Kiwi arboriculture celebrates golden age

Media release

Kiwi arboriculture celebrates golden age

Competitive climber Tumai Laybourn in action. Photo credit: Ben Arthur

The recent 2013 Asplundh New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZ Arb) conference and Husqvarna National Tree Climbing Championships in Queenstown saw world champions in action, national champions announced, and industry stalwarts celebrated. 

The competition saw events testing competitors’ ability to professionally and safely manoeuvre in a tree, while performing work-related tree-care tasks efficiently.  The final event Masters’ Climb then saw the National Champions crowned – defending women’s national champion and recently crowned women’s world champion Nicky Ward-Allen, and defending men’s national champion James Kilpatrick.  

Both Nicky and James, also current world title holders of the footlock – a specialised event in the competition, will now represent New Zealand at the International Tree Climbing Championships next year in Milwaukee Wisconsin.  Fellow Kiwi Scott Forrest, current men’s world champion, has automatically qualified for next year’s event. 

The competition was part of NZ Arb’s annual conference which saw American tree expert Jim Orr presenting on Hurricane Sandy and Extreme Weather Response Systems, and the Ascending the Giants team, also from the USA, talking about champion trees.

NZ Arb President Chris Walsh says the event was valuable for the industry:  “Both the conference and the competition were outstanding successes.  New Zealand has long been the breeding ground for the very best climbers, practicing arborists, and technologies – this event showcased the best of the best and this is undoubtedly a golden age for our industry.”

Kevin Burt, Managing Director, Asplundh NZ agrees: “This year’s conference built on growing industry knowledge with new and innovative techniques and technologies, and a chance for the public to see our world champions in action.”

This sentiment is supported by competition sponsor, Husqvarna – the company’s Business Development Manager, Margot Dell says: “New Zealand’s pedigree in climbing competitions goes back a number of years and Kiwi arborists have regularly picked up world and regional titles, as well as records in individual disciplines – the skill level in this country is incredible.”

The conference also saw the 2013 Ronald Flook Award winner announced – an accolade acknowledging high standards of practice in arboriculture.  This year’s recipient, Ralph J Ballinger was born in 1915 in North Canterbury, and has been involved in the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH) and Notable Trees Scheme.  He was an avid supporter of the establishment of an arboricultural branch in the RNZIH and its subsequent formation as the NZ Arboricultural Association.

ENDS

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