Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4), aboriculture

THE COURSE

Educationists rate Wintec's aboriculture courses among the top five worldwide.

The Wintec level four certificate is studied mainly in Hamilton but block courses are offered in Auckland and elsewhere when student numbers are sufficient.

Students study part-time in block courses or fulltime, with fulltimers spending 20 hours in class each week. Individual study depends on the semester and can be up to 10 hours a week. Students are encouraged to work in the industry to develop their skills.

Half the course is spent developing practical skills, including chainsaw use, tree felling, climbing and dismantling, tree surgery and pruning, planting and transplanting, and managing trees near powerlines.

Field trips include a week at McLaren Falls, Tauranga, a visit to Forest Research, Rotorua, and a week at Eastwoodhill Arboretum, Gisborne.

Theory includes tree biology and health diagnosis, tree identification, inspection and evaluation, law, and soil.

Assessment is based on oral and practical test and written exams with industry practitioners often invited to moderate assessments by tutors.

Students can also obtain the NZQA National Certificate Level 4 and, with another year's study, gain a diploma in arboriculture.

In a sector experiencing a major shortage of qualified arborists, with some companies bringing in overseas arborists, mature graduates of the course have set up their own businesses and younger people have found jobs in companies and councils.

The qualification is recognised overseas and graduates can be found working in Europe, North America and Australia.

Diploma graduates find jobs as technicians, managers, consultants and trainers with councils, consultants and planners.

Depending on responsibilities, a new graduate can expect to earn $14 to $25 an hour and may be provided with a vehicle and expenses. Diploma students can earn more than $50,000 a year.

Course entrants need work experience, credits from another qualification, or a certificate in trade technology, which is a one-year course at Wintec or other education provider offering similar horticultural qualifications.

The course costs $5000, which covers $700 of climbing equipment and several field trips. It is open to 25 students a year with the next intake in February.

Applications for fulltime courses close at the end of January. However, a summer school is offered and anyone interested should contact the school this month.

WHAT STUDENTS THINK

* Craig Wilson, 20

Arborist

Hamilton

Graduated 2003, studying for diploma

I love trees and the outdoors. My brother had done the course and introduced me to it. I love to climb. It's physically demanding and climbing with ropes and harnesses is a lot of fun.

I found the course really enjoyable but a lot of hard work. I learned a lot. The second year is 40 per cent practical and 60 per cent theory but this year the diploma is 100 per cent theory and teaches the managerial aspects.

A few students drop out because they don't know what the job entails before they get into it. I'd advise people to talk to the tutors first. They are excellent.

One, Andy Harrison, is New Zealand's best climber so you're learning from those at the top of their game, the best there are.

Competition climbing is a real thrill and I'll be competing again at the nationals on November 11 in Queenstown. I was fourth at the nationals last year.

WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK

* Mike Williams

Arborist team leader

City Parks Department

Hamilton City Council

I did the certificate from 1997 to 99 and then the diploma, which is more about supervision and managing. It's good for contracting and pricing, management, in-depth planning and tree operations.

Our team has six fulltime arborists and three students working part time, of which Craig is one. We have 28,000 to 30,000 trees on 800 streets and the park trees.

The Wintec course really stacks up and the calibre of the tutors is high. Andy Harrison is New Zealand's climbing champion. Students are well prepared for work with good practical skills and a sound knowledge of theory.



The qualification

Certificate in horticulture (level 4), aboriculture

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)

Contact: Wintec

Phone: 07 834-8800 ext 7921

Earning: $30,000 to $50,000