Nearby Arborist's own checks
Insurance and qualifications checked.
Whatever the arborist tells you, three things are worth seeing for yourself before work starts: their liability insurance and its expiry date, the NZQA qualification of whoever does your job, and, from your council, whether the tree needs consent.
NZQA qualifications worth asking about
NZQA, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, lists the arboriculture qualifications, and NZ Arb, the industry association, says courses run from introductory Level 2 up to diploma Level 6.
For tree work, ask about the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) with its Arboriculture strand. Its graduates can carry out tree removal using a range of felling techniques, and demonstrate rescue techniques at height. The New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 5) is for people with significant industry experience, in supervisory or technical streams.
For a report, the New Zealand Diploma in Arboriculture (Level 6) trains technical specialists, with an emphasis on tree risk assessment. Christchurch City Council, for one, sets its benchmark for technician arborists at that Level 6 standard.
Near power lines, the New Zealand Certificate in Electricity Supply (Utility Arboriculture) (Level 3) prepares people for utility arboriculture. Anyone trimming within 4 m of a network line has to be a qualified and approved utility arborist.
Industry memberships
NZ Arb runs a Registered Master Arborist programme and a Find a Master Arborist directory on its website. It says assessment covers industry, arboricultural and legislative knowledge, practical ability, and proven client service and business systems.
That's an industry credential rather than an NZQA qualification, and it's fair to ask about. WorkSafe's 2012 arboriculture code says all arborists doing arboricultural work shall be suitably qualified for it.
Insurance
Ask to see the arborist's liability insurance and the date it runs to. If something gets damaged during the job, you'll want to know they're covered, so get the details before the work starts, not after.
What to ask any arborist before saying yes
- Which NZQA qualification do you hold, and does the person doing my job hold one too?
- Can I see your liability insurance, with its expiry date?
- Does this tree need council consent, and who's applying if it does?
- Is any part of the tree within 4 metres of a power line, and who handles that part?
- How will it come down, and what happens to the stump, the wood and the clean-up?
- Will all of that be in a written quote?
Reasons to slow down
- A knock on the door after a storm from someone wanting cash before any work starts.
- No insurance details when you ask for them.
- A firm figure for a big tree from someone who hasn't looked at it properly.
- Being told not to bother with the council for a large, old or native tree.
- An offer to top the tree to make it safe. Cutting a tree back to stubs tends to bring weak regrowth, not safety.