Vehicle accidents are the most common cause of serious injuries in agriculture, occurring once a week on average. They’re also the second highest cause of workplace deaths in Aotearoa. 

With an estimated 80,000 quad bikes in use across farms nationwide – alongside light utility vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, tractors and motorbikes – it’s crucial that those operating these machines have the skills to do so safely. 

Recently, the government announced planned work to develop Approved Codes of Practice for the safe use of farm vehicles and machinery – highlighting the concerted efforts to reduce the high rates of harm in this area. 

The importance of formal training 

Agricultural vehicles and machinery unit standards are widely utilised across the food and fibre sector, and WorkSafe advises that formal training courses are the best option to learn techniques to safely operate a farm vehicle. 

Given the high-risk nature of activities involving these vehicles and machinery, these standards have been a moderation focus area for Muka Tangata since our inception.  

Moderation ensures training providers deliver and assess these standards consistently and accurately, to the required standard, so that ākonga can complete their training with the knowledge and practical skills needed to keep themselves and others safe when operating these vehicles and machinery. 

In the past four years we’ve post assessment moderated 47 individual machinery and vehicle unit standards (455 total), delivered by 39 schools at 95 moderation events and 29 providers at 197 moderation events. 

 Improvements in Verification Rates 

Alongside moderation, our quality assurance and enhancement team have delivered online seminars and professional development workshops conducted face-to-face for individual providers. This supports providers to refine their assessment practices, ultimately improving ākonga outcomes. 

Our focus has paid off, and we’re pleased to have seen a considerable increase in moderation verification rates for agricultural vehicles and machinery.  

The agricultural vehicles verification rate increased from 63% to 89% between 2023 and 2025, signifying that a higher proportion of assessments are meeting the required national standard. We were also happy to see an increase in provider verification rate over the same period, from 83% to 88%, reflecting enhanced consistency across training providers. 

What does this mean for industry? 

Raising verification rates for agricultural vehicles and machinery gives the sector confidence that ākonga who have achieved these unit standards are truly job-ready. 

Colin Glass, Safer Farms Board member, was pleased to see verification rates increasing: 

“Vehicles are a critical part of our farming infrastructure and it’s important that farm staff have the skills and knowledge to use them safely so that our stubbornly high injury statistics start to decrease. We’re actively working with our Safer Farms community to support initiatives across the ATV ecosystem to reduce the harm caused.” 

 A high verification rate for both learners and providers assures industry that: 

• Learners are being assessed fairly, and are meeting a consistent standard no matter which organisation they have trained with 

•  Learners complete fit-for-purpose training and achieve nationally recognised qualifications  

• Graduates are capable of applying the skills learned when operating agricultural vehicles and machinery in the workplace 

By maintaining and expanding these efforts, the sector can continue to build a workforce proficient in the safe operation of agricultural vehicles and machinery. This commitment will help reduce workplace injuries and fatalities – ultimately contributing to a stronger agricultural industry and safer rural communities.