Taratahi celebrates 10 years

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre operating in Taranaki.

Originally based in the Wairarapa, over the last 10 years Taratahi has expanded its campuses to Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland.

The Taranaki campus has dedicated classrooms on Broadway in Stratford and the Stratford Demonstration Farm with nine tutors training 158 students over five programmes, honing skills in agriculture - a big change for the beginning when there were just five students and two members of staff.

Steve Hannam was Taratahi's first education manager based in the Wairarapa and was instrumental in getting the Taranaki campus up and running with Bronwyn Muir and Mike Bird, a general farm skills tutor, who also travelled regularly from Masterton and helped out until Taranaki employed another full-time tutor.

"It was a huge learning curve, opening up our first campus out of Wairarapa, it was pretty exhausting," says Steve.

The early days in Taranaki would not have been possible without the support of the Taranaki community. Local farmers provided work experience and donated wet weather gear for Taratahi's first students. "To me that speaks volumes about the attitude and spirit of the people in Taranaki," says Steve.

Rob Gaudin joined the Taratahi team in 2007. Rob started as a technical tutor and says the calibre of the students was exceptional. "They all wanted to be here, they all wanted to be farmers and they were all willing to go the extra mile.

"We had opportunities around the district helping out with relief-milking, fencing and shearing which were invaluable learning experiences for them," says Rob.

He still keeps in touch with ex-students. "Previous students, who are now employing farm staff, are contacting us and wanting to employ our graduates. They see the difference training has made for them and want to give a hand up to the next lot of graduates, they're a really loyal bunch," says Rob.

To celebrate Taratahi's 10 years in the region, there will be an official opening ceremony of the new office on Broadway on July 24 and a Farm Open Day at the Stratford Demonstration Farm in September.

If you would like to be a part of the 10-year celebrations phone Taratahi, 0800 600 333.