58 | Rosvall Sawmill T T Kim Newth Dual honours for sawmill manager Graham Waru took out both the Secondary Wood Processing Excellence Award and the Supreme Forest Industry Award at the 2024 Northland Forestry Awards. “I can see why he cleaned out these awards. He has a great leadership style and a lovely disposition – he’s calm under pressure, smart and good with people.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT A 20-year career of dedicated service at Rosvall Sawmill has culminated in well-deserved recognition for planer mill manager Graham Waru. At the 2024 Northland Forestry Awards, Graham took out both the Secondary Wood Processing Excellence Award and the Supreme Forest Industry Award. Back in 2004, Graham was a young general labourer at the start of his career with Rosvall Sawmill. Filled with determination to contribute his best, Graham quickly impressed his managers as a man of skill and commitment. He rapidly progressed to become a fully qualified machinist by 2008, and from that year served as head machinist and leading hand in the planer mill through to 2017. In his current role as planer mill manager, he plays a pivotal part in upholding and safeguarding Rosvall Sawmill’s reputation for producing high-quality timber products. Whether the mill is running standard house framing or rusticated weatherboards, his employers know that Graham can be relied upon to deliver what’s required with precision and consistency Through the years, Graham has been a big support to others seeking a future in timber processing by sharing his knowledge and passion with the next generation of timber machinists. He also liaises regularly with local Whangarei schools, and contributes to woodworking education and outreach programmes. “In the time he’s been with us, he would have put through seven or eight different apprentices, so he’s been a mentor for all these now fully qualified tradesmen,” says Mark Hansen, Rosvall Sawmill’s managing director, who describes Graham as a truly special member of the senior leadership team. “I can see why he cleaned out these awards. He has a great leadership style and a lovely disposition – he’s calm under pressure, smart and good with people. To get all those skills together in one person is rare.” Graham manages 20 staff in the planer mill, overseeing two shifts and working with leading hands. “He does all our planning for orders and makes sure our orders are ready for dispatch.” Rosvall Sawmill’s culture of achievement and excellence has produced many other high achievers. For example, the mill’s operations manager Paul Rupapera won the Wood Processing Excellence Award at the 2022 Northland Forestry Awards. “Paul started with us as a sawmill operator more than 20 years ago. Our top kiln manager also came to us as a young school leaver. We have many such people here with similar stories, who have been with us for many years. We are a Kiwi-focused company, employing local people, and we look after them really well.” Rosvall Sawmill processes over 70,000 tonnes of Northland logs each year, producing both structural and appearance-grade timber. With long-standing relationships across a wide range of forest owners, and a proactive mindset on investing in technology and innovation, the sawmill has gone from strength to strength. Both pruned and unpruned logs are processed at the mill. High-density timber grown locally is ideal for structural wood products, much of it sold within 100km of Whangarei. The mill also exports to the US, Australia, Noumea and Europe. Mark first joined the business in 1996 and took over full ownership of Rosvall Sawmill in 2020. His daughter Jenna has since joined him at the mill, bringing her extensive background in finance to her role as general manager. Coming to fruition this year is a big project for the Rosvall team – a new treatment plant, along with a new dry shed. Currently, timber has to be trucked an hour south to be treated by another plant and then trucked back again. “We’re about two-thirds through the project and are due to commission the new plant in July. It has been a huge commitment, but will bring big cost savings for us moving forward and will enable us to service our local market even better,” Mark says. The ONLY Local Security provider in Whangarei with a Local Security Monitoring call centre, employing local people with local knowledge. with over 45 years in business as a local Whangarei Security provider. PH 09 4388396 | admin@sutherlandsecurity.co.nz 5 Hannah Street, Whangarei CBD We would like to thank Rosvall Sawmill for their business of over 40 years with us.
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