66 | Richard Loader From a team of seven at the very start of the KTM Silviculture, the business has blossomed to a team of 28, spread across six crews. FORESTRY NZIF: KTM Silviculture: Providing opportunities for family played a very key role in the foundation of Masterton based family business, KTM Silviculture in September of 2019. Born and bred in Masterton, Troy Mason had been involved in silviculture since 1991 but had left the industry to go shearing and beekeeping, because of the poor financial rewards in the industry at the time. When approached by a previous boss to form his own crew, Troy and his wife Kelly saw an opportunity to be self-employed and make a real difference, not just in the industry, but also for their children and wider family. “I’ve always been passionate about silviculture,” says Troy. “It’s how I raised my family. I was in the industry when I had four young children. When I set the business up, my hope was that there would be no members of my family unemployed. “Seventy percent of the crew is my family – including my brother, my two sons, two sonin-laws, and several nephews. So, from a family perspective, the business is very important to me. Not only can I train my family to a high standard, but I can give them an opportunity to make really good money.” From a team of seven at the very start of the KTM Silviculture, the business has blossomed to a team of 28, spread across six crews. While two crews operate exclusively for Juken New Zealand, the other crews are operating for other forest management companies in the Hawke’s Bay. Clearing willow trees in the waterways and replacing with natives for the Wainuioru Catchment Scheme also keeps the team busy, and there are increasing calls from farmers around the region to thin woodlots. “Our growth has simply come about due to demand for silviculture services. There have been a number of contractors leaving silviculture and going harvesting, creating more opportunities for those who remain. Our work ranges from tree planting, spraying, thinning and pruning. Silviculture is hugely important to the industry — silviculture is where the forest begins. We are the people who plant and maintain the forests right up until harvest. A lot of companies don’t prune anymore but Juken has to feed their mills with good quality pruned timber.” Training team members in all aspects of silviculture to provide the client or forest owner with the highest quality of tree for harvest is just as important as the work itself, says Troy, who undertakes all training on-house with the support from independent trainers and assessors. Troy is currently going for his own assessing ticket. “We also teach life skills. While not part of his job, one of the independent assessors helps our people with financial goals. He has helped one of my guys save $18,000, showing the benefits of not spending and making better financial decisions.” Troy has also been working with UCOL (Universal College of Learning) in Masterton, which offers a forestry course for high school kids interested in forestry. “I have been taking the kids out to site and showing them what we do on a day-to-day basis, and just trying to make the industry more appealing than what it’s often seen to be. There are so many opportunities in the forestry industry, but most people don’t understand that.” KTM Silviculture not only treats its team as family, it is family and that is what the business thrives on. That close relationship also extends to the forest managers and owners that KTM work for – businesses like Juken. Troy also acknowledges the support the business has received from Te Uru Rakau (New Zealand Forest Service) and Poutama Trust, which have played a big role in funding equipment. “There’s also my wife Kelly, who looks after all the paperwork, backroom work and health and safety. She has the biggest role really.” Family forms core of business The largest range of side by sides in the Wairarapa We service and repair all makes and models of ATV's, Side by Sides and Bikes. High St, Carterton | 06 379 7887 | sargentmotorcycles.nz Best Service for the Best Clients. . ForestEstablishment •ForestManagement •Harvesting&Marketing •ETS&CarbonConsulting r stEst lis t •F r stM t •H r sti &M r ti •E &C r C s lti www.forestmanagement.co.nz +64 6 833 7529 . . .
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