About Us
We’ve been managing forestry assets for more than two decades.
Established in 1999, Mahi Rākau is a family-owned and operated company which provides professional forest management and silviculture services.
With over 200 years combined expertise, our aim is to provide the highest possible standard of quality in everything we do, so that our clients can get the greatest return from their forest.
As part of our quality assurance system we have a strong focus on training our people. We strive to ensure that all personnel have the skills, knowledge and training required to perform all tasks safely and productively to NZQA levels.
Our Leaders
Stewart Hyde
Ngati Raukawa / Ngati Maniapoto
MANAGING DIRECTOR / OPERATIONS MANAGER
Involved in forestry since 1969 when he attended Golden Downs Woodsmen School in Nelson learning about Forest Operations. In 1999, with 30 years’ experience under his belt, he helped form the company now known as Mahi Rākau. His role includes the oversight of all silviculture and thinning operations.
Raymond Waiariki
Ngāi Tūhoe
MANAGING DIRECTOR / OPERATIONS MANAGER
Began his forestry career in 1966 working for Kaingaroa Logging Company. In 1999 he helped form the company now known as Mahi Rākau. He has extensive knowledge of both silviculture and harvesting operations. His role includes the oversight of all silviculture and thinning operations.
Betty Waiariki
Te Arawa/Ngati Kahungunu
FINANCE MANAGER
Betty is the Finance Manager at Mahi Rākau and has been with the company since it first started in 1999. She is responsible for the financial management of all operations. With a NZ Certificate in Accounting, and an Australian Certificate in Accounting and Forest Operations Management, she brings to this role over 40 years accounting experience in the forestry industry.
Ryan Hyde
Ngati Raukawa/Ngati Whakatere
Ngati Maniapoto
PLANNING SUPERVISOR
Ryan started his forestry career in 1999 when Mahi Rākau was first formed. He completed a Modern Apprenticeship in Silvicultural Pruning and Thinning in 2002, and completed his National Certificate in Forestry Harvesting in 2003. In 2008 he obtained a Business Management Degree majoring in Accounting at the University of Waikato, and in 2013 he became a fully qualified Chartered Accountant.
Ryan is now in charge of coordinating all of our work programs. With his experience on the ground, he understands the challenges our people face at work, and is able to use this experience to maximise operating efficiencies and productivity.
Nadia Porima
Ngāi Tūhoe/Te Arawa
PAYROLL OFFICER
Nadia is the Payroll Officer at Mahi Rākau and has been with the company since 2003. Making sure our people are accurately paid for the work they do is something that is important at Mahi Rākau. With a considerably large workforce, employees performing multiple silviculture operations within each pay period, and employees working in numerous forestry estates, this is a complicated and challenging role. One that Nadia brings a high level of dedication, accuracy and attention to detail too.
Joe Taute
Tainui/Ngai Tahu
HEALTH, SAFETY, TRAINING & RECRUITMENT
CO-ORDINATOR
Joe joined Mahi Rākau in 2016. He brings to the role years of experience in Health and Safety. Prior to joining our team he spent the previous 8 years working for BHP Billiton, where he was also in charge of Health and Safety and Training.
As our Health and Safety Coordinator, Joe spends a lot of time in the field with our people, mentoring them and making sure they have all the necessary training to do their job safely and effectively. He is also in charge of our recruitment process. So as soon as anyone new joins our team, Joe will tailor a detailed training plan specifically for them.
Raymond Waiariki Jnr
Ngāi Tūhoe / Te Arawa
THINNING OPERATIONS MANAGER
Ray Jnr started his forestry career in 1992, spraying and planting eucalyptus trees. In 1999 he started with Mahi Rākau in thinning operations as a crew manager. He completed National Certificates in Pruning and Thinning in 2001 and Operations Management in 2004. He has been involved in the management of chainsaw and thin to waste operations since 1999 and is well experienced in all aspects of the job.
His main roles include the day to day management of thinning operations, communicating with forest owners, supervision of crew production, inspecting the quality of work and reporting results back to forest owners.
Rob Prescott
SILVICULTURE OPERATIONS MANAGER
Rob has been part of the team since the company first formed in 1999. Prior to joining Mahi Rākau he worked 12 years in forestry with Interpine and Stan Barlow. He also spent 3 years in the pulp and paper mill at Kawerau and 13 years at Tasman Lumber. He holds 5 National Certificates in Forestry and a lifetime of invaluable experience running silviculture operations.
His main roles include the day to day management of silviculture operations, communicating with forest owners, supervision of crew production, inspecting the quality of work and reporting results back to forest owners.
Rodney Makiha
Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao/Ngati Whakaue/Ngati Te Pou
SILVICULTURE OPERATIONS MANAGER
Rod started his journey in forestry in 1990 with a forestry course through Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao. Soon after, he joined Norm King Contracting, working in Forest Products/Tasman Forestry. He then joined Stan Barlow Contracting in 1991 where he became a crew manager.
He joined Mahi Rākau in 1999 as a crew manager and quickly became a supervisor to multiple crews in 2000. Since then he has been managing crews all over the North Island and helped manage relationships with multiple forest owners. He holds 5 National Certificates in Silviculture Operations and Management.
His main roles include the day to day management of silviculture operations, communicating with forest owners, supervision of crew production, inspecting the quality of work and reporting results back to forest owners.
“Forestry management is more than looking after trees, it’s about looking after people.”
— Stewart Hyde, Owner and Operator