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Young Horticulturalist competition celebrates up and coming talent

13 November 2025

Primary ITO learners and graduates featured strongly at the 2025 Young Horticulturalist of the Year Competition in Auckland on 6 November, with Canterbury nursery manager Jake Linklater winning the supreme title.

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Celebrating Rural Women’s Day: Andrea Leslie’s Journey of Education and Impact

15 October 2025

This Rural Women’s Day, we turn the spotlight on Primary ITO executive director, Andrea Leslie.

Eilish O'niell
Growing farm business expertise to support future goals

17 September 2025

Former farm cadet Eilish O’Neill is on a mission towards starting her own farming business, adding to her existing knowledge with the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Production Management (Level 5), through Primary ITO.

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Dairy farmer embraces training opportunities in New Zealand

20 August 2025

From the family farm in India to seeking better life opportunities in New Zealand, Primary ITO learner Satbeer Sandhu has embraced a love of learning and passion for dairy farming to grow his career.

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Farmer reflects on the value of training a decade on

28 January 2025

Ten years after dairy farmer Gavin Longstaff completed his Primary ITO Level 4 training, he caught up with local farmer and Primary ITO Sector Manager Marianne Awburn at a local Brunch on Us event run by Rural Support.

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Trades Academy student off to prestigious cadet training school

28 November 2024

While many 17-year-olds are still deciding on career options, Sophie White’s passion for farming and practical experience through Primary ITO has landed her a place at the prestigious Smedley Station and Cadet Training School in 2025.

Anna England
Anna England - For the love of plants

23 October 2024

Anna England grew up with a love of plants, not realising this would sow the seed to a rewarding and award-winning career in the horticulture industry.

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International Literacy Day 8 September 2024

6 September 2024

E kore e mutunga tēnei mea ko te ako – Learning is never-ending. By Mel Weston, Primary ITO Learning Support Manager 

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Great support from learners for Primary ITO training

8 August 2024

More than 90 percent of Primary ITO learners are satisfied with their experience of training with us, according to results from a recent learner experience survey.  

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Training lifts productivity most of all

8 July 2024

This article was published by Farmers Weekly, 25 June 2024.