Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production (Level 6) with strands in
Process Improvement and Product Development
Version
1
Qualification type
Diploma
Level
6
Credits
120
NZSCED
050301 Agriculture, Environmental and Related
Studies>Horticulture and Viticulture>Horticulture
Qualification developer
Primary ITO
Next review
December 2019
Approval date
April 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the horticulture
industry with experienced individuals who have advanced
technical skills and knowledge in horticulture production
operations to operate as a technical specialist.
The qualification is stranded to reflect the specialist requirements
of either process improvement or product development for the
purpose of meeting domestic and international market
requirements and opportunities for horticultural products.
Learners will benefit by having a qualification that recognises
their advanced technical skills to enable enhanced employment
opportunities across a range of horticulture production sectors.
The horticulture industry will benefit by having experienced
technical specialists who can optimise workplace efficiency and
competitive edge for product entry into domestic and
international markets.
Graduates of this qualification will be able to apply in-depth
technical horticulture production skills and knowledge to inform
strategic business decisions.
Graduate profile
Graduates of the qualification will be able to:
Outcome Statement
-
Qualification Reference 2667
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
critically analyse data to determine production and
performance trends
(45 credits)
-
critically analyse products or technologies that contribute
to business outcomes
(30 credits)
Process Improvement Strand
-
research, design, and manage ongoing strategies for
version 1
Page 1 of 4
continuous improvement of horticulture production or
technologies
(45 credits)
Product Development Strand
-
research and trial new horticulture products or
technologies to enhance entry into domestic or
international markets
(45 credits)
Education pathway
This qualification may build on the New Zealand Diploma in
Horticulture Production (Level 5) with strands in Fruit Production,
Indoor Production, Outdoor Vegetable Production, and PostHarvest [Ref: 2666]
Employment pathway
Horticulture production technical specialists who are operating as
production managers could combine this qualification with
business management qualifications as required for their work
role.
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 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by an education
organisation accredited under section 250 of the Education Act
1989 to deliver an approved programme leading to this
qualification.
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.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
All education organisations offering programmes leading to the
qualification must engage with arrangements for managing
consistency, including covering actual and reasonable related
costs.
Each education organisation is responsible for deciding what
specific evidence it will provide to demonstrate how well its
graduates meet the graduate profile outcomes of the
qualification.
Evidence of the following must be provided:
 Student feedback on course delivery and qualification
achievement, their perception of the value of the training,
and suggestions for improvements
 Feedback from employers on the level of skills,
knowledge and behaviour demonstrated by graduates of
the qualification
 Evidence of effective internal quality assurance systems
Qualification Reference 2667
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
version 1
Page 2 of 4

Portfolios of work and/or assessment samples
demonstrating the range of student performance within a
programme
TEOs can also provide any other relevant evidence that supports
the consistency review.
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.
Other requirements for the
qualification (including regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
There are no regulatory body or legislative requirements
General conditions for the programme leading to the qualification
General conditions for
programme
TEOs offering programmes leading to this qualification must
maintain currency with amendments to, and replacements of,
relevant legislation, regulations, and Codes of Practice.
Health and safety, sustainable practices, recording, and reporting
apply across all outcomes.
The behaviours that contribute to compliance with workplace
procedures, and commercial standards and timeframes are
inherent in the performance of the qualification’s outcomes and
must be considered as part of the assessment process.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
1
Programmes may include the following topics:
Critically analyse data to
determine production and
performance trends
 Fruit Production data may include – labour input, seasonal
demands, production inputs, effect of climate, timing of
production
 Indoor Production data may include – planting & removal,
labour input, energy use, technology, degree days, climate
control
 Outdoor Vegetable crop data may include – yields, seed
issues, inputs relative to yield, crop growing strategies,
production scheduling, harvest strategies
 Post-harvest data may include – inputs (labour, product,
material), material outputs, seasonal demands, packaging
strategy, effectiveness of technology, resource optimisation
Qualification Reference 2667
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
version 1
Page 3 of 4
2
Critically analyse products or
technologies that contribute to
business outcomes
Programmes may include the following topics:
 process and value stream mapping
 cool chain strategies
 product integrity
 product perishability
3
4
Process Improvement Strand
Programmes may include the following topics:
Research, design, and manage
ongoing strategies for
continuous improvement of
horticulture production or
technologies
 inputs and outputs
Product Development Strand
Programmes may include the following topics:
Research and trial new
horticulture products or
technologies to enhance entry
into domestic or international
markets
 new product varieties
Qualification Reference 2667
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
 flow through a system
 minimise waste
 maximise values
 added value product
 crop growing technical requirements
 ongoing strategies
version 1
Page 4 of 4