Wednesday, 16 January 2019 09:55

Taratahi problems seen in 2018

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Taratahi chief executive Arthur Graves.

The problems at Taratahi were laid open, prior to its interim liquidation in December, in August last year.

The major agricultural training institute's future remains in limbo after it went into interim liquidation just before Christmas at the request of its board of trustees.

Chief executive, Arthur Graves, told Rural News in August that as the farming sector generally was going through a reset so was Taratahi. Read the article (published in September) with his views here.

He said it was a financially tough time with student numbers down, yet Taratahi still had to spend money on reshaping courses to attract young people and to match the reset in the farming industry.

Graves said all vocational trainers were short of enrolments and the market was “tight and competitive” for students.

Graves told Rural News the construction industry was winning the hearts and minds of young school leavers who were heading for the big cities and not life in the country.

He also noted that at the heart of the problem was demographics — low numbers of school leavers due to the low birth rate prevailing for years.

More like this

The model is broken – Govt

Minister of Education Chris Hipkins concedes the timing of the Taratahi interim liquidation is tough, especially for students and staff, and he says supporting them is a top priority.

Taratahi ag training left in limbo

The future of the major agricultural training institute Taratahi remains in limbo after it went into interim liquidation just before Christmas at the request of its board of trustees.

Farming caught in net of poor perception

The construction industry is winning the hearts and minds of young school leavers who are heading for the big cities rather than a life in the country.

Taratahi set for growth

Agricultural training provider Taratahi says its efforts to attract new students have paid off with solid enrolments for 2018.

Telford enters new era

Lincoln University's transfer of its Telford agricultural training operation at Balclutha to Wairarapa-based Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre has been completed, on the payment of a token $1 for the campus and other assets.

Featured

Wairarapa’s Bradley Wadsworth blends farming and technology

Bradley Wadsworth lives on the family farm – Omega Station – in the Wairarapa about 30 minutes’ drive east from Masterton.

When will global milk production hit a tipping point?

With global milk prices falling, the question is when will key exporting countries reach a tipping point where production starts to dip.

Rural contractors call for national air plan standard in RMA reforms

Rural contractors want the Government to include a national standard for air plans as part of its Resource Management Act reforms.

NZ Local Government Reform: Regional councils axed, CTBs proposed

The biggest reform of local government in more than 35 years is underway.

MPI launches industry-wide project to manage feral deer

An industry-wide project led by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is underway to deal with the rising number of feral pests, in particular, browsing pests such as deer and pigs.