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Welcome to our Workforce Development Plans

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  • $53.1 billion
    Food and Fibre Sector Export Revenue year to June 2022 (MPI)
  • 81.4%
    Food and Fibre Sector Contribution to National Export Trade in year to June 2022 (Stats NZ, MPI)
  • 10.7%
    Contribution to National GDP for year ending March 2021 (Stats NZ, MPI)
  • China
    Largest export market (35%) for all Food and Fibre Products for year to June 2022 (Stats NZ, MPI)
  • 13%
    of New Zealand’s Workforce was Employed in Food and Fibre Sector in year ending March 2020, (Stats NZ, MPI)
  • 16%
    of the Muka Tangata Industries Workforce were Māori in 2020 (Stats NZ IDI)
  • 25 – 34 year olds
    Largest Age Bracket within Muka Tangata Industries Workforce in 2020 (Stats NZ IDI)
  • ~4600
    Number of Māori-owned Businesses in the Muka Tangata Industries in 2020 (Stats NZ IDI)

Mihi Whakatau

Welcome

Muka Tangata is the voice of the food and fibre sector within the vocational education and training system. A key mechanism for amplifying that voice are clear workforce development plans (WDPs) for each of our 14 industries, which we use to guide our advice on food and fibre training funding to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), as well as drive the development of food and fibre qualifications, standards, and micro-credentials.

Learn more about Welcome

Highlights

All highlights
All opportunities

Aquaculture and Seaweed conferences provide industry insights

Topics of significant interest to Muka Tangata include biodiversity and the need for greater learning options, especially short courses.

BiosecurityDelivery and AssessmentRegulatory Compliance

New Kaupapa Mahi | Projects

We've consolidated our work into four focus areas. 

Research reveals how vocational education impacts wellbeing outcomes and the labour market

The research follows a cohort of 110,262 domestic learners 

Mental Health and WellbeingPathwaysProfitability

Māori workforce in Muka Tangata industries

Māori are well represented in Aotearoa’s food and fibre workforce

Diversity and Inclusion

Māori leadership

The first milestone of this project has been marked by the publication a literature review.

Diversity and InclusionSkills

An insight into pest management

We recently attended the Pest Management Association of NZ conference. 

QualificationsSkills

New micro-credential growing leaders in Dairy industry

Programme leading to the new Emerging Leadership in People, Food and Fibre micro-credential to be delivered for the first time.

Attraction and RetentionDelivery and AssessmentQualificationsSkills

Taking animal health forward

A new report highlights the issues around retention for the industry. 

Attraction and RetentionMental Health and WellbeingResearch

Spotlight on Arborists

Bridging the Gap: Introducing the Arboriculture industry to our workforce development plans 

Diversity and Inclusion

Wool micro-credential development

New micro-credentials and skill standards have been published by NZQA and are available for use by training providers.

QualificationsSkills

Get involved: Māori Leadership project

If you want to help shape leadership development in the food and fibre sector in a way that resonates with, engages, and inspires Māori, then we would love to hear from you.

Attraction and RetentionDiversity and Inclusion

Te Haumako

Our Māori Workforce Development Plan for the food and fibre sector

Attraction and RetentionDiversity and InclusionMental Health and WellbeingNon-Formal LearningPastoral CarePathwaysSkills

Our industries

All People, Food and Fibre
Apiculture
Arable
Dairy Farming
Equine, Greyhounds and Racing
Forestry
Fruit
Grapes and Wine
Nursery, Turf and Gardening
Poultry, Pigs and other livestock farming
Seafood
Sheep, Beef, Deer and Wool Farming
Support Services
Vegetables
Veterinary Services and Animal Care