Beef + Lamb NZ, DairyNZ, Federated Farmers and the Tertiary Education Commission are working to design a new vocational training structure for the industry and say the Government should buy Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre’s farm and campus from the receiver.
A vacuum in primary sector training has been created with Taratahi’s liquidation.
Federated Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland said given the requirements to train farm workers, residential training facilities are crucial and if the Taratahi farm is sold it will be prohibitive to establish another.
“There is a risk that we will lose capacity and capability to train prospective workers for the agricultural sector.”
Discussions with Education Minister Chris Hipkins indicated he is supportive, though not committing to buying it, but needs to find a mechanism to complete any transaction, such as a Government entity.
Telford’s home farm, which is owned by a trust, is secure and discussions are continuing with the Southern Institute of Technology about delivering its courses.
Copeland said the intention is to rebuild primary sector training around what the industry requires but to also create a structure that addresses inherent failings in the system, such as inadequate funding.
The existing model means universities are paid twice as much per student as vocational providers but primary sector training, which requires residential accommodation for students, more facilities and intensive tuition, costs more to deliver. The expense means few polytechnics offer agricultural courses.
“Surely the Government has to listen, that the funding model has to change.” Copeland said.
Work behind the scenes has been determining what the industry needs and how that can be delivered. That has included discussions with the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The Tertiary Education Commission has previously vowed to grow primary sector training participation in 2019 and 2020 and says it remains committed to that promise.
Its delivery deputy chief executive Gillian Dudgeon said it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Primary Industry Capability Alliance (PICA).
“Part of our work with PICA has been identifying industry and employer needs and target areas for focus, such as partnering with local trades academies and schools to promote the breadth and range of primary industry opportunities in the sector.”
It is also working with PICA to look at perception issues with primary industry education and at the core skills required by primary industries.
“This focus remains a priority for TEC and we will continue to engage and develop information on career opportunities and connect to the broader education work programme.
“The Minister of Education has said previously that the Government will be working over the coming weeks and months to ensure vocational education and training meets New Zealand’s future needs and that agricultural training will be a particular focus.”
Polytechnics around the country are offering courses to Taratahi students.
The Eastern Institute of Technology has four Taratahi students completing the Certificate in Agriculture in vehicles, machinery and infrastructure , its primary industries head Nigel Udy said.
“EIT is currently recruiting for the NZ Certificate in Farming Systems (level 3) which is due to start in February. We are also considering offering the NZ Certificate in Agriculture (vehicles, machinery and infrastructure) later in 2019.”
EIT is considering helping previous Taratahi students with the apiculture course but said all courses are subject to enrolling sufficient numbers of students.
Rabobank recently hosted 23 high school students in a live-in programme at Waikato University where they were exposed to agricultural career opportunities.
The years 12 and 13 students from Northland, Auckland and Waikato were selected based on their academic performance, leadership attributes and career aspirations.
During the four-day programme they and spent time on farms and at agricultural business including Fonterra, DairyNZ, Silver Fern Farms, Zeelong Tea and Veterinary Services Co-operative.
