Tree climbing on the curriculum

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 639, 4 June 1996, Page 8

Tree climbing on the curriculum

Ruapehu College students are gaining hands-on experience of the forestry industry in a cooperative venture between the college and Winstone Pulp International Ltd (WPI). Ruapehu College principal Ralph Lane says forestry is being targeted for major curriculum development over the next few years with students being encouraged to study for units which could lead to employment in the forestry industry. The college is receiving $67,002 from Government this year to enable students to study tertiary level or nonconventional courses. At least 10 per cent of this will be allocated to forestry courses. The partnership between the company and the college began 14 years ago and is currently gaining momentum with the development of the NZQA National Certificate. In 1982 WPI asked Ruapehu College for help in staking and tying up several thousand young pine trees which had been blown over and damaged in a storm. The school was happy to help and over the next few months forestry tutor, Graeme Brebner, led many groups of students, including the college rugby team, down Pipiriki Road saving trees. As a result of this initial cooperation WPI agreed to let Ruapehu College manage a 16-hectare block of land adjacent to the airstrip road on Pipiriki Road to give students an opportunity to become actively involved in forestry. The company supplied the college with pinus radiata for the block as well as eucalyptus trees to plant in a vacant area behind the college gymnasium. Throughout the 1980s and into the 90s groups of third and fourth form general studies students, with the help of WPI employees, have progressively planted and pruned the trees. The first crop of trees should be ready for felling in 2006 with WPI promising the college a percentage of the profit. Mr Lane believes the cooperation between WPI and the college is of major importance in helping students gain practical experience as well as achieving units for the National Certificate in Forestry. "It is a partnership based on mutual benefits for both groups and we hope, with the help of WPI, it will be developed still further in the future," he said.