| Qualification: | Certificate |
| Level: | 4 |
| Dates: | 2026 Semester 1: 16 February to 26 June |
| Duration: | 17 weeks full-time Up to two years part-time |
| Location: | |
| Credits: | 60 |
Further your organic production training and learn about organic production growing systems, their environments and day-to-day operational management of an organic primary production operation.
The aims of the qualification are as follows:
Learners will benefit by having an organic production qualification within a training pathway that recognises progression through the primary industry, as well as increased skills and knowledge acquisition to enable improved job performance.
This programme is delivered onsite by the Biological Husbandry Unit Organics Trust (BHU). More information about the BHU can be found at
All papers compulsory.
This is a full time programme, however, part time over 2 years may be available on request. Please enquire with us before enrolling if you wish to study part time.
| ENVI4201 | Organic Primary Production Operations
Credits: 15 | Aim | The aim of this course is for learners to understand organic and compliance requirements and identify how these are applied to successful organic primary production operations. |
| LO1 | Evaluate an organic primary production operation. | ||
| Explain how organic standards and compliance requirements are applied to organic crop or livestock production. | |||
| LO2 | |||
| ENVI4202 | Soil and Nutrient Management
Credits: 15 | Aim | The aim of this course is for learners to gain an understanding of soil health practices and apply management strategies to improve soil quality and nutrient availability. |
| LO1 | Implement and monitor soil and nutrient management practices to improve soil quality in an organic crop or livestock production system. | ||
| LO2 | Describe factors and practices affecting soil health and fertility in the context of an organic crop or livestock production system. | ||
| ENVI4203 | Biodiversity Management
Credits: 15 | Aim | The aim of this course is for learners to gain an understanding of biodiversity improvement practices and apply management strategies to improve biodiversity within an organic production system. |
| LO1 | Describe the benefits of improving biodiversity within an organic production system. | ||
| Apply strategies to implement and monitor biodiversity practices to improve biodiversity in an organic production system | |||
| LO2 | |||
| ENVI4204 | Organic Crop Production
Credits: 15 | Aim | The aim of this course is for learners to carry out specific production activities to implement and monitor an organic crop plan over a full production season. |
| LO1 | Implement and monitor an organic crop production plan over a full production season to satisfy organic compliance requirements. | ||
| Undertake specialised production activities related to organic crop production to meet industry requirements. | |||
| LO2 |
SIT Zero Fees Scheme
(e.g. $700 for 100 credit course)
International Fees:
$12500
Unsure which one is for me? Check Fees Eligibility Check my options
Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed as an:
Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2 as follows:
Literacy – minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either:
Numeracy – a minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either:
Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate. Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following
NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or
an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or
Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or
Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 530 (with an essay score of 4.5 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2First for schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert - B2 Communicator International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than pass in any band
* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current
This programme of study is supported by the Biological Husbandry Unit Organic Farm located in Lincoln. Information about the Biological Husbandry Unit can be found at: or by calling their office at 03 325 3684
Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide us with. Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.
What is the Zero Fees Scheme?
The Zero Fees Scheme means we do not charge tuition fees. However, there is a Student Direct Material Cost that you need to pay and a non-refundable administration fee. The administration fee is for processing your application and the Student Direct Material Cost gives you secure access to Blackboard® our online learning environment and to student support services throughout your study with us.
Who qualifies for the Zero Fees Scheme?
Instructions to help you with your application:
If you are a new student …
Attach supporting documents as required and outlined on the previous page.
What happens next?
To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production, Livestock Production), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:
Please Note: ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.
Important: To successfully complete this paper, students need to achieve an overall mark of at least 50%, achieving no less than 35% for each individual assessment. All assessments must be attempted.
Assessments are varied, and include practical activities, short paragraph questions, reports, multichoice tests, etc.
Important: To successfully complete this paper, students need to achieve an overall mark of at least 50%, achieving no less than 35% for each individual assessment. All assessments must be attempted.