Clarification details
Updated May 2015. This document has been updated to address issues that have arisen from moderation.
The purpose of clarifications
We create clarification documents to help people understand the current requirements of achievement standards. Clarifications do not introduce new criteria, change the intent of the standard, or change what we expect from assessment.
These documents unpack and explain the language and intent of the standard so people interpret and apply the standard consistently. We provide examples or guidance as illustrations only. They are not prescriptions or requirements.
For official requirements, always refer to the current version of the achievement standard as published by NZQA.
Key messages for producing a landscape plan
- Students must address at least two significant needs of the user(s), two environmental factors, two hard and two soft landscape features and at least one local government regulation.
- There is an expectation that students will redesign a landscape area to better meet the needs of the significant users and the environmental factors present.
- The landscape site plan needs to be drawn to scale, with the scale measurement written on the plan.
- The north indicator should be placed on the landscape plan to orientate it, which would also provide support for the environmental factors.
- Environmental factor explanations should be supported with their values, for example “the average temperature for this area is 15°C”.
- Local government regulations include those pertaining to relevant city/district plans and safety legislation. These could relate to closeness of planting to boundaries, consideration of height of trees close to power lines, removal of heritage trees, fencing swimming pools.
- For Merit, students are required to name the soft features, e.g. with their cultivar or variety name such as Papaver orientale or Oriental poppies. Majority is required.