2011 Forester Of The Year

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10 May 2011

NZ Institute Of Forestry Announces The 2011 Forester Of The Year

The New Zealand Institute of Forestry Inc (NZIF) Forester of the Year Award for 2010 was presented to Mr Peter Weir of Christchurch at the Institute’s annual conference in Auckland last week.

In announcing the recipient of this prestigious award, the President of the Institute, Dr Andrew McEwen, noted that the award recognises leadership, excellence and personal integrity. Consideration is given to the nominee’s contribution to New Zealand’s economic, social and environmental development, the use of innovation and new technologies or the creation of a new product or business of significance to forestry. Further consideration is given to professional and academic achievements, broad community involvement, cultural and other achievements.

Mr Weir is Corporate Support Manager for Ernslaw One Ltd., based in Christchurch. But it is his role in promoting the needs of the wider forestry sector for which he is better known. As a member of the executive council of NZ Forest Owners Association and chair of the FOA Environment & Resources Committee, Mr Weir represents the forest industry on the National Environment Standard for forestry working group, the FSC International forest carbon policy working group, the Land and Water Forum, the Primary Sector Water Partnership, the Wilding Conifer project group the Douglas Fir Association and the FSC cluster group. Previously he has been a member of the Forest Owners Association Health, Safety & Training Committee, chaired the Division of Engineers and Geoscientists in the Forest Sector in British Columbia, Canada and chaired the NZ Mountain Safety Council Snow and Avalanche Committee, contributed to the NZFOA Environmental Code of Practice and was a NZ forest industry representative at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Montreal in 2005.

“It is Peter’s tireless and professional approach to representing forestry in a wide range of issues that has earned the respect of his peers and led to the award of NZIF 2011 Forester of the Year”, said Dr McEwen. “I am delighted that the Institute has been able to recognize the achievements of this outstanding member.”

The Forester of the Year award is a large carved wall panel, a 1989 work of Rotorua carver Lyonel Grant. The principal elements portrayed in the carving are Papa Tuanuku and the children of Tane Mahuta (the forests, both native and exotic) as well as an effort to capture their respective uses using traditional design techniques in a contemporary form.

ENDS

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