INDUSTRY TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS
Rural Contractors New Zealand supports and promotes training and education in the industry. The main focus is on training, which is administered by the “ InfraTrain New Zealand ”. This is the Industry Training Organisation, which supplies training for the Infrastructure industries, of which Rural Contracting is a part.
There are 4 National Certificates, which are registered with the “NZ Qualifications Authority” NZQA.
Download Rural Contracting Brochure
Download Agrichemical Brochure
National Certificate in Rural Contracting:
An introductory qualification aimed at young people either still at high school or who have just joined the industry. It provides training in essential safety, and a range of introductory skills, which are likely to be required.
National Certificate in Agrichemical Application:
This is an essential qualification for those people involved in chemical application and has strands in various aspects of the industry, e.g safe handling of chemicals, boom spraying, aquatic weed control, gorse control, parasite control on stock, horticultural chemical application, and many others It is the pre-requisite for the “Registered Chemical Applicators Certificate” which is mandatory for many tender applications.
Registered Chemical Applicator status is granted by GrowSafe and details can be found at their website
National Certificate in Agricultural Contracting:
This certificate has strands in areas such as land development, drainage, cultivation and crop establishment, harvesting, roadside vegetation control, tree and hedge trimming, and tracks/lanes and building site construction.
National Certificate in Rural Contracting (Management)
With strands in Chemical application and agricultural contracting. This is a higher-level certificate designed to train people managing a contracting business. It has plenty of scope to teach a wide range of skills in management, and includes financial control, planning and purchasing equipment, and health and safety.
National Certificate in Fencing (through AgITO)
This qualification comprises Level 2 Introductory and a Level 3 Certificate in Fencing, both electric and non-electric.
Training
Much of the training is done "on the job" so that you earn as you learn.
People under the age of 22 can take up training through the "Modern Apprentice" scheme, which provides extra support for both employers and employees.
Off-job units of training are subsidised by InfraTrain, and they also keep up regular contact with trainees to encourage completion of the qualification.
Further information can be found on the InfraTrain web site.
