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Title / Thin shelter belts and/or plantations
Level / 4 / Credits / 8
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: select and prepare thinning equipment and machinery; carry out field preparation; thin shelter belts and/or plantations; and carry out post-operational procedures.
Classification / Rural Contracting > Agricultural Contracting
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Driver licence and any driver licence endorsement appropriate to the machine or vehicle being used.
Explanatory notes
1Thefollowing legislation and requirements apply to this unit standard:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Resource Management Act 1991;
Territorial authority and/or regional council (TA/RC) requirements;
Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Arboriculture (Wellington: MBIE, 2012); and
A Guide to Safety with Chainsaws (Wellington: Department of Labour, 2011); and
Tree felling assessment tool(Wellington: Worksafe New Zealand, 2014)all available from
Manufacturer’s instructions.
Other requirements applicable to this unit standard may include but are not limited to:
Approved Code of Practice for Operator Protective Structures on Self-Propelled Mobile Mechanical Plant(Wellington: Department of Labour, 1999); and
Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Noise in the Workplace(Wellington: Department of Labour, 2002); both available from
Any legislation or other requirement superseding any of the above will apply, pending review of this unit standard.
2Assessment against this unit standard must be based on evidence from a workplace context, and must include evidence of at least two of trimming, topping, or removing trees from shelter belts and/or plantations.
3Personal protective equipment, appropriate to job requirements, is to be selected and used in accordance with company requirements and manufacturer’s instructions.
4Definitions
Company requirementsrefer to all policies, procedures, and methodologies the candidate’s organisation has in place including but not limited to those relating to health, safety, environment, quality, and operations.
Manufacturer’s instructions may include specifications, installation, handling, use, and maintenance instructions and safety data sheets.
TA/RC refers toterritorial authority and/or regional council.
Thinning means to remove, trim or toptrees from a shelter belt and/or plantation and does not exclude other agricultural contracting situations requiring thinning. Trees may include vines.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Select and prepare thinning equipment and machinery.
Evidence requirements
1.1Equipment and machinery chosen are appropriate for the work to be carried out, in accordance with the company requirements and manufacturer’s instructions.
Rangechainsaw; may include but is not limited to at least three of – shredder, stump grinder, log skidder, axe, lopper, tracked tractor, excavator, loader.
1.2Equipment and machinery are checked for condition, damage, wear, and faults; problems are identified; and corrective action is taken in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and company requirements.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – chains, knives, belts, teeth, axe blade, nuts and bolts.
1.3Checks are made and any necessary actions are taken or adjustments made to ensure the mobile machinery complies with legal and company requirements for operator health and safety.
Outcome 2
Carry out field preparation.
Evidence requirements
2.1Hazards are identified and controlled in accordance with the Arboriculture Code of Practice and company requirements.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – people, animals, overhead wires, poles, fences, junction boxes, traffic, implements, property structures.
2.2Removal of trees to maximise survival and optimum mature shape for remaining trees is confirmed in accordance with client requirements.
2.3Disposal options for thinnings and/or stumps are identified and the preferred option is decided upon in accordance with client and TA/RC requirements.
Outcome 3
Thin shelter belts and/or plantations.
Evidence requirements
3.1Shelter belts and/or plantationsare thinned with no risk of harm to people or animals and with minimal damage to adjoining trees or property structures.
3.2Thinnings and/or trees are disposed of in accordance with client and TA/RC requirements.
Outcome 4
Carry out post-operational procedures.
Evidence requirements
4.1Shut-down procedures are carried out in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and company procedures.
4.2Any damage or faults including any missing, bent, broken, or loose parts are identified and are repaired, replaced, or reported in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and company requirements.
4.3Equipment and machinery are stored in accordance with company requirements.
4.4Documentation for the operation is completed in accordance with company and client requirements, and is stored in accordance with company requirements.
Planned review date / 31 December 2020Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 23 July 1996 / 31 December 2016
Revision / 2 / 5 January 1999 / 31 December 2016
Revision / 3 / 18 January 2000 / 31 December 2016
Review / 4 / 31 October 2002 / 31 December 2016
Review / 5 / 25 June 2007 / 31 December 2016
Review / 6 / 16 July 2015 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0101
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The CMR 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 Infrastructure ITO at you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Infrastructure ITOSSB Code 101813 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018