangata (Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council) to address matters which were identified in PWC reports (2019 & 2023). Report recommendations pointed to the urgent need to improve forestry skills outcomes, and to also recognise growing Māori ownership, leadership and participation the industry. NZFOA Training & Careers Committee, FISC, FICA and Te Uru Rākau (MPI) have contributed to a number of responsive actions.
In this initiative, the PSG plays the role of the industry steering group, and a taskforce will be created between representatives appointed by the PSG to represent the industry and the organisations charged with skills/unit/micro-credential standards setting, provision, assessment and accreditation. The vision is to put an industry-led accreditation hybrid entity in place by mid-2026 when Te Pukenga is decommissioned by the coalition Government.
Ngā Pou a Tāne is the lead sponsor of the mission.
