Media Release
June 13, 2016
Horticulture Supports Primary Sector Skills Funding
Horticulture New Zealand welcomes a new pilot programme which aims to encourage tertiary education providers to work
more closely with primary industry.
The new programme will introduce a competitive process to the allocation of the $35 million annually spent on tuition
for study in tertiary level primary sector qualifications.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce announced the new approach saying it would increase the
tertiary sector’s responsiveness to industry education and training needs.
“Horticulture and the rest of the primary sector are working to understand the key skills and expertise required by our
employers,” HortNZ’s senior business manager Sue Pickering says.
“How funding is allocated is another key ingredient to make sure we get the right training in place.
“This pilot will help sharpen the education providers’ focus on what primary sector businesses, and their employees,
really need now and in the future.”
ENDS