Taupotreeman

Best place is probably NZimmigration website. Failing that you could ring a UK branch of NZimmigration. With the bigger companies, depending who you work for, you run the risk of becoming just a number. You have to remember that they employ upwards of 100 people so it's not quite the same as a smaller outfit. Plus you might end up doing the same kind of work day in and day out if you're unlucky. The big outfits have big contracts so you might end up on one of those. They do have pros though such as more job security, better gear etc. Best thing to do is have a look at a couple of websites. Treescape and asplundh both have websites. There's often jobs advertised on trademe under arborists. Also with the bigger outfits you'll be able to move around the country a bit but you might also end up working with guys that are not much short of butchers. I doubt you'll struggle for work though if you know your stuff and are willing to work. You could also just apply directly for a work permit and solve the problem. You might have to t up a job first but it shouldn't be an issue. Once you are here you can always look for another job and reapply for a new permit if things don't work out with the first outfit. Sorry for the long reply.

Didn't you know your average saw can be used for ploughing?

Think I'd prefer to be using a saw one handed in a tree rather than using a saw two handed at face level. I've had enough chainbrakes failing to come on to not want to have a saw that close to my face.

Not sure if I have my facts right but I think if you have a work visa you should be OK though I don't know if there is a difference between a working holiday and a work visa/permit. The bigger outfits here have a pretty good deal with immigration and should be able to help you circumnavigate any potential issues but don't expect the same kind of working enviroment as at one of the small companies. For work, try Asplundh, Treescape, trademe, seek or just try a few places out of the yellow pages. Oh, and don't expect to email and get a reply. Better off ringing up and speaking to someone direct.

I'll admit mine then. Dismantling a tree one limb dropped foliage first into the ground with the butt end jammed against the trunk. Rather than lower myself a little further, take my time and do the job properly I reached down with the saw in one hand and undercut the limb about 3 feet out from where it was jammed against the trunk. There was more weight and tension in the limb than I thought and it flicked the saw down into my leg. It cut straight through the protective material and made quite a nasty cut in my lower leg. So now I either keep all my bits and bobs well out of the way, weigh up the situation properly before using the saw one handed or just don't.

If I ever had to come back from NZ I could live there. Isolation to the max....NICE!

Maybe a follow up to this would be to find out how many are willing to admit cutting themselves or having a close shave while using a MS200 one handed as opposed to those that have accidents using ground saws with both hands.

Timbercutter; that sounds like the one. It was here in NZ and he had the plans drawn up to put a facility just out of Auckland I think but couldn't raise the funds. Talk about short sighted. There were murmerings the idea was being discussed again but as per usualy, nothing happened.

No offence Kev but if we work on your driving theory we would still be using a man with a red flag walking in front of us and driving at no more than 5 mph. Things evolve and sometimes I wonder if common sense gets thrown out the window to allow for nanny state rules to dictate what we should and shouldn't do. People will use a saw one handed so why not teach people the safest possible way of handling the saw one handed rather than just saying it's not allowed. Maybe at least admitting there's a problem and trying to do something about it will reduce the number of accidents.

Bradgate Park; now that brings back memories. They have some beautiful old Oaks there. Any pictures? Tane Mahuta over this side of the world but there are heaps more examples.

Some chap worked out how to incinerate all the rubbish we discard, with zero or very minimal emissions, and use the enrgy produced to create electricity and heating. He needed a grant to get the whole idea going. Nobody was ineterested and the incinerator never got off the ground. The chance to kill two birds with one stone and again,lazy beurocrats couldn't be bothered. And geothermal energy production isn't always that well excepted by the public. There's a few around Taupo and one of the newest is so loud it just about pops your eardrums. Granted though, massive steam jets and clouds are a better sight than a hillside full of turnbines. I had to help with clearing trees for the power line to a new site in N. Wales back in the 90's. We had to fell a huge and very mature Oak in the middle of a paddock. The only tree around and plenty of room either side to put the conductors and the planners couldn't move them a few metres either way to save the Oak.

Chuck em in the washing machine with a couple of towells to pad it out. Use a delicates bag for prussicks etc. Make sure you turn the spin off and don't have the temperature too hot. If you can afford a cheapie washer just for the purpose even better.

Only place to get sensible and decent conversation at that time of night. Actually, most of the time it's the only place to get sensible and decent conversation.

Nice house. Any complaints about needles in the guttering? Pity it didn't have Cedar shingles.

Apparently wave power energy is much more efficient with less eye polution than wind turbines. They are developing a couple in NZ and I've seen a few others about but it seems various governments don't want them. Fossil fuels are the easy way out and take little effort on the part of the beurocrats. I still stand by my statement though; wind turbines are a waste of time.

Criminals? You're getting us confused with the Ozzies.

Mongrel Kiwis? Yeesh, we may be in the antipodes but I don't think we've been exposed to too much inbreeding. Told you, it's dog theory. We are on here cos we can. If I'm working seven days I need to have some time for my doing my own stuff and arbtalk helps keep me sane........for the most part.

Not quite the highlands but I had folks that lived at a place called Garybank in Blair Atholl. Stunning scenery and plenty of walks to do. Would suggest heading up to Rannoch moor/station as there are some old growth Pine and Birch forests there (or at least there were) and it is blissfully quiet. Garrybank is now a holiday let and they advertise on the net. Blair castle is quite cool too and there's plenty of whiskey distilleries about. Alternatively I'd head to the west coast. We stayed on Loch Awe and went to places like Glen Etive and Glen Orchey. The whole area is just awesome but if you want total isolation I'd go for one of the islands. It just depends what you want to do. I'd stay well clear of Aviemore though; personally couldn't stand the place. Apologies to anyone that's from there.

Sooner or later they'll be banging them up on every available bit of land. Watch out National Park, SSSI, AONB etc.

Waste of time. A couple of em here and there aren't too bad on the eyes but the endless miles of them dumped on every evailable hill side, moor top etc look horrendous. Talk about destroying the aesthetics of a place. There's some not far from us and the locals reckon the make a hell of a noise too. Soon, when you think you have a bit of piece, quiet and isolation, you'll turn around and be able to see one of these things somewhere. And, as far as I'm concerned, it's just bone idle. The so called experts can't be bothered to work on other alternatives; just bang up another windmill, she'll be right.

Dog theory!!!!

The Grifter, that was it. Boy do I feel old now. I never had one but had a couple of choppers. No good for trying to ride no handed on. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX_Fu6JW0fM]YouTube - on the turning away - pink floyd[/ame] Reminds me of the good and bad times at college. Mate of mine died from testicular cancer a couple of years after we left. Great guy, crying shame. Don't be scared to have a feel and fondle guys.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_65a58vjJdg]YouTube - Jonny Love - Weight of Tomorrow[/ame] Haha the old green striker. I remember those with the back pedal brake. There was also the bigger version which I think was the griffin. Bit of kiwiana for youz fullas. One of the lyrics is "haven't you seen the weight of tomorrow crash down on some dreams", quite apt really. Scenery makes up for it though.

Woohooo, I can finally upload. Cheers for the pointers Stephen.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZg_FosecrA]YouTube - Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster Trip[/ame] Right, trying to upload so if this all goes tits up I apologise. This isn't actually a music video but if the day is a bad one I watch this and float off to a different place. Besides, if you're having a bad day it's probably nothing compared to what the pilots etc on these had to put up with