fica
local jobs in the forestry industry. Despite the impact of COVID on the sector since February 2020, job opportunities continue to be abundant due to the aging workforce across all industry streams leaving vacancies needing to be filled by a new, innovative local labour market.
There are several initiatives expected to run in parallel with the proposed CNI Generation Programme that will scaffold experiences and training opportunities for trainees. These are highlighted later in the document.
Leading the Generation Programme for South Waikato is the newly appointed Generation Programme Manager, Damita Mita. She has a fabulous background in managing teams and understanding of adversity. She worked as a Team Leader for the Department of Corrections at Waikeria Prison and New Plymouth Prison and then aas Principal Advisor Rehabilitation and Learning. At the Prison her core role was to manage a team involving education tutors, volunteer coordinators and release-to-work brokers. Damita then went on in the same sector, as a Business and Finance Advisor. Her previous role was working as General Manager for the Te Rongoroa Forest & Farm Trust taking a diverse role across leadership, communications, governance, and finance to name a few.
For those of you that have met Damita, you will know she is well suited to being the ideal manager for this programme which offers a twelve-week base camp course introducing the industry and what it offers, work-ready skills and pastoral care to enable the learner to succeed.
Having seen how successful the programme in Eastland has been, I am sure the Central North Island will relish the opportunity to have a dedicated training programme for forestry which takes the learner in a short space through to paid employment with credible contractors.
FICA led the completion of a full and complete Business Case for the Generation Programme in South Waikato through the support of the South Waikato District Council, CNIWC, the Swift Trust and 1BT Partnership Funding. The advisory group engaged with the business case also had a diverse but invested interest in getting this programme off the ground.
We will watch this space, supporting Damita and the CNIWC on their venture to guide new entrants into the industry and maybe look at replication into other forestry areas in the future.