NorthTec Seeks Partnerships With Northland’s Farmers

Media Release 19 November 2014

NorthTec Seeks Partnerships With Northland’s Farmers

NorthTec is seeking commercial farmers in Northland who can provide a suitable venue for the delivery of agricultural training programmes.

From 2015, NorthTec will deliver its own level 2 and 3 agriculture programmes, which were previously contracted to a private training organisation.

The tertiary education provider is expanding its delivery of vocational agricultural programmes to provide more graduates ready to work on the region’s farms, and staircase into apprenticeships with the Primary Industry Training Organisations at trade certificate level.

For existing farmers who are wishing to gain business experience, the New Zealand Diploma in Agribusiness Management has been added to the menu of qualifications available at NorthTec.

NorthTec is also seeking expressions of interest for agricultural tutors for 2015, as part of the programme expansion.

In order to gain the necessary hands-on experience, students are required to take part in a wide range of farming activities. As NorthTec is not in the business of owning farmland, the organisation is seeking to work in partnership with existing commercial farmers to upskill its students.

The students will work under supervision without payment, working seven-hour days, usually for four days a week, to develop their skills and experience.

NorthTec is looking to develop partnerships with commercial farms focusing on sheep, beef, dairy or mixed farming. The farm manager must be able to make available time to work with the tutor, to identify tasks to be done and establish the way they should be carried out.

The students have a few basic requirements, such as access to a toilet and somewhere to make lunch and have tea breaks. There must also be a teaching space available, in the form of a room with power that can hold 10 students and a tutor; the back of a woolshed would be acceptable.

Farmers must also be happy for students to use some farm equipment, like fencing gear and all-terrain vehicles. The programme budget can assist with buying or hiring additional equipment if required.

Programme content will include stock work and drafting; fencing; weed control; operating farm vehicles; milking shed or wool shed activities; water reticulation, and agrichemical safety.

Dom Steenstra, NorthTec Programme Leader for Primary Industries, said: “We are really keen to hear from any farmers who can assist us with the training of future agricultural workers. It will be a win-win situation, as our students will get the opportunity to gain skills, while the farmers will have work done for them at no cost. This will also help provide the farming industry with excellent, experienced graduates with a good grasp of all basic farm practices.”

Anyone wishing to be considered as a partner with NorthTec should email Dom at dsteenstra@northtec.ac.nz or phone him on 027 555 2759. NorthTec will then organise meetings with interested farmers, to present more information and discuss further.

Up to five new tutors, working full time or part time for NorthTec, are being sought to deliver the programmes. Potential tutors should visit the NorthTec web site at www.northtec/about-us/careers-at-northtec, or email careers@northtec.ac.nz.

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