How do you become an arborist in New Zealand?
The qualifications Tahatu lists for arborists, what the WorkSafe arboriculture code says about qualified arborists, and the employer subsidy and student membership pages.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here.
Tahatu, the New Zealand government careers service, has a career page for arborists, also known there as utility arborist, climbing arborist, arboriculture consultant, urban forester and tree surgeon. It says a qualification is needed to become an arborist and sets out which ones. The wider guide for the country is starting in New Zealand.
Qualifications Tahatu lists
| Status on the page | Qualification or requirement |
|---|---|
| You need | A New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) at Level 3, or a New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services at Level 4 |
| You may need | A New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply (Utility Arboriculture) at Level 3 |
| You may need | A New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture at Level 5, or a New Zealand Diploma in Arboriculture at Level 6 |
| You may need | Experience in similar work, climbing or elevated work platform (EWP) experience, and a driver licence |
The page gives the training time as one year and says no specific NCEA levels are usually needed for school leavers. It says the 2023 Census counted 1.5K people employed as arborists, with employment change marked steady between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. Tasks it lists include trimming and pruning, removing dangerous and damaged branches, operating chainsaws, inspecting trees, climbing, estimating costs and following health and safety rules. It says arborists may work extra hours, including nights, and may be on call.
What the WorkSafe arboriculture code says
The WorkSafe New Zealand approved code Safety and Health in Arboriculture requires arborists doing arboricultural work to be suitably qualified for it, and requires the competency outcomes to be documented, including any national qualifications behind them. The code defines a qualified arborist as a person who holds a recognised degree, diploma or certificate in arboricultural operations, is familiar with the equipment and hazards, has shown the ability to perform the tasks, and meets the competencies in the code. It defines a trainee as an employee or student who is not yet competent and is supervised by a competent person.
The code also says that no person uses a chainsaw for tree work unless they have fully demonstrated competence and practical knowledge in chainsaw operation and tree climbing.
Help with apprentices and students
- Work and Income describes Apprenticeship Boost as a payment to employers of NZ$500 a month, not including GST, per eligible apprentice, for up to 12 months. The apprentice must be less than 12 months into the apprenticeship, and whether a qualification is covered is checked on the Tertiary Education Commission's site. The page does not name arboriculture.
- The New Zealand Arboricultural Association's membership page lists a student category, free for one year, limited to students and trainees enrolled in arboricultural qualifications registered with NZQA.
Credit: the approved code is WorkSafe New Zealand's. Its copyright page allows reproduction free of charge when the source is acknowledged. Our text is a restatement.
Sources
- Tahatu (Tertiary Education Commission, New Zealand), Arborist, read October 8, 2026
- WorkSafe New Zealand, Safety and Health in Arboriculture approved code of practice, read October 8, 2026
- WorkSafe New Zealand, Copyright, read October 9, 2026
- Work and Income, Apprenticeship Boost, read October 8, 2026
- NZ Arboricultural Association, Membership, read October 8, 2026