Further advice will be provided upon enquiry. Most programmes will require gumboots, overalls, wet weather gear, and steel capped boots. The majority of our programmes require the applicant to be 16 years or older however our Primary Industry Training Academy (PITA) programme starts in schools from Year 10 onwards. This varies region to region, please contact the PITA office on 0800 TARATAHI.

Yes.  All students will be tested when they begin their programme. Literacy and Numeracy is embedded into their everyday work. The tutors who are available during the evenings will help students who struggle with reading and writing.

Some assessments can be done verbally and the exams can be done with a reader/writer (this means a staff member can read out the exam questions and/or write down the exam answers for students). 

Taratahi will offer support for students to diagnose and apply for funding from Workbridge, to assist with specific learning difficulties, for example, dyslexia. 

We currently do not have scholarships available specifically for international students. However, you could try the following websites which have information on scholarships for international students.

New Zealand Aid Scholarships Programme

New Zealand Ministry of Education Scholarships

If you are applying to study a programme that is one year in duration, you must pay the full fee for this duration. If you are applying for an 18 month programme, you should pay the first year fees before you commence your study at Taratahi (your visa will be issued for this period) and you will need to pay for the remaining balance in your second year and apply for a renewal of your student visa.

Under New Zealand Immigration laws, if you meet specific requirements you may work part time for up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full time for up to 40 hours per week during all scheduled breaks, provided you meet the programme requirements.  You can work part-time for up to 20 hours per week if your full-time programme of study is at least two years in duration or leads to a New Zealand qualification that qualifies for points towards an application for a Skilled Migrant visa. For more information, please visit the NZ Study and Work website.

No. Taratahi offers student accommodation on our Masterton campus for $285 per week on top of tuition fees.

International students are required to obtain a student visa in order to live and study in New Zealand. Further information and application forms may be obtained from Immigration New Zealand or by contacting the nearest New Zealand Embassy or High Commission in your region.

Please see the Immigration New Zealand website for more information. For information on your nearest New Zealand Embassy or High Commission, please visit the New Zealand Embassies website for more information.

If you would like to enrol in a programme that is longer than 3 months in duration (either 40 weeks or 18 months) you can apply for admission by downloading an international student application form from the Taratahi website. Please complete this application form and email it to international@taratahi.ac.nz with the required supporting documents noted in the form.

Taratahi is a 90 minute drive from the Wellington airport. Taratahi may be able to pick you up from the airport and transport you to Taratahi, provided we receive two weeks’ notice. There is a public train service from Wellington to Masterton, however please note that there are limited train services with further reduced services on the weekends.

For information on train times between Masterton and Wellington, please visit the metlink website.

If you withdraw from your course of study before the completion date, you may be eligible for a refund of tuition fees. To be eligible for a refund, you must apply in writing to Taratahi setting out the special circumstances of the claim (the New Zealand Immigration Service will be notified if any student ceases to attend Taratahi for whatever reason).

If an international student withdraws themselves or is withdrawn for disciplinary, non-attendance or other reasons from a course of study at Taratahi that is longer than 12 weeks in length;

Prior to programme commencement date**; any fees paid will be refunded; less 10% of course fee total for administration costs
Within 10 days after programme commencement; any fees paid will be refunded; Less 25% of the course fee total.
More than 10 days after programme commencement and before 10% of the programme of study has been completed, an amount no greater than 50% of the course fees will be payable. Accommodation and meals (if applicable) will be payable to the end of term following the withdrawal date.
After 10% of the programme of study has been completed, the course fees will be payable in full. Accommodation and meals (if applicable), will be payable to the end of the term following the withdrawal date.

(Programme commencement is defined as the first day the student has agreed to begin their programme of study).

In exceptional circumstances, refunds may be granted on compassionate grounds such as death of a close family member, serious illness or accident. All such refunds will be at the discretion of Taratahi’s Chief Executive Officer.

If your residency status changes and you gain permanent residency, please bring a certified copy of the Permanent Residence page of your passport to the Taratahi International Team immediately. They will advise you on how the change will affect your fees.

If you decide not to accept the offer of admission, you should contact Taratahi as soon as possible to let us know.

As documents submitted in support of an Application for Admission will not be returned, please do not send originals. You must submit a certified copy of the original.

In line with New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s (NZQA) English language policies for international students, Taratahi will accept international students who meet the criteria for existing English language proficiency:

1.  Completed all primary education and at least three (3) years of secondary education (equivalent to New Zealand years 9 to 13) at schools using English as the language of instruction

2.  Completed at least five years of secondary education at schools using English as the language of instruction

3.  Completed a tertiary qualification of at least three years duration with English as the language of instruction in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States
Achievement of the Certificate in Teaching English to Adults (CELTA)

Taratahi also accepts a range of English language entry tests such as IELTS. For information on other tests we can accept, please see the Table for Internationally Recognised English Proficiency Outcomes for International Students on the NZQA website. 

This is an endorsement in your passport that allows you to enter New Zealand.

