It was a quick about turn that led to Sophie Cusack pursuing a career in the forestry industry.
Although she is from a logging family, it was a different kind of outdoor career she was considering, having set her sights on a farming future.
That all changed as she contemplated her next steps during her final year at high school. She is now based in the Tauranga offices of Matariki Forests working as a harvest operations co-ordinator.
From Masterton, Sophie grew up around forestry – her parents Nick and Cindy own harvesting company Nixin Contractors. She has two sisters, Charlotte who is studying a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Canterbury and Kelsey who is still at college. So far, neither sister has shown interest in a forestry career.
Although he was raised on a farm, Nick took the opportunity to jump into a logging crew when it presented itself, then worked his way up. He enjoyed the machinery aspect of farming, but wasn’t into stock work so logging seemed a good fit.
“I remember when I was about four, I used to go into the forest with dad on the weekends and ‘drive’ the loader and hang out with him in the forest, which I look back on with fond memories.”
Attracted to primary industries
Despite forestry providing a backdrop to her childhood, Sophie didn’t really consider it was an industry she wanted to be part of – at least until Year 13 at Wairarapa College.
“I always wanted to be a farmer. I love being outside, so I knew I wanted a career in the primary industries.”
Looking at the various opportunities after school, though, nothing grabbed her.
“It was a family friend who suggested forestry, and after giving it some thought I went for it,” she says.
“I wasn’t super keen on going to uni, but after researching the New Zealand Forestry School at the University of Canterbury, I realised that it was the best way to get to where I wanted to be.”
Once the decision was made, she spent the summer of 2021-22 in the forest with her dad’s crews, this time operating machinery for real.
“It was a lot of fun. All the boys were really supportive in helping me experience different facets of the job. My main job was QC, so there was a bit of everything. I learned to use a chainsaw along with all the basic harvesting skills, did a bit of breaking out, trimming and drove the loader on occasion.
“I guess I found forestry then and didn’t turn back.”
Studying at UOC
Sophie began the Bachelor of Forestry Science with Honours course in 2022. The course encompassed a whole range of subjects, some academic, some practical. She favoured the practical.
“We did a variety of things from accounting, economics, practical plotting, statistics and the science of growing trees. In our last year we could specialise a little more, so I focussed on the roading and harvesting subjects, because I enjoyed the engineering and harvesting side.”
Having a dad who was a logging crew operator was...
