Curtis Hawkes of Hawkes Logging took home the top honour of Skilled Professional of the Year at the Eastland Forestry Awards 2024
The Eastland Forestry Awards celebrated the resilience and dedication of the forestry workforce amid challenging times, with Curtis Hawkes of Hawkes Logging taking home the top honour of Skilled Professional of the Year.
The awards ceremony, held in Gisborne, brought together 500 colleagues to recognise the achievements and contributions of their peers. The event was a poignant reminder of the industry’s struggles over the past 18 months, particularly in the wake of Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle, which significantly impacted the East Coast.
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East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick presents Curtis Hawkes, of Hawkes Logging, with the Skilled Professional of the Year award
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Curtis Hawkes from Hawkes Logging relocated to the region from Northland with his family and leads his crew on the extreme terrain of the East Coast.
“Curtis is described as having shown nothing but a high level of professionalism and work ethic, in all aspects of the job. He was recognised as a true leader by example, not asking anything of anyone that they themselves will not do,” said East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick who presented the top award.
Curtis also received the Harvesting Excellence, Crew of the Year, and Outstanding Health & Safety awards.
This year’s awards saw a record 66 nominations.
“There was a true sense of camaraderie and compassion amongst those that attended, but also a lot of reflection. It has been a difficult period for the industry, through Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle, so it was nice to come together to acknowledge our colleagues who have worked tirelessly and resiliently throughout this time,” said Warren Rance, chair of Eastland Wood Council (EWC).
Those in attendance voted for the GOOD DEED award, which was jointly given to Pourau Incorporation and Kuru Contracting.
Pourau Incorporation (owned by the Potae family) and Kuru Contracting worked together to meet the needs of the coastal community as well as the primary industry by building a bypass road between Hikuwai One and Hikuwai Three Bridge to reconnect the state highway following the loss of Hikuwai One Bridge after Cyclone Gabrielle.
Tania Gibb, Ra Whakapono Logging took out the top prize for Woman in Forestry for her inspiring dedication to workers’ rights and safety, making a significant impact on the local forestry community.
Philip Hope, CEO of EWC, was acknowledged for his unrelenting advocacy across the region with local and national government during his tenure at the helm.
“The Eastland Forestry Awards evening was a true testament to outstanding role models and innovative initiatives and services that have seen the industry continue to operate and survive the last few years,” said Rance.
“We are grateful for our workforce who have continued throughout significant adversity this past 18 months, and we look forward to our future together as we continue to work hard for our East Coast community.”