The capability, enthusiasm and career focus of Telford students impressed Minister for Regional Development, Hon Shane Jones during a recent visit to the Balclutha campus, reinforcing for him the importance of agricultural training in building New Zealand’s future primary-sector workforce.
Minister Jones toured the campus on October 16th, while its government-funded $2.3 million upgrade is underway, viewing the investment being made in Telford’s facilities, as well as spending considerable time talking directly with students about their training and future plans.
Since 1964, Telford has evolved from an independent farm training institute into a polytechnic and a university division before becoming a faculty of Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) in 2019. Today, Telford continues its original purpose as a primary industry champion, combining agricultural education and hands-on training with large-scale commercial farming at the 921-hectare property just outside Balclutha.
Minister Jones, who comes from a farming family and rural upbringing, said the visit reinforced the importance of providing young New Zealanders with credible vocational pathways into the primary industries.
“Well obviously Telford’s been through a hell of an ordeal over the last several years, and it was incredibly reassuring to see how robust it looks and to learn how well it’s run. I want to start there.”
He believed New Zealand needed to place greater value on tertiary pathways outside universities and the career opportunities they offered.
“I think that as we move further away from the elitism associated with universities and start to regard a wider range of postsecondary tertiary institutions as legitimate destinations, then obviously the sun’s going to shine brighter upon entities like Telford.”
He was particularly concerned that opportunities within the primary industries were not always receiving the profile they deserved.
“The important thing I think there has been overlooked is that we probably haven’t given a strong enough profile to the primary sector industries and the opportunities for school leavers to earn a good living or indeed become asset owners in that industry.”
Telford Campus Manager Allan Roxburgh said that interest was evident throughout the visit.
“He was big on student engagement. He just wanted to talk to students, see why they were coming to Telford, where they were coming from, and what they planned to do when they leave Telford.”
After touring the facilities, Minister Jones and his wife joined students Rosa Jowsey, Olivene de Jong, Brooke Cooper and Nikita Wills over lunch, talking with them about how they had found Telford, their experiences at the campus and where their qualifications could take them.
“First, their parents should be intensely proud of them,” the Minister said.
“I found they were forthcoming. They shared with me that their vocational guidance officer at the school helped them make the choice.”
Minister Jones was impressed with how clearly the students were already thinking about life beyond Telford.
“I felt they were very realistic. They were already getting ready to start sending out letters requesting interviews and whatnot. Very, very personable, but you could see that they understood the industries they were going into and they had no doubt about whether or not that it was the right place for them.”
“I found it refreshing actually. They were very engaging. I think they’re all quite grounded youngsters.”
The students also appreciated having the opportunity to talk with the Minister in an informal setting and share something of their individual journeys to Telford.
Rosa Jowsey, who hails from Raglan said it was “really lovely” to have the opportunity to meet Minister Jones and talk about where the students had come from and what they hoped to do after completing their studies.
Nikita Wills said over lunch they were able to explain more about Telford, what they were studying and some of the practical opportunities they had experienced along the way.
And Cantabrian Brooke Cooper explained the conversation was not political but was instead “more of a genuine chat about who we are, where we’ve come from and what we hope to do in the future”.
The highlight for Olivene de Jong was seeing Minister Jones take the time to get to know them and hear their individual stories. “It was a really nice opportunity to share our experiences as Telford students and talk about where our studies might take us next.”
The number of young women training for primary-sector careers at Telford was also noted by the Minister.
“And it’s great to see so many young ladies being prepared to go into the primary industries. That blew me away.”
He said attracting the next generation of New Zealand workers would be increasingly important for the sector.
“I think the challenge for the dairy industry is, as more intensification takes place, it’s going to get increasingly difficult to prepare the next generation. As there’ll be syndicates, a greater degree of syndication, then we’re going to need to ensure that we’ve got as many Kiwis as possible involved in that industry and that they do not take for granted the social licence.”
“I think it’s a different kettle of fish with sheep and beef. But the growth of dairy in the South Island is going to put pressure, without a doubt, on the labour needs, accommodation needs and impact on environment.”
The visit came while work continues on Telford’s $2.3 million Government-funded campus upgrade, which includes essential renewal and modernisation of campus facilities, including restoration work on Telford’s historic stone homestead, which is about to start.
“I’d love to see that historic house restored as a jewel of the campus because it epitomises the original gift and the long-term thinking of the original owners of the place.”
Southland NZ First candidate, Jason Herrick, who arranged the visit and accompanied Minister Jones to Telford, said the visit had been specifically encouraged by MP Mark Patterson, who was unable to attend.
“Mark wanted us to make a point of taking [Shane] to Telford and showing him exactly what Telford is, what it’s becoming, and the historical nature of it as well.”
Mr Herrick, a dairy farmer, brought his own primary-sector perspective to the campus tour and said the reaction from the visiting group was absolutely priceless.
“They were astounded by the level of education given across the board to all the young ones, and the calibre of students that were attending Telford … and the fact they come from all across New Zealand and from all walks of life.”
One comment from the group stood out to Mr Herrick: “Why do we not have facilities like this for every industry?... They were amazed by the facility itself and everything it offers.”
Mr Roxburgh stated the visit provided an opportunity to show both the investment taking place at Telford and the contribution its students and graduates continue to make to New Zealand’s primary industries.
He said Minister Jones had shown a real interest in both the campus and its students throughout the visit.
“He came across really well. He was genuine. He was very personable… He’s just the type of guy that you’d sit down and have a beer with at the end of the day.”
Mr Roxburgh said Minister Jones was “super impressed” with the campus and had asked what he would like to see from the Government.
Mr Roxburgh’s response was simple: “Well, just remember we are here and we’re making a big impact in the primary industry sector.”
Telford is a faculty of Southern Institute of Technology