Logging course contract signed

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 404, 21 July 1992, Page 3

Logging course contract signed

A deal that will mean continued local training for certificated forestry workers was signed last week. Winstone Forests manager Terry Tapp signed the contract, along with representatives of the Tamaupoko Trust, te Atihau Incorporation, and the

Ngaporo Waimarino Forest Trust, that covers the running of a forestry and logging training course. The Tamaupoko Forest Training scheme will call on the expertise of Rotorua Forest Training Institute tutor Dave Pye, and local forestry skills tutor Keith Woods will

run the course. Also involved in the project are the Forestry and Logging Industry Training Board, and the Whanganui River Maori Trust Board. Six trainees are presently enrolled in the course which is being run in the Karioi Forest. Practical logging skills,

with the emphasis on safety, delivering quality logs and quantity. Tamaupoko Trust representative Matiu Mareikura said logging contractors are already seeking to take on the trainees, despite them only having been on the course two months. But he said they would stay

on the course until they can be certificated. The course is open to anyone, but it will be targetted towards Maori unemployed from the Whanganui River region. Already there has been a strong interest shown in the course, with 24 people applying for the

first six places in the 33 -week course. Plans for the course may include seeing it run continuously, so that as trainees pass their certificates, new ones will join the course. So, newcomers could learn at the side of trainees who are nearing the end of their training, as well as from the tutors. Tutor Dave Pye visits the group at least once a week to assess their progress. jjjjjjjjjjjj

Part of the deal with Winstones sees the gang also providing logs to Winstones on a commercial basis, which helps out the Trust in running the course. "It is thanks to Winstones' willingness to help that this course is able to be run," said Mr Mareikura. "It is thanks to Terry Tapp and Winstones ability to come to the community and offer the things that they have offered." IJJIIIII11I14