Grant Puklowski has can claim to be the best in the industry after he was awarded Skilled Professional of the Year at this year’s forestry awards.
Top of the South Forestry Awards recognises excellence in the industry in a time that has been “challenging” for many.
Grant was celebrated as a true leader in the industry, a mentor to many, and one who genuinely cares about his team at Puklowski Silviculture, their work, their clients and the ongoing future of forestry.
Grant who also won the Forestry Excellence certificate earlier in Friday night’s ceremony, is one of OneFortyOne’s highest-performing silviculture contractors, but he’s quick to share the praise with his team.
He invests a lot into training his team and making sure they are well looked after, and that continues to pay off for him with many who have stayed with him for 20-plus years.
A leader by example, he also takes on school leavers, training them up and giving them a chance in the industry.
A 30-year forestry veteran, Grant followed his father into the industry, just as his own children are now working alongside him. Those who know him say he exemplifies forestry excellence in every aspect.
The 2022 awards ceremony also saw the first induction into the Hall of Fame, with Darryl Bird acknowledged for the significant role he has played in the Logging and Forestry Industry Training Board and his contribution to the wider industry.
Darryl Bird has trained and assessed so many over the years and played a huge part in helping to create the industry that it is today.
Mike Fraser of Fraser Logging was honoured as the Hero of the Industry for his massive investment, contribution and input to forestry in the region.
Mike says he was "taken aback" by the award but feels very proud to receive it.
When I look at forestry, my dad started in the industry in Nelson 70 years ago, when I look at where it's come from and where it is, it's the people side of it that's the most important.
He says it's an area his company puts a big focus on which he sees as being a point of difference in the industry.
"We've been mechanised for a long time but the machinery isn't anything without people, people are the most important, without them the machine is nothing."
The Crew of the Year Award went to Bryant Logging 730 Hauler Crew with Kelly Logging taking the Outstanding Environmental Management crown, Steve Borlase from Borlase Transport walking off with the Outstanding Health and Safety Management Award, and Buck Forestry Services rewarded with the Outstanding Regional Service Performance award.
MC Jeremy Corbett kept the sell-out 550-strong crowd well entertained at the Trafalgar Centre on 22 July.
The awards, which were started in 2019, have had a lucky run, being able to slide through between lockdowns last year.
This is third awards evening that has seen the wider industry come together to celebrate all that is good about forestry and the men and women who make it happen.
TOTS committee chair Nathan Taylor says the region has weathered well the past two years that have really challenged others and it had not felt the brunt of Covid and its related issues, like other regions had.
“The diversity of the Top of the South has really been to our advantage,” he says.
Sawmilling was done locally in Nelson and Marlborough and there hadn’t been the problems with shipping that had been felt elsewhere. A minority of the region’s timber heads out over the port.
“Many forest companies have got in behind our rural communities, which is the secret to success,” he says.
He says innovation was also key to the region, with many firsts in the use of new technology.
“We are a region that looks after each other, while also seeking to be true leaders in forestry, and I think we can all see that clearly,” Nathan says.
He tipped his hat to the transition from Competenz through to the new Te Pukenga ROVE entity to ensure there would continue to be a good flow of young people coming into the industry.
The winners
Skilled Professional of the Year 2022 (sponsored by Top of the South Forestry Awards): Grant Puklowski (Puklowski Silviculture).
Crew of the Year Award – trophy (sponsored by TDX): Bryant Logging 730 Hauler Crew (Bryant Logging).
Outstanding Environmental Management (sponsored by Tasman District Council): Kelly Logging. Runner-up: Alastair Gregory (Gregory Contracting Ltd).
Outstanding Health and Safety Management Award – trophy (sponsored by DC Equipment): Steve Borlase (Borlase Transport).
Outstanding Regional Service Performance (sponsored by AB Equipment Tigercat): Buck Forestry Services.
TOTS Forestry Hall of Fame: Darryl Bird.
Hero of the Industry (sponsored by UDC): Mike Fraser (Fraser Logging).
Forestry Excellence – certificate (sponsored by Tasman Pine Forests Ltd): Grant Puklowski (Puklowski Silviculture).
Harvesting Excellence – certificate (sponsored by PF Olsen): Ian Williamson (Moutere Management Ltd). Runner-up: Daniel Jenkins (KE Green Logging Ltd).
Log Processor Excellence – certificate (sponsored by CrediFlex): Murray Smith (Burson Logging Ltd).
Log Truck Driver Excellence – certificate (sponsored by npd): Keith Anderson (Borlase Transport Ltd). Runner-up: Andrew Wallace (Heagney Bros Ltd).
NZ Apprentice of the Year – certificate (sponsored by Taylors Contracting Co Ltd): Jackson Goldsworth (Moutere Logging Ltd). Runner-up: Liam Plaisier (Woodlot Harvesting Ltd).
Roading Excellence – certificate (sponsored by OneFortyOne): Paul O’Sullivan (Mike Edridge Contracting Ltd).
Trainee of the Year – certificate (sponsored by Competenz): Joseph Horner (Tasman Forest Service Ltd).
Training Company/Contractor of the Year – certificate (sponsored by Waratah): MJ Fraser Logging.
Tree Faller Excellence – manual – certificate (sponsored by Hauler Engineering): Dion Eggers (Tumeke Loggers Ltd).
Tree Faller Excellence – mechanised – certificate (sponsored by EMS): Paul Gardiner (Kelly Logging).
Woman in Forestry – certificate (sponsored by TotalEnergies): Tamara Eggers (Tasman Forest Services and Stuart Drummond Transport).
Wood Processing Excellence – certificate (sponsored by Marlborough Forest Industry Association): Chris Lambert (OneFortyOne NZ Ltd).
