Canvas is accessible only within New Zealand and Australia.
Canvas is accessible only within New Zealand and Australia.
The wood manufacturing programmes provide nationally recognised qualifications that combine practical workplace training with technical knowledge. They equip people with the skills to work across New Zealand’s wood processing and manufacturing sector, from entry-level roles in wood handling and distribution to advanced trades such as timber machining, saw doctoring, finger-jointing, and sawmilling. Training covers safe operation of machinery, quality control, timber treatment, process efficiency, and environmental requirements, ensuring skills are aligned with industry standards across multiple specialisations.
Benefits of the programme
Programmes available
» Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Timber Machining
» Level 4 New Zealand Apprenticeship in Saw Doctoring
» Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Sawmilling
Wood manufacturing offers hands-on, practical careers across processing, machining, and production — with clear pathways to build skills and progress over time.
Competenz supports learners with on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and nationally recognised qualifications designed around real work in the industry.
We work closely with employers and industry groups such as the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association (WPMA) to promote careers, support new learners, and create work-based training opportunities.
Training is practical and competency-based, with assessment based on real tasks completed in the workplace.
Solid wood manufacturing qualifications cover a range of specialist areas (known as strands), each focused on specific skills and best practice in yard and processing environments.
In some cases, shorter programme options are available if you already have relevant experience.
Competenz also offers solid wood manufacturing apprenticeships, leading to the completion of Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications, including:
All apprenticeships meet New Zealand Apprenticeship rules.
Subjects such as technology, maths, science, PE, and workshop-based learning provide a strong foundation for wood manufacturing careers.
You can start your career through a traineeship or apprenticeship in roles such as:
With experience and training, you may progress into roles such as:
Longer-term pathways can lead to roles such as:
Competenz can provide training plans, support and qualifications – tailored to your businesses specific needs.
We partner with industry associations like the Wood Processors Manufacturing Association and members of your industry to help recruit and build talented employees. This support includes promoting careers in your industry, identifying potential learners, and encouraging work placements.
We also ensure your industry’s qualifications continue to meet needs, support industry events like conferences and regularly celebrate your learners’ success.
Solid wood manufacturing qualifications are comprised of a number of disciplines, each with a unique qualification variation (strand) and specific unit standards (learning outcomes) to help assess competency and promote best practices in the yard or in the processing factory.
In some cases two programme options exist for each qualification. A shorter duration option may be chosen if the trainee already holds some of the required units and will therefore complete the qualification in a shorter time.
Competenz also offers solid wood manufacturing apprenticeships which result in the completion of both a Level 3 and Level 4 qualification. Our solid wood manufacturing apprenticeships include:
All of our apprenticeships comply with the New Zealand Apprenticeship rules.
