Strengthen your skills. Protect our environment.
13 November 2025
Grow your capability in rural pest operations with Primary ITO’s industry recognised, on-the-job training, giving you the skills to make a real impact on New Zealand’s biosecurity and contribute to a healthier rural environment.
Learn all about safe work practices, the impacts of pest control and how to communicate and record information. There are two versions of this programme, Pest Animal and Pest Plant, and strands in Pest Control and Pest Monitoring.
Enter your details below and we'll be in touch, or keep scrolling to learn more about our programme.
Programme Information
This programme incorporates industry feedback by integrating map reading and compass skills into the training, alongside modern technological tools like GPS and altimeters. This approach ensures that individuals working remotely can learn how to stay safe and navigate through a range of environments, including native bush, farms, and rural recreational areas, for different durations of time.
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
- Carry out pest operations safely to contribute positively to biosecurity and public health and enjoyment
- Communicate, report and record information to meet requirements in a pest operations workplace.
Graduates of the Rural Pest Control strand will also be able to:
- Operate vehicles in a rural environment.
- Identify and control relevant pest types in a rural environment.
Graduates of the Rural Pest Monitoring strand will also be able to:
- Operate vehicles in a rural environment.
- Monitor relevant pest types in a rural environment.
This programme is now open to enrolments from self-employed owner/operators working in the pest sector. Please note, firearms training is not covered in this programme.
For all the programme info, visit our Rural Pest Operations Programme Page or, register your interest here and one of our team will be in touch!