Dairy Industry Apprenticeship

MPTA offers New Zealand’s only NZQA approved apprenticeship qualification for dairy and pumping technicians titled the New Zealand Certificate in Dairy Systems (Engineering), it has strands in both Milking Systems and Pumping Systems.

This apprenticeship qualifies for the Government Fees Free funding which covers the cost of course fees up to $12,000.00 over the first two years.

Employers will also be able to access the Apprenticeship Boost Wage Subsidy. This funding offers the employer funding of $500.00 per month for apprentices in their first two years of training.

The three-year apprenticeship addresses the shortfall of skilled tradespeople in the milk harvesting, pumping, water and effluent application sectors of the dairy industry and will build the skills and careers of the engineers who design, install and maintain the milking, pumping and effluent systems. While it’s largely engineering-based, the apprenticeship delivers a range of skills, knowledge and workmanship across multiple trades. It will help the industry attract new people and offer them career paths, lift the level of skill in the industry and set consistent standards across the industry.

The structure of the apprenticeship is made up of a mixture of learning methods being online e-learning, block courses and on-job training. The apprenticeship is managed by Competenz who arrange and monitor the training for apprentices. A Competenz Training Adviser will be assigned to each apprentice and will visit with them 4 times per year to check on their progress and sign-off on some of the on-job competencies the trainee is required to demonstrate.

Throughout the apprenticeship, commitment is required from the employer to provide mentoring and support to the apprentice and to ensure the apprentice has sufficient time allocated to the learning and time to attend the off-job block courses.