Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 5) (Crop Production,
Livestock Production)
Version
1
Qualification
type
Certificate
Level
5
Credits
60
NZSCED
059999
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies > Other
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies > Agriculture,
Environmental and Related Studies not elsewhere classified
Qualification developer
Primary ITO
Next review
December 2019
Approval date
April 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the primary
industry with individuals who have the technical skills and
knowledge to manage organic primary production operations to
maximise effectiveness and productivity.
Learners will benefit by having an organic production
qualification within a training pathway that recognises
progression through the industry, as well as increased skills and
knowledge acquisition to enable improved job performance.
The primary industry will benefit by having skilled managers who
are able to contribute to more efficient and effective organic
operations.
This qualification is ideally suited to people who have significant
industry experience and wish to develop their technical skills
and knowledge to be able to manage organic primary production
operations.
Graduates will be capable of working autonomously within
established parameters of an organic primary production
business and may be managing others.
Outcome Statement
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 2682
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Graduates of the qualification will be able to:
 apply knowledge of organic principles to the planning
and management of organic standards’ compliance
requirements to meet production goals
(60 credits)
Crop Production context:
To achieve the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary
Production (Level 5) (Crop Production) graduates must be able
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to apply the skills and knowledge of organic production in a crop
production context.
Livestock Production context:
To achieve the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary
Production (Level 5) (Livestock Production) graduates must be
able to apply the skills and knowledge of organic production in a
livestock production context.
Education pathway
This qualification may build on the New Zealand Certificate in
Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production,
Livestock Production) [Ref: 2681].
This qualification may lead on to the New Zealand Diploma in
Horticulture Production (Level 6) [Ref: 2667].
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed as:
organic production manager or assistant manager, organic crop
manager, organic crop technician.
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:
Qualification Reference 2682
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015

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
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
Evidence of effective internal quality assurance
systems

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)
It is strongly recommended that this qualification is completed
in conjunction with, or following completion of, agriculture or
horticulture production qualifications at an appropriate level.
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.
Production standards relevant to organic production include:
Biogro NZ, AsureQuality, Demeter.
Health and safety, and reporting apply across all outcomes.
The behaviours that contribute to compliance with workplace
procedures, 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 must cover the following organic principles:
Apply knowledge of organic
principles to the planning and
management of organic
standard’s compliance
requirements to meet production
goals
 Inter-relationships in the holistic philosophy
 Biotic inter-reactions of organic ecosystems
 Characteristics of successful organic primary production
 Holistic integration
Contexts for apply organic principles may include:
 Production tasks
 Post-harvest care and management
Qualification Reference 2682
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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 Grade and quality
 Growing environment
 Crop protection
 Plant health
 Market requirements
 Livestock care and health
 Land assessment
 Property management plan
 Marketing and/or packaging
Programmes must include certification application, compliance,
and audit requirements.
Qualification Reference 2682
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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