EDUCATON

It is estimated the industry will need another 2,000 permanent employees and 4,000 seasonal employees within the next few years. This future growth is dependent on the ability to attract and retain young people who are highly skilled and enthusiastic and develop them to become our industry’s future leaders.

The kiwifruit industry is New Zealand’s biggest fresh horticulture player, earning in excess of $1.3 billion annually and employing around 10,000 permanent employees and 8,000 seasonal employees at the peak of harvest (see Harvest).

NZKGI undertakes significant projects in the Labour portfolio focussing on long term skilled labour, seasonal labour and upskilling growers.

Horticulture Training

Across New Zealand there are a range of flexible study options to develop your career or upskill your employees in the horticulture field. Programmes are available part-time or full-time.

Bay of Plenty Horticulture Qualification Options

For those living in the Bay of Plenty who are looking to upskill themselves or their workers, NZKGI have created a resource to make the qualification selection process easier.  The resource is a horticulture qualification table that encompasses all course options available in the Bay of Plenty region.

The table provides information around full-time courses, part-time courses or apprenticeships and includes entry-level options through to Level 5 Diplomas. The Horticulture Qualification resource is available here.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Primary Industry Training Organisation (ITO) primaryito.ac.nz 0800 208 020
Polytechnics
Eastern Institute of Technology (Hawkes Bay, Gisborne) eit.ac.nz 0800 225 5348 
North Tec northtec.ac.nz 0800 808 856 
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology www.toiohomai.ac.nz 0800 864 646
Nelson & Marlborough Institute of Technology nmit.ac.nz 0800 422 733
Manukau Institute of Technology   manukau.ac.nz 0800 62 62 52 
Open Polytechnic openpolytechnic.ac.nz 0508 650 200
Unitec unitec.ac.nz 0800 109 510
Private Training Organisations
Fruition Horticulture fruition.net.nz (07) 928 5350 
Pacific Coast Technical Institute pcti.co.nz (07) 575 2185
Valley Education & Training Enterprises Ltd valleyeducation.co.nz (07) 868 7892
University Diplomas and Degrees
Massey University massey.ac.nz 0800 627739 
Lincoln University lincoln.ac.nz 0800 106 010
Waikato University waikato.ac.nz  0800 924 5286 

GoHort

GoHort is the home of the Career Progression Managers. It contains details of Career pathways, resources for teachers, a job board for permanent horticulture industry roles and profiles of industry representatives.

Education
Education and Training
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