New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production (Level 4) (Nursery Production)
Growing & Vines
A course by
NMIT
Gain advanced, practical skills for commercial nursery work, focusing on plant propagation, crop management, nursery operations, and business practices in the horticulture sector.
NZ$1,348
inc GST
Enquire about international pricing
Blended study
This is a mix of online learning & face-to-face sessions
Richmond Campus, Richmond
It will take a total of 35 weeks
NZ$1,348
inc GST
Enquire about international pricing
Core skills this course teaches
Master advanced plant propagation techniques
Learn to propagate plants via advanced methods, including rootstock management for grafting, budding, and understanding plant hormones for optimizing growth.
Develop plant and crop management skills
Gain ability to manage all stages of plant production in a nursery, with a strong focus on environmental control, root health, irrigation, and nutrition.
Employ effective crop protection strategies
Identify and manage common pests, diseases, and weed threats in a nursery setting.
What You're Signing Up For
This Level 4 certificate provides the advanced knowledge and practical experience needed to work effectively in commercial nursery production. Learners develop skills in propagation, nursery operations, plant crop protection, landscape planning, machinery and equipment use, business management, and supervising staff. The programme is targeted at individuals already working in or seeking to enter the nursery and horticulture industry, preparing for a range of roles in production, management, and consultancy across the sector.
Course Content
- Nursery Environment: Soils, soilless media, nutrient management, mist units, irrigation systems, temperature and weather management.
- Nursery Operations: Advanced propagation methods, seed sowing, plant production from cuttings, grafting, budding, stock management, plant science, plant hormones.
- Nursery Crop Protection: Identification and management of pests, diseases, and weeds.
- Plant Selection and Planning: Plant identification, landscape design, planting plans for amenity and revegetation projects.
- Nursery Equipment: Use of grow houses, shade houses, potting machines, packing and dispatch facilities.
- Business Management and Marketing: Development of business plans, marketing strategies for nursery enterprises.
- Human Resources: Supervising, managing others, time management, communication, and conflict resolution.
- Practical industry/workplace placement (500 hours embedded, approx. 2 days per week).
What you need to know first
NCEA Level 2; or a qualification at Level 2 or above
OR evidence of relevant knowledge/experience in a primary industry environment, including literacy and numeracy abilities equivalent to NCEA Level 1 (may require an enrolment interview)
Applicants must be 16 years of age or older at start
Must be physically able to complete programme outcomes
Applicants for whom English is not a first language require an IELTS score of 5.5 (no band lower than 5.0), NZCEL Level 3, or other accepted equivalence
Find these employment opportunities
Nursery propagatorHorticultural consultantCrop managerCool store managerScience technicianProduction coordinatorNursery assistantNursery manager
