New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Arboriculture) (Level 3) and New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Arboriculture) (Level 4)

About the programme

Do you love working outdoors and want a hands-on, physical job? Arborists/tree surgeons are in demand for their ability to care for, and maintain, trees.

Become a tree surgeon by studying arboriculture – a specialised field involving pruning, felling, transplanting and maintaining the health of trees and shrubs.

New Zealand’s diverse and robust horticulture and related industries have experienced a steady growth over recent years and this means that qualified and experienced arborists are in demand, not only in this country, but across the world.

Employment opportunities exist within City or District council parks and gardens, with private companies, or as a contract climber. With motivation and further experience you could even think about self-employment or tree care consultancy roles.

During this programme, you'll learn both the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of carrying out arboriculture tasks, with an emphasis on hands-on training in parks and garden areas around Dunedin. Field trips and four weeks of work experience are important parts of the programme that help you to connect with those already working in this dynamic industry.

Graduates of this programme will receive both the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) (Arboriculture) and New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) (Arboriculture).

Entry

Skills needed to work in this area

• Physical fitness
• Planning and organisational skills
• Good communication and team work skills
• A good work ethic
• An eye for detail

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• NCEA Level 1 OR equivalent.
• Applicants must have the physical and cognitive ability required for tree climbing and working at heights. A medical certificate may be requested to support an individual’s eligibility to enrol in the programme.

English Language requirements

If English is not your first language, you must provide:

• New Zealand University Entrance OR
• Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
• Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.   

Special entry

• In exceptional circumstances, any applicant who does not meet the academic entry requirements may be granted entry to the programme where they supply evidence of their ability to succeed in the programme to the Learning Leader of the Programme.

Other requirements

• If accepted, you must comply with the current Drug and Alcohol Policy for the Arboriculture Programme.
• All students will complete the National Adult Literacy and Numeracy Assessment tool on commencement and on completion of their programme.

Selection process

Applications that meet the entry requirements are processed on a first come-first served basis until the programme has reached capacity.