This conjoint programme consists of the NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Skills [Level 2], NZ Certificate in Agriculture (Farming Systems) [Level 3] and the NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills (with optional Infrastructure strand) [Level 3].

The purpose of these three qualifications is to:

• Enable the recognition of the entry level skills and knowledge required by the primary industry sector.
• Provide a training pathway for entry into careers in the primary sector. Provide the pastoral farming sector with graduates who have a broad theoretical understanding of New Zealand pastoral farming systems and practical capability in the pastoral farming sector.
• Provide rural workplaces with graduates who have the ability to safely carry out a range of activities ready for operation in a rural workplace, including the use and maintenance of workplace vehicles, machinery, and infrastructure.

During this programme you will develop skills and knowledge covering:

• Entry level practical production tasks
• Safe work practices
• Soil plant nutrients
• Livestock biology / handling / health
• Safe work practices
• Sustainable farming systems
• Safe practices of vehicles
• Safe practices of machinery
• Safe practices of infrastructure

As a graduate of the programme you will be able to:

• Understand key farming ideas and systems
• Assist with livestock production tasks
• Utilise technology
• Identify and assist with the management of workplace hazards
• Safely use and/or maintain workplace vehicles, machinery and infrastructure

Upon graduating you may be employed in a range of roles in pastoral farming enterprises requiring limited supervision, for example as a milk harvester, shepherd, dairy farm assistant, general farm hand, heavy transport operator, orchard harvester, machinery operator; or in other similar roles in rural based workplaces.

On successful completion of this conjoint programme you may choose to continue with your studies by enrolling in the NZ Certificate in Agriculture (Breeding Livestock Farming) [Level 4].

There is one entry date per year:

• February

EIT offers a variety of scholarships across various subjects and programme levels.  Some scholarships are based on your age, some are specific to the subject you want to study.  Not all scholarships are based on your academic ability and anyone wanting to study should investigate what scholarships are available to them.  

You can find a list of EIT scholarships here however there are many more scholarships offered nationally.  Information about these is on an database called “givME”. givME is accessible at EIT or at some public libraries. If you would like to come to EIT to look through the giveME database don’t hesitate to contact scholarships@eit.ac.nz or call in for a chat.