A Day in the Life of a Christchurch Arborist
Ah, Christchurch—The Garden City. A paradise for trees, and by extension, a paradise for arborists. If you’ve ever seen someone dangling from a tree like an overgrown possum with a chainsaw in hand, chances are you’ve spotted one of our Beavers in action. It’s a job that keeps you on your toes (sometimes literally) and one that requires both skill and a healthy respect for gravity.
Beaver Tree Service is Christchurch’s Longest-Standing Tree Company, and we’ve been caring for the city’s trees for decades. Our roots run deep—just like the trees we care for. From early beginnings as a small, dedicated team to becoming an industry leader, we’ve seen Christchurch’s landscape evolve, weathered its storms (literally), and helped shape its urban greenery. Through rebuilding efforts, and changing cityscapes, we’ve remained committed to keeping the Garden City lush, safe, and beautiful.
What Does an Arborist Actually Do?
Contrary to popular belief, we don’t just chop trees down for fun. Our mission is to care for Christchurch’s trees, making sure they remain healthy, safe, and beautiful. Pruning, trimming, height reductions, removals, and risk assessment all fall under our domain.
Given Christchurch’s history—earthquakes, unpredictable weather, and a landscape that’s constantly shifting—our job is about more than just tree care. We’re also in the business of making sure trees don’t pose a risk to people or property. If a tree’s been left leaning at an angle since the last big shake or storm, it might be time to call in the experts – that’s us!
The Unique Challenges of Being an Arborist in Christchurch
One thing about this job—it’s never dull. Between navigating post-earthquake tree damage, unpredictable weather, and a city that’s in a constant state of rebuilding, there’s always something new to tackle. The strong Canterbury winds love to test a tree’s resilience, which means we’re often out after storms cleaning up the aftermath. With our afterhours emergency contact number our team is ready to respond swiftly!
The Skills You Need to Be an Arborist
Becoming an arborist isn’t just about having a head for heights – although that certainly helps! It takes a mix of technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, a willingness to get your hands (and everything else) dirty and an understanding of the aesthetics of trees.
An NZ Certificate in Arboriculture is a great place to start, teaching the ins and outs of tree biology, safe climbing techniques, and how not to get your ropes tangled like Christmas lights. Our qualified arborists have a minimum of a level 3 certificate and our apprentices will be actively working on gaining their qualifications.
We also take safety seriously. We have recently acquired our SiteWise Gold certification demonstrating that your safety and peace of mind are our top priorities. Learning how to use chainsaws, rigging gear, and heavy machinery safely is all part of the trade and the minimum of our safety expectations for our Beavers.
There’s also an element of detective work—spotting the early signs of disease or decay in a tree before it becomes a hazard takes a trained eye.
The Perks of the Job
Despite the hard work, there’s nothing quite like spending your days outdoors, high up in the canopy, with a view most people would pay big bucks for. And the satisfaction of bringing an old, neglected tree back to life? Priceless.
What’s Next for Christchurch’s Trees?
With urban development and reforestation projects on the rise, arborists are in high demand. New trees are being planted as part of the city’s regeneration, and existing ones need expert care to thrive in our changing climate.
Whether we’re climbing towering trees in Hagley Park or advising homeowners on how to keep their trees healthy, arborists are the caretakers of Christchurch’s urban forest. And if you ever need a tree expert – for all jobs, big and small – Beaver Tree Service is always here to help!
Meet the team!
If you’d like to meet some of our amazing Christchurch team why not visit our stand at the Canterbury Home Show from 21st to 23rd March 2025. Have a chat about your tree care needs and find out why Beaver Tree Service is the arborist to call!
To find out more about what else you can find at the show visit https://canterburyhomeshow.co.nz/.
