Primary ITO hopes for training boost
Primary ITO will apply to the Ministry of Education for more Trades Academy places with demand from schools now outstripping supply.
The curator of the main gardens at Wellington’s Botanic Garden has been chosen to help inspire other New Zealanders to follow a horticultural career.
The Primary ITO has appointed Karl Noldan as its new ambassador for 2016 – to showcase the career pathways available within the burgeoning horticultural industry. “It’s really coming back in vogue,” Noldan says.
“It has become quite a trend, especially for people later in their careers, to step away from high-stress jobs and want to work with plants instead.”
Noldan himself has made several career U-turns. After many years of tertiary study, a year off doing labouring jobs then led to “an epiphany” that he wanted to work in the fresh air.
“My favourite subjects at school were graphic design and horticulture, but my family and teachers didn’t see a future for me in this area,” he explains.
“I never knew the horticultural industry could take me where it has and I am keen to ensure that horticulture is regarded as a desirable industry. It is a career path that is extremely diverse and rewarding, filled with passionate people.”
He placed third in the 2015 Young Horticulturalist of the Year Award and won the Primary ITO Career Development Award, earning a $3000 scholarship to assist with further study or attend a conference.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
OPINION: In recent years farmers have been crying foul of unworkable and expensive regulations.
Another 16 commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme designed to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Kiwi exporters will be $100 million better off today as the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) comes into force.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…