The Arboriculture Sector Competition is run by the NZ Arboriculture Association

Who to contact

For details about this sectors competition -

Contact: Richard Wanhill

Phone: 027 289 9596

Email: richard.wanhill@horttraining.ac.nz

Applications are now closed

The representative for the Arboriculture sector at the 2008 competition is Branden Heslop. Brandon works for Advanced Trees Services in Canterbury.

Brandon, (30), spent seven years as a panel beater and a year snow boarding in Canada before deciding to turn his love of climbing from a hobby to a career. 

As a climbing arborist at Advanced Tree Services, a Christchurch City Council-approved contractor, Brandon is one of a team of five who provide all aspects of tree management to commercial and residential clients in Christchurch, Canterbury and surrounding regions.

Brandon’s job entails working with very large amenity trees in excess of 30m tall, to the very small in residential gardens. He spent a year at Otago Polytechnic studying arboriculture before joining Advance Tree Services three years ago. He has completed level 4 of the National Certificate in Arboriculture and is studying for level 5.

Brandon admires trees, describing them as amazing living things. When he isn’t pruning, removing, transplanting, trimming and shaping trees he climbs them for fun and competes in regional and national climbing events organised by the New Zealand Arboricultural Association. He also keeps up an interest in abseiling and caving.