Promoting primary industries

Seventy-five year 10 to 13 students from 12 Whangarei schools were inspired to explore the growing employment opportunities in Northland’s primary industry sector at the Careers New Zealand Industry Big Day Out in early March.

Students gained a unique insight into the primary industry sectors of dairy, sheep and beef, lamb, horticulture and agriculture with visits to the Onyx Capital Orchard and Fonterra Jordan Valley Farm.

“The Industry Big Day Out initiative is an important part of our education to employment strategy, and the strong Northland primary industry sector offers numerous opportunities for young people to gain skills and qualifications as they work,” says Careers New Zealand Chief Executive, Keith Marshall.

“The Industry Big Day Out offers the future workforce a window into the real world of work and a chance to connect with industry representatives, employers, educators and role models, including Onyx Capital Orchard director, Patrick Malley.”

As the winner of the 2014 Young Horticulturist of the Year award, Patrick shared his own career journey and passion for encouraging more young people into the industry. During the orchard visit students were able to view innovative horticultural practices and technologies, including biosecurity, and pest and disease management in action.

“The industry is going through a period of rapid growth and technological development. It needs young people who have innovative ideas and are willing to challenge the status quo in order to continue driving us forward,” says Patrick.

“There are jobs to fill and more every year. This is a hole that will hopefully be filled by the passionate, educated and resourceful students who are visiting today. It is great to help people find their place in our industry.”

PICA (Primary Industry Capability Alliance) CEO Andy Somerville is excited about the prospects for young people in Northland.

“Northland has significant untapped potential. The primary industries here are looking for young people who are willing to invest in their own future,” says Andy.

Staff from NorthTec, Taratahi, Lincoln University, Primary ITO, as well as graduates of Lincoln and Massey Universities were on hand at the event to showcase the range of learning pathways into agriculture, horticulture and farming.

Vocational Pathways

The Vocational Pathways show young people how their learning and achievement can take them to possible career destinations. They make it easier for young people to see what they need to do to get to where they want to go.

The Vocational Pathways help students see how their learning is valued in ‘the working world’, by aligning the NCEA Level 2 and 3 standards or the qualifications they achieve with six different industry sectors: Primary, Services, Social and Community, Manufacturing and Technology, Construction and Infrastructure, and Creative.

Because New Zealand aims to double the value of our primary industry exports by 2025, the demand for skilled and educated workers in this sector is set to grow. This sector also includes forestry, fisheries, apiculture, viticulture, aquaculture and equine industries.

The Primary Industries Vocational Pathway offers a broad range – hundreds – of assessment standards for students, including:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the New Zealand primary sectors
• Monitor and interpret weather information
• Perform calculations for primary production situations
• Locate hazards, describe safety procedures, and demonstrate safe work practices in a rural workplace
• Demonstrate knowledge of income, taxation, and other deductions for personal financial management
• Demonstrate knowledge of quality control systems in production horticulture
• Demonstrate understanding of advanced plant propagation techniques used for commercial production in New Zealand
• Demonstrate knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of animals
• Demonstrate knowledge of breeds and classes of cattle, and identification and records for cattle
• Demonstrate knowledge of features, attributes, identification, and records for sheep
• Demonstrate knowledge of safe handling and health problems of dairy cattle, associated with milking
• Apply product safety practices to the dairy industry
• Apply mathematical concepts in the dairy industry
• Demonstrate knowledge of principles of commercial forestry
• Demonstrate knowledge of environmental issues in wood manufacturing
• Demonstrate knowledge of principles of quality systems in the wood manufacturing industries
• Identify seafood species in the New Zealand seafood industry
• Outline New Zealand greenshell mussel (kutai, kuku) farming.

Achieving standards from the primary industries towards Level 2 and Level 3 NCEA qualifications leads to a wide range of primary industries qualifications at Levels 3 to 7.