Wednesday, 16 January 2019 09:55

Taratahi problems seen in 2018

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Taratahi chief executive Arthur Graves.

The problems at Taratahi were laid open, prior to its interim liquidation in December, in August last year.

The major agricultural training institute's future remains in limbo after it went into interim liquidation just before Christmas at the request of its board of trustees.

Chief executive, Arthur Graves, told Rural News in August that as the farming sector generally was going through a reset so was Taratahi. Read the article (published in September) with his views here.

He said it was a financially tough time with student numbers down, yet Taratahi still had to spend money on reshaping courses to attract young people and to match the reset in the farming industry.

Graves said all vocational trainers were short of enrolments and the market was “tight and competitive” for students.

Graves told Rural News the construction industry was winning the hearts and minds of young school leavers who were heading for the big cities and not life in the country.

He also noted that at the heart of the problem was demographics — low numbers of school leavers due to the low birth rate prevailing for years.

More like this

The model is broken – Govt

Minister of Education Chris Hipkins concedes the timing of the Taratahi interim liquidation is tough, especially for students and staff, and he says supporting them is a top priority.

Taratahi ag training left in limbo

The future of the major agricultural training institute Taratahi remains in limbo after it went into interim liquidation just before Christmas at the request of its board of trustees.

Farming caught in net of poor perception

The construction industry is winning the hearts and minds of young school leavers who are heading for the big cities rather than a life in the country.

Taratahi set for growth

Agricultural training provider Taratahi says its efforts to attract new students have paid off with solid enrolments for 2018.

Telford enters new era

Lincoln University's transfer of its Telford agricultural training operation at Balclutha to Wairarapa-based Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre has been completed, on the payment of a token $1 for the campus and other assets.

Featured

Pork Remains Among NZ's Most Affordable Meats: Stats NZ

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household grocery budgets, new figures show pork remains one of the most affordable fresh meat options for New Zealand families.

Editorial: The Value of Credibility

OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.

DairyBase and MINDA Link Up to Cut Farmer Paperwork

Farmers can spend less time on paperwork, thanks to a new data sharing agreement between DairyNZ’s DairyBase and LIC’s MINDA software.

Kaikōura Families Get School Run Lifeline After Storm

Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.

Rural NZ Welcomes $8.5m Government Health Package

Rural New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s recent package of rural healthcare initiatives.

Massey Adds New Majors in Agritech, Animal Science

Interest in agritech and production animal systems has prompted Massey University's School of Agriculture and the Environment to new majors to its popular animal science degree.