Kiwifruit Horticulture Training Programme

A 24-week structured training programme delivered by Imperial College of New Zealand Limited.

Programme Overview

The Kiwifruit Horticulture Training Programme is a structured, full-cycle training pathway for final-year agriculture and horticulture students and recent graduates. Trainees follow a single kiwifruit growing season — from winter pruning through spring flowering, summer fruit development, and autumn harvest and packhouse operations.

The Programme is delivered by Imperial College of New Zealand Limited, an NZQA-registered tertiary education provider (Education Organisation #7499). Theory sessions are held at Imperial’s Auckland campus. Practical learning is conducted at partner orchards and packhouses in established New Zealand kiwifruit growing regions.

