Field Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Registration of skill standards and review of Agricultural Vehicles and Machinery
unit standards
|
Subfield |
Domain |
ID |
|
Agriculture |
Agricultural Vehicles and Machinery |
19054, 19055, 24538, 24539, 24558-24563, 27604 |
The Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board has registered five skill standards and reviewed the unit standards listed above.
Date new versions published July 2026
Planned review date December 2031
Summary
Muka Tangata – People, Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council reviewed the Agricultural Vehicles and Machinery unit standards as part of the Agriculture Qualification Development Project to confirm continued fitness for purpose, alignment with current industry expectations, and consistency with contemporary approaches to vehicle operation and safety in agribusiness contexts. The review identified opportunities to improve clarity, progression, and transferability of learner outcomes across vehicle types while retaining alignment with agribusiness operational requirements.
The review was undertaken between September 2025 and May 2026 to confirm technical accuracy, industry relevance, and alignment with expected learner capability for the safe operation of agribusiness vehicles in workplace contexts. Initial consultation with the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was undertaken between September 2025 and November 2025 to review the scope, structure, and intent of the standards.
The Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board assumed standard-setting responsibility in January 2026 and continued the review process, undertaking public consultation on draft standards between March 2026 and May 2026. Providers, assessors, industry representatives, and subject matter experts (SMEs) were invited to provide feedback on technical accuracy, industry relevance, consistency across vehicle types, learner expectations, and alignment with contemporary agribusiness vehicle operation and safety practices.
As a result of the review, a suite of new agribusiness vehicle skill standards was developed for use within programmes leading to the New Zealand Certificate in Farm Skills (Level 3) [Ref: 5678], and to replace existing unit standards. The revised suite improves consistency of structure and language across vehicle types, clarifies learner expectations and observable performance requirements, and supports progression from foundational vehicle preparation and route planning through to safe vehicle operation in complex operating conditions. The overall intent of supporting safe and effective agribusiness vehicle operation was retained while improving coherence, usability, and alignment with industry practice.
Main changes
· Eleven agribusiness vehicle unit standards were replaced by new skill standards to align with current agribusiness vehicle operation practice and learner expectations.
· Five new skill standards were developed to support clearer progression in learner capability, including pre-start vehicle checks, route planning, and safe vehicle operation in complex operating conditions.
· Vehicle operation skill standards were developed to improve consistency of structure, terminology, and learner expectations across motorcycles, quad bikes, light utility vehicles (LUVs), and tractors.
· Learning outcomes and assessment criteria were developed to better reflect observable learner actions, workplace safety expectations, and contemporary agribusiness vehicle operation practices.
· Assessment specifications and indicative content were developed to support consistent assessment, improve clarity of learner expectations, and align with workplace application and vehicle-specific operating contexts.
Category C unit standards will expire at the end of December 2028
Impact on existing organisations with consent to assess
|
Current consent for |
Consent extended to |
||||
|
Nature of consent |
Classification or ID |
Level |
Nature of consent |
Classification or ID |
Level |
|
Standard |
24558, 24560, 24562 |
3 |
Standard |
41344 |
3 |
|
Standard |
19054, 19055 |
3 |
Standard |
41345 |
3 |
|
Standard |
24559, 24561, 24563 |
3 |
Standard |
41346 |
3 |
|
Standard |
24538, 24539, 27604 |
3 |
Standard |
41347 |
3 |
Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits
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 |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > Agricultural Vehicles and Machinery
|
ID |
Title |
Level |
Credit |
Review Category |
|
19054
19055
41345 |
Operate a motorcycle on rolling terrain under limited supervision Operate a motorcycle with mounted equipment or a load under limited supervision Operate a motorcycle safely in complex riding conditions |
3
3
3 |
3
3
7 |
C
C |
|
24538
24539
27604
41347 |
Describe tractor stability and the dynamics of tractors and attached implements Maintain and use a power take off (PTO) driven implement attached to a tractor under limited supervision Operate a tractor with an attached implement on rolling terrain under limited supervision Operate a tractor safely in complex driving conditions |
3
3
3
3 |
4
4
4
12 |
C
C
C |
|
24558
24560
24562
41344 |
Operate a light utility vehicle (LUV) on rolling terrain under limited supervision Operate a light utility vehicle (LUV) with trailed equipment under limited supervision Operate a light utility vehicle (LUV) with mounted equipment or a load under limited supervision Operate a light utility vehicle (LUV) safely in complex driving conditions |
3
3
3
3 |
4
3
3
7 |
C
C
C |
|
24559
24561
24563
41346 |
Operate a quad bike on rolling terrain under limited supervision Operate a quad bike with trailed equipment under limited supervision Operate a quad bike with mounted equipment or load under limited supervision Operate a quad bike safely in complex riding conditions |
3
3
3
3 |
4
4
3
7 |
C
C
C |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Agriculture > Agricultural Vehicles and Machinery
|
ID |
Title |
Level |
Credit |
Review Category |
|
41343 |
Carry out pre-start checks and plan routes for an agribusiness vehicle |
3 |
3 |
NEW |