Forestry education and training
Tūranga Ararau is an iwi owned tertiary education organisation in Gisborne and has been involved in forestry education and training since its establishment in 1986. On 6 March 2025, the first cohort of students from our Whakatiputanga Ngahere: New Zealand Diploma in Forest Management Level 6 graduated at Whakatō Marae, Manutuke.
Left: Ruapani Forestry Manager Henry Mulligan, Win Ruru and inaugural recipient of Te Whatu Ruru a Ruapani, Jack Willock, with Sharon Maynard, Tūranga Ararau Manager.
Relationship building
Involvement in the Diploma in Forest Management for Tūranga Ararau extends back to 1996 when a relationship negotiated by Tūranga Ararau manager Sharon Maynard and programme manager Willa Outten was formed with what was then called the Waiariki Institute of Technology through their Dean of Forestry and Technology, Dr Margriet Theron.
The motivation for this was a research programme conducted by
Tūranga Ararau in the early 1990s, which identified that although Māori made up 80% of the forestry industry labour force, they were concentrated in entry level roles. The goal then was to see this percentage reflected in the management and technical levels in the industry.
There was also an awareness of the potential of increased iwi ownership of the local forests through Treaty of Waitangi settlements and Iwi and Māori trusts and incorporations extending their investments into forestry or converting existing holdings into commercial forestry.
It is now anticipated that within 30 years Iwi Māori will own, manage and control 80% of our commercial forestry enterprise in Te Tairāwhiti.
An arrangement
An arrangement was agreed to for our local students to complete the first year of the diploma through Tūranga Ararau and, from there, gain direct entry into the second year of the programme to complete the qualification at Waiariki. Over the years a number of Tūranga Ararau graduates joining Waiariki have been awarded forestry academic and industry prizes.
Locally the programme was established under the leadership of John Ruru supported by Pareiha (Spud) Te Rito, Ross Gregory and Willa Outten. One critical issue was the inability of local students being able to relocate to Rotorua to complete the full qualification. Despite this, over 30 Tūranga Ararau diploma graduates now hold key management roles in the forestry industry locally and nationally and many of those only able to complete the first year moved on to become successful contractors and forest technicians.
The Targeted Review of Qualifications (TROQ) in 2012 removed funding for the first year of the qualification resulting in Tūranga Ararau covering the partial then full cost of the programme.
Hard decisions
However the situation was not sustainable and the hard decision was made to place the programme into recess in 2018 while alternative arrangements for its continuation were explored. By then Waiariki had amalgamated with Bay of Plenty to form Toi Ohomai and Te Pukenga was being established making it difficult for the institute to commit to any future partnership arrangements.
So began the process of Tūranga Ararau securing NZQA programme approval and accreditation for Whakatiputanga Ngahere – the New Zealand Diploma in Forest Management Level 6, This was achieved in 2022, ably led by Ruapani Forestry Education and Training manager Henry Mulligan supported by Greg Steele of FITCO, Tūranga Ararau manager Sharon Maynard, educationalists Di Waipara and Ross Gregory, Rata Forest Director Matene Blandford and other forest management interest groups.
This culminated in the development of a comprehensive innovative programme, responding to industry and iwi needs and aspirations which is not delivered through a standard pre-employment programme format but with students based in and supported by the forestry industry; experiencing and developing real industry skills and knowledge.
He taonga
The programme was formally launched in 2023 with a cohort of 12 students of whom eleven graduated from the two year programme in March 2025 at Whakatō Marae, Manutuke. Sadly, John Ruru passed away in 2019. Working with his wife, Win Ruru, it was agreed that we recognise his great contribution to our Ruapani Forestry Education and Training including the diploma programme and the wider forest industry with the establishment of Te Whatu Ruru a Ruapani taonga (award) and scholarship generously sponsored by John’s whānau. As the special guest at the graduation, Win presented the taonga to it’s inaugural recipient, Jack Willock.
Potential
With the recent announcement of the closure of the Toi Ohomai Diploma in Forest Management, Tūranga Ararau has been considering offering our programme nationally. In doing so, we acknowledge the support and encouragement received from Toi Ohomai Forestry Management tutors Mark Cleland and James Broadley over the years.
Should this eventuate, one of the key considerations is how to do so without requiring the students to relocate. Being aware of the challenges this can create for potential students; looking into solutions such as offering options of outreach delivery centres, increased on line and self-directed learning resources, zooms and on job learning, through internships with the support of forest owners and managers. This is currently being discussed with industry, iwi and other interested parties.