Field: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Change report for the review of Horticulture New Zealand Qualifications

Reviewed qualifications

[Ref:]	Version	Qualification title	Level	Credits
2677	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General)	3	60
2678	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Fruit Production, Indoor Crop Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Landscape Construction, Nursery Production, Post-Harvest, and Sports Turf	3	55-80
2674	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Landscape Design, Landscape Construction and Sports Turf	4	60-185
2676	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Nursery Production, and Post-Harvest	4	90-160
2670	1	New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture with strands in Arboriculture Supervisory Operations and Arboriculture Technical Operations	5	70
2675	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services with strands in Amenity and Sports Turf	5	70
2888	1	New Zealand Diploma in Landscape with strands in Design and Construction	5	120
2666	1	New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Nursery Production, and Post-Harvest	5	120-140
2669	1	New Zealand Diploma in Arboriculture	6	120
2668	1	New Zealand Diploma in Landscape	6	120
2683	1	New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf	6	70
2667	1	New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production with strands in Process Improvement, and Product Development	6	120
4284	1	New Zealand Diploma in Amenity Horticulture	5	120

Review information

Qualification Developer	Primary ITO
Reason for the review	Scheduled 5 yearly review
Review date	September 2020
Outcome date	October 2020
Next review date	October 2025

Summary of review and consultation process

The review commenced with expressions of interest sought in October 2019 from stakeholders who had an interest in each of the sectors that represented horticulture production and services.  This included representatives from peak body organisations, providers, industry, and graduates.

Members of the External Advisory Group (EWG) were then selected from those who expressed an interest in participating in the review, ensuring the representation was across all industry sectors for the qualifications under review.  EWG members had the responsibility of contributing their expertise to qualification updates as well as liaising with their networks on findings over the duration of the review.

In addition, the fruit production sector was split into five according to types of fruit (kiwifruit, avocados, pipfruit, summerfruit, berry fruit) and WGs set up for each. EWG meetings were scheduled during industry quiet times to ensure maximum opportunity for engagement by industry.

The EWG sector meetings to review the qualifications were held between October 2019 and June 2020 via Skype. The meetings included discussion on expectations of WG members and the Terms of Reference for EWGs. Each member of the EWG was expected to liaise with and collate feedback from their own wider networks on any changes required to qualifications for consideration by the EWG.  Discussion at the meetings included how well the qualification was meeting industry need, the changes that had occurred in the industry sector over the last five years, and any changes likely to occur in industry over the next five years that could impact on training and qualifications.

Representatives on the EWG wider networks were contacted during the wider stakeholder consultation process and their feedback sought.  This was carried out following the initial EWG meeting through the Primary ITO survey gizmo.

Feedback from wider consultation was presented to the EWGs and changes incorporated where valid.  Qualifications were finalised and any further final details confirmed with the EWG.  The EWG then signed off on the final qualification versions for submission to NZQA.

Main changes resulting from the review

Summary of changes to all qualifications:

· Minor changes were made to Qualification Specifications and Strategic Purpose statements across the suite to meet current practice for the listing of qualifications.

· Conditions relating to the Graduate Profile were removed.

New qualification:

New Zealand Diploma in Amenity Horticulture (Level 5) [Ref: 4284]

• It was identified by key industry sector representatives that the learning required at Level 5 met the requirements for an amenity diploma.  This level learning was needed to provide a more seamless and logical progression from the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4), Amenity strand [Ref: 2674] to a relevant strand of the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 6) with strands in Accounting, Administration and Technology, Human Resource Management, Leadership and Management, Maori Business and Management, Marketing and Sales and Real Estate [Ref: 2460].

Summary of Changes by Qualification:

New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture General (Level 3) [Ref: 2677]

· Education Pathway was updated clarify qualifications leading to and leading from the qualification. 

New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) [Ref: 2678] with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Fruit Production, Indoor Crop Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Landscape Construction, Nursery Production, Post-Harvest, and Sports Turf

General Conditions for programme

· Sustainable practices expanded to include kaitiakitanga (sustainable practices/kaitiakitanga) to reflect a better understanding of the importance of the environment

Amenity Strand:

• Employment pathway updated to include ‘grounds-person, gardener, mower operator’
• GPO 2 updated to include, parks and gardens and credits decreased to reflect learning required
• GPO 3 updated to encompass underpinning theory of horticultural science knowledge, and credits increased to reflect learning required

Arboriculture Strand:

• GPO 4 updated with knowledge of ‘equipment use and maintenance, and basic climber support and climbing techniques’
• GPO 5 updated with knowledge of ‘basic tree physiology’, and ‘tree protection’ removed as this is beyond the requirements of the roleholder

Cemetery Strand:

• No changes

Fruit Production Strand:

• No changes

Indoor Production Strand:

• ‘Production’ replaced by ‘crop’ in strand title to better clarify the sector
• Strand overall credits decreased to reflect the requirements of amended graduate profile outcomes
• GPO 8 updated to include knowledge of crop growing systems and plant cycles to better reflect current industry practices and requirements
• Employment pathway amended to remove ‘seasonal hand’ and include ‘general farm worker’ and ‘general crop worker’ which better reflects current industry terminology

Outdoor Vegetable Production Strand:

• Change to strand title ‘vegetable’ replaced with ‘crop’ to broaden the scope of the strand
• GPO 9 updated with knowledge of crop growing systems and plant cycles to better reflect current industry practices and requirements
• Strand overall credits decreased as industry indicated current credit values did not reflect the time taken to achieve competency

Landscape Construction Strand:

• GPO 10 updated to incorporate critical knowledge of ‘site requirements, and hard and soft landscaping’

Nursery Production Strand:

• GPO 11 updated with knowledge of crop growing systems and plant cycles to better reflect current industry practices and requirements
• Strand overall credits increased to reflect the requirements of amended GPOs

Post-Harvest Strand:

• GPO 12 was merged with GPO 13 because the time taken achieve GPO 13 (Coordinate inventory and consumables) varied depending on the job role within a packhouse and in all instances occurred concurrently with GPO 12.  It was not logical to separate the two GPOs

Sports Turf Strand:

• Employment pathway updated to include ‘stadia ground staff’
• GPO 14 was renumbered to GPO 13 and updated with addition of critical knowledge relating to turf plant health, pest, weeds and disease, nutrients, water, and artificial and hybrid surfaces, and credits adjusted to reflect learning required
• New GPO 15 was renumbered to GPO 14 and updated with operation of sports turf machinery and irrigation systems, and credits allocated to reflect learning required
• No changes to total strand credits

Wine Growing Strand (New):

· A Wine Growing strand was added to reflect the specific requirements of people working in the viticulture industry.  The requirements were previously implied but not explicit in the Fruit Production Strand.  It was important for the viticulture industry that graduates achieved a qualification that reflected the unique requirements of the industry and specifically stated Wine Growing on the certificate for ease of recognition by employers.

· GPOs were developed to reflect the specific skills and knowledge required by vineyard assistants working in the viticulture industry.

New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Nursery Production, and Post-Harvest [Ref: 2676]

General Conditions for Programmes

• Technology included as its use is an integral part of day to day horticulture production operations

Fruit Production Strand:

• GPO 2, GPO 3 and GPO 4 amended to include the term ‘sustainable’ to reflect importance and application of sustainability within fruit production sector

Indoor Production Strand:

• Strand title amended. ‘Production’ replaced by ‘Crop’ to better clarify the sector
• GPO 5 updated with knowledge of implementing and monitoring seasonal tasks to better reflect current industry practices and requirements
• GPO 7 updated with knowledge of implementing and monitoring environmental factors and sustainable practices to optimize crop performance and yield to better reflect current industry practices and requirements, and credits increased to better reflect learning required
• GPO 6 incorporated into GPO’s 5 and 7 due to it being recognised as a seasonal task and crop management technique which can be covered by other GPO’s and credits increased to reflect learning required
• Total strand credits increased to reflect strand GPO credits

Outdoor Vegetable Production Strand:

• Strand title amended with ‘outdoor vegetable’ changed to ‘outdoor crop’ to broaden the scope of the strand
• GPO 9 (crop protection) incorporated into GPO’s 8 (production operations) and GPO 10 (crop management techniques) as a more logical combination of outdoor operations.  GPOs were reworded to reflect this amendment (also see bullet points below)
• GPO 8 updated with knowledge of implementing and monitoring seasonal tasks to better reflect current industry practices and requirements, and credits decreased to better reflect learning required
• GPO 10 updated with knowledge of implementing and monitoring environmental factors and sustainable practices to optimize crop performance and yield to better reflect current industry practices and requirements, and credits decreased to better reflect learning required
• Total strand credits decreased to reflect the amended GPO credits

Nursery Production Strand:

• GPO 11 credits decreased to reflect learning required
• GPO 12 updated with knowledge of implementing and monitoring environmental factors and sustainable practices to better reflect current industry practices and requirements
• Strand overall credits decreased to reflect amended GPO credits

Post-Harvest Strand:

• No changes

Wine Growing Strand (New):

· Strand added to meet viticulture industry requirements for specific learning and credentialing of this job role.  The requirements were previously implied but not explicit in the Fruit Production Strand. It was important for the viticulture industry that graduates achieved a qualification that reflected the unique requirements of the industry and specifically stated Wine Growing on the certificate for ease of recognition by employers

· GPO 13, GPO 14 and GPO 15 were added to reflect the specific skills and knowledge required for viticulture roleholders

New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) with strands Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Landscape Design, Landscape Construction and Sports Turf [Ref: 2674]

General Conditions for programme

· Sustainable practices expanded to include kaitiakitanga (sustainable practices/kaitiakitanga) to reflect a better understanding of the importance of the environment

Core Graduate Outcome

· Trainees may not have the opportunity to ‘Supervise and provide instruction’ in their job.  GPO reworded to allow for demonstration of the skills required to achieve the outcome.

Amenity Strand:

• Employment pathway updated to include ‘head gardener, team leader, senior gardener, leading hand, parks operator’
• GPO 2 updated with change to operational plan and inclusion of gardens as recommended by industry, and credits increased to reflect learning required
• GPO 3 updated to reflect advanced operational horticultural science knowledge and technical skills, and credits decreased to meet the learning required

Arboriculture Strand:

• GPO 4 revised to include knowledge of ‘trees and impacts on tree health and structure’, and á range of working conditions’ to better clarify the scope of the GPO, and credits increased to reflect learning required
• New GPO 5 was added on ‘rescue techniques’ as this was considered a critical skill that was previously embedded but is now explicit, credits allocated to reflect the learning required
• GPO 6 credits reduced (previously GPO 5) as advanced rigging which was previously a requirement as noted in the conditions (now removed) will be moved to the Level 5 qualification

Cemetery Strand:

• No changes

Landscape Design Strand

• Employment pathway amended - ‘garden’ removed, and ‘residential garden’ added to designer role
•  GPO 9 (previously GPO 8) revised to include application of critical theory related to ‘design and technical skills’ and ‘simple’ and ‘for a client’ added to garden design.  Definition added for simple garden design

Landscape Construction Strand

• Strand overall credits increased from 70 to 120 to reflect the requirements of new and amended (GPOs)
• GPO 10 (previously 9) updated to include knowledge of hard and soft landscaping and site-specific requirements’ and ‘schedule site activities’ added, credits increased to reflect additional learning required

· New GPO 11 added to - Develop sketches of a range of hard and soft landscape features for on-site use to assist interpretation and implementation of landscape plans, and develop materials lists

Sports Turf Strand

• Employment pathway updated to include ‘amenity turf manager’
• GPO 12 (previously 11) separated into three GPOs which were previously implied in the original GPO but are now made explicit, and credits allocated to each GPO to reflect learning required
• No changes to total strand credits

New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 5) with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Nursery Production, and Post-Harvest [Ref: 2666]

· Education pathway updated to reflect changes to strand titles (see below) and the addition of a new Wine Growing strand

• Employment pathway amended with the inclusion of job titles which better reflect current industry terminology.
• Qualification overall credit value reduced - consistent with the reduction of strand credits
• ‘Use of technology’ added to General Conditions of Programme as its use is an integral part of day to day horticulture production operations.

Fruit Production Strand:

• ‘Sustainable’ added to all strands as this a critical component of outcomes related to this strand

Indoor Production Strand:

• Strand title amended. ‘Production’ replaced by ‘Crop’ to better describe the sector
• GPO 5 updated with knowledge of planning and managing seasonal tasks to better reflect current industry practices and requirements, and credits increased to better reflect learning required
• GPO 7 updated with knowledge of planning and managing environmental factors and sustainable practices to optimize crop performance and yield to better reflect current industry practices and requirements, and credits increased to better reflect learning required
• GPO 6 incorporated into GPO 5 and GPO 7 as a more logical reflection of indoor operations
• Total strand overall credits decreased to reflect amended GPO credits and removal of GPO 6

Outdoor Vegetable Production Strand:

• Strand title amended with ‘outdoor vegetable’ changed to ‘outdoor crop’ to broaden the scope of the strand
• GPO 9 incorporated into GPO 8 and GPO 10 as a more logical combination of outdoor operations.  GPOs were reworded to reflect this amendment (also see bullet points below)
• GPO 8 updated with knowledge of planning and managing seasonal tasks to better reflect current industry practices and requirements, and credits increased with learning from GPO 9
• GPO 10 updated with knowledge of planning and managing environmental factors and sustainable practices to optimize crop performance and yield to better reflect current industry practices and requirements and credits increased with learning from GPO 9
• Total strand overall credits amended to match change to GPOs, and better reflects the learning required to collectively achieve the GPOs

Nursery Production Strand:

• GPO 11 (renumbered to GPO 9) reworded and ‘operational activities’ changed to ’growing environment’ to better reflect the intention of the GPO
• GPO 12 (renumbered to GPO 10) updated and broadened from ‘plant protection programme’ to ‘nursery production systems’ to better reflect nursery industry practices and requirements

Post-Harvest Strand:

• No changes

Wine Growing Strand (New):

· Strand added as a pathway from Level 4 to reflect the viticulture industry job role

· GPOs were developed to reflect the specific skills and knowledge required by the roleholder

New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 5) with strands in Supervisory Operations and Technical Operations [Ref: 2670]

General Conditions for programme

· Sustainable practices expanded to include kaitiakitanga (sustainable practices/kaitiakitanga) to reflect a better understanding of the importance of the environment, and in particular trees and moral obligations to maintain the environment, and specifically to retain trees where possible

• GPO 1 revised to include ‘conflict’ as this is a situation that roleholders may encounter

Arboriculture Supervisory Operations Strand:

· GPO 2 updated with additional of critical knowledge of job quoting and costing, work scheduling, risk management, site safety, and hazard management’, and ‘site-specific tree selection and survey’ as they are critical theory to better clarify the scope of the GPO

Arboriculture Technical Operations Strand:

• GPO updated with knowledge of ‘worksite safety and risk mitigation’ to better clarify the scope

New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 5) with strands in Amenity and Sports Turf [Ref: 2675]

Amenity Strand:

· removed to become a new standalone Diploma to reflect current requirements of the roleholder.

Sports Turf Strand:

• Employment pathway updated to include ‘contract manager, asset manager’
• Qualification title updated to New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 5)

New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Level 5) with strands in Design and Construction [Ref: 2888]

• Strategic purpose, suitability of people updated with addition of experience in a related horticulture industry’
• GPO 1 expanded with definition of team members - Team members may also be contractors
•  No changes to total strand credits

Design Strand:

• GPO 2 ‘landscape designs’ changed to ‘landscape drawings’, and expanded with ‘designs for clients for a range of sites through application of garden design principles, materials and precedents’, and credits decreased to more accurately reflect learning required
• GPO 3 amended from ‘Assist in the interpretation of’ to ‘Produce landscape working drawings and supporting documentation in a range of formats’ to clarify scope, and credits increased to reflect additional learning required

Construction Strand:

• Employment pathway amended with additional job roles - Site manager, Foreman, Self-employed business owner, Project manager leading multiple sites
• GPO credits amended to more accurately reflect the time taken to achieve competency, no changes to total strand credits

New Zealand Diploma in Arboriculture (Level 6) [Ref: 2669]

General Conditions for programme

· Kaitiakitanga added to reflect a better understanding of the importance of the environment, and in particular trees and moral obligations to maintain the environment, and specifically to retain trees where possible

•  Employment pathway updated with additional of role of commercial contracting arborist, arborist consultant changed to consulting arborist, city arborist changed to municipal arborist, and tree arborist removed
• GPO 2 revised to include application of knowledge of ‘tendering and contract management’
• GPO 3 revised to assist interpretation with rearrangement of terms, GPO intent has not changed
• Definition added to GPO 1 for ‘Complex variables’ to assist interpretation

New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Level 6) [Ref: 2668]

• Strategic purpose amended to widen the scope of job role expectations with the addition of ‘commercial and industrial complexes and parklands’
• General conditions updated with requirement that ‘programmes should include ‘the specific requirements of information for the general public, ratepayers, corporate organisations, and government organisations’, to clarify the scope of the qualification
• GPO 1 revised to include ‘construction’ solutions, and addition of ‘specifications from concept to developed design including spatial, environmental and cultural considerations’, and credits decreased to reflect learning required
• GPO 2 revised to include ‘project planning, contract and tender’ documentation, and credits increased to reflect learning required
• Total qualification credits unchanged

