Peter Waymouth hoped his achievement would encourage younger arborists to seek international qualifications that recognised their specialist skills.
"I'm just first through the gate; others will follow."
For him, the decision to seek the qualification came as he realised, in his mid-50s, he could not climb forever.
"I don't have the strength the young people have. I came to realise I'd have to use my brain more than brawn."
He was at the end of his career, but he hoped his achievement would raise awareness of the opportunities and "show a pathway for younger guys", Mr Waymouth said.
As he did not have a formal arborist qualification, despite working for 30 years in the profession, he began by sitting the society's certificates in arborism, tree climbing and municipal arborism.
"I then thought I'd have a go at the master arborist."
As well as demonstrating his prior knowledge, it required much work and the sitting of a four-hour exam in Auckland.
"It's a rigorous process. You have to prove yourself," he said.
The qualifications had also been recognised by the American National Standard Institute and, as his achievement was a New Zealand first, what he did with the qualification was a "blank canvas", he said.
There had been major changes in the 30 years he had been in the industry, with recognition coming slowly that arborism did not just involve "lopping and topping", so such qualifications gave professionalism to the career, he said.
"This gives these guys the opportunity to go to Oz [Australia] or Britain to further their career and then come back."
