National Occupation List occupation
Utility Arborist is occupation 362214 on the National Occupation List (NOL) V3.0, Stats NZ's New Zealand occupation classification, at NOL skill level 4. It has no ANZSCO 1.3 code of its own: Stats NZ maps it to ANZSCO 362212 Arborist.
Stats NZ describes the requirement for NOL skill level 4 as:
NZQCF Level 2 or 3 qualification, or at least one year of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification (NZQCF Level 2-3/NOL Skill Level 4)
A skill level describes the occupation, not you. Immigration New Zealand matches a job to the single closest occupation, and the skill level comes from that occupation; more experience does not move an occupation to a higher level.
A Utility Arborist specializes in the maintenance of trees around electricity. Duties include removing tree branches and woody vegetation that is in proximity of lines or electrical assets through pruning, rigging, and felling. A Utility Arborist uses climbing techniques, climbing systems and mechanized equipment such as MEWPs to work at heights in urban, rural, and off-road locations.
The below works all take place in the vicinity of electrical utilities and plant:
\u2022 Pruning and maintenance of trees
\u2022 Vegetation management
\u2022 Chipping
\u2022 Tree Felling
\u2022 Tree dismantling
\u2022 Job Scoping
\u2022 Machinery operation - Mobile elevated platforms (MEWPs), Tracked MEWPs
\u2022 Use of Agri-chemicals
Note:
\u2022 Qualifications must be held to be employable as a competent worker and to be able to work on most networks across the country - years or experience would not suffice.
\u2022 Level 3 would be the minimum level of competence to carry out these tasks.
Immigration New Zealand accepts only the NOL occupations on its published list, and only for an AEWV or job check. Utility Arborist is not on that list as at 31 October 2026, so every visa currently uses the equivalent ANZSCO occupation and its skill level. INZ's NOL list.
| Visa rule | For this occupation | More |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited Employer Work Visa: longest visa | Up to 5 years for skill level 1 to 3 roles. | AEWV guide |
| AEWV: evidence of English | Required for skill level 3 roles from 1 June 2026, with limited exemptions. | AEWV guide |
| Supporting a partner's visa | The skill level 1 to 3 wage threshold applies. | Partner of a Worker |
| Skilled Migrant Category: Skilled Work Experience pathway | Open to skill level 1 to 3 occupations, with work experience and pay requirements. | Skilled Work Experience pathway |
Rules as published by Immigration New Zealand. Lists synced 31 October 2026. Each visa has further requirements beyond skill level, including pay and work experience.
Stats NZ links this occupation to Tahatū, the government careers website, which has more about the work in New Zealand, including pay: Arborist .
Picking the right occupation decides the skill level, and with it the visa rules above. Talk it through with us: we will listen to your situation and match you with the right IAA-licensed adviser. You can also check your pay and work experience against the residence wage rules with our calculator.
Utility Arborist is occupation 362214 on Stats NZ's National Occupation List. Its ANZSCO 1.3 equivalent is 362212 Arborist.
NOL skill level 4, where 1 is the most skilled and 5 the least. NZQCF Level 2 or 3 qualification, or at least one year of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification (NZQCF Level 2-3/NOL Skill Level 4)
Not yet. Immigration New Zealand accepts only the NOL occupations on its published list for an AEWV or job check, and Utility Arborist is not on it as at 31 October 2026. Use the equivalent ANZSCO occupation code instead.
Browse the National Occupation List or the ANZSCO code list.
Sources: National Occupation List V3.0.0, Stats NZ, CC BY 4.0, synced 1 November 2026; Immigration New Zealand occupation lists, synced 31 October 2026. This page reproduces published classifications and Immigration New Zealand's lists. It is general information, not immigration advice. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).
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