New Farm Cadet Training Facility to Open in Hawke's Bay


  Added 4 months ago

New Farm Cadet Training Facility to Open in Hawke's Bay

Millions of dollars are being invested in a new farm-based cadet training facility in Hawke's Bay.

Moeangiangi, a 3600-hectare sheep and beef farm located 40 minutes north of Napier, will take over from the Waipaoa Farm Cadet scheme, which operated for 17 years in the Gisborne district but ceased earlier this year following the sale of the station.

The farm is one of three properties managed by the Joan Fernie Charitable Trust (JFCT), established in 1977 by Joan Fernie, who owned Chesterhope Station near Napier and Hastings until her passing at age 91 in 2007.

Trust chair Mike Barnham emphasized the importance of training young people for the farming industry, citing a significant shortage of skilled workers. He noted that supporting the initiative was a straightforward decision for the trust.

The Waipaoa board visited Moeangiangi and saw it as an ideal location for the cadet training farm. 

While committing to the project was easy, Barnham acknowledged the challenges ahead, including establishing the necessary infrastructure for the training facility.

The trust plans to invest approximately $3 million in the development, which will include new accommodation, a cookhouse, and a lecture theatre.

The cadetship will be a two-year program, with the first intake of five students expected in 2027. Modeled on the former Waipaoa scheme, it aims to provide an intimate, focused training environment distinct from larger programs like Smedley, which are consistently oversubscribed.

Information about the program will soon be released to attract young people and potential supporters in the agriculture sector.

 


Join the conversation

Be the first to leave a comment.

Leave a comment

All comments are reviewed before they are published on the website. Your email address will not be published.

Fill out my online form.
Shedding the Load at Glenlands Farm
Shedding the Load at Glenlands Farm
Added 3 days ago
NZ Hazelnut Growers Call for Research Investment to Unlock Industry Potential
NZ Hazelnut Growers Call for Research Investment to Unlock Industry Potential
Added 4 days ago
From High-Rises to Horticulture - Katikati Couple Navigate Avocado Market with Passionfruit and Innovation
From High-Rises to Horticulture - Katikati Couple Navigate Avocado Market with Passionfruit and Innovation
Added a week ago
Brewing Change - Growing Organic Native Tea in Whakatāne
Brewing Change - Growing Organic Native Tea in Whakatāne
Added 2 weeks ago
Rethinking Soil: AgResearch Investigates the Hidden Power of Microbiomes in Boosting Pasture Productivity
Rethinking Soil: AgResearch Investigates the Hidden Power of Microbiomes in Boosting Pasture Productivity
Added 3 weeks ago
HBBFT meets Land for Life with appointment of Di Roadley to its board
HBBFT meets Land for Life with appointment of Di Roadley to its board
Added 4 weeks ago