FIELD AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

Review of Amenity Horticulture unit standards

Subfield	Domain	Id
Horticulture	Amenity Horticulture	1666, 1667, 1670-1673, 1676-1681

The New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation (NZHITO) has completed the review of the unit standards listed above that were registered in November 1997.

Date new versions published July 2005

New comments by date July 2009

Expiry date of new versions of the unit standards December 2010

Summary of review and consultation process

NZHITO, in conjunction with the amenity horticulture advisory group, providers, and other stakeholders, has reviewed the unit standards listed above in the Amenity Horticulture domain. The review considered the currency of the unit standards and their suitability for existing and proposed qualifications; the accuracy and appropriateness of their content to the amenity industry; updating special notes to include relevant legislation and licensing requirements; revising elements, performance criteria, and range statements to ensure they were technically correct and up to date; and reassessing credit values to more accurately reflect the time taken for delivery, learning, and assessment.

Main changes resulting from the review

The review process has resulted in the following changes to the unit standards.

· Six unit standards have been replaced in total by six new unit standards, one unit standard (1673) has been designated as expiring, and two further new unit standards have been registered. The two new unit standards are listed at the end of this report.

· Four existing unit standards have, based on their usage and industry requirements, had increases in credit and changes to special notes, elements, and performance criteria, and two existing unit standards have had changes of title.

Unit standards categorised as category C or D expire at the end of December 2007.

Impact on existing provider accreditations

Current Accreditation for			Accreditation extended to
Nature of accreditation	Classification or Id	Level	Nature of accreditation	Classification or Id	Level
Subfield	Horticulture	3	Standard	21036	4
Domain	Amenity Horticulture	3	Standard	21036	4
Standard	1666	2	Standards	21027, 21028	2
Standard	1671	3	Standards	21027, 21028	2
Standard	1677	4	Standard	21032	4
Standard	1678	4	Standard	21033	4
Standard	1679	4	Standard	21033	4

Impact on existing qualifications

Qualifications that contain the reviewed standards or classifications are tabled below.

Affected

The qualification lists a reviewed classification (domain or subfield) in an elective set

The qualification lists a standard that has changes to level or credits

The qualification lists a C or D category standard

Not materially affected

The qualification lists a standard that has a new title

The qualification lists a standard that has a new classification

The following NZHITO qualification is affected by the outcome of this review and will be revised/reviewed to take account of the changes in 2006.

Qualification Title	Standard in the qualification
National Certificate in Horticulture (Plant and Garden Supply Retailing) (Level 4) [Ref: 0085]	1666, 1670, 1672

The following qualifications are also affected by the outcome of this review. The standard setting bodies (SSBs) have been advised that they require revision.

Qualification Title	Standard in the qualification	SSB Name
National Certificate in Amenity Turf Maintenance (Level 3) [Ref: 1078]	1666	NZ Sports Turf ITO
National Certificate in Conservation (Trainee Ranger) (Level 3) [Ref: 0642]	1667	Public Sector Training Organisation
National Certificate in Conservation (Ranger) [Ref: 0797]	1667
National Certificate in Youth Development Programmes (Conservation Corps and Youth Service Corps) [Ref: 0907]	1667, 1679
National Certificate in Community Recreation (Level 4) with strands in Community Arts, Countryside Parks, and Urban Parks [Ref: 0451]	1673, 1678	Sport, Fitness and Recreation ITO

Summary of main changes to standards’ Ids, classification, titles, levels, and credits

The following summary shows the changes made to the standards as a result of the review. All changes are in bold.

Key to review category
A	Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number
B	Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number
C	Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new Id
D	Standard will expire and not be replaced

Subfield Horticulture

Domain Amenity Horticulture

Id	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
1666 and 1671	Apply basic gardening techniques Identify and plant annuals, herbaceous perennials, and bulbs	2 3	6 6	C C
21027 and	Plant and care for bedding plants and herbaceous perennials	2	10
21028	Plant and care for trees, shrubs, and climbing plants	2	10
1667	Use and maintain amenity machinery and equipment Use and maintain small, powered amenity machinery and equipment	3	3 5	B
1670	Identify and classify trees, shrubs, and climbers used in landscaping and amenity horticulture Identify, label, and present common trees, shrubs, and climbers used in amenity horticulture	3	6 10	B
1672	Demonstrate knowledge of pruning and training amenity trees and shrubs	3	3 5	B
1673	Sow, lay, and maintain amenity turf	3	7	D
1676	Select plants for landscaping and amenity horticulture	4	6 5	B
1677	Prune and train amenity plants	4	5	C
21032	Prune and train amenity trees and shrubs up to 4 metres high	4	10
1678	Revegetate amenity areas	4	7	C
1679	Manage indigenous plant communities	4	4	C
21033	Revegetate indigenous plant areas	4	10
1680	Set up and maintain plant displays	4	4	C
21035	Set up, maintain, and dismantle plant displays	4	5
1681	Manage conservatories	3	5	C
21036	Display plants in conservatories	4	10
21026	Establish and maintain plant collections	4	10	New
21031	Identify annuals, herbaceous perennials, and bulbs used in amenity horticulture	3	10	New

Impact on existing qualifications

Key to review category

A

Set up, maintain, and dismantle plant displays