Whakatiputanga Ngahere: NZ Diploma in Forestry Management (Level 6) 2025 Graduates
6 March 2025 – Whakatō Marae
Seth Andreasen
Rata Forest Management
Christina Harrison
Kuru Contracting
Robert Harrison
Kaiako, Ruapani Forestry Centre
John Henry
Supported by Rata Forest Management now self employed
Stanley Hovell
Generation Programme Manager Ruapani Forestry Centre
Amohau Maxwell
Juken NZ
Awhina Paul
Business Owner – Inventory with
Integrity (IWI) Limited
Jack Truelock
Aratu Forests Limited
Jack Willock
Juken NZ
Graduate Speech
Graduate Jack Willock spoke on behalf of the students at the graduation ceremony.
Good morning everyone—graduates, tutors, family, friends, and industry professionals. It is both an honor and a privilege to stand here today, speaking on behalf of my classmates as we celebrate the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication, and learning.
My name is Jack Willock, born and raised in Tairāwhiti. I spent my schooling years at Makauri, Gisborne Intermediate and Gisborne Boys High School. Growing up, I was always drawn to the outdoors, spending my time mountain biking, hunting, playing sports, and seeking adventure. These passions ultimately led me to pursue a career in forestry.
The Right Fit
In 2023, I started my year in Christchurch, enrolling in a Bachelor of Forestry Science at the University of Canterbury. However, after just eight weeks, I realized that this path wasn’t the right fit for me. As I began searching for new opportunities, I came across the Diploma in Forestry Management program at Turanga Ararau. After a few conversations with Henry, I knew this course aligned much better with my interests and future goals. Without hesitation, I packed my bags, headed home, and embraced this new direction.
I was incredibly fortunate to be offered an internship with Juken New Zealand while studying for my diploma—an opportunity I will always be grateful for. Now, two years later, I’m still with Juken, continuing to develop my skills as a forester. It’s a career I’m truly passionate about, and every day brings new challenges, learning experiences, and rewards.
A new journey
Now enough about me, let’s take a moment to reflect on our journey over the past two years.
To say our class was diverse would be an understatement—some might call it a mixed bag. We came from different backgrounds, ages, experiences, and cultures, yet we all shared a common excitement for learning, and in April 2023, we set off on our new journey.
Core principles of forest management
From the very start, we were introduced to the foundations of the forestry industry. We gained an understanding of its structure, its critical role in New Zealand’s economy, and the key legislation that shapes it. We learned about health and safety obligations, environmental and quality management systems, and the core principles of kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga. These values not only deepened our appreciation for responsible and sustainable forest management but will continue to guide our decision-making as we step into the industry.
From there, we delved into leadership and Māori management practices. We explored various methods of leading and managing people, but the real test came when we took part in a conflict management course with Taka Maki. Taka certainly didn’t make it easy on us—pushing our buttons, trying to get under our skin. At one point, I thought Mamie was about to throw down! But in the end, we gained invaluable skills in de-escalation and conflict resolution, preparing us for the real-world challenges of managing teams in the field.
Then came botany and wood science—a real wake-up call for us all. Learning about the structure of plants, their growth processes, and their interactions with their environment felt like decoding a foreign language. During this subject we went from being utterly confused students to, well, slightly less confused students, but we pushed through and developed a deeper appreciation for the complexities of forestry science.
One of the highlights of our course was our trip to Kehs Wetman’s place, where we explored forestry as a land use. His innovative ideas and commitment to biodiversity opened our eyes to the vast opportunities within the forestry sector and the potential for sustainable land management.
As we progressed, we tackled the critical aspects of forestry business planning, harvest planning, costings, and contract management—essential knowledge for anyone entering commercial forestry. We also examined the forestry value chain and valuation processes, learning how forests are monitored, valued, and managed for financial sustainability.
Finally, our journey culminated in our individual research projects. Each of us took on a topic, conducted in-depth research, and presented our findings in front of industry professionals. This experience not only tested our knowledge but also showcased our growth, our confidence, and our readiness to step into the forestry industry.
As we graduate today, we recognize the impact this course has had in shaping us into the forestry professionals we are becoming. The knowledge we have gained, the hands-on experiences we’ve had, and the networks we’ve built will serve as the foundation for our careers. We hope that this program continues to grow, incorporating new industry trends, technologies, and sustainability practices, ensuring that future students receive an even richer learning experience. I myself and I’m sure the others will be more than happy to offer a helping hand and offer our new knowledge and experience in the future .
2025 Graduates
Gratitude
Today is not just a celebration of our achievements but also a moment to express our deepest gratitude.
To our tutor, Henry, or suppose we can now call you Uncle Henry — thank you for your guidance, patience, and for generously sharing your wealth of knowledge with us. It definitely hasn’t been smooth sailing with plenty of challenges and frustrations that arose throughout the course. The hard work and dedication you have put into both this course and us as students has been inspiring. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in our success, and it’s safe to say we wouldn’t be standing here today without your encouragement, mentorship, and belief in us. So, thank you.
To all those who shared their expertise, welcomed us into their forests, and allowed us to learn in a real-world setting—we are deeply grateful. Your generosity has provided us with invaluable insights that no classroom could replicate.
To our classmates—this journey would not have been the same without you. The friendships, the teamwork, the shared frustrations over assignments, and the laughs along the way have made these two years truly memorable.
To the companies that have supported us throughout our studies, providing invaluable hands-on experience in the forestry industry—thank you. Your guidance, mentorship, and generosity have been instrumental in shaping our journey. You’ve taught us the rights and wrongs, the do’s and don’ts, and everything in between. We wouldn’t be here today without your support, and for that, we are truly grateful.
And finally, to our families and friends—thank you for your unwavering support, your encouragement, and your patience throughout our studies. Whether it was helping us through late-night study sessions, listening to our endless forestry talk, or simply believing in us when we doubted ourselves—your support has been our backbone and we could not have done it without you.
As we step forward into our careers, let’s carry with us the knowledge we’ve gained, the values we’ve learned, and the passion we’ve developed for forestry. Let’s continue to grow, innovate, and contribute to this industry in meaningful ways. This is not the end of our journey—it is just the beginning.
Congratulations to the graduating class of the Diploma in Forestry Management.
We did it, we should all be immensely proud of what we have achieved. Now its time to celebrate with our friends and family!
Ngā mihi nui, thank you all!
Thank you, Jack! Here are some more images from the Graduation Day at Whakatō Marae:
