Our farmers, growers, winemakers, and fishers helped keep the country working through COVID-19 and will be essential to New Zealand’s recovery. And you can be part of it. We need people with a range of interests, skills, experiences, and backgrounds.

Anyone looking for a viable career option, training and roles, in the primary sector.

There are courses available across New Zealand including farming (dairy, beef and sheep), food processing, wine producing, forestry, seafood, and horticulture. There are some available right now, while others offer taster and training courses before you start work.  

It’s not just opportunities in rural or labour based roles. There are roles in science, technology, business management, logistics, animal welfare, marketing, research and development. Roles cover a wide range of exciting work and career options. Many you may not have thought of. 

Vocational education and training programmes teach skills that you can use in specific jobs. There are hundreds of options and several ways to learn.

You can study online or in the classroom. You can also do an apprenticeship, which lets you earn while you learn on the job.

New Zealanders who are looking for a career path or want to retrain. It is also helpful for people whose employment has been affected by COVID-19.

Learn about resources and financial support that you might be able to get to help pay for your study or training.

There are local providers who can help you get a driver licence, especially if you are looking for work.

Providers offer different types of driver licence support.  For example, some providers can help you with:

• studying or practicing for the Learner Licence test
• lessons/practice for the Restricted Licence test
• a vehicle to sit the test in.

Anyone over 16 years who wants, and is able, to obtain a NZ driver licence.

Skills for Industry is all about getting people work ready for industries that need new employees. We run courses depending on industry demand and work with construction, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and more.

Skills for Industry is for people in New Zealand who want to train or re-train to be work ready.

Skills for Industry courses usually include:

• entry level training:
  • health and safety
  • business or industry induction
  • basic skills training, including licences
• on-the-job training
• industry qualifications once in employment
• in-work support

The Services Academies programme is run within secondary schools in partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force. The aim is to support future pathways for priority students through improvement of NCEA qualifications and development of leadership and life skills.

The target student group is year 12 and 13 students who are at risk of disengaging or have disengaged from school.

• Encourages students to stay engaged in learning by providing a motivating and disciplined programme.
• Supports students to develop their self-confidence through participation in youth life skills and leadership courses.
• Helps students to gain improved qualifications and help them prepare to move successfully into the workforce or further education and training.

Trades Academies are partnerships between schools, tertiary institutions, industry training organisations, and employers; that provide a massive range of learning opportunities in trades or other industry-related areas.

Students in years 11-13 who are interested in a career in the Trades, Technology or Industry.

Trades Academies motivate students to stay engaged in learning and training by providing them with a greater number of options for study, provide students with clear pathways post-school, and give them a head-start on training for vocational qualifications and employment.