Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Irrigation System Management (Level 4)
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
4
Credits
40
NZSCED
039901
Engineering and Related Technologies > Other Engineering and
Related Technologies > Environmental Engineering
Qualification developer
Primary ITO
Next review
December 2018
Approval date
January 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide a range of primary
industry and amenity sectors with individuals who have attained
the skills and knowledge to determine the need for, and
manage sustainable irrigation for a commercial agriculture,
horticulture property, sports turf, public grounds, or an irrigation
scheme.
The qualification is a professional development pathway for
people who are already working in a primary industry sector.
Primary sector businesses will benefit through more technically
efficient, environmentally sustainable, and productive water use
in commercial irrigation operations. Further benefits accrue to
the community and the environment through protection and
efficient use of resources.
Graduate profile
Graduates of the qualification will be able to:


Outcome Statement
Education pathway
determine irrigation requirements for a commercial
agriculture or horticulture property, sports turf, public
grounds, or an irrigation scheme
manage irrigation practices and the operation and
maintenance of irrigation equipment.
This qualification can build on as a professional development
pathway to New Zealand Certificates at Level 4 or Diplomas at
Level 5 in the relevant primary industry sectors.
Graduates of this qualification can progress to the New Zealand
Certificate in Irrigation System Performance Assessment (Level
4) [Ref: 2555], or the New Zealand Certificate in Irrigation Design
(Level 5) [Ref: 2557].
Employment pathway
Qualification Reference 2556
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Graduates of this qualification may be involved in the
management of irrigation in situations such as agriculture,
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horticulture production, sports turf, or amenity, as irrigation
system managers or irrigation management technicians; or
operations personnel working on irrigation schemes. The
qualification will also be relevant for people working for regulatory
bodies in water resource management.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification may be awarded by the Primary ITO as the
qualification developer and the industry training organisation
arranging training leading to the qualification under section 5 of
the Industry Training Act and Apprenticeships Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by an education
organisation who has, under section 249 of the Education Act
1989, had a programme approved by the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or who has been accredited,
under section 250, to provide an approved programme.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification will
display the NZQF logo and may also include the name and/or
logo of the awarding education organisation.
Arrangements for managing
consistency
All TEOs either arranging training or delivering programmes that
lead to the award of the qualification are required to participate in
a consistency process scheduled by NZQA.
New requirements for assuring consistency of graduate
outcomes are being developed. Please refer to the Guidelines for
approval of New Zealand qualifications for listing on the New
Zealand Qualifications Framework available at
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/consistencyofgraduate-outcomes/
The purpose of the managing consistency event is to:

review evidence associated with achievement of
qualification outcomes at the level of the qualification.

identify issues or opportunities associated with outcome
achievement.
The review process may include:

comparison of similar evidence across education
organisations

consultation with graduates and employers (including visits)

consideration of internal qualityassurance processes and
external reviews.
Further information can be found on the NZQA website.
Credit transfer and recognition of
prior learning arrangements
Qualification Reference 2556
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Education organisations must have policies and procedures in
place for managing credit transfer, and assessing recognition of
prior learning and recognition of current competency. These
policies and procedures, and information about associated fees,
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must be available to the candidate prior to enrolment.
To facilitate credit transfer, education organisations must clearly
demonstrate the equivalency or comparability between each of
the outcomes in the graduate profile, and the assessment
components of their programmes.
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
The minimum standard of achievement required for award of
the qualification will be the achievement of all graduate
outcomes in the graduate profile through successful completion
of an NZQA approved programme.
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
There are no mandatory prerequisites for this qualification.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme
structure
Nil
Conditions for programme
context
Assessment for graduate outcome two must be carried out in an
actual workplace, and not a simulated workplace environment.
Other conditions
This qualification is intended to recognise the skills and
knowledge to determine and manage irrigation requirements at
a commercial level. Programmes must be delivered in the
context of a commercial agriculture or horticulture property;
sports turf, public grounds, or an irrigation scheme.
All outcomes in this qualification require aspects of workplace
health and safety which should be considered as part of the
assessment process.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
1
Conditions
Mandatory
or Optional
Determine irrigation
requirements for a commercial
agriculture or horticulture
property; sports turf, public
grounds, or an irrigation
scheme.
Determination of irrigation requirements
includes assessment of medium to long term
requirements and options.
Irrigation requirements must be financially and
environmentally sustainable.
Programmes should include the following:
Mandatory
Credits 15

local and regional council regulations, and
consent requirements

financial and investment considerations

impact of property features and environment

water supply reliability
Qualification Reference 2556
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Mandatory
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2
Manage the operation and
maintenance of an irrigation
system.
Credits 25

storage options

agronomy considerations for sustainable
land use

interaction of soil, crop, and climate

hydraulics.
Irrigation operation must be efficient and
financially and environmentally sustainable.
Health and safety requirements must be applied
to all aspects of the operation and maintenance
of an irrigation system.
Mandatory
Mandatory
Programmes should include the following:
Qualification Reference 2556
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014

irrigation equipment use and maintenance

equipment calibration

data interpretation

water take, scheduling, and nutrient limits

environmental considerations

cost benefit analysis.
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