WHO ARE WE?

The TOTSWC has evolved by expanding the Marlborough Forestry Industry Association to include Nelson and Tasman regions in 2022.

The governance of the TOTSWC is the responsibility of the Executive Committee comprising a President, Executive Officer and between three and ten Executive Members from across Te Tau Ihu. Members of the Executive are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the TOTSWC.

WHAT DO WE DO?

TOTSWC is active in promoting the many benefits of the forest and wood processing industry and ensuring our members are supported, informed and kept up to date with any changes that may affect them. TOTSWC makes submissions to Government, local Councils and a range of organisations on issues that affect forestry and wood processing companies, contractors and forest owners.

Members receive 3-4 newsletters during the year keeping them up to date on industry news and have the opportunity to attend field days, technical and professional seminars and training courses on a range of topics including health and safety, labour retention, best practise guidelines, inter-agency support and business resilience.

TOTSWC supports local forestry education initiatives in primary and secondary schools and provides resources and mentorship to the forestry course at Marlborough Boys College. The Association also supports the national Wood Council Alliance, the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards, Te Hoiere Project, the Marlborough Sounds Advisory Group, the Rural Advisory Group, the Marlborough District Council Smart and Connected Forestry and Wood Processing Group as well as Chairing the MDC Forestry Liaison Group.

TOTSWC has an active partnership with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and facilitates forestry fire prevention workshops and expertise in Fire Prevention Guidlines in regional fire planning.

OUR PEOPLE

The governance of the Top of the South Wood Council is the responsibility of the Executive Committee comprising a President, an Executive Officer and an Executive of between three and ten members. Members of the Executive are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the TOTSWC.

TOTSWC also has a contracted forestry coordinator whose role is to support forestry and wood processing operations in the area. This includes forestry education programs in schools and to engage workforce, increase collaboration amongst forest owners, managers and employers and across labour resources and wellness programs. The forestry coordinator is also tasked with promoting forestry in our community and sharing stories that recognise and celebrate industry innovation and the benefits the industry brings to the region.

OUR HISTORY: FORESTRY IN THE TOP OF THE SOUTH

The commercial forest industry in the area is relatively young. Prior to the early 1900s any forestry activity was focused on clearance for land conversion and the resources offered by our indigenous forests. These resources were finite however and very slow growing in comparison to some species from overseas. Many different tree species were trialled, with one species in particular standing out.

Pinus radiata, a native of California, thrived in our temperate climate and commercial plantings were undertaken by private land owners and successive governments.

The first known plantings of a commercial crop of trees took place during the early 1900s by prison labour at Dumgree in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough. Isolated establishment of small forests took place across the region following that, although it wasn’t until the late 1960s, early 1970s that forestry gained momentum.

The uptake of forest establishment at the start of the 1970s was driven by two factors: a government economic scheme encouraging the conversion of, what was deemed, marginal land: rural land unsuitable for agriculture.

The second factor promoting the establishment of forestry at this time were increasing concerns over soil conservation and a growing recognition that New Zealand’s unique ecology had evolved, largely, in forested environments.

FOUNDING OF THE ASSOCIATION

By 1971, many of the new forest owners in the Top of the South recognised the value of having an industry group that could represent them at a local and national government level and provide a collective voice that best represented the group and fledgling industry.

The first collective Forest Owners Group in the country: the Marlborough Forest Owners Association (MFOA) was born.   The association, was the forerunner of many such groups, across the country, which have evolved over time to the Wood Councils of today and even though it was named the Marlborough Forest Owners it represented forest industry interests right across Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman.

Members of the original MFOA came from a diverse range of backgrounds, farmers, government employees, business people and entrepreneurs. Today the Association has over 100 members and, following a name change to the Marlborough Forest Industry Association in 2000, to incorporate the growth of the forest industry, has an even greater range of members. 

The name change in 2000, 30 years after many of the original forest plantings were undertaken, reflected the growth of the industry and allowed important sectors such as wood processing, cartage, earthworks and silviculture, recognition and representation within the organisation.

Top of the South Wood Council

While the core focus of the Association hasn’t changed since it’s establishment a further name change in 2022 to Top of the South Wood Council allowed a more cohesive alignment with other Wood Councils around the country and formally recognised members from Nelson and Tasman.

AWARDS

We are lucky to have many skilled and forward-thinking industry members across Te Tau Ihu. The Top of the South Forestry Awards celebrate the Nelson and Marlborough forest industry and recognise the skilled workforce across our region. Catch up on the latest recipients and keep up to date with key dates here.