Experienced arborist up-skills through Primary ITO

Arborist Ben, awarded his L5 Technical Operations certificate by Primary ITO Training Adviser, Linda

Ben works at Inkster Landscapes Ltd, providers of landscaping and tree services in the greater Auckland region. Established by his father Murray Inkster in 1990, the business currently has three climbing arborists training through Primary ITO.

Ben has worked in the industry for sixteen years, after starting fresh out of school doing hedge and groundwork for the first couple of years. He gained his Level 3 and 4 qualifications and has been growing his knowledge and experience ever since. He still vividly remembers his first tree climb as an arborist.

Ben on a crane-assisted felling job

Ben was keen to extend his knowledge, signing up to the NZ Certificate in Arboriculture – Technical Operations strand (Level 5) through Primary ITO in 2024. This programme focuses on advanced tree climbing and  rigging, working with cranes and felling using machine assistance. It also includes knowledge on leading, coaching and managing teams.

It sits alongside the  NZ Certificate in Arboriculture – Supervisory Operations strand (Level 5), which focuses on end-to-end project management and a high level of technical knowledge to lead arboriculture operations.

Ben wanted to gain another qualification, even though he had already performed most of the tasks covered in the programme.

“It’s good knowledge to have. I’d never braced a tree before so that module was really interesting, and I feel I could do that confidently now. I enjoyed the crane and machine assisted felling modules too, even though I’ve done a lot of that over the years.”

He says the calculations in the rigging module were interesting and would be useful for estimating weights of tree sections in crane work.

“We had two block courses at Wintec with really knowledgeable tutors, and it was cool to share stories with other people in the industry.

An arborist needs a good head for heights!

Ben recommends the programme to other arborists, saying one of their other staff members is keen to sign up.

Training Adviser Linda Dreadon says Ben has been a great trainee and he was happy to ask questions.

“He was proactive about finding information that was relevant to his studies and finding suitable jobs to report about.  It was never a problem to meet on site, or chat by phone, to ensure that he was heading the right direction with his assessments.”

Linda says this qualification has introduced learners to more advanced techniques, skills and knowledge, building on from the Level 4 qualification that Primary ITO provides. 

“With both supervisory and technical strands available, trainees learn skills ranging from report writing to dismantling trees with cranes.”

Ben says Inkster Landscapes is committed to having qualified staff to ensure they provide the best service for clients.

Ben says Inkster Landscapes are committed to having qualified staff

Ben says their learners are all keen to get qualified.

“They’ve always been given the opportunity. I think it’s important that everyone gets their qualifications and if you leave later on, it’s something to fall back on. A lot of companies want a minimum of level 4 when taking on staff these days.”

In the future Ben will take over the family business “when the time's right.”

“These days I prefer to spend less time up the tree to give the guys more opportunity to learn. For me it’s better to teach at the moment, so they can work on building their confidence and improving their skill sets.

“I also want to do my part in preserving the urban tree canopy around Auckland, and work with clients to consider alternative options where possible.”

Reflecting on arboriculture as a career path, Ben thinks it is a great option.

If you’re interested in speaking to a local Training Adviser about Arboriculture training options for you or your team, contact us using this form.

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