Pests and diseases of forestry in New Zealand
Forestry focus for national certificates
From Biosecurity Magazine - Issue 75, 1 May 2007
The Forest Industries Training and
Education Council (FITEC) has NZQA-accredited biosecurity
qualifications, comprising three national certificates.
- Surveillance of the health of the forests is covered by the
National Certificate in Forest Health Surveillance.
- Export inspection of forest products is covered by the National
Certificate in Forest Produce Inspection.
- Border import inspection is covered by the National Certificate
in Biosecurity (Border Quarantine).
National Certificate in Forest Health Surveillance
This certificate is awarded to people who have demonstrated competence
in the surveillance of forests and trees to detect and monitor health
disorders. The certificate recognises knowledge of the management of
forests, and of botany, earth science and ecology; the skills and
knowledge of the detection and recognition of pests and diseases of
trees and forests, and knowledge of the overseas threats to the health
of New Zealand's trees and forests.
National Certificate in Forest Produce Inspection
This certificate is awarded to people who have demonstrated competence
in the inspection and certification or otherwise of forest produce for
export, to ensure that the produce meets the phytosanitary requirements
of the importing country. The certificate covers knowledge of the
international conventions and agreements, and the phytosanitary
requirements of individual importing countries.
National Certificate in Biosecurity (Border Quarantine)
This qualification has strands in international cargo clearance,
international vessel clearance, international aircraft clearance, and
international mail clearance.
The certificate is awarded to people who have demonstrated competence
in the skills and knowledge of the inspection, evaluation and clearance
or otherwise of organic materials entering New Zealand through
international airports or seaports, or through the International Mail
Centre. The practice of those skills and the knowledge involved is only
achievable by people, employed as Quarantine Officers by the Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry, who are warranted to conduct such
inspections.
Kate Blackstaffe, National Training Manager from MAF Quarantine Service
(MAFQS) spoke to Biosecurity about the biosecurity qualifications.
Biosecurity Magazine: Who goes through training at MAF Quarantine
Service?
Kate Blackstaffe: We mainly train Quarantine Officers, although the
introduction-type training that we offer is for anyone who starts with
MAFQS. This includes global biosecurity awareness, communication
skills, OSH and aspects of legislation.
BM: What is the outcome for those who go through training?
KB: Competence in the job. There is a component of compliance with some
aspects of the training provided. The nice thing about the National
Certificate in Biosecurity is that it adds a qualification to being
competent in the job.
BM: What do people get out of their training?
KB: Predominantly, new skills in being a frontline Quarantine Officer.
In addition, they pick up general knowledge about MAF and MAF culture,
and an awareness of the diversity of the work.
BM: Is all training specific to the jobs that they do, i.e., does the
training match the specific tasks that allow them to carry out the job?
KB: There is a combination of practical training taught at the
worksite, and generic, theory-based training taught in the classroom.
The idea is to give the Quarantine Officer practical skill – most
important when starting in the job – and also the background knowledge
to understand why certain actions need to be taken to mitigate the
biosecurity risk to New Zealand.
For more information about these qualifications:
www.fitec.org.nz
FITEC, phone (09) 356 7250
