Arboriculture (trees)
Arboriculture is all about working with trees – from pruning and transplanting, to felling and removing. All trees need care and maintenance, whether they’re for private clients or government departments.
Job overview
You’ll be part of a team learning to identify, climb, prune, fell, and remove trees. If you love trees and like being outdoors, you will not find a more fulfilling career.
Skills and experience
- Enjoy physical labour and the satisfaction of putting in a hard day’s work
- Able to plan, follow instructions and deliver
- Excellent communication skills
- Passion for working outdoors
- Comfortable with heights
- Understand health and safety practices
- Class 2 drivers licence will be an advantage
- Able and eligible to work in New Zealand
- Eager to learn and train while you work
- Able to work independently or as part of a team
- Agile and enjoy a variety of challenges
News from our learners and employers
Sami Baker, this year's Primary ITO Got a Trade Ambassador, clearly remembers driving past a crew of arborists in Christchurch years ago who were dangling from trees holding chainsaws and thinking ‘that would be a dream job’.
Climbing tall trees and wielding chainsaws is a dangerous business, so health and safety is a top priority for employers such as Franklin Trees.
Auckland University graduate Josh Symes held a degree in geography and environmental science but like so many other young people, he was left wondering ‘what now?’
She is a five times world tree climbing champion but Chrissy Spence still remembers her first ever arboriculture job when she realised she was “petrified” of heights.