Capacity Matters
Industry Capacity
Enhancing industry capacity through upgrading professionalism and systems, training in skills, knowledge and practice, improving efficiency and effectiveness, encouraging innovation and best practice, understanding our markets and facilitating research and development ... tools to enable members to do things better tommorrow that they did yesterday
May 2018
Workforce Summit - 29 May, Wellington
The NZ nursery sector has a long history of training and education; however, participation has been dropping steadily in recent years, despite an increasing workforce.
In the future the nursery industry will need to have a more highly skilled workforce. Workers in traditional (nursery worker) roles will require additional skills and qualifications, but in addition to this, there will be increased need for professional skills including engineering, science and management.
NZPPI is holding an industry summit on workforce training and education. This summit will focus on the ongoing decline in industry training in our sector and the industry led solutions to this problem.
There is significant interest in this topic and this is an opportunity for you to have your say and be part of the solution.
For background information and to view a draft agenda, please click here.
Date: Tuesday 29 May, 8.30am to 3.15pm
Venue: Brentwood Hotel, 16 Kemp Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington
To register: contact Frances Palmer frances@nzppi.co.nz
April 2016
Industry Training
It's been a busy start to the year in our work with the Primary ITO. We've worked on reviews and new Level Three nursery production standards, our IPG (Industry Partnership Group) has met and advanced our sector plan, definition of industry sector roles, and a series of regional engagement meetings.
... read more about level three standard reviews
... read more about the IPG
Engaging Employees
21 April 2016 edition of BuZZ, Ball Horticulture's retail email newsletter featured some salient tips on getting the best from your team ... more
NGINZ Trolley System
In December we flagged member and user consultation on the future of the trolley system and invited early feedback that would inform our approach to options and consultation. The Board has considered the early feedback and has revised its consultation options. We expect to have those ready for distribution for a discussion with members and users from mid-May.
... read more
Law changes have now come into force
The Employment Standards Legislation Bill has come into force 1 April 2016. The changes mean:
- More parental leave and more flexibility
- More certainty and fairness in employment, and
- Stronger enforcement of minimum employment rights
Use the employment toolkit to get up to speed quickly with changes in the law to ensure you comply with all requirements.
Effective Supervision A Primary ITO Short Course
Learn the skills you need to lead and inspire others to perform to the best of their ability. Taught over three days (two days in the "classroom", one day in the field), this HR training programme is made up of a series of workshops and practical activities. Contact your local Primary ITO Training Adviser on 0800 20 80 20 to find out locations and dates near you.
Next Course - 26 & 27 May 2016, 8.30am to 4.30pm
... read more
March 2016
Stocktake Time
For many, 31 March is balance date and stocktake is an important part of this process. In production nurseries this involves a rather uncertain determination of the cost of production. Some time ago NGINZ worked with IRD to develop a method for valuing nursery stock. The stock value of a plant is based on a simple formula using the anticipated sale price, the time it takes a crop to reach saleable grade and the stage that the crop is currently at in that period. Members can contact Frances Palmer, frances@nginz.co.nz, for a copy of the paper.
New OPC Insecticide Rules
Five agrochemicals compounds have been reassessed and rules for their use have been revised. Off-label use is now prohibited for four of these: acephate, diazinon, fenamiphos and methamidophos.
... They join other OPC’s subject to new rules, read about them here
February 2016
Primary ITO Nursery Production Industry Partner Group (IPG)
The Nursery Production IPG represents the needs of nurseries and nursery production trainees to the ITO and meets 23 March to develop its Sector Plan, continue work on its Workforce Capability Matrix and liaise with the ITO on its work with our industry. If you’ve matters that the IPG should discuss, please send them to John Liddle, john@nginz.co.nz.
In advance of the meeting, late in February John spentnd a fruitful hour of the phone with nursery sector ITO Training Advisors. They've lots of ideas on how we can improve nursery sector employer and employee engagement ... and the IPG will talk about these in March and work closely with the Training Advisors through the year.
Effective Supervision - A Primary ITO Short Course
Learn the skills you need to lead and inspire others to perform to the best of their ability. Taught over three days (two days in the "classroom", one day in the field), this HR training programme is made up of a series of workshops and practical activities. Contact your local Primary ITO Training Adviser on 0800 20 80 20 to find out locations and dates near you.
