Forest Industry Foundation Skills
Tirohanga whānui
Get work-ready for forestry roles
Get the lay of the land. Grow a solid understanding of how forestry works and how to play your part safely.
Learn about:
Establishing pine plantations
Day‑to‑day forestry operations
How to prepare for and plant trees
Worksite and environmental health and safety
Injury prevention
Basic first aid
Most of your learning will be practical and team‑based, with close support from your kaiako.
He aha tāu ka whiwhi?
Skills you'll leave with
Completing this programme means you’ll be able to:
Apply basic environmental and cultural requirements to daily forestry work
Follow risk management and emergency procedures
Use site comms correctly
Work safely and effectively as part of a forestry team to meet quality standards
Prepare for planting
Carry out basic establishment tasks
Identify factors that affect worker performance (hydration, diet, stress, fatigue)
Manage your wellbeing on the job
Mā te mahi ka ako
Learn by doing
Learning happens out in the forest, so you get real‑world experience.
You’ll work under close supervision, learning to:
Set up safe worksites
Practice planting preparation and techniques
Run safety and comms drills
Check quality
Ngā ara e wātea ana
Where will this take me?
On completion, you’ll have the skills to:
Keep studying
You can progress to a level 3 programme in a range of subjects or continue your forestry journey with another institution.
Use at work
You'll be ready to apply for entry-level forestry work undertaking planting or pruning activities in a commercial forestry operation.
He meka
Quick facts
- Level 2 (Introductory)
- 50 Credits
- 20 Weeks
- New Zealand Certificate in Forest Industry Foundation Skills Level 2
- No Fees
- NZQA Accredited
Paearu whakauru
Entry criteria
You can enrol if you:
Are 16 years or older
Are a NZ citizen or resident (includes Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau) or Australian citizen/permanent resident
Currently reside in New Zealand
Te wā
Time commitment
This programme is:
Full-time
50 credits
20 weeks long (includes holiday breaks)
Classroom-based, with learning in the bush and workshops
Unit standards
Ki hea, mō āhea hoki au ako ai?
Where and when can I learn?
No classes are currently open for application.
Kaupapa anamata
Upcoming events
He Puāwaitanga Whakatāne 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Whakatāne
He Puāwaitanga Kawerau 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Kawerau
He Puāwaitanga Whirikoka 2026
Graduation Ceremony, Gisborne
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