Start growing your horticulture career
Take your first step into the world of Horticulture!
Our course is designed to ignite your curiosity and equip you with the basic skills needed to make a start in this ever-expanding industry.
We will cover a range of skills to start you on your way including pruning, propagation, tree care, nursery production and much more.
With our connections in the industry we can also assist in helping you find employment. Will you take up the challenge?
Outline
This qualification is to enable the recognition of the entry level skills and knowledge required by the primary industry sector and to provide a training pathway for entry into careers in the primary sector. It is targeted at new or potential entrants into the primary sector including seasonal workers, career changers and those not yet engaged in education, employment or training.
You will learn the following at an introductory level:
- Plant and tree care
- Fruit production
- Orchard maintenance
- Pruning
- Propagation
- Nursery production
- Working as a team
- Health and safety
Career and Study Opportunities
As a graduate of this qualification you will have the skills and knowledge to obtain entry level roles in the primary sector, for example:
- Pruner
- Harvester
- Orchard worker
- Vineyard hand
- Assistant gardener
- Nursery worker
Most students choose to do further study at Level 3 and beyond before seeking employment opportunities.
Dates
There is one start date per year:
Entry Requirements
This is an open entry programme which means no formal qualifications are required. You must be aged 16 or over and you are required to have a reasonable reading level in order to cope with the programme and to carry out written instruction.
You must also be physically able to complete the programme specific outcomes.
English Language Entry Requirements
All applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language fluency prior to acceptance in the programme. For international students, ways in which English language fluency may be demonstrated include the following:
- Successful study of a programme in which English was the language of instruction (subject to the conditions in EIT’s Database for English Language Proficiency (DELP))
- Completion of a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 3 with any endorsement)
- IELTS Academic score of 5, with no band score lower than 5, achieved in a single test within the two years preceding enrolment
- Accepted international equivalents to the above IELTS scores (see equivalency tables in the DELP)
Academic Learning Services
Academic Learning Services is here to assist you on your journey towards the successful completion of your studies at EIT. Our aim is for you to become confident, competent and independent learners.
We have dedicated advisors who can assist with your learning.
Find out more:
Hawke’s Bay Campus
Tairāwhiti Campus
Scholarships

EIT offers a variety of scholarships across various subjects and programme levels. Some scholarships are based on your age, some are specific to the subject you want to study. Not all scholarships are based on your academic ability and anyone wanting to study should investigate what scholarships are available to them.
You can find a list of EIT scholarships here however there are many more scholarships offered nationally. Information about these is on an database called “givME”. givME is accessible at EIT or at some public libraries. If you would like to come to EIT to look through the giveME database don’t hesitate to contact scholarships@eit.ac.nz or call in for a chat.