New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 6) [Ref: 2683]

• No changes, qualification to be retained to allow specialist pathway for graduates from Level 5

New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 6) with strands in Process Improvement and Product Development [Ref: 2667]

· Education pathway was updated to reflect changes to strand titles and the addition of a Wine Growing strand

· Employment, Cultural, Community Pathway was refined with removal of ‘who are operating as production managers could combine this qualification with business management qualifications as required for their work role’

Core and Product Development Strand:

• GPO 2 amended to include the term ‘techniques’ to provide more learning options for learners
• GPO 4 amended to include the term ‘techniques’ to provide more learning options for learners

Review outcome

Reference	Version	Reviewed qualification	Outcome category	New qualification details/version (if applicable)
2677	2	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture General (Level 3)	B-New version of qualification	2677-2
2678	2	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Fruit Production, Indoor Crop Production, Outdoor Crop Production, Landscape Construction, Nursery Production, Post-Harvest, Sports Turf, and Wine Growing	B-New version of qualification	2378-2
2674	2	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Landscape Design, Landscape Construction, and Sports Turf	B-New version of qualification	2674-2
2676	2	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Crop Production, Outdoor Crop Production, Nursery Production, Post-Harvest, and Wine Growing	B-New version of qualification	2676-3
2670	2	New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 5) with strands in Supervisory Operations and Technical Operations	B-New version of qualification	2670-2
2675	2	New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 5)	B-New version of qualification	2675-2
2675	1	New Zealand Diploma in Amenity Horticulture (Level 5)	C-New replacement qualification	4284-1
2888	2	New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Level 5) with strands in Design and Construction	B-New version of qualification	2888-2
2666	2	New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 5) with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Crop Production, Outdoor Crop Production, Nursery Production, Post-Harvest, and Wine Growing	B-New version of qualification	2666-2
2669	2	New Zealand Diploma in Arboriculture (Level 6)	B-New version of qualification	2669-2
2668	2	New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Level 6)	B-New version of qualification	2668-2
2683	2	New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 6)	B-New version of qualification	2683-2
2667	2	New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 6) with strands in Process Improvement, and Product Development	B-New version of qualification	2667-2
4284	5	New Zealand Diploma in Amenity Horticulture	New qualification	4284-1

Qualification review outcome categories

Outcome	Result	Category
No changes are identified to the qualification	Qualification version number and NZQF ID remain the same. New review date is required.	A
Minor changes are identified to the qualification	New version of qualification is required (NZQF ID remains the same). New review date is required.	B
Significant changes are required to the qualification	New replacement qualification is required with a new NZQF ID. The existing qualification will expire.	C
The qualification is no longer required by industry	The qualification will expire with no replacement.	D

Transition information

Reference	Version	Qualification title	Last date       of entry*	Last date of assessment
2667	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General) (Level 3)	N/A	31 December 2022
2678	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Fruit Production, Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Landscape Construction, Nursery Production, Post-Harvest, and Sports Turf	N/A	31 December 2024
2674	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) with strands in Amenity, Arboriculture, Cemetery, Landscape Design, Landscape Construction, and Sports Turf	N/A	31 December 2024
2676	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Nursery Production, and Post-Harvest	N/A	31 December 2024
2670	1	New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 5) with strands in Supervisory Operations and Technical Operations	N/A	31 December 2022
2675	1	New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 5) with strands in Amenity and Sports Turf	N/A	31 December 2022
2888	1	New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Level 5) with strands in Design and Construction	N/A	31 December 2022
2666	1	New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 5) with strands in Fruit Production, Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, Nursery Production, and Post-Harvest	N/A	31 December 2022
2669	1	New Zealand Diploma in Arboriculture (Level 6)	N/A	31 December 2022
2668	1	New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Level 6)	N/A	31 December 2022
2683	1	New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 6)	N/A	31 December 2022
2667	1	New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 6) with strands in Process Improvement, and Product Development	N/A	31 December 2022

*only required for outcome category C or D

Any additional information

It is the intention of Primary ITO that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.

Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to:

Primary ITO

PO Box 10383

The Terrace

Wellington 6143

Email: educationteam@primaryito.ac.nz

Phone: 0800 20 80 20