... read more
December 2015
Nursery Production Farm Management System Workshops
John MacDonald, Nursery Industry Development Officer for Queensland, will present full day FMS workshops, in both Auckland and Christchurch. The subject of the workshops is to be confirmed but we welcome suggestions of topics for discussion from nurseries and media suppliers.
Dates
Monday 7 March, South Auckland, venue tba
Wednesday 9 March, Christchurch, venue tba
Cost:
Free to current participants of the Farm Management System
$250 to NGINZ members not in FMS*
$350 to non-members*
*This would contribute to the annual fee if you joined FMS within 6 months of the workshops
For more information please contact Frances Palmer, frances@nginz.co.nz, ph 04 918 3511.
... more here as the programme develops
Growers Technical Seminar 2016
The third Growers Technical Seminar is locked in for Tuesday 8th March, at Miramar Golf Links adjacent to Wellington Airport. Organised by the NGINZ Grower Sector, it’s a full day of practical sessions and presentations providing growers a chance to learn about new technologies and products. It is also a good opportunity to send staff who may benefit. Fly in and fly out on the day – book now for cheap flights.
Although working on the final speaker line up we are able to confirm:
- Ed Morgan, Plant and Food Research - Breeding novelty cultivars
- Alfred Boot, Herkupak Trays, The Netherlands - Nursery Automation and Herkupak trays
- A Horticentre Technical Advisor - Pest and disease control under cover
- John MacDonald, NGIA Queensland - Irrigation Software/Management and more
- Kristin Flanagan, GOOM Landscapes - CHCH Tree Standards and implications
- Angie Williams, OSHBOX - Health and Safety: The latest news
Members: $55 + gst, extra staff $40 + gst
Non-members: $80 + gst, extra staff $65 + gst
To book, please complete and return this form or contact Frances Palmer, frances@nginz.co.nz.
All enquiries to Scott Bromwich, Daltons, ph 027 281 2472, scott.bromwich@daltons.co.nz.
... more here as the programme develops
NGINZ Trolley System Consultation
The NGINZ trolley system has been serving industry needs since 1996. It provides a convenient and efficient mechanism to assist in the transport of thousands of plants between nurseries and their customers throughout New Zealand each week.
As useful as it is, the sytem is not without its issues and in 2016, the NGINZ Board will consult with members and users on the future of the trolley system. In the meantime we seek early feedback - please send your thoughts to John Liddle, john@nginz.co.nz.
... more here
November 2015
Growers Technical Seminar
The third Growers Technical Seminar is locked in for Tuesday 8th March 2016, at Miramar Golf Links adjacent to Wellington Airport ... more
Tom Ferguson a superb second at Young Horticulturist awards
Tom Ferguson from Southern Woods Nursery, and the nursery and garden industry representative, came up trumps at the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition earlier this month, placing second overall.
The 2015 competition assessed contestant’s abilities across multiple skills that reflect the diversity of skills demanded by a modern career in horticulture, including innovative product design, market research, public speaking, interviews with judges and a day of practical assignments.
Tom won the Bayer Best Practice Award in a range of activities with a focus on crop management practices and sustainability, and placed third in the Agmardt Market Innovation project with a in-depth study of the use of drones for frost protection, something he says is a viable option in the near future with the change in CAA regulations.
... more here
NGINZ Conference 2016
27 & 28 July 2016
Location to be advised
It's early days and right now we can tell you little more save for the fact that 2016 will a year of change for NGINZ and this will be the place and time for robust discussions and decisions on our future. More details - frances@nginz.co.nz
October 2015
Review of Nursery Qualifications
The TROQ (Targeted review of Qualifications) hit another milestone last month. This Government mandated process has already reduced the hundred and something horticulture certificate and diploma qualifications to around thirty and the broad shape of nursery-related qualifications has been defined Now the details of horticulture programmes are being worked through and we’ve met and worked with the Primary ITO (PrITO) in this regard.
The drafts will shortly be available to the PrITO’s Nursery Production Industry partnership group for review. If you’d like to know more please contact John Liddle – john@nginz.co.nz.
September 2015
Legionella growing media health warning panel
NGINZ has released its recommended growing media packaging warning panel to help public awareness of risks associated with gardening ... more
Member Legionella Awareness Signage
A2 signage will shortly be sent to NGINZ-member retailers for use near their growing media displays. These form an important part of our industry driven public awareness programme mitigating the risks home gardeners face from Legionnaires’ disease. This signage is also available to NGINZ-member growers on request, and for purchase by non-members ... more
