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20 Years of Knowing How It's Done

Great timber doesn't just happen. It's the result of knowledge, teamwork, and people who take genuine pride in what they do. At Mitchpine, we're lucky to have a few of those people who've been here long enough to become part of the place itself. Sam Hamera Ponga is one of them.

Sam is a Machine Operator who has been with Mitchpine for over 20 years. He's the kind of person the whole team looks up to — reliable, easy going, and unassuming. He's not the loudest person in the room, but when Sam speaks, people listen. That's what two decades of experience does.

Ask him what a day looks like and he'll tell you: "Every day is different — fast, slow, really good." That ability to take whatever the day throws at you and get on with it is exactly the kind of attitude that keeps a busy sawmill running smoothly.

Over his time at Mitchpine, Sam has trained in post peeling, grading, driving, and operating most of the machinery on site. That breadth of knowledge makes him invaluable — and means he genuinely understands every part of the process his timber goes through. His favourite part of the job? "We have a good team of workers who know how to do their job well." Even his answer is about the people around him.

One more thing worth mentioning — Sam hasn't stopped smiling since the new round wood mill started up. We'll take that as a good sign.

Outside of work, Sam tends to his kai garden and keeps it simple with fruit and water on his breaks. When the ice cream truck rolls in though, it's a choc double dip. Every time. And as for memorable moments? "Once or twice I may have come to work on a public holiday." Twenty years in, he's earned the right to tell that story however he likes.

Thank you Sam. Twenty years and counting — we hope there are plenty more to come.

Mitchpine is a third-generation family sawmill based in Horowhenua, supplying treated timber, posts, poles and more to merchant stores across New Zealand.