Arborists and tree jobs in Southland

Invercargill and the rest of Southland

Invercargill has its own page. Jobs from Gore, Winton, Riverton or Te Anau go through the same form.

How tree rules work in Southland

Southland's councils protect trees through their district plans. On an urban section, a plan can only protect a tree it schedules, a rule that's applied since 1 January 2012. Ask your council whether yours is on the list.

During the move to the new planning system, councils keep processing resource consents under the Resource Management Act 1991, and you still apply through your local council. Our tree rules page explains how.

Shelter belts on farms and lifestyle blocks

Macrocarpa has been widely planted in New Zealand for shelter and timber. It tolerates drought, frost and salt-laden winds, but the NZ Farm Forestry Association says it prefers some shelter and is prone to toppling on some sites.

Cattle, goats and deer will strip macrocarpa bark and kill the trees. Cypresses can also cause abortion in pregnant cattle, so keep them well back from fence lines where cattle graze next door. Macrocarpa doesn't regrow from a cut stump, and its roots are slow to decay. Land and shelter belt clearing and the macrocarpa guide go further.

Planting near rural lines

From 23 July 2027, in the low height planting zone outside urban areas, you mustn't plant a tree you'd reasonably expect to grow taller than its distance from the line. The new treefall hazard zone extends 24 metres from the edge of the growth limit zone, though being inside it doesn't automatically make a tree hazardous.

PowerNet's approved and recommended tree-trimming contractor is Asplundh, and within 4 m of a network line only approved utility arborists may trim.