12 June 2013
The largest forest industry group in the county – Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) has welcomed the market leadership shown by the New Zealand Lotteries Commission in warning its retailers to pull the synthetic cannabis and party pill drugs from their shelves ahead of the coming law change.
“It’s great to see an influential body like the Lotteries Commission taking the lead to show society that we need to remove drugs from society wherever possible. Their lead in putting pressure on outlets shows a great moral compass,” said FICA spokesman John Stulen.
“We’ve been unhappy as an industry with the slow moves by Government to eliminate synthetic drugs from the shelves but it seems the market has to take the lead now,” he added.
In terms of eliminating drug-taking, forestry has to set the bar higher than society in general, so the actions of a large retailer sends the right signal says FICA.
The forest industry in New Zealand was the first primary industry to implement random testing for safety sensitive positions in the workplace. Ever since then forestry has taken the lead to keep drugs and drug-users out of the forestry workplace. At times this has presented challenges for rural communities and individual families but the continued pressure has worked.
“People now understand that zero tolerance to drugs at work is necessary because if their workmate is under the influence of drugs on the job they could kill anyone around them. Nowadays forestry workers are unaccepting of new entrants being under the influence of drugs at work – so they shun people who try to get jobs with our contractor members unless they test negative for drug use,” added Mr Stulen.
Forestry work involves many safety sensitive positions from tree-felling to log extraction, with large logging trucks sharing narrow rural roads with crews and contractors the highest degree of safety awareness is essential for everyone, everyday. Ends
For more information contact: John Stulen, Forest Industry Contractors Association FICA - "Contractors Working Smarter" PO Box 1230 Rotorua 3040 Tel 07 921 1382 or 027 275 8011 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.fica.org.nz
Established plantations of pine, macrocarpa and Douglas-fir over 40 hectares now co-exist with carefully positioned ornamental trees on the long and narrow property running 16 kilometres from the highway to the sea.
Often circling the plantations are lusitanicus and cypress that will remain standing when timber trees are harvested.
Another 30 ha of native bush is protected by QE11 covenant and the couple have fenced from stock about 100 ha in gullies for their personal pleasure.
Charles Wiffen said the trees had been planted at the 1400 ha farm as much for providing a pleasant working landscape as for shelter and shade for stock. He said they had made a point of planting oaks, poplars and cypress for variety.
The Wiffens, who also run a Blenheim vineyard and manage the Charles Wiffen label, have been at Inverness for 48 years with Charles' father first running the farm. Elms, maples and "every oak you could think of" now line the property.
Farm Forestry Association award judge Neil Cullen, Balclutha, said the trees were an example of good land use.
Many of the "awkward" corners and gullies had been planted in small tree blocks, shelter belts and ornamental trees to provide shade and shelter appreciated by stock this dry summer, he said.
"I was impressed with the way they have managed the property as far as land use goes. It's a long, stretched out property 16km to the ocean and although there is only 40 ha of tree blocks in 1400 ha a lot of the property isn't suitable for forestry because of access problems."
Wiffen said he was a farmer first and a forester second, but he had always appreciated trees for the qualities they brought to a farm.
Story by Tim Cronshaw, © Fairfax NZ News. To read the full story, click here.