nz horticulture industry training organisation (inc ......at levels 1-4, eg a national certificate...

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NZ Horticulture Industry Training Organisation (Inc) Apprentice / Trainee Information – On Job Package

The NZHITO, which is a charitable non-profit organisation, was established in February 1993 by all of the main sector bodies of the NZ Horticulture Industry. The NZHITO coordinates quality training for employers and all employees, including casual, seasonal and volunteers. The strengths of our training programmes are their relevance because they are industry developed and led. Flexibility, user choice and convenience have been absolute key considerations in using the National Qualifications Framework features for horticulture training. What Agreements does the NZHITO have with the Employee and Employer? All apprentices and employers sign an NZHITO Training Agreement, with a commitment to training for an Introductory First Year Certificate. However, this can be reduced if the apprentice already has some prior experience.

Enrollment Requirements

• Working, or about to be working, in the horticulture industry.

• Signed Individual Training Plan with your employer and the NZHITO.

• Valid Training Agreement. What types of Training Delivery are available? Practical (On Job) Units

• These packages enable trainees to train in the workplace towards an assessment of the skills and knowledge gained during their normal working day.

• The trainee receives a training package, which provides Training Guides with the information required for the trainee to be deemed competent in a particular unit.

• The Employer/Trainer receives Assessment Guides, which contain the information required to assess the On Job Units.

Theory (Off Job) Units

• This package does not provide for any Off Job Units (ie Off Job Training Days).

Apprenticeship Programme

Apprentices are either employed full-time with one company, or can be shared across different employers.


The employer, who teaches the apprentice the “tricks of the trade”, undertakes the majority of the training. The theory component is undertaken off job, away from the workplace. As the apprentice works their way through each year of the system, they are awarded Certificates based on the level they are currently at.

Qualifications are offered in various sectors of the Horticulture Industry. These sectors include: Amenity Horticulture, Arboriculture (strand based qualification), Floristry, Fruit Production, Landscape, Nursery Production, Viticulture, Production Horticulture (incorporating Floriculture), Vegetable Production, Post Harvest Operations. The qualifications to be gained are: Year 1: National Certificate in Horticulture (Introductory) (Level 2)

Year 2: National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4)

Year 3: National Certificate in Advanced Horticulture (Sector Specific) (Level 4)

• Graduates from these programmes are the managers, foremen or supervisors of the future – tradespeople who understand all aspects of their chosen industry.

• The National Certificates are an NZQA qualification recognized both nationally and internationally.

• Some of the greater benefits to the industry include the fact that there will be more employees who have formal qualifications for the industry they are working in, and who are more likely to be retained in that industry, and work more safely and smarter.

What is expected from the Modern Apprentice/Trainee? • You must attempt to complete all of the agreed targets in the Quarterly Training Plan.

• You are to make sure that you are prepared with regards to paperwork and questions at Quarterly Review Meetings.

• You are to inform your Assessor when you are ready for assessment, and make sure that you have the evidence that is required for that assessment.

• If you run out of training prior to your Quarterly Review time, please contact your supervisor, employer or ITO Regional Manager.

• It is expected that apprentices should achieve a minimum of 70 credits per year, once they are enrolled in a 3 year, 210 credit qualification.

What is expected from the Employer/Trainer?

• On job training packages are to be TAUGHT and ASSESSED by

the Trainer/Assessor.

• Either yourself or a qualified senior foreman will have to attend a half-day course on assessing Unit Standards on job.

• The employer/trainer is to assist the apprentice and NZHITO representative in encouraging and motivating the trainee to gain his/her National Certificate in Horticulture.

• You should inform NZHITO of any concerns that you or the apprentice may have regarding the training or apprenticeship.

• Quarterly targets are either to be met, or attempted to be met, by both the employer and apprentice.


If you require help, please ask for it or contact us

Website: www.hortito.org.nz Freephone: 0800 467 844 What is NZQA?

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority is the Government Body responsible for the development and ongoing maintenance of the National Qualifications Framework and the Register. The NZQA Hook on Fee is $25.00, if not already hooked onto the National Qualifications Framework (NZHITO pays for this).

What are Unit Standards?

Unit standards describe the knowledge and skills identified by the industry as being necessary for the trainee to know and be able to do for a particular task. Each unit has a credit value, which identifies an approximate value of how many hours may be required to achieve competency in that task (based on a person new to the task).

What you will receive for a year of On-Job Practical Training only? (Cost is $300.00)

On Job Units Only (ie no Off Job Training Days)

Access To NZHITO On-Job Training Resources, Including On-Job Training Support And Guidance.

A Training Needs Analysis And Individualised Workplace Training Plan.

Minimum Of 4 Workplace Visits Per Year From Your Training Advisor.

All Credit Registration Onto The NZQA Framework.

Application And Award Of National Certificates Achieved.

Moderation And Access To A Network Of Other WPA's In Your Area.

What you will receive for a year of On-Job Training with 3 Off Job Training Days?

(Cost is $650.00) 3 x NZHITO Standard Off Job Training Days per person.

Access to NZHITO on-job training resources, including on-job training

support and guidance.

A training needs analysis and individualised workplace training plan.

