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Primary ITO has a wide range of work-based training options to help you grow the skills and knowledge of your staff in 2025.
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.
"The worst of the worst" is how Richard Kempthorne, the chair of the Nelson Tasman Rural Support Trust, describes the cumulative effects of the two storms that have wreaked havoc across the top of the South Island.
The basis for making great cheese is good milk, says the owner of Banks Peninsula's Barry's Bay Cheese, which was named Champion of Champons Mid-Size, for its traditional Aged Gouda, at this year's NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.
The 2024 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year, Ben Purua has been named farmer-backed charity Meet the Need's first official ambassador.
Global dairy prices have ended a two-month run of losses.
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
In a major win for farmers, the Government has directed regional councils to halt all work on plans and regional policy statement reviews under the Resource Management Act (RMA).
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