Horticulture Qualification
These qualifications serve our Fruit; Vegetable; Grapes and Wine; and Nursery, Turf and Gardening, 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 Horticulture (Level 3) [Stranded] [2678] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Wellington (Wairarapa for wine growing, fruit and vegetables); and Hawke's Bay (fruit and vegetable post-harvest production, with a blended mode of level 3 and 4); Taitokerau. | 10-15% |
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 and demand driven by high rates of new workers constantly needing to be brought into the industries and upskilled. There is a significant need for entry qualifications and this is the main entry point qualification for most of these industries. Our industry engagement analysis and review of key industry documents has highlighted the following skill needs that map to this qualification:
|
The New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) is designed to provide the skills to work as an effective member of a team, including communication and interaction with team members and colleagues. It is a stranded qualification that enables learners to gain skills targeted to their chosen industry. It is also the qualification pathway for the two Level 4 Horticulture qualifications which provide the skills for more semi-autonomous and managerial roles (see below). |
High Priority | |
New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) [Stranded] [2676] |
All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Wellington (fruit and vegetables in the Wairarapa); Manawatū-Whanganui (fruit); Hawke's Bay (fruit and vegetable post-harvest production, in the blended level 3 and 4 complex apprenticeship); Taranaki; and 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 and demand driven by high rates of new workers constantly needing to be brought into the industries and upskilled. 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 industry engagement analysis and review of key industry documents has highlighted the following skill needs that map to this qualification:
|
The New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 4) is intended for people who are experienced workers in the horticulture industry who want to develop their skills and knowledge to supervise day to day operations in horticulture production. It recognizes the specific skills and knowledge of individuals who can, in a self-managed capacity, take responsibility for the daily operations in a horticulture production sector. The qualification also includes a component around applying knowledge of environmental factors and sustainable practices. |
High Priority | |
| New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4): [Stranded] [2674] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Taitokerau; Nelson Tasman (nursery production sub-industry). | 10-15% |
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 and demand driven by high rates of new workers constantly needing to be brought into the industries and upskilled. The total workforce across the Nursery, Turf and Gardening industry grouping has grown over the five-year period leading to 2020-21. In the Sports Turf industry, the Greenkeeper workforce numbers have been increasing. This qualification also serves the landscape construction and design industry (which form part of the Support Services industry grouping). This industry has also experienced workforce growth over that period. 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. |
The New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) provides the specific skills and knowledge for individuals to self-manage and take responsibility for the daily operations in the amenity, arboriculture, cemetery, garden centre, landscape design, landscape construction, or sports turf sector. |
High Priority | |
| New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 5) [Stranded] [2666] | All regions – but note RSLG specifics: Taitokerau | 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 and demand driven by high rates of new workers constantly needing to be brought into the industries and upskilled. MPI workforce forecasts predict strong growth for the fruit industry in particular and indicate greater need for managers and semi-autonomous workers. The forecasts also identify more managers for wine-making. This qualification provides the industry-specific skills for those working in these higher-level roles. Our industry engagement analysis and review of key industry documents has highlighted the following skill needs that map to this qualification:
|
The New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 5) provides a set of planning and management skills, stranded to meet the needs of the different horticulture industries and sub-industries, including post-harvest quality standards and seasonal outdoor crop production tasks. It also enables graduates to apply knowledge of leadership and relationship management to engage with team members and clients using a range of effective interpersonal skills relevant to a horticulture sector. The qualification also includes a component around applying knowledge of environmental factors and sustainable practices. These skills contribute to the industries need for skills related to carbon neutrality and climate change.
|
High Priority |
|
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: |
| New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 5) [2675] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Sports Turf (Level 6) [2683] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Diploma in Amenity Horticulture (Level 5) [4284] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 5) [2682] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 3) [2722] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 4) [2723] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 4): Optional strands in Vintage Operations, and Wine Analysis [4553] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 5): Optional strands in Technical Operations, and Wine Analysis [4554] | Medium Priority |
Grapes and Wine qualifications
|
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: |
|
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 3) [2722] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 4) [2723] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 4): Optional strands in Vintage Operations, and Wine Analysis [4553] | Medium Priority |
| New Zealand Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 5): Optional strands in Technical Operations, and Wine Analysis [4554] | Medium Priority |
Which specific qualifications and credentials do you want to see decreases 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 |
| New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General) (Level 3) [2677] | We do not have a good sense of how many learners may be industry related, though the learner profile suggests a significant reduction is likely. We want provision that shows that it is targeting industry. | Learner numbers for this qualification have rapidly increased, especially over the COVID epidemic, from 535 in 2017 to a high of 4370 in 2021. Further examination of the student profile reveals that they are all SDR (and in fact mostly extramural) and over half are 40+ years old. This is quite different from the horticulture workforces in the fruit, vegetable, and grapes and wine industries leading us to conclude that the qualification has mainly been taken up by hobbyist gardeners. In an industry training context, we are therefore recommending a decrease in learner numbers. | We have checked our findings with Horticulture New Zealand, the key representative of the main industry using the Horticulture qualifications, and it has confirmed that their members are not using this qualification. Its preference is for the stranded level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (2678). |
Which specific qualifications and credentials do you want to see changes in?
| Qualification or credential | Mode | Specific regions? | What is the change you are wanting to see? | Evidence of workforce need – include as text below the table or as an attachment |
| New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) [Arboriculture strand] [2678] | Prioritise classroom-based training | Prioritise classroom-based training | Industry has indicated that it has struggled to support the upskilling of workers in a work-based learning context due to the lack of capacity within industry to provide mentors and assessors. |
| 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) |
| Horticulture - Fresh Water Farm Plans MC | Should be available in 2024 | |||||
| Leadership in Horticulture MC (working with Ringa Hora) | Should be available in 2024 |