10 May 2011

FOA executive council member Peter Weir is the 2011 New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) Forester of the Year. He was presented with the award at the institute’s annual conference in Auckland last week by forestry minister David Carter. The award recognises leadership, excellence and personal integrity.

Minister of forestry David Carter and NZIF 2010 Forester of the Year Peter Weir at the award ceremony in Auckland. Photo Tony Neilson

The award recognises leadership, excellence and personal integrity. In announcing the award, institute president Dr Andrew McEwen, said 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 their professional and academic achievements, broad community involvement, cultural and other achievements

Mr Weir is corporate support manager for Christchurch-based Ernslaw One. 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 FOA executive council and chair of its 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 FOA health, safety & training committee, chaired the division of engineers and geoscientists in the British Columbia forest sector, chaired the NZ Mountain Safety Council snow and avalanche committee, contributed to the FOA 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 recognise 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.

Source: NZIF media release