These qualifications serve our Dairy; Sheep, Beef, Deer, and Wools; and Arable industries.
Which specific qualifications and credentials do you want to see growth in (that can be supported by TEC investment in 2025)?
| Qualification or credential | Mode | Specific regions? | Scale of change you are seeking for 2025 | Evidence of workforce need – include as text below the table or an attachment | Evidence that this provision will meet the workforce need | WDC-assigned priority level (for this advice) |
| New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) [3869] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Taitokerau | 15-20% |
There is demand from industry driven by forecast industry and workforce growth across the related industries, significant gaps in the qualification level of the workforces, demographic challenges and the need to adapt to changing technological, regulatory and business practices. Our industry engagement analysis and review of key industry documents has highlighted the following skill needs that map to this qualification:
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The purpose of the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) is to provide pastoral livestock farming sectors with individuals who have the skills and knowledge to carry out a range of core tasks relevant to either dairy or meat and/or fibre farming (including the skills identified by industries). The dairy farming industry views this qualification as its entry level qualification, providing the career path for herd managers (where there are currently significant labour shortages) through the level 4 Certificate in Agriculture. We are currently planning a review of all the agriculture qualifications, but in the meantime are recommending increases across many of the current qualifications to address ongoing skill shortages. |
Priority | |
| New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Farming Systems) (Level 3) [2220] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Taitokerau; Canterbury (dairy) | 30% |
There is demand from industry driven by forecast industry and workforce growth across the related industries, significant gaps in the qualification level of the workforces, demographic challenges and the need to adapt to changing technological, regulatory and business practices. Our industry engagement analysis and review of key industry documents has highlighted the following skill needs that map to this qualification:
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The New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Farming Systems) meets these needs by providing graduates who have an understanding of the key inputs into farming systems, and the wider context of the pastoral farming industry in terms of environmentally and financially sustainable farming practices. | Priority | |
| New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) [2684] | 30-35% |
There is demand from industry driven by forecast industry and workforce growth across the related industries, significant gaps in the qualification level of the workforces, demographic challenges and the need to adapt to changing technological, regulatory and business practices. In addition, our land-based industries, both horticulture and agriculture, are facing challenges from the impact of climate change and changing views on environmental protection and what sustainable land use may be. This is also in line with key government-industry partnership strategies like ‘Fit for a Better World’. New workforce skills and a greater variety of production practices, supported and led by a workforce with the relevant skills, are needed to face these challenges. |
The New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) provides the skills and knowledge to actively contribute to the skills needed by industry to deal with climate change impacts and changing land use practices. These include environmental, conservation and land-based management practices to enhance sustainability. Communities will benefit by having graduates who can apply sustainable practices to their workplace to ensure the continuation of current land-based management activities while conserving the environment. Current enrolments reflect a high percentage of Māori learners. |
Priority | ||
| New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) [Stranded] [2212] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Canterbury (dairy); Taitokerau. | 20-25% |
There is demand from industry driven by forecast industry and workforce growth across the related industries, significant gaps in the qualification level of the workforces, demographic challenges and the need to adapt to changing technological, regulatory and business practices. MPI forecasts greater need for managers and semi-autonomous workers. (see above) This qualification provide the industry-specific skills for those working in these higher level roles (including for herd managers, where there is a shortage and is an occupation on the Green List occupation). Our industry engagement analysis and review of key industry documents has highlighted the following skill needs that map to this qualification:
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We are currently planning a review of all the agriculture qualifications, but in the meantime are recommending increases across many of the current qualifications to address ongoing skill shortages as new qualifications may not be in place and industry will continue to have need for these skills. |
High Priority | |
| New Zealand Certificate in Sustainable Primary Production (Level 4) [2685] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Taranaki and the West Coast (arable, dairy and support services); while Wellington (Wairarapa for the arable industry); Taitokerau. | 20-25% |
