New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General) (Level 3)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-07-15 | - |
Program Overview
This pre-employment horticulture course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of plant care and practical skills for industry applications. The program covers topics such as plant growth optimization, design, pest control, propagation, and project maintenance. Students gain hands-on experience through field trips and practical sessions, preparing them for roles in the horticulture sector, including gardening, nursery work, and landscaping. The course aligns with the growing season and offers flexible start dates and locations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
This is a pre-employment horticulture course designed for students who are interested in working with plants in the outdoors. It provides a broad overview of horticulture and practical skills for a range of industry applications. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the horticulture sector.
Outline:
The course covers the following topics:
- Optimising Plant Growth: Focuses on soil care, interpreting and managing factors influencing plant growth (including soil testing, nutrient calculations, weather and climate information).
- Introduction to Horticulture Design and Plant Selection: Teaches students how to design gardens or orchards, selecting appropriate plants based on plant physiology, characteristics, and uses.
- Horticulture Pests, Diseases and Weeds: Covers identification and control of common pests, diseases, and weeds, including selecting suitable control options and using agrichemicals and spray equipment.
- Plant Propagation and Nursery Systems: Provides training on plant propagation techniques and core tasks in plant nurseries, including nursery layout, workflows, and systems.
- Horticulture Project Maintenance: Includes developing and maintaining horticulture projects, preparing and maintaining gardens and lawns, and maintaining and using gardening tools and equipment. The course can be studied part-time over one year. It is typically delivered in July in Rotorua, Tauranga, and Whakatane, but depending on demand, may be offered in other locations.
Teaching:
The course includes practical and theory sessions. Field trips to commercial nurseries and forests provide students with hands-on experience identifying plants and trees.
Careers:
Upon completion, students can pursue entry-level roles in the horticulture sector, such as:
- Assistant gardener
- Nursery or greenhouse worker
- Groundsperson
- Landscape labourer
- Orchard worker
- Floriculture worker
Other:
This course is delivered in July and runs to coincide with the growing season. It is possible to tailor the start date and location based on demand.
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Entry Requirements:
- Standard Entry Criteria: Admission, entry, selection, and enrolment into programmes will be in accordance with the Academic Regulations and/or, where approved, specific programme regulations.
- For courses at levels 1-3, domestic and international students will be required to:
- Provide evidence of ability to complete academic requirements.
- Other Considerations:
- Due to health and safety factors, and resourcing constraints, limitations may be placed on the number of students that can be accepted on the course.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- **Level 3 certificate IELTS General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5 or completed New Zealand Certificate in English Language Level 3 with an endorsement of either General, Workplace or Academic, or meets a relevant English Proficiency Outcome as outlined by NZQA.
