The New Zealand shearing industry needs more shearers. Learn the core skills and knowledge required for the industry with the Free Shearing Short Course at Taratahi.

This free course is designed to enhance specific work practice skills and the health and safety of people in rural workplaces. The programme aims to provide practical aspects of shearing and wool handling – woolshed (such as setting up for shearing, wool handling and pressing, first aid and health and safety at work requirements) efficiently with the minimum of supervision.

This programme, including accommodation, is entirely free, and there are also free meals included Monday-Friday.

The course is held at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, just outside of Masterton in the Wairarapa.

For full details and how to register click here.

Take your shearing skills to the next level with UCOL’s Advanced Shearing Course.

This five day course is open to those with previous shearing experience in the industry. The course will cover instruction and practical training in comb selection, machine and hand-piece maintenance, grinding combs and cutters, and a high level of instruction on the pattern to help improve quality and tallies.

For full details and how to register click here.

Milking in a rotary cowshed, rural NZ

A career in dairy is rewarding! You’ll be part of a great team, spend time outdoors working with animals, plus many opportunities to learn and grow on the job.

This two week course will give you hands-on experience learning some of the basics of working with animals and staying safe on the farm.

This programme, including accommodation for the 12 nights, is entirely free, and there are also free meals included Monday-Friday. On the weekend participants can return home or stay on-site for free, though you will need to self-cater.

The course is held at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, just outside of Masterton in the Wairarapa.

For full details and how to register click here.

Are you keen on entering the shearing industry? UCOL’s Wool Handling Training Course will provide you with the right skills.

This five day course is open to anyone wanting to enter the shearing industry. There is a huge demand for wool handlers in New Zealand, and this course will provide the core skills you need to become a wool handler or a rousey within a shearing team.

For full details and how to register click here.

If you drive a special-type vehicle on the road, UCOL’s Wheels, Tracks and Rollers (WTR) Endorsement Course will help you gain the skills and knowledge to operate them safely and legally.

This one day course will train you to safely operate in any suitable environment and help you get Wheels (W), Tracks (T), and Rollers(R) Licence Endorsement on your driver’s license.

You will undergo formal in class and practical assessments.

For full details and how to register click here.

Get your chainsaw skills sorted with UCOL’s Farm Chainsaw short course and gain safe chainsaw operation and maintenance skills.

This course will introduce you to safe chainsaw operation and maintenance within a farm environment. You will learn how to drop and de-limb trees safely and maintain chainsaws with guidance from professional arborists. The course will also introduce the use of wedges, winches, and other accessories.

For full details and how to register click here.

There is huge demand for contractors in our agricultural sector – if you’ve got the right attitude, we can give you the skills. This free one week course is your chance to join NZ’s largest export earner and most essential industry.

Learn all about what’s involved in ag contracting, and get yourself work-ready. During this free one week course, you’ll get a good understanding of the range of work contracting involves, and build your skills in driving farm vehicles, basic mechanics, and farm health and safety.

This programme, including accommodation, is completely free, and there are also free meals included Monday-Friday. The course is held at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, just outside of Masterton in the Wairarapa, where hard-working Kiwis have developed their farming skills for over 100 years.

The future of our primary industries won’t look the same, and our Government has pointed out the need for diverse, innovative new people and skills. This is your chance to get started on a rewarding and flexible new path, and help shape our country’s future success.

For full details and how to register click here.