NZFM Workforce Survey 2021
NZFM undertakes a survey of the workforce each year to monitor trends in categories such as the average age of employees, experience, levels of training, and how many children are supported by our workforce.
It is also important for our forest owners to be aware of how many employees working with the forests whakapapa to Ngati Tuwharetoa and are intrinsically linked to the whenua where they work.
All employees working within the forests that NZFM manage are asked to complete the survey anonymously. The survey period for 2021 spanned two weeks from late November to early December.
2021 was again a challenging year for the NZFM workforce due to another Covid-19 lockdown in August. This led to uncertainty at times due to the developing situation but as with 2020, NZFM was fortunate not to experience a reduction in crew numbers. The Covid-19 restrictions have brought about significant challenges and resulted in changes to day today activities for the workforce, such as changes to travel arrangements for crews, increased hygiene practices and the amendment in practices of some operations to ensure they were ‘non-contact’. The workforce again proved its resilience throughout this period.
A snapshot of the findings from the 2021 Workforce Survey:
A total of 203 surveys were completed and returned
64.5% of the workforce are of Māori ethnicity
Of those of Māori ethnicity, 53.3% affiliate with Ngati Tuwharetoa.
There are 298 children supported by the NZFM contracted workforce.
36.5% of the workforce whakapapa to Ngati Tuwharetoa
30.5% have beneficial ownership rights Lake Taupo and/or Rotoaira Forests and 17.7% had spouses with beneficial ownership rights.
Of all the age groups (that each span a 5-year period), the largest group represented in the workforce is 50+ years old at 23.2%.
24.6% of employees have been with their current employer for 10+ years.
31% of the workforce have worked in the forestry industry for more than 20 years