The Northland Tree Climbers Association (NTCA ) is keen to get young people into tree climbing. As part of this initiative , they have a number of Northland kids up trees, trialling the Edelrid Joker Junior from Treetools. At this stage it appears the Edelrid harness is better suited to younger children, under 12-years of age.
NTCA spokesman Joe Cooper says they are also developing a harness for older children in association with NZ arborist harness manufacturer, Aspiring Enterprises in Christchurch. Apart from the larger sizing, the NTCA harness will feature side D-rings to allow kids the opportunity to lanyard in while climbing.Most non-urban communities are unaware of the role that a tree climbing arborist plays in the management of trees. As such, children growing up in the regions often do not consider tree climbing as a career choice. The NTCA see the availability and development of suitable tree climbing harnesses as the first step in getting kids up trees, up North in particular.
Judging by the queues of children at last Saturday's Wellington Regional TCC waiting for a turn to climb, the NTCA might well be onto something here!
12-year-old Manaia Cooper trialling the new Edelrid Joker Junior harness from Treetools - up trees, up North!
