Overview
*Subject to NZQA approval.
These forestry training schemes are intended to provide operational-level forestry industry skills and knowledge to those people who are working in commercial forestry and silviculture operations.
These training schemes provide an opportunity for people to engage with forestry industry skills, and provides pathways to forestry training at Level 3, Level 4 or above.
These schemes are intended for people who work largely unsupervised in the forest industry and will recognise the skills and knowledge that workers may already have gained through industry experience prior to entry.
The Training Schemes are made up of a suite of NZQA approved unit standards and students can choose to enrol in unit standards as per their requirements in blocks of 5-39 credits at one time.
Training Schemes
Each individual unit standard delivered as a course of training ensures flexible access and enrolment to meet individual student needs providing a training scheme with a strong practical and applied focus. These forestry crews include:
- workers in the forestry industry working in a variety of different harvesting operations depending on the season/time of the year, who need applied knowledge and skills relating to the specific operation they are involved with in the harvesting operations area, or
- forest industry workers who have some level of training in harvesting operations who intend to continue with their full time employment and require acknowledgement and verification of their current knowledge and skills to continue working safely and productively in harvesting operations.
Working in Harvesting Operations (Level 3)
Graduates of this training scheme will be able to:
- Develop specific harvesting knowledge to work as a professional within the forestry industry.
- Apply knowledge and skills relating to one or a range of the harvesting operations that you are professionally engaged with (specifically: core skills, basic machine operation, tree felling, breaking out – cable, breaking out - ground based, cross cutting, log scaling, poleman, production thinning, and quality control).
View available unit standards for Working in Harvesting Operations.
A total of 30 credits is required for completion of this training scheme.
Completion of the training scheme will give students credit recognition towards the New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations (Level 3).
Advanced Harvesting Operations (Level 4)
Graduates of this training scheme will be able to:
- Develop specific harvesting knowledge to work as a professional within the forestry industry.
- Apply knowledge and skills relating to one or a range of the harvesting operations that you are professionally engaged with (specifically: core skills, basic machine operation, tree felling, breaking out – cable, breaking out - ground based, cross cutting, log scaling, poleman, production thinning, and quality control).
View available unit standards for Advanced Harvesting Operations.
A total of 30 credits is required for completion of this training scheme.
Completion of the training scheme will also give students credit recognition towards the New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations (Level 4).
Working in Silviculture Operations (Level 3)
Graduates of this training scheme will be able to:
- Develop specific silviculture knowledge to work as a professional within the forestry industry.
- Apply knowledge and skills relating to one or a range of the silviculture operations that you are professionally engaged with. (specifically: core skills, mensuration, pruning, thin to waste, chemical handling.
View available unit standards for Working in Silviculture Operations.
A total of 30 credits is required for completion of this training scheme.
The Working in Silviculture Operations Training Scheme provides a pathway for students to the New Zealand Certificate in Forestry Operations (Level 3) or the New Zealand Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations (Level 3)
Entry Requirements
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to understand follow, and respond to instructions given in English.
- be physically able to complete the programme specific outcomes
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalence.
All applicants must:
- be at least 16 years old at the time the programme commences.
- be able to read, write, and communicate in English at a basic level.
- be physically able to complete the programme-specific outcomes.
Applicants must be suitably employed or engaged in a forestry based activity directly relevant to the training being selected (access to practical experience).
Intakes & Applications
Dates & Bookings
Youth Guarantee Fund*
If you are aged 16 to 24, you could study for FREE as part of the government's Youth Guarantee fund. To qualify for the Youth Guarantee fund, you must meet the following criteria:
- Complete an application for a course that is covered by the Youth Guarantee fund.
- Be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
- Be 16 to 24 years old at the time the course starts. Learners who are 15 years old and hold Ministry approved early leaving exemption from their school may also be eligible. This exemption must be in place before the course starts.
Priority places will be given to students who:
- have not yet achieved NCEA Level 1 or NCEA Level 2; or
- have completed a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification through a Youth Guarantee provision programme.
All free study is subject to funding confirmation. Proof of residency status is required. Programme entry criteria may apply. Eligibility for student allowances or student loans may vary. Contact Studylink for more information.
* All fees and study costs found on this website are indicative course fees only and exclude the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) levy.
The 2025 CSSF levy is $300 per full-time equivalent student (120 credits) and funds key services for students.
Prices are in New Zealand Dollars including GST, and are for domestic students only, unless otherwise stated. For programmes longer than one academic year in duration, the fees quoted are for the first year. Final study costs depends on a number of factors including the courses you select to study. All fees and study costs are subject to confirmation, including zero fees courses.
Courses and programmes may be cancelled, postponed or have their content or configuration changed from time to time (including during the academic year) at the discretion of NorthTec. See our full Terms and conditions.
Additional Information
Employment Pathways
About Te Pūkenga
Following the Government’s announcement of its intention to disestablish Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, please be assured that your programme of study or training will continue as planned while we work through the details of how this change will be implemented.
We are committed to ensuring that organisational changes that need to be made to meet the Government’s expectations do not impact the delivery of our programmes and training for our learners and employers.
If you need access to learner support services or have any concerns, please contact us.
