Chainsaw Use By Woman Revs Right Up: More Women Making The Cut... With Caution

• Female customers buying chainsaws increase 30%
• Chainsaw-related ACC claims by females increase 26%
• Overall cost of ACC claims for chainsaw accidents up 75%

A significant increase in Kiwi’s buying chainsaws aligns strongly with the latest chainsaw-related ACC claims.

The country’s leading battery-powered chainsaw retailer STIHL NZ says it has especially noticed a major boost in female customers buying chainsaws - coinciding with the proliferation of light, manoeuvrable and much quieter battery chainsaws to market.

STIHL NZ marketing manager, Stace Hall, says annual brand awareness surveys and data from their more than 100 retail stores shows the split of female/male customers for battery chainsaws has increased dramatically in the last four years from a 20:80 female/male chainsaw-buyer split to now being 50:50.

“The continuing trend from the post Covid period has seen more and more people spending greater amounts of time in their backyards or even relocating to much bigger ones from the suburban backyard to lifestyle blocks etc.”

A corresponding increase in ACC chainsaw-related claims amongst women especially reflects the increased popularity and usage of chainsaws.

• 2020 – 2024: ACC chainsaw related claims by females increased 26% (243 claims to 306)
• Chainsaw related claims by males showed a small decrease during this same period (2431 to 2311)
• 2020 – 2024: Overall cost of ACC claims for chainsaw accidents increased 75% ($4.1m to $7.2m)

Hall says although chainsaws are very safe when used correctly, STIHL constantly reminds its new cohort of battery chainsaw buyers that despite the machines being much lighter, quieter and easier to use, they are still very powerful and to therefore always use protective chaps, goggles, ear muffs and gloves.

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