Pāmu’s farming apprenticeship is now taking applications, with 10 places available for the next cohort. Gary Brady, Apprenticeship Scheme Manager for Pāmu, says the easiest way to think about it is that it is a job.
“They’re on the payroll from the day they arrive,” he says.
“It just starts with a three-year apprenticeship.”
Apprentices are based at Aratiatia Farm, about 10 minutes from Taupo, where three houses accommodate the group. The programme begins with a three-week induction covering Pāmu systems, vehicle training and life skills, followed by a 14-week training period across dairy and livestock operations. Two eight-week farm placements follow, where apprentices join individual farm teams away from the main group.
“We’re trying to get these guys up to skill, up to speed as much as we can in a short space of time,” says Brady.
“14 weeks isn’t long, but it’s long enough to give them the core understanding around basic crutching, milking, that sort of stuff.”
Apprentices work towards Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications through Primary ITO, with six theory days a year delivered by a visiting tutor.
Midway through the first year, they choose a dairy or livestock track, and those on the livestock path start building a working dog team in their second year, buying their own dogs with guidance on breed selection.
Brady says the scheme is open to applicants aged 16 and above, with no upper age cap, and no requirement to have come from a farm background.
“We’ve had some come off farms, but we’ve got one lad this year from Auckland.
“Only two of them had picked up a handpiece, and a month ago we crutched 3,500 lambs, so they learn quickly.”
He says the programme was reviewed after its first year, with the extended 14-week block a direct result and a pastoral team running monthly check-ins with each apprentice.
Applications close July 8, 2026. See here for further information.
CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.
