landscape design student standing in garden with equipment
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Landscape Design & Construction

Landscape design and construction: the art of creative design and practical installation of features for outdoor spaces.

Landscapers meet clients, measure and draft plans, and design everything outside from outdoor rooms to pools, playgrounds, plants ,and places — all to provide people leading busy lives with a beautiful home retreat to escape to.

Landscapers can also expect to project manage the installation of garden designs, or be involved in the landscape construction. They could be doing anything from building outdoor rooms to laying surfaces and creating and planting the gardens.

Wintec's Landscape Design and Construction programmes are projects based, so students will be working with real clients on real projects, to put what they learn into practice.

Progression

Typically students will study the following programmes for two years to develop the skills and knowledge to work in landscape design and/or construction:

First semester: Level 3

In the first semester students will study the Applied Horticultural Services (Level 3) (Landscape Construction).

Regional students will study General Horticulture (Level 3) AND the Applied Horticultural Services (Level 3) (Landscape Construction).

Students who choose to complete their study after the first semester will have the skills to work as a skilled labourer in this area.

Students who already have some experience in landscaping may be able to enter directly into Level 4. Contact us for more information.

Second semester: Level 4

At Level 4 students will choose their ‘strand’ of interest and study Landscape Construction or Landscape Design. Each program is one semester, a student can choose to do both strands one after the other if desired.

In landscape construction students will hone their skills in construction and have the ability to choose optional areas of interest in stone work, brick and block work, and water features. This qualification assists you with the skills to becoming a team leader on a landscape site.

In landscape design students will develop design skills enabling them to create simple home garden design plans, with hand and computer graphic representation, plant identification and planting design. You will also learn plan set out to assist and supervise on landscape sites. 

Students will gain the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) Landscape Construction or Landscape Design strands.

Our programmes

My Career Pathway (Horticulture)

One semester
Level 2
Fee Free
Hamilton Rotokauri Campus
Jul 2019
This programme has been designed for 16-19 years old looking for a future in practical, hands-on work and an outside office. My Career Pathway is a FREE* six month programme that will help students learn the practical skills, life skills and confidence they need to continue training at Wintec or in the workplace through apprenticeships.

Applied Horticultural Services (Level 3) (Landscape Construction)

One semester
Level 3
$4,468 per semester
Hamilton Gardens Campus, Huntly, +1
Jul 2019
Students this programme will learn the skills of the landscape construction trade, gaining confidence in using building tools, and how to build and make landscape elements. The programme is very practical with setting out, woodworking, laying concrete, and paving with drainage. Students will also learn about planting, laying lawns and some maintenance.

General Horticulture (Level 3)

One semester
Level 3
$3574 (scholarships are available)
Hamilton Gardens Campus, Mangateparu, +1
Jul 2019
This programme will give students broad introductory knowledge of the science, growing systems, and practices used in a variety of horticultural areas. Students will gain knowledge of plant identification, maintenance and propagation in horticulture.

Advanced Horticultural Trades (Level 4) (Landscape Construction)

One semester
Level 4
$7744 per year
Hamilton Gardens Campus
Feb 2020
Students in this programme will learn advanced skills and techniques enabling them to lead a team and install and complete landscape design. Students will also learn skills in site management and safety, scheduling, building and installation. Part-time work placements in industry is included in this programme for practical, hands-on learning.

Advanced Horticultural Trades (Level 4) (Landscape Design)

One semester
Level 4
$7744 per year
Hamilton Gardens Campus
Jul 2019
In this programme students will study the essentials of Landscape Garden Design, learning the knowledge and skills they need to be able to design and produce professional residential garden plans.

Diploma in Landscape Practice (Level 5)

One year
Level 5
$7149 per year
Hamilton Gardens Campus
Feb 2020
Students in this programme will advance their skills in a chosen strand of either Landscape Design or Landscape Construction.

Diploma in Landscape Design and Management (Level 6)

One year
Level 6
$7149 per year
Hamilton Gardens Campus
Feb 2020
This programme provides the third year in the pathway of landscape education offered at Wintec. After training in the principles and processes of landscape design through level 4 and 5, students are competent designers and have the basics of project management learnt.

Professional programmes / short courses

Chainsaw Operation (Unit Standard 6917)

Thames Campus
Chainsaws are extremely dangerous tools, and without proper training, things can go badly wrong. This course brings you up to official standards for using chainsaws in the workplace, necessary for a range of jobs in the forestry and farming industries.

Chainsaw Rules (Unit Standard 6916)

Thames Campus
Chainsaws are dangerous, and no matter how careful you are, without the proper training, things can go wrong. Learn the rules for chainsaw use on this one-day course, helping to keep you and others safe

Demonstrate knowledge of workplace Health and Safety requirements US 497

Thames Campus
This course is geared towards the Arboriculture industry and will help you gain a full understanding of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the skills needed to apply these principles in the workplace.

GROWSAFE Basic Course

This GROWSAFE course is specifically designed for people working in horticulture, agriculture, or conservation. After completing this one-day course, you will be able to safely use agrichemicals under supervision, and have a better understanding of chemicals, equipment, and your responsibilities.

GROWSAFE Standard Course

The GROWSAFE standard course is designed is for agrichemical users who work independently or supervise/manage others. Learn how to protect people, animals, and the environment with this two-day course.

Maintain a chainsaw (Unit Standard 43)

Knowing how to use a chainsaw is quite different from knowing how to maintain one. This course will teach you the skills you need to look after your equipment, keeping it in top working condition and safe to use.

Take a look inside!

Landscape Design Students' Award-Winning Cafe Garden Bar

Wintec's landscape design students were rewarded for their efforts at the 2016 Waikato Home and Garden Show. The landscape design students won a gold medal for their “Café Garden Bar” in the NZ Landscape Design Awards. Their creation showcased the history and heritage of local Waikato winery, Vilagrad Winery, and used materials recovered from Vilagrad’s devastating fire in 2015. The 6m x 10m creation included a water feature with spilling wine bottles and a burnt woven barrel-effect wall. The garden bar will be recreated at Vilagrad Winery this year.


Facilities

Students will learn at the beautiful Hamilton Gardens Campus: a 58-hectare environment of public gardens with an incredible variety of trees. Students will design open spaces in sunlit classrooms fully equipped with drawing tables, or go for a wander through the public gardens for a bit of inspiration!

Pathways

Landscape Design and Construction pathway diagram

About the faculty

Welcome to the Centre for Applied Science and Primary Industries!

Creating the next generation of science talent in New Zealand has never been more important and if you're thinking about a career in Science or Primary Industries, we can help you to build your skills and employability.

We offer a diverse and exciting range of programmes that produce graduates who move on to stimulating and challenging careers within industry. We are proud of who we are and the achievements of our staff, students and alumni.

 

Read more about the Centre here.

Course guide

Our course guides (prospectuses) will tell you everything you need to know about Wintec. They contain information about the Wintec campus, student life and the programmes we offer.

We offer the course guides (prospectuses) in both digital and physical form. Click on the document to download, or fill in the form below and we will post or email you a copy.

Request an email or posted copy of the prospectus

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