Kia ora koutou,
Our teaching at EIT is winding down, with only one course left for the Level 4s, Human resource, which sits well at the end of their study year, looking at employment requirements and leadership skills such as conflict management. These students have completed their plant growth regulator project that they will present to you, and evidence of this is part of the assessment, so please ask some challenging questions. The fruit crop management assessment runs on through thinning time, and they will be gathering data on products used, information on pollination, and ending up with some crop estimation thoughts. Thanks to Garry Burlace from Horticentre for his lecture on chemical thinning, it would be helpful if they can now walk the blocks and listen to your opinion on how your products have performed this year.
Most level 3 students have one course to complete, with harvest and thinning classes over the next few weeks. They have plenty of assessment work to complete, with irrigation and crop health due at the end of this month.
The level 5 fruit production students are on the final stretch of this years teaching. They are completing the labour management course and now have the last of their assessments to hand in.
We had a fantastic visit to the very supportive staff at plant and food to see the root stock and apples variety breeding programs, and an informative visit the L.E.Cooke to see the commercial aspects of tree production. Thank you to all who have given their time to host us and give the students a wider understanding of the industry.
The Post Harvest students are currently working through the Plant and machinery course where they learn about efficiencies, budgeting and developing a CAPEX proposal, not forgetting the OPEX requirements of any new bit of kit may require.
We have had some fantastic industry visits, Thanks to T & G for hosting use and showing use the new pack house in full flow. The box making, delivery, collating and palliating line is truly impressive. We will be visiting Hawk packaging tomorrow to look at the efficiency gains from the tray packing robots. Again a big thank you to all those who host us and give the students the wider perspective of the industry.
The government has announced that horticulture will be supported by apprenticeship boost funding in 2025, but along with all other programs, only available for the first year of study. We are still awaiting information on what fees for 2025 will be, our application for reduced fees, to try and keep them in line with 2024, is yet to be approved.
Kia pai tō koanga
Clare, Steven, Chris and Warren.