There is demand from industry driven by forecast industry and workforce growth across the related industries, significant gaps in the qualification level of the workforces, demographic challenges and the need to adapt to changing technological, regulatory and business practices. MPI forecasts greater need for managers and semi-autonomous workers. (see above) This qualification provides the industry-specific skills for those working in these higher-level roles. Our land-based industries, both horticulture and agriculture, are facing challenges from the impact of climate change and changing views on environmental protection and what sustainable land use may be. This is also in line with key government-industry partnership strategies like ‘Fit for a Better World’. New skills and a greater variety of production practices are needed to face these challenges. |
The New Zealand Certificate in Sustainable Primary Production (Level 4) builds on the level 3 Land Based Sustainability Practices to provide the land based primary industries with individuals who have attained the skills and knowledge to develop and manage sustainable practices to comply with a recognised production standard. Current enrolments reflect a high percentage of Māori learners. | High Priority | |
| New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Production Management (Level 5) [Stranded] [2211] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Canterbury. | 20-25% |
There is demand from industry driven by forecast industry and workforce growth across the related industries, significant gaps in the qualification level of the workforces, demographic challenges and the need to adapt to changing technological, regulatory and business practices. MPI forecasts greater need for managers and semi-autonomous workers. (see above) Our industry engagement analysis and review of key industry documents has highlighted the following skill needs that map to this qualification:
The diversity of the qualification means that Arable learners may also gain skills in using technology to achieve production targets, which industry has identified as a need. |
The New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Production Management provides the industry-specific skills for those working in the higher-level roles identified in the MPI workforce forecasts and the skills identified by industries. It provides land-based industries with individuals who have the technical skills and knowledge to manage primary industry production systems to maximise productivity in either livestock or crop production. | High Priority |
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We have several qualifications with either low enrolment numbers or where any increase would be very small. These qualifications are still important for our industries, but we are not in a position to give a specific increase. We do not expect there to be large demand for these qualifications, but want to ensure that any extra enrolments are funded. We welcome discussion on any proposed delivery numbers that seem excessive. The qualifications are: |
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Medium Priority |
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Medium Priority |
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Medium Priority |
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Medium Priority |
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Wools Qualifications The current qualification set for wools has not been supported by industry. We are currently working with industry to design fit-for-purpose qualifications and broker appropriate delivery mechanisms. Apart from the New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4) [4113], we have not seen any enrolments in the other qualifications. We know that in the past we have had 400-500 learners a year across the wools qualifications. |
| New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4) [4113] | 10-15% | MPI workforce forecasts project a small increase for the wool workforce. As indicated above, formal training in the wool industry has been negligible for some time. We are designing new qualifications and are not recommending increases in most of the existing set. However, the New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4) is being used and we believe that improving industry circumstances will see demand for the qualification and we are recommending a small increase to reflect this. |
The New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4) provides the skills and knowledge of wool classification, production, processing, and technology that meet wool supply chain, market, and customer requirements, that maximise return in the wool supply chain. The qualification is intended to help build leadership, with graduates being able to manage responsibilities and output of a team in a woolshed. |
Priority |
Which specific qualifications and credentials do you want to see changes in?
As we note in our overarching advice, we have not been specific about mode at a qualification level. However, in general, we recommend a preference for workplace training as part of the mix of the provision across all of our industries. This could include both work-based training and campus-based learning that include a strong component of practical ‘on job’ experience in a workplace setting.
Are there qualifications or credentials that you are developing or plan to develop that will be available in 2025?
| Area of provision and/or qualification/ credential name (if known) | Level | Mode (if specific) | Qualification or micro-credential | Estimated date it will be available | Description of content (10–20 words) | Name of qualification or micro-credential this will replace (if relevant) |
| Wool Micro-credential development project: Sheep Shearing and Wool Harvesting MCs | Should be available in 2024 | We are already working with industry leaders and vocational education and training bodies to research, analyse and construct a workable solution for the wools industry. | ||||
| Agricultural Qualification Development Project: including stackable MCs | Should be available in 2024 | We are planning to review all Agriculture qualifications, micro credentials, and standards to build flexible, sustainable, and enduring learning pathways for learners, employers, and agriculture industries. |