We represent and support women in the Forestry Sector of New Zealand.
Wahine in Forestry is a professional development group that combines women enrolled in the New Zealand School of Forestry and working in the forest sector of New Zealand to further connections, mentoring and skills for women entering the forestry workforce and within their careers.
Wāhine in forestry represents a dynamic and inclusive collective dedicated to supporting women in the forestry sector of New Zealand.
We are a growing community of wāhine from various areas of the forestry sector, coming together to exchange personal and professional insights, learn from experts, network, provide support, and celebrate our contribution to the industry.
This group was started by the Canterbury West Coast Wood Council in response to requests from female students for more links into the forestry sector, and considering the low number of female employees working in forestry. Currently women only account for 18% of our sector workforce!
To encourage & empower women to succeed in the forestry industry.
Our mission is to create a thriving community that supports, connects, and advocates for wāhine in forestry through initiatives that promote gender equality, professional development, and networking opportunities.
The attraction and retention of women in forestry is a critical topic that we need to address.
When using the term ‘women’ in relation to this group, the term includes all those who identify as a women.
Wow. What a response to our new mentorship programme! A huge thank you to every woman who has offered her time and encouragement. We are now working through the matching process and cannot wait to see these relationships begin.
Simple and informal is what we want this programme to be! Each pair will catch up around once a month for six months, either online or in person. There are no formal lessons, and mentors are not expected to have all the answers. There`s so much value in creating a trusted space where students can ask honest questions and learn from someone else`s experience.
We have enough mentors for now but, if you are a currently studying forestry and would like chat to someone in the know .... visit wahineinforestry.co.nz/mentorship-programme/
There’s more to forestry than most people realise. Wāhine are working across every part of it. Kinda chic, actually.
What would you add? Comment below!
Rain couldn’t stop these wāhine!
Despite the wild Tairāwhiti weather and plenty of downpours, women from across the forestry sector gathered at the beautiful Acton Estate in Gisborne for the inaugural Wāhine in Forestry Tairāwhiti networking event.
The evening was all about connection, sharing stories, building relationships and celebrating the important contribution wāhine make to forestry in our region.
A huge thank you to our sponsors Ernslaw One and Juken New Zealand for helping make this event possible, and to Black Fig Catering for the delicious canapés that kept everyone smiling.
The weather may have been wet, but the kōrero, laughter and connections were warm.
Here’s to making this a regular fixture on the Tairāwhiti forestry calendar!
Gisborne wāhine...we would love to see you at our event coming up on Thursday 9th July. A huge thank you to Ernslaw One for sponsoring the event and Juken New Zealand for providing the venue. Please RSVP to lara@discoverforestry.co.nz ASAP
See you soon!
Forestry students and Wāhine in Forestry, this one’s for you!
Come along to our Workforce Skills Evening and learn about CVs, mentoring opportunities, interviews, contracts and more!
Plus pizza, drinks, networking, and honest advice from women who’ve been there before.
That`s a wrap! A huge thank you to everyone who attended conference this year. We appreciate you all. It was a valuable couple of days and we would like to thank our sponsors Te Uru Rakau | New Zealand Forest Service, PF Olsens, and Prime Forest Management.
If you`d like to see any more of our 2026 conference photos then please head to our website.
LUAU 🌺
After a huge day of learning during day two of our conference...this was needed! It was so good to eat some delicious food, have a laugh, and be together. This is what it’s all about.
Conference Panel Discussion - How`s that for a line up?!
We were so thrilled to host a cross sector panel at conference and would like to thank Allie King @dairykingsnz (@dairywomensnetwork ), @liarnawhite (@womeninhort ), @nicky_grandorge (@nzwinegrowers & @womeninwinenz , Clare Baxter (@womeningeothermal_nz ), and our very own @ericakinder1
We enjoyed learning from your careers, and found it so interesting how each of your sector groups support women.
Women students and employees of the forest sector of New Zealand. We are rare, we are brave.
Wow. What a response to our new mentorship programme! A huge thank you to every woman who has offered her time and encouragement. We are now working through the matching process and cannot wait to see these relationships begin.
Simple and informal is what we want this programme to be! Each pair will catch up around once a month for six months, either online or in person. There are no formal lessons, and mentors are not expected to have all the answers. There's so much value in creating a trusted space where students can ask honest questions and learn from someone else's experience.
We have enough mentors for now but, if you are a currently studying forestry and would like chat to someone in the know .... visit wahineinforestry.co.nz/mentorship-programme/
There’s more to forestry than most people realise. Wāhine are working across every part of it. Kinda chic, actually.
What would you add? Comment below!
Rain couldn’t stop these wāhine!
Despite the wild Tairāwhiti weather and plenty of downpours, women from across the forestry sector gathered at the beautiful Acton Estate in Gisborne for the inaugural Wāhine in Forestry Tairāwhiti networking event.
The evening was all about connection, sharing stories, building relationships and celebrating the important contribution wāhine make to forestry in our region.
A huge thank you to our sponsors Ernslaw One and Juken New Zealand for helping make this event possible, and to Black Fig Catering for the delicious canapés that kept everyone smiling.
The weather may have been wet, but the kōrero, laughter and connections were warm.
Here’s to making this a regular fixture on the Tairāwhiti forestry calendar!
Gisborne wāhine...we would love to see you at our event coming up on Thursday 9th July. A huge thank you to Ernslaw One for sponsoring the event and Juken New Zealand - JNL for providing the venue. Please RSVP to lara@discoverforestry.co.nz ASAP
See you soon!
Check out our Term 2 newsletter! See you out there!
mailchi.mp/718cb6f7eb7e/launching-discover-forestry-17568111
Our newsletter with a frequency of approximately one monthly will keep you updated about our conferences and other events as well as news about our mentoring programme. Subscribe to receive the news in your inbox. You can unsubscribe anytime.
