Field Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Review of Wool Technology and Classing New Zealand qualification

Reviewed qualification

Ref	Version	Qualification Title	Credits
4113	1	New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4)	60

Review information

Qualification Developer	Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board
Reason for the review	Scheduled review
Review date	March – October 2025
Outcome date	February 2026
Next review date	December 2030

Summary of review and consultation process

Muka Tangata – People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council has completed the scheduled review of the above qualification. Consultation included a wananga hui to gather general information (March 2025), formal consultation with an industry and provider advisory group (April – October 2025), and a public consultation survey on the reviewed qualification (October 2025).

Stakeholders agreed that the current qualification did not reflect the Level and knowledge required by wool classers in a wool harvesting operation and strongly argued that the level of management skills required meant that this certificate should be at Level 5, rather than Level 4.

The group also noted that the Graduate Profile Outcomes (GPOs) did not sufficiently include the level of management skills required nor the knowledge of farming systems or market requirements, needed to improve and maximise the value of wool production and quality. The GPOs were revised to include appropriate focus on these aspects to the satisfaction of the advisory group. Additional programme guidance was also provided against the GPOs, and the credit value of the GPOs was adjusted to reflect the time required to cover the GPO content. In addition, information regarding entry requirements was added to the General Conditions for Programme.

Overall, the scale of changes required the qualification be replaced and a replacement listed.

Responsibility for the qualifications has been transferred from to Muka Tangata to the Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board reflect the VET reforms.

Main changes resulting from the review process

New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4) [Ref: 4113] will be discontinued and replaced by the New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 5) [Ref: 5637].

Review outcome

Ref:	Version	Qualification Title	Outcome category	New qualification ID/version (as applicable)
4113	1	New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4)	C-New replacement qualification	4113-2 To expire
		New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 5)		5637-1

Qualification review outcome categories

Outcome	Result	Category
Minor changes to the qualification	Qualification version number and ID (Ref) remain the same. New review date is required.	A
Moderate changes to the qualification	New qualification version number. Ref/ID remains the same. New review date is required.	B
Significant changes to the qualification	New replacement qualification with a new Ref/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

Ref:	Version	Qualification Title	Last date of entry*	Last date of assessment
4113	1	New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4)	31 December 2026	31 December 2027

*only required for outcome category C or D

Any additional information, including Qualification Developer contact details

It is the intention of Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board that no trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to:

Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board

PO Box 445

Wellington 6143

Phone: (04) 909 0288

Email:  info@foodandfibreisb.nz

Web:    foodandfibreisb.nz