Invercargill-based Southern Institute of Technology last week said it is doing due diligence on taking over education at Telford near Balclutha, which could preserve courses for this year.
A similar outcome looks less likely for Taratahi’s Wairarapa campus but producer boards, Federated Farmers, Pamu, the Primary Sector Council and the Government are discussing developing a new vocational training model.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor hopes a training facility can eventually be re-established on the Taratahi campus.
“I hope we can have a training establishment based on Taratahi but it will be different.
“Telford too needs to change to ensure it stays viable.”
The Taratahi Agricultural Institute Board had no choice but to call in liquidators given its debt and concerns raised since 2014 about the business in several consultant’s reports and a Serious Fraud Office investigation, he said.
“It is a sad outcome but it backs up the reality that this needs a dramatic overhaul and revamp to ensure we get a sustainable model.”
Adding to Taratahi’s internal issues, O’Connor said the total number of people in agricultural training fell dramatically from 67,000 in 2013 to 49,000 in 2017.
“Obviously, something has not been right for some time and the previous National Government had its head in the sand.”
It was likely Taratahi would have been required to refund the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for under-enrolments this year, adding to the $10.4 million it already owed the commission and making any financial bailout for this year throwing good money after bad.
Training structures adopted by other trade sectors could provide a blueprint for agriculture but it requires industry involvement that is more than just cash, O’Connor said.
Wairarapa Federated Farmers president William Beetham said there is plenty of goodwill and an acceptance continued sub-degree training in some form is vital.
The Government has told him Taratahi’s farm is secure from sale.
While Beetham understands the liquidator has a process to follow, he describes the impact on staff and students as absolutely atrocious.
“Staff and students have been forgotten about.
“I can understand the Government and TEC want to restructure Taratahi but I can’t understand why they have forgotten about the staff and students.”
Taratahi has more assets than liabilities so the TEC should have put it on notice but allowed it to operate this year to provide staff and students with some certainty.
The TEC estimates 750 current and potential students are affected by the liquidation, of which about 500 are due to complete their qualifications this year. Another 250 students were to start their studies this year.
The TEC has been working with alternative educators that can offer students comparable programmes, which it has listed on its website.
DairyNZ farm performance strategy and investment leader Jenny Jago said primary sector organisations are also assisting to ensure most Taratahi students can continue their education.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s chief insight officer Jeremy Baker said there have been issues with primary sector education and training being dropped or cut back for the last decade.
“The closure of Taratahi is just the latest indication that the system is not working for students or for industry.
“We need to look at new ways of governing, planning and organising primary sector education and training if we are going to solve this issue.
“It’s pretty clear this is a systemic issue, not something relating to a specific institution or programme.”
A Pamu spokesman said there have been no formal approaches by the Government for Pamu to take over Taratahi’s training or farming operations.
Jeff Farm vice-chairman Simon Glennie said the industry desperately needs a body to train young people in the fundamental skills of farming.
Salvation Army owned Jeff Farm in South Otago trains a limited number of young people but also provides scholarships to Taratahi and Telford.
Glennie says in his 10 years of involvement he has seen some young people with no farming knowledge develop outstanding careers after being given an opportunity.
“Without it these kids don’t get on the first rung of the ladder. We need a Taratahi and Telford.”
