Friday 16 May 2025 | 5:00 pm
Venue: Corporate Lounges, Fourth Floor, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Event Details
What is it?
Every year, the forestry industry from throughout the lower South Island meet for an evening of celebration in Dunedin. It’s the one event clearly marked on everyone’s forestry calendar and continues to draw in 300-400 people directly employed in or associated with forest growing, wood harvesting, wood transport and timber processing from across the region to celebrate training and business success.
It’s also a really great night out
As well as the presentation of 10 major forestry awards, framed national training certificates earned by employees across Otago and Southland during the year are also awarded on the night. There’s no cost to attend, drinks and finger food are supplied and an array of high value spot prizes are now being drawn throughout the evening.
Venue and format
The same location that’s worked so well for the industry in previous years, the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin has again been selected for 2025. Positive feedback from the local industry on this inclusive format has encouraged us to continue with the same style of evening as in previous years. There is no cost to those attending, the whole company or crew – along with partners can attend on the night and it truly recognises, with framed certificates awarded on the night, all those across the lower South Island that achieved formal training qualifications over the last year.
The awards evening is run by the Southern Wood Council in conjunction with Competenz. It’s supported financially by major forestry companies, wood producers and supporting equipment, product and service suppliers to the wider industry across the region.
What now?
At this stage, mark the date, Friday 16 May 2025 into your diary or calendar. Details will follow.
Wanting further information?
Keep an eye out for further updates. If you have any questions on the 2025 awards evening – as an award nominee or if you would like to be involved as a sponsor or supporter to the awards event – please contact Rebecca Shepherd on Tel: 021 2345 297 or Email: rebecca.shepherd@southernwoodcouncil.co.nz.
Nominations
Nominations are open to all persons who qualify under the awards criteria. The person you nominate does not have to be an employee and you do not need to be a member of the Southern Wood Council. Anyone can nominate anyone. You can nominate yourself. Please post nominations and supporting documentation BEFORE Friday 28 March 2025.
Award Categories
Apprentice of the Year Award
This award recognises an individual’s commitment to self-development and skill achievement through the apprenticeship programme. It is focussed on new entrants to the forestry and wood products industries who have displayed a real commitment to the industry and to training. To be eligible for this award the apprentice must:
- Demonstrate a successful and purposeful commitment to personal development through industry training. This includes a
consistent training programme, culture and vision. - Have completed an apprenticeship programme through Competenz in the training year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
- Have their nomination supported by the General Manager/Managing Director/CEO or company principal.
Note: Training provider organisations are not eligible for this award.
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Forestry Environmental Management Excellence Award
Forestry Excellence Award (establishment, silviculture, fire, harvesting)
Forestry Trainee of the Year (harvesting) Award
This award recognises an individual’s commitment to self-development and skill achievement in harvesting operations through industry training. To be eligible for this award the trainee must:
- Demonstrate a successful and purposeful commitment to personal development through industry training.
- Have completed a minimum of 1 National Certificate in the training year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and have a record of ongoing training with national certification.
- Demonstrate a high quality and productivity of work output.
- Have their nomination supported by the General Manager/Managing Director/CEO or company principal.
Note: Apprentices who are in a continuing Apprenticeship programme or who completed their Apprenticeship during the training year are not eligible for this award.
Forestry Trainee of the Year (silviculture) Award
This award recognises an individual’s commitment to self-development and skill achievement in forestry and silvicultural operations through industry training. To be eligible for this award the trainee must:
- Demonstrate a successful and purposeful commitment to personal development through industry training.
- Have completed a minimum of 1 National Certificate in the training year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and have a record of training achievement through national certification.
- Demonstrate a high quality and productivity of work output
- Have their nomination supported by the General Manager/Managing Director/CEO or company principal.
Note: Apprentices who are in a continuing Apprenticeship programme or who completed their Apprenticeship during the training year are not eligible for this award.
Forestry Excellence Award (establishment, silviculture, fire, harvesting)
This award recognises an individual who works within one of these areas in forestry operations and demonstrates excellence beyond best practice guidelines. This award recognises crew managers, crew foreman or supervisors or others in leadership positions. To be eligible for this award the individual must:
- Demonstrate a high quality and productivity of work output.
- Show evidence of on-going training.
- Demonstrate leadership in the workplace assisting others and bringing about positive change
- Comply to environmental and H&S practices.
- Be recognised by their peers, company, clients and wider industry.
Wood Processing Excellence Award
This award recognises an individual who works within wood processing or manufacturing and demonstrates excellence beyond best practice guidelines. To be eligible for this award the individual must:
- Demonstrate a high quality and productivity of work output
- Show evidence of on-going training
- Demonstrate leadership in the workplace assisting others and bringing about positive change
- Comply to environmental and H&S practices
- Be recognised by their peers, company, clients and wider industry
Women in Forestry Excellence Award
This award recognises an individual woman, who demonstrates excellence across a range of skills beyond best practice guidelines and essentially has worked “over and above” in any area of the forestry and wood products industries – silviculture, harvesting, forest management, processing, logistics or H&S.
To be eligible for this award the individual must:
- Demonstrate a high quality of work output
- Demonstrate productivity in their work output
- Show evidence of on-going training
- Comply with environmental and health & safety practises
- Be recognised by their peers and employers
- Show good character being positive, honest and reliable
Training Contractor/Company of the Year Award
This award recognises an individual contractor or company that demonstrates a successful and purposeful commitment to people development through industry training. To be eligible for this award the contractor or company must:
- Demonstrate a successful and purposeful commitment to people development through industry training. This includes a consistent training programme with the majority of company employees in training or have completed training.
- Demonstrate that the company has developed a strong training culture and vision.
- Have a Competenz training history of at least 2 years.
- Have their nomination supported by the General Manager/Managing Director/CEO or similar of the nominating organisation.
Note: Training provider organisations are not eligible for this award. Please indicate on your nomination form whether the company being nominated for this award has 10 or less or more than 10 employees. This is designed to ensure both smaller and larger companies are being judged accordingly for efforts made in industry training over the year.
Forestry/Wood Products Health & Safety Excellence Award
This award recognises an individual or company that demonstrates above and beyond the general compliance of H&S policies and regulations within the forestry industry. To be eligible for this award the individual or company must have:
- Demonstrated leadership in H&S including building a H&S culture in their business
- Exceeded the baseline health and safety standards as per the approved code of practice for Health & Safety in Forest Operations and Competenz Best Practice Guidelines.
- Demonstrated that their business has been significantly accident free with very little lost time through injury
- Possibly managed a specific event or initiative with outstanding merit.
- Demonstrated a new or innovative health & safety product which will be of advantage to industry.