Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Surface Mining and Quarrying (Level 3)
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
65
NZSCED
030303 Engineering and Related Technologies>Process and
Resources Engineering>Mining and Resources Engineering
Qualification developer
MITO New Zealand Incorporated
Next review
December 2020
Approval date
August 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the surface mining
and quarrying industry with operators who are familiar with
surface mining and quarrying operations and processes, and
related mobile and fixed plant and machinery, and are able to
carry out quarrying, mining, and/or processing tasks. Surface
mining and quarrying can include mining, quarrying and/or
processing.
This qualification is targeted at school-leavers or new workers in
the industry, as well as those in the industry seeking formal
recognition of their skills and knowledge.
Learners will benefit by having a qualification which recognises
the skills and knowledge of a competent operator to enable
improved job performance and a credential to enhance
employment opportunities.
The surface mining and quarrying industry will benefit by having
operators with the skills and knowledge to competently undertake
a range of tasks within the workplace.
Graduates will have the necessary skills and knowledge to work
safely in the surface mining and quarrying industry under limited
supervision.
Outcome Statement
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 2785
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Graduates will be able to:

identify hazards and participate in risk assessments to work
safely in a surface mining and quarrying workplace, and
comply with workplace health, safety and environmental
requirements

apply knowledge of surface mining and quarrying operations,
basic geology, and material properties to safely complete
workplace tasks as directed

safely and productively operate plant and/or machinery used
in surface mining and quarrying
Page 1 of 5

Education pathway
Employment pathway
adapt to change, communicate and work effectively as part
of a team within a surface mining and quarrying workplace.
This is the first in a suite of mining and quarrying qualifications.
It may lead to the:

New Zealand Certificate in Mines Rescue (Level 4) with
strands in Surface and Underground, and an optional strand
in Supervision [Ref: 2784]

New Zealand Certificate in Mining and Quarrying (First-line
Supervision) (Level 4) with strands in Surface and
Underground [Ref: 2783]

New Zealand Diploma in Mining and Quarrying (Supervision)
(Level 5) with strands in Surface and Underground [Ref:
2787]

New Zealand Diploma in Mining and Quarrying
(Management) (Level 6) [Ref: 2788].
Graduates are able to work as operators or processors in the
surface mining and quarrying industry.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification may be awarded by MITO New Zealand (Inc.)
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 Tertiary Education Organisations (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.
This will involve reviewing evidence associated with graduate’s
achievement of outcomes, and agreeing acceptable thresholds
for qualification outcome achievement, and areas for
improvement.
To demonstrate how graduates are achieving the qualification
graduate profile outcomes, TEOs are required to produce their
own evidence in a high level report.
Evidence will include the following:

Qualification Reference 2785
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Employer surveys to determine if graduates of the
qualification meet the graduate profile outcomes
Page 2 of 5

A range of workplace evidence demonstrating that graduates
meet the graduate profile outcomes.
Evidence may include:

Any other relevant evidence as appropriate.
Further information on the consistency process can be found on
the NZQA website.
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)
General conditions for the programme leading to the qualification
General conditions for
programme
The programme context will be determined by the candidate’s
workplace environment.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
1
Programmes must include:
Identify hazards and
participate in risk assessments
to work safely in a surface
mining and quarrying
workplace, and comply with
workplace health, safety and
environmental requirements.
Credits 15
2
Apply knowledge of surface
mining and quarrying
operations, basic geology, and
material properties to safely
complete workplace tasks as
directed.

Unit standard 23648

Unit standard 25876
Programmes may include:

Unit standard 3271

Unit standard 16687

Unit standard 17696

Unit standard 19522

Unit standard 24469

First Aid
Programmes must include:

Unit standard 15664

Unit standard 25880
As relevant for the candidate’s workplace context, programmes
must include:
Credits 15
Quarrying:

Qualification Reference 2785
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Unit standard 25878
Page 3 of 5
As relevant for the candidate’s workplace context, programmes
may include an appropriate selection of standards from the
following domains:
Engineering and Technology > Metalliferous Mining >
Metalliferous Mining – Operations
Engineering and Technology > Metalliferous Mining >
Metalliferous Mining – Processing
Engineering and Technology > Extractive Industries > Surface
Extraction
Engineering and Technology > Metalliferous Mining > Surface
Metalliferous Mining
Engineering and Technology > Extractive Industries > Extractives
Industries Management
3
Safely and productively
operate plant and/or
machinery used in surface
mining and quarrying.
Programmes must include:
Credits 30
Programmes must include operation of a selection of plant and/or
machinery representative of the candidate’s workplace context.
This may be static equipment, mobile plant, or a combination of
these. A minimum of two different types of plant and/or
machinery is required.

Unit standard 2401

Unit standard 8922
Programmes may include:

Unit standard 20875
As relevant for the candidate’s workplace context, programmes
may include an appropriate selection from standards from the
following domains:
Service Sector > Driving > Driver Licence Endorsements
Engineering and Technology > Metalliferous Mining >
Metalliferous Mining – Operations
Engineering and Technology > Metalliferous Mining >
Metalliferous Mining – Processing
Engineering and Technology > Extractive Industries > Surface
Extraction
Engineering and Technology > Metalliferous Mining > Surface
Metalliferous Mining
Engineering and Technology > Extractive Industries > Extractives
Industries Management
4
Adapt to change, communicate
and work effectively as part of
a team within a surface mining
and quarrying workplace.
Programmes must include:
Credits 5

Qualification Reference 2785
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015

Unit standard 9681
Programmes may include:
Unit standard 27557
Page 4 of 5
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the:

National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Introductory
Skills) (Level 2) with the Surface Extraction strand [Ref: 0247]
 National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Operations)
(Level 3) with the Coal Plant, Drilling Surface, Maintenance
Operations, Metalliferous Processing, Mobile Plant Surface,
Processing Plant, Surface Extraction, or Water Treatment
strands [Ref: 1521]

National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Lime Milling)
(Level 4) [Ref: 1525]

National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Sand) (Level 3)
[Ref: 1526]

National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Environmental
Technician) (Level 3) [Ref: 1528]

National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Weighbridge
Operations) (Level 3) [Ref: 1529].
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2017.
The last date for completion of those qualifications is 31 December 2020, at which time they will be
designated as discontinued.
Candidates currently working towards any of the replaced qualifications must complete its requirements,
or transfer to a programme of study or training leading to this qualification, by 31 December 2020.
It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.
However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to MITO at the address
below. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
MITO New Zealand (Inc.)
PO Box 10803
Wellington, 6011
Telephone
Facsimile
Email
Website
0800 88 21 21
04 494 0006
info@mito.org.nz
www.mito.org.nz
Qualification Reference 2785
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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