College students

Katikati College offers an Innovative Horticulture Programme to students of the College in Years 11-13. It is a modular, cross-curricular and personalised programme leading to Level 1, 2 and 3 NCEA credits in both Unit Standards, (Industry based) and Achievement Standards, (University recognised). It began development in 2018 and has seen a steady increase in student enrolments from 19 to 48 in 2019, 78 in 2020, 99 in 2021 and 115 in 2022 , with very pleasing student retention and academic results.

The Programme is delivered via several different pathways, each based on career direction for the learner.

Young people and the bigger picture

Fruition Horticulture (BOP) Ltd is a tertiary provider that seeks to bring NEETs into the horticulture industry. Currently a major barrier for local NEETs is the time, expense, and, for some, difficulty of travel out of Katikati. Fruition Horticulture has indicated interest in offering its He Tūranga Mō Te Mahi programme in Katikati. This is a free training programme for 16 – 19 year olds who are not enrolled in secondary school and have no qualifications above Level 2. All graduates will gain the New Zealand Certificate of Primary Industry Skills (Level 2) and will also be trained in skills for “life” within the horticultural industry context.

This will be followed by the introduction of the Level 5 and 6 diploma courses.

Industry and the wider community

Negotiations are also underway for the provision of courses in first aid, forklift operation, Growsafe, chainsaw operation and similar in order that trainees are immediately employable by industry.