A career in horticulture and landscaping
If you love nature and doing active, hands-on work outdoors, a career in horticulture and landscaping could be perfect for you. This industry is diverse in New Zealand and could see you creating gardens, parks and other outdoor spaces, producing food or flowers for export, or working in a plant nursery or garden centre.
To excel in this career you’ll need to be fit, reliable and hard working. It also helps if you’re comfortable with basic maths, to help you calculate quantities of plants, paving or mulch.
“Taking up horticulture, I see the world in a whole different way. I look at plants differently, I look at food differently – I look at a lot of things differently that before I would have taken for granted. I realised horticulture isn’t just about learning how to grow some potatoes. It actually opens up so many other doors.”
Camille McKewin
How do I train?
Trades training is flexible. You can:
- Do a pre-trades programme, then get a job and apprenticeship
- Get an apprenticeship straight away and study while you work
Many people start with a pre-trades programme at a training institution. This will give you the hands-on experience and theory you need to prepare you for work. If you qualify for one of our scholarships, you can study for free – and we’ll help you find work when you finish.
If you already have experience in the trades or are ready for working life and happy to study while you work, you might look at going straight into an apprenticeship. We can help you make that decision, and we might even know someone who needs an apprentice like you.
How do I fund my training?
There are a few ways to get your fees paid – but they’re not all the same.
Only available to Māori and Pasifika learners, the MPTT scholarship doesn’t just cover your course fees, it gives you the most well-rounded support to get a job in the trades.
Find out how the MPTT scholarship compares to other funding options.
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Find a course
You can apply for the MPTT scholarship programme now, but make sure you enrol in your chosen course as well. Here’s what you need to do:
- Check out the courses for horticulture and landscaping below, and follow the links to find out more. Once you’ve chosen your course, you’ll need to apply for it through the course provider (e.g. MIT).
- Apply for your MPTT scholarship and, if you qualify, we’ll let your chosen course provider know you’ve been awarded an MPTT scholarship to get financial help and other support.
Find out which horticulture and landscaping course is right for you using the links below.
Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)
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Find an apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are managed by Industry Training Organisations (ITOs), who make sure you get the training you need to earn your qualification. The ITO for horticulture and landscaping is Primary ITO.
Find out about a Primary ITO apprenticeship in horticulture and landscaping