Minimum of 4 workplace visits per year from your Training Advisor

All credit registration onto the NZQA framework.

Application and award of National Certificates achieved.

Moderation and access to a network of other WPA's in your area.


QQ U A L I F I C A T I O N U A L I F I C A T I O N PP A T H W A YA T H W A Y

National Certificate in Horticulture (Practical) (Level 1) [Ref: 1470]

National Certificate in Horticulture ( Introductory) (Level 2) [Ref: 1013]

National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 3) with Optional Strand in Cemetery [Ref: 1471]

National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4) with optional strands In Amenity Horticulture, Fruit Production, Landscape, Nursery Production, Postharvest, Viticulture

and Vegetable Production [Ref: 1014]

National Certificate in Horticulture (Advanced) (Level 4) with strands in Amenity Horticulture, Fruit Production, Landscape, Nursery Production,

Postharvest, Production Horticulture, Viticulture, and Vegetable Production [Ref: 1015]

A minimum of 70 credits from sector domain/strand eg amenity, viticulture, postharvest

140 credits (minimum of 70 credits at Level 4 or above)

110 credits from specified domains in the subfield Horticulture (minimum of 40 credits at L4 or above)

30 credits anywhere on the Framework

40 credits at Level 1 or above

15 credits specified domains 10 credits anywhere on the Framework


150 credits from specified domains in the subfield Horticulture (minimum of

70 credits at Level 4 or above)

20 credits subfield Pest Management and/or

specified Units

40 credits anywhere on the Framework

A minimum of 70 credits from the sector domain/strand, eg amenity, viticulture, postharvest

15 credits subfield Horticulture


20 credits anywhere on the Framework 50 credits subfield Horticulture and/or specified units

from the Agricultural and Horticultural Science domain


70 credits subfield Horticulture 10 credits specified domains 25 credits anywhere on the Framework


GG L O S S A R YL O S S A R Y

Accreditation (Providers)

A process of ensuring that providers of education have the capability to deliver and assess Unit Standards. All Providers must have a quality management system. Only Accredited Providers are able to offer Unit Standards or Qualifications from the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.

Accredited Training Provider

An institution or organisation that delivers education and training, and has met the NZQA criteria to deliver and assess to the Qualifications Framework Unit Standards and Qualifications.

Assessment The process used to determine whether a trainee has achieved competency in a unit standard.

Credit Each Unit Standard has a credit value. The credit value is proportional to the approximate amount of time required by trainees to achieve the tasks, skills and/or knowledge required in the Unit Standard. One Credit equals (approximately) ten to twelve hours of training.

Credit Achievement When Trainees/Modern Apprentices are assessed as being competent in a Unit Standard, their Workplace Assessor is responsible for sending their assessment results to the appropriate ITO, who then registers the achievement with the NZQA. This credit value is recorded on the Trainees/ Modern Apprentices Record of Learning, and counts towards the credit requirements for their National Certificate.

ITO Industry Training Organisations are responsible for setting up and monitoring the Standards/Qualifications and the management of training.

Level Units are registered on the National Qualifications Framework, which has eight levels (designated Q1–Q8). The level relates to the complexity of the skill or knowledge. Complexity increases as the Level value increases.

Moderation of Assessment

A process of ensuring consistency of assessment nationwide against the Unit Standard.

Modern Apprentice A young person undertaking training within the industry through NZHITO, with support and programme monitoring from their Modern Apprentice Coordinator.

Modern Apprentice Coordinator

The person who assists in planning training between the Modern Apprentice and the Employer. They also offer support and monitor the training process to assist the Modern Apprentice gain their qualification.

National Certificates These are Qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework at Levels 1-4, eg a National Certificate in Horticulture (Introductory).

National Diploma

These are Qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework at Levels 5 and above.

National Qualifications Framework (NQF)

A collection of Unit Standards and Qualifications throughout all industries in New Zealand, which have quality control systems to ensure that the desired standards are met and maintained. These are classified into:

Field Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Subfield Horticulture Domain Amenity Horticulture

NCH A National Certificate in Horticulture.


New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)

The Government Body responsible for the development and maintenance of the NQF.

NZHITO The New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation has the responsibility for setting up and registering Unit Standards and Qualifications for the Horticulture Industry.

Off Job Training

Theory based training undertaken by a contracted Training Provider.

On Job Training

Training undertaken on the job by the Trainee/Modern Apprentice and Trainer.

Registered Workplace Assessor

NZHITO registers individuals to assess trainees against specified standards in the workplace.

RPL Recognition of Prior Learning – a process where the NZHITO will recognise prior achievements within the industry as shown by evidence produced.

TEC Primary Funder of the NZHITO via the Industry Training Fund, previously called Skill NZ.

The Register All Qualifications registered in New Zealand (do not have to be Unit Standard based).

Trainee/Apprentice

A person of any age undertaking training through the NZHITO.

Training Agreement An Agreement that is linked to an Employment Contract between an employer and their employee to provide and undertake training, which is registered with the NZHITO.

Training Provider

An Organisation that provides training.

Unit Standard Describes the essential knowledge and skills required by the industry for a particular task. Trainees must demonstrate that they can meet the requirements in order to be assessed as being competent, and achieve credit for that Unit.

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