Once Taratahi receives your application you will be sent an acknowledgement by email that we have received your application form.  Taratahi will assess your application form and supporting documents.  If we feel that you meet the requirements for entry to your chosen programme, we will issue you with an offer of place letter and schedule of dates.

This should then be submitted to your local office of Immigration New Zealand, along with your student visa application form and supporting documents.  INZ will then review your application. If they feel that you meet the requirements for a student visa, they will give you visa approval in principle.

Once this has happened, please let Taratahi know and we will issue you with an invoice for you to pay your tuition fees.  Once we receive your tuition fees, we will send you a receipt as proof of payment which should be sent to INZ who will issue you with your visa.

Generally speaking, Taratahi’s programmes are 20% theory based and 80% practical based.

Taratahi offers student accommodation on our Masterton campus. Students who stay on campus are provided with three meals a day in our on-campus dining room.

Taratahi is located in a rural area and is a 10 minute drive from Masterton. We provide transport for students to go to town from time to time to buy supplies and for social activities. If you do not want to stay at Taratahi, you can stay in Masterton in your own accommodation arrangements or with a host family (we can arrange a host family subject to availability). Taratahi can recommend alternative accommodation options if required.

Your documents must be certified as a true and accurate copy of the original by a lawyer, Justice of the Peace, officer of a New Zealand Education Centre, Embassy, High Commission or Consulate General. If your documents are in a language other than English, please also provide a certified English language translation.

There are many options for finding a part time job in Masterton. There may also be opportunities to find part time work on farms as Taratahi is made aware of these opportunities from time to time. Taratahi can assist in finding a job, however the responsibility to find a job rests primarily with you.

Yes.  All meals are provided to first year students. Students who are out on-farm for training will either have a packed lunch made for them or make their lunch at the farm; we will provide the supplies for these. When students are away on-farm they prepare and cook morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for fellow students and tutors.  This is to encourage students to learn how to cook for themselves and others.

Meals are provided in the dining room:

• Breakfast 6.30am – 7.30am Monday – Friday / 8.30am – 9.30am Saturday & Sunday

• Lunch 12.00pm – 12.30pm

• Dinner 5.30pm – 6.00pm

Yes, but there are rules around signing out, and curfews for the purposes of maintaining health and safety. These rules can be found in the Student Regulations.  

Yes!  We work hard to make the campus a ‘home away from home’ and put on activities in the evenings and during weekends. We organise participation in sports, quiz nights, indoor activities and gym sessions.

We provide transport for students who are playing sport. 

We organise occasional trips to Wellington and local events and attractions.

Yes, students are allowed to have guests on campus after hours, until 9.30pm. This is subject to notifying staff of their arrival. Students are responsible for the behaviour of their visitors and visitors are required to sign in and out, for the purposes of maintaining health and safety. 

Yes. Students can apply to keep a car at Taratahi and this will be granted subject to certain conditions as outlined in the Student Handbook. Cars must be kept in the student car park.

Only Sheep and Beef students can apply to bring a dog onto campus.  It is the student’s responsibility to purchase their dog and to have enough funds to care for their dog while at Taratahi. 
We provide weekly dog training with our Sheep and Beef Manager or a specialist dog trialling trainer.

Students with the appropriate licenses are allowed to carry other students in their vehicles out of class time. Some students may be approved, if they have a full license, to carry other students in Taratahi vans to off campus activities.

Transport into town is provided by Taratahi. This will depend on the availability of the Supervisor and availability of vehicles. Students are also transported if they wish to join local sports clubs and other interest groups.

Transport into town is also provided to meet buses, trains or to take students to medical appointments if they do not have their own vehicle.

Butchery experience is offered to students, although not assessed as part of their curriculum. 

No.  However on a regular basis there are at least two nights per week where theory tutors are available after dinner to help students with their work.

We encourage and help students develop a study habit and do in some instances keep an eye on students to make sure that they are following a planned study programme.

Dairy students can be 4.30am-5.00pm (there can be a range of start times dependent on where they are training and the dairy schedule);

• Sheep and Beef students can be 7.00am-5.00pm;
• Theory days 8.00am-4.00pm (for all students); and 
• Students may also be rostered on farms during the weekends.

Students are expected to do their own laundry. Washing machines, washing lines and dryers are provided free of charge.

We have a gym with some weight equipment and a computer room where they can access the free wi-fi for internet and study.

We have a student recreation room with a pool table, and a student lounge area with SKY TV.

Living on campus allows our students to be fully immersed in the lifestyle that comes with the agricultural industry.  Our supportive staff encourage constant learning and take pride in developing good work ethic with our students.  Some advantages of living on campus include:

• Less time to travel to and from campus (better time management);
• Being with other students who are on a similar career pathway encourages networking and friendships to develop;
• Fun activities and events are organised for students;
• First year students enjoy three hearty meals a day in our dining room;
• We create a family environment for our students; and
• Supervision is in place 24-7 by provide who provide support, advice and structure for our students.