If a tree is dead, dangerous, in the wrong place or simply at the end of its life, professional removal is the right call. Doing it yourself, or paying a "two blokes and a chainsaw" outfit, is how houses end up holed, fences flattened, and people in ED. Alpine Arborism removes trees the way they should be removed: planned, rigged, lowered piece by piece, with everything chipped and gone before we leave.
How we remove trees safely
There's no one technique that suits every tree. Once we've assessed the species, condition, lean, fall zone, soil, access and target zones around the base, we'll choose the safest method:
- Sectional dismantling. A climber works up the tree on rope, removing limbs and trunk sections one at a time, lowering each piece on rigging lines. The standard approach for residential sites where there's no clean drop zone.
- Straight felling. Where there's a clear, predictable fall zone, paddocks, lifestyle blocks, forestry edges, we'll drop the tree in one piece. Faster and cheaper when conditions allow it.
- Crane-assist removal. Large trees in confined sites benefit from a crane: pieces are cut, lifted clear of the property, and lowered to a chipping area on the street or driveway. Faster than rigging, and gentler on the property.
- MEWP / elevated work platform. For dead or structurally compromised trees that can't be safely climbed, we use a cherry picker to work the canopy from outside the tree.
When tree removal is the right answer
We always look for a way to keep a tree before recommending removal. But there are cases where removal is the safest, most honest option:
- Major structural failure, large cavities, splitting forks, included bark unions, root plate movement.
- Dieback past about 50% of the canopy with no recovery prospect.
- Root damage from excavation, foundations or service trenching.
- Wrong species, wrong place, gum trees over kids' play areas, willows in soakage lines, poplars next to sewer mains.
- Storm damage that's left the tree too compromised to retain.
- Subdivisional or building work that can't be designed around the tree.
What's included in our tree removal price
Our written quotes spell out exactly what you're paying for, no surprise add-ons after the fact. A standard removal quote covers:
- Site set-up, rigging, exclusion zones and signage.
- The full dismantling or felling itself.
- Chipping of all brash on site, with chip removal.
- Rounds cut to a size you specify, left on site as firewood, or removed.
- Lawn rake, hard-surface blow-down, final tidy.
- Disposal at a licensed green-waste facility.
Optional extras quoted separately: stump grinding, traffic management, crane hire, mulch drop-back.
Tree removal cost in New Zealand
There's no flat rate, every tree is a unique combination of height, species, access and risk. The factors that move price most:
- Height and spread. A 5m fruit tree in an open lawn is a couple of hours. A 25m macrocarpa over a house is most of a day with three crew.
- Access. Truck on the verge versus barrowing chip 60m around the side of the house is two different jobs.
- Targets. Powerlines, glasshouses, swimming pools, neighbours' rooves, anything that increases risk increases the rigging time.
- Disposal. A 3-tonne chipper truck moves through green waste fast, but big rounds and stumps go on hourly disposal rates.
- Traffic management. Roadside trees needing a Site-Specific Traffic Management Plan add cost.
Send us a few photos through the quote form and we'll come back with a written quote, usually within one working day.