Join our FREE* Horticultural Training Programme

Agriculture New Zealand’s Pre-Employment Courses are a great place to begin your career in horticulture. Our qualified Course Supervisors and Tutors provide a supportive learning environment to ensure your individual needs are met.

About the Course

This course is designed especially for school leavers and those looking for a career change into horticulture. It covers a wide range of horticultural industries, including nurseries, orcharding, market gardening, conservation, retail, parks & reserves, as well as landscaping. It is aimed specifically at those wishing to gain experience and knowledge in New Zealand horticulture. The training is designed so that trainees spend three to four days a week gaining practical work experience and one day per week in class and on field trips. The course length is 46 weeks.

Course Content

On this course you will learn key horticultural skills such as:

• Botanical Names
• Botany
• Agrichemicals
• Soils
• Weeds
• Pruning
• Revegetation
• Pests & Diseases
• Outdoor Seedbeds

Horticultural sponsors provide the supervised, practical work experience component of the course. Each trainee is assigned to an individual horticultural property or industry and horticultural sponsor.

National Qualifications

Agriculture New Zealand Ltd is a New Zealand Qualifications Authority Accredited Training provider and as such is able to offer trainees the opportunity to pass registered agriculture/horticulture Unit Standards up to level 6. This course offers trainees the opportunity to work towards the National Certificate in Horticulture Level 2 (Introductory Horticultural Skills).

Tutorials

One day every week is spent in a group training session. These link the theory of horticulture with the practical skills learnt on the property. The tutorials are led by horticultural consultants, tutors and guest speakers and the course training supervisor.

Aims of the Programme

• Provide students with a safe and supportive learning environment
• Raise self esteem and motivation to succeed
• Result in improved educational and life opportunities
• Help with future career prospects by introducing students to employers who can advance their farming career

While on the course, the following skills are taught to prepare students for employment:

• Motivation    
• Career Planning
• CV Presentation    
• Banking
• Goal Setting
• Communication
• Budgeting
• Support/Guidance

Training Benefits

While on the course trainees may be entitled to a training benefit. This is equivalent to the community wage and is available to those 18 years of age and over. Travel allowance to cover the cost of transport may also be available. Also provided are various items of protective clothing to get you started, e.g gumboots, raincoats and leggings.

Phone us for further info on 0800 4 SKILLS (0800 475 455) or email agnztraining@pggwrightson.co.nz

* Eligibility criteria applies.