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Demonstrate knowledge of the New Zealand arboriculture industry

Level / 2
Credits / 3

PurposeThis unit standard is for people beginning a career or training in the arboriculture industry in New Zealand. People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the history and development of the arboriculture industry; the structure and governance of arboriculture organisations important to arborists and the New Zealand arboriculture industry; and important issues that affect arborists and the arboriculture industry in New Zealand.

Subfield / Horticulture
Domain / Arboriculture
Status / Registered
Status date / 11 December 2009
Date version published / 11 December 2009
Planned review date / 31 December 2014
Entry information / Open.
Accreditation / Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
Standard setting body (SSB) / Primary Industry Training Organisation
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference / 0032

This AMAP can be accessed at

Special notes

1Relevant reference material

The Codes of Practice are: Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Tree Work – Part 1 – Arboriculture (1994);

Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Tree Work – Part 2 – Maintenance of Trees Around Power Lines (1996);

Approved Code of Practice for Power-Operated Elevated Work Platforms (1995);

Guide for Safety with Underground Services (2002); and their subsequent amendments, available from regional offices of the Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Service, or the website

Working on the Road: A Handbook for Temporary Traffic Control and Safety at Roadworks Sites, available from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA).

Code of Conduct, New Zealand Arboricultural Association Inc. (NZAA), (2004), available from NZAA Inc., PO Box 5596, Wellesley Street, Auckland.

The Standards are: BS 3998:1989 Recommendations for tree work; available from

ANSI Z133.1-2006 Safety Requirements;

ANSI A300 Standards for Tree Care Operations (Parts 1 – 7) and their subsequent amendments, available from the website

2Legislation relevant to this unit standard includes – Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Health and Safety in Employment Regulations 1995, Resource Management Act 1991, Biosecurity Act 1993, Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, Reserves Act 1977, Local Government Act 2002; and their subsequent amendments.

Elements and performance criteria

Element 1

Describe the history and development of the arboriculture industry in New Zealand.

Performance criteria

1.1The history of arboriculture is described in terms of the relationship between the industry in New Zealand and the rest of the world.

1.2Common types of work undertaken by New Zealand arborists are described.

Rangemay include but are not limited to – felling, pruning, growing trees, identification, inspections, pest and disease control, planting, tree surveys and reports, risk management, protection and/or retention during development, transplanting, veteran tree management.

1.3Trees are described in terms of their importance and uses.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – arboretums and/or botanical collections, beautification, landscaping, conservation, environmental modification, education, recreation, shelter, tree crops.

1.4Organisations in New Zealand interested in trees or associated with arboriculture are described in terms of their functions with respect to trees.

Rangemay include but are not limited to – Department of Conservation, SCION Ltd (formally the New Zealand Forest Research Institute), New Zealand Farm Forestry Association, NZAA 32nd Chapter ISA, The Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH) Notable Trees Trust, local government authorities, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Nursery and Garden Industry Association, transmission (power) companies, regional tree protection groups.

Element 2

Describe the structure and governance of arboriculture organisations important to arborists and the New Zealand arboriculture industry.

Performance criteria

2.1National arboriculture organisations involved in New Zealand and Australia are identified and their structure and governance functions are described in terms of their importance to practising arborists.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – NZAA, ISAAC (International Society of Arboriculture Australian Chapter).

2.2The functions and influence of international arboriculture organisations involved in arboriculture are described in terms of their importance to the New Zealand industry.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Arboricultural Association (United Kingdom), TCIA – Tree Care Industry Association (United States of America).

2.3Sources of arboricultural information in New Zealand are described in terms of accessing help or assistance on technical matters.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – arboriculture advisory services, consultants, SCION Ltd, International Society of Arboriculture, local authorities, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, private and industry contacts, national and international standards bodies, polytechnics and universities.

Element 3

Describe important issues that affect arborists and the arboriculture industry in NewZealand.

Performance criteria

3.1Job and educational opportunities are described in terms of career pathways.

3.2Safety codes and codes of practice are described in terms of how they apply to the work of arborists.

3.3Issues affecting the industry are described in terms of their effects and relative importance.

Rangemay include but is not limited to – biosecurity and quarantine measures, business conditions and demand for arboricultural services, environmental degradation, reforestation policies, tree and forest protection, tree work near power lines.

Please note

Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.

Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.

Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.

Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.

Comments on this unit standard

Please contact the Primary Industry Training Organisation if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.

 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018