Rural schools receive over $100,000
Rural primary schools have received more than $109,000 from ANZCO Foods as part of the company’s Sponsor a School Programme, with several recipients located in the South Island.
The Government is paying another $4.7 million to keep the Telford farm campus going for another two years.
The money, mostly to be spent on refurbishing and maintaining buildings, will enable the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) to run Telford until 2021.
It was formerly run by the Government, which last February paid $1.8m to keep the school open this year.
Another such school, Taratahi, went into interim liquidation last year at the request of its board.
In February, the Government agreed to a proposal by SIT to take over Telford.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins says the Government values the agricultural sector “extremely highly”.
The money will “ensure more trainees will enter the sector and help it grow,” he said.
“This is the first step in a complete revamp of agricultural education.”
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says the number of people in agricultural training fell dramatically over the last decade.
“The Government is ensuring we have a sustainable primary sector education model for the future.”
Hipkins said the funding is expected to set a platform for SIT to run Telford beyond 2021.
SIT has told the Government that it plans to teach at least 220 students in 2020 and 250 in 2021 at the Telford campus and further afield. The Government will spend several million extra to support these studies and training.
Hipkins says SIT will fully account for the money, most of it for earthquake strengthening of buildings and maintenance.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.