Fees-free is available for eligible first-time tertiary learners. Find out if you’re eligible at feesfree.govt.nz
The Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF; also known as free trades training) supports learners to undertake vocational education and training without fees.
Note: The TTAF covers fees until 31 December 2022. For courses continuing/starting after 1 January 2023, partial or full fees may apply.
Zoom in to Management
Are you a manager or looking to advance into management role? This programme is designed to apply to a wide range of businesses in the primary sector, including agriculture, horticulture, pest and conservation contractors, apiculture, forestry and fencing contractors. Classes are conducted using Zoom so you can easily join from your home, office or anywhere that has an Internet connection. Learning material is accessed through our online learning platform. This programme will teach you the latest business management techniques.
-
Enables you to achieve your business and career goals faster
-
Gives you the confidence to present your agribusiness in the best light possible to your bank, accountant and other rural professionals
-
Allows you to take control of your business and make decisions with confidence, based on sound judgement
-
Is an industry-recognised qualification
-
Includes a full analysis of your business. You’ll be able to directly apply what you’ve learnt to your own agribusiness.
Working in partnership

Farmers, horticulturalists and other agribusiness decision makers now have a completely new way to gain business skills, following the formation of a partnership between Primary ITO and NorthTec. Increasing the agribusiness skills of the primary industry is the focus of an initiative involving DairyNZ, Primary ITO and NorthTec. Formal qualifications such as this Diploma provide vital business skills and knowledge for those in the industry.
-
Facilitated by highly experienced agribusiness practitioners
-
Interactive, discussion based tutorials – learn from your peers
-
Relevant learning – use your farm business as a case study
-
Locally run tutorials – flexible to fit the farm work day
-
Nationally recognised and supported by industry bodies.
What will I learn?
The New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management (Level 5) is the focus of an initiative involving DairyNZ, Primary ITO and NorthTec. The organisations have joined forces to support agribusiness owners and managers to build their knowledge and skills - creating a productive, sustainable future for the industry.
-
Compile and integrate whole business information about an agribusiness to critically analyse performance and identify opportunities for improvement
-
Manage the financial requirements of an agribusiness
-
Manage staffing requirements in an agribusiness
-
Manage natural and/or physical resources for agribusiness sustainability
Courses in this programme
To complete this programme, students must achieve a minimum of 120 credits
Courses |
Level |
Credits |
|
5566.5001 - Business Leadership And Management
Aim: To enable students to develop a critical understanding of the complexities and contested nature of leadership and management and the contextual opportunities for development. It will enable students to develop a range of personal and professional skills associated with the application of leadership and management strategies to facilitate organisational development and change within primary industries.
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
-
Contrast and compare the concepts of leadership and management and their application within primary industry entities.
-
Assess leadership and management challenges and requirements in culturally diverse working environments.
-
Utilise recognised management theory and practice to address issues within primary industry organisations.
-
Develop leadership strategies for driving organisational change and preparing for the future in the primary industry sector.
|
5 |
15 |
|
5566.5002 - Management Accounting and Finance
Aim: To provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and present finances for primary industry operations, using current and emerging technology to inform decision making, in accordance with the requirements of the businesses.
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify the functional areas of accounting and finance within primary industry entities.
- Apply knowledge of taxation, expenditure, valuation, accounts payable/receivable, profit and loss accounts, PAYE and GST functions of primary industry operations.
- Apply financial management tools, including the use of current and emerging technology, in the planning, operation and review of primary industry entities to inform decision-making.
- Prepare financial information for presentation to management, financiers and/or business stakeholders.
|
5 |
15 |
|
5566.5003 - Human Resource Management
Aim: To enable students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage human resource and staffing requirements within primary industry organisations.
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify the employment requirements, termination procedures and professional communication processes needed to manage staffing in primary industry entities.
- Outline the processes for managing the recruitment, selection and induction of staff for primary industry organisations.
- Identify and evaluate strategies for managing the allocation of work, working relationships, social and cultural aspects of communications within teams.
- Evaluate strategies to implement and monitor staff performance, staff training and health, safety and wellbeing requirements within primary industry businesses.
|
5 |
15 |
|
5566.5004 - Environment and Sustainability
Aim: To enable students to develop knowledge and skills needed to manage natural and/or physical resources sustainably in primary industry operations
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyse the natural and physical resources relevant to the management of primary industry entities.
- Outline the roles and responsibilities of central government and regional and district authorities relating to the environmental sustainability of primary industry operations including consideration of the Treaty of Waitangi.
- Research and analyse current environmental management practices, which enhance sustainability in primary industry entities.
- Evaluate environmental sustainability management plans addressing enhancements, limitations and deficiencies for the sustainable management of primary industry entities.
|
5 |
15 |
|
5566.5005 - Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Aim: To enable students to develop knowledge and skills needed to develop strategies to manage and monitor health, safety and wellbeing within primary industry organisations.
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify workplace health and safety legislation, regulations, codes of practice, standards, and guidance documents and their role in New Zealand primary industry workplaces.
- Critically review operational procedures for health, safety and wellbeing within primary industry organisations.
- Apply strategies to assess, monitor and respond to employee wellbeing within primary sector workplaces.
- Analyse requirements for health and safety plans for managing health, safety, and wellbeing within primary industry entities.
|
5 |
15 |
|
5566.5006 - Strategic Management and Planning
Aim: To introduce students to the concepts of strategic management, focusing on the consideration of strategic management methods, and organisational objectives, planning, performance and future directions within primary industry contexts.
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify and review the key concepts of strategic management and strategic planning processes with particular reference to primary industry organisations.
- Analyse organisational performance to identify strategic positions of primary industry entities.
- Analyse internal and external environments and evaluate strategic options for primary industry organisations.
- Evaluate organisational performance and planning for future directions of primary industry businesses in relationship to organisational objectives.
|
5 |
15 |
|
5566.5007 - Primary Industry Business Planning
Aim: To enable students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to prepare business plans for businesses or organisations within the primary industry sector.
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Analyse strategies for organisational planning, management, monitoring and reviewing primary industry businesses.
2. Evaluate opportunities for managing the improvement of primary industry businesses or organisations.
3. Analyse the risk factors associated with the management of sustainable primary industry business developments including environmental, economic and social sustainability.
4. Evaluate business plans prepared for primary industry business operations to meet performance requirement.
|
5 |
30 |
Career opportunities and pathways
Graduates of this qualification will have the skills and knowledge to work or gain employment in a management or supervisory role in a range of primary industries. Graduates of this qualification may progress to relevant qualifications at Level 6 or above in business management.
Entry requirements
All applicants must:
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must have an IELTS score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5; or an accepted international equivalent.
Qualifications gained
New Zealand Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management (Level 5)
Courses and programmes may be cancelled, postponed or have their content or configuration changed from time to time (including during the academic year) at the discretion of NorthTec. Fees are an indication, include GST and apply to domestic students only. View terms and conditions
From 1 January 2023, all NorthTec learners will be part of Te Pūkenga. Please note that these programmes of study are currently under review as part of the reform of vocational education training and may be subject to change.