Arborists and tree jobs in Northland

Where do Northland tree jobs come from?

Whangārei has its own page, with the local detail. Jobs from Kerikeri, Kaitāia, Dargaville or a rural block in between go through the same form, because the postcode tells us where the tree is.

How are trees protected in Northland?

Northland's councils protect trees through their district plans. Since 1 January 2012, the Resource Management Act has only let a plan protect a tree on an urban section if the tree is scheduled. So for any big job, the first question is whether yours is on the list.

Existing plans and consent processes carry on while the new planning system comes in, so ring the council before anything is cut. Our tree rules page explains resource consents and how to check an address.

Kauri on or near the section

Kauri grow naturally from Te Paki in the far north southwards, and Northland's councils are part of the national plan against kauri dieback. The disease comes from a soil-borne pathogen that gets in through the roots, and there's no known cure.

If your kauri look unhealthy, the plan says you must let Tiakina Kauri or the regional council know. Signs can include bleeding gum at the base of the trunk, yellowing leaves and a thinning canopy, though not every lesion is dieback.

The kauri hygiene zone reaches 3 times the radius of the dripline (the outer edge of the canopy). Since 2 August 2023, earthworks inside it have needed an earthworks risk management plan. If roots or a stump near a kauri are part of the job, ask the arborist how the rules apply. Ask, too, how they'll keep soil from leaving the site. The kauri dieback guide has more.

Pōhutukawa country

Pōhutukawa occurs naturally north of Poverty Bay and north Taranaki, so Northland's coast is home ground. NZPCN says possum browse can seriously damage and even kill it, and myrtle rust, a wind-borne disease, can infect it too. Our pōhutukawa guide covers pruning and roots.

Before you book anything

Ask the council whether the tree is listed, check for kauri within reach of the work, and find out which lines company runs your road. With those three answers, whoever quotes can plan the job properly.