The Engine of The New New Zealand

Agri-food

New Zealand’s got a good thing going. We produce great food, that’s in demand all over the world.

That’s because we do it really, really well. People know New Zealand produces excellent fresh produce and leading-edge food products that taste great. You can help New Zealand do it even better.

At the moment 25,000 people die every day from malnutrition. That's not good.

There is huge demand globally for people to help produce food for the world’s growing population in smart way that ensures the environment is looked after for future generations.

The agriculture and food industries are really important to New Zealand – they're some of our biggest export earners, so you’ll be helping local communities, the wider New Zealand economy, and even the world by choosing a career in this area.

Download Your 2013 Guide to Agri-food.

Agriculture, the land, environment and plant science

New Zealand has fertile land and produces world-quality produce for New Zealand, and overseas markets. You can be part of this success, and help New Zealand to do that long into the future.

World leaders and researchers, all visit New Zealand to learn about its sustainable primary production and development of leading-edge technologies. While people who understand how to produce animals and plants are in demand by companies in New Zealand and overseas. They want people who know the importance international markets place on caring for the environment.

Everyone has to eat. Fresh produce is especially in demand.

You can be part of the national team effort making a difference in New Zealand and beyond.

stand up for agriculture

There is a growing swell of passion for the importance of agriculture – here a US student calls on you to help this movement.

Find out more about careers and how you can do it too.

AgriCommerce

Agribusiness is the business of producing, selling, processing and marketing agriculture produce – food.

It has become an increasingly complex and profitable industry, as new markets have opened up and science and technology have improved the quality, variety and longevity of foods, and the scale and types of production methods.

People like our very own Hamish Gow are having a huge impact on the face of global agricommerce.

Find out more about agricommerce, how you can be involved in this exciting industry, and why Massey University will help you get there.

Animal science

Dairy and meat are huge industries both in New Zealand and internationally.

And they’re both crying out for more scientists to help produce quality raw food ingredients in a way that minimises the impact on the environment.

In this country milk powder, butter and cheese sales alone can add up to around $888 million in one month (Statistics New Zealand, month of June 2011). There are 32 million sheep and around 6 million cows grazing on our pastures at any one time.

It’s huge.

Find out more about Animal Science, what career you can have, and how you can help this industry grow.

Food technology

Food technology. It’s not just about eating.

It’s about the planet Mars. And creating new high-tech packaging. Developing foods consumers want. And food that will help feed the world’s booming population.

Developing new foods and better ways to manufacture safe, tasty foods is what food technology is all about.

It could be for astronauts on the first mission to Mars or nine-to-five workers, sitting at a desk all day; or people needing good nutrition in the Third World. It’s about creating healthier, more interesting and efficient (oh, and did we mention tasty?!) foods that’ll help humans live longer and more healthily?

That’s your job!

Find out more about what career you might have, and how you can do it too.

Earth science

Soil: it’s so much more than glorified dirt!

And the earth is about so much more than soil: boiling lava, water, nutrients and what that means to humans that are living on it. Earth science is about studying that world, and figuring out how to live in it more sustainably.

That’s things like land use interpretation and evaluation, how to ‘rehabilitate land’ from pollution, nutrient cycling, soil fertility, fertiliser development, irrigation, precision agriculture, volcanology, land treatment of waste and environmental impacts of land use.

A good understanding of soil and earth sciences is essential for the conservation and protection of our natural heritage, the development of sound environmental management practices as well as the long-term sustainability of our natural environment.

Find out what career you might have and how you can do it too.

Horticulture

Everyone has to eat. Fresh produce is especially in demand.

And we’re not just feeding our own country, the needs of the world that are also being met by New Zealand growers.

That growth is fed not just by growing more fresh produce! But by thinking a bit differently, coming up with new ways of adding value to the produce that we have.

Horticulture plays a huge role New Zealand’s export income, and we need more smart people, like you, to help us grow that even more.

Find out what career you might have, and how you can do it too.

Thanks to Plant and Food for the Fresh Facts vid update on hort facts and figures. www.plantandfood.co.nz

Veterinary science

Being a vet is not just about fluffy bunnies. You have to be in it for more than just your love of animals. It’s a medical role, so there’s some, er, blood and guts involved. But if you like animals, becoming a vet is a great option for a career.

You’ll have to work really hard – there are lots of people who want to work with animals, and applications for vet school are limited. That doesn’t stop when you start work either. There is always something new to learn – it’s a big challenge and hugely varied. But it will be an incredibly rewarding career.

Find out what career you might have, and how you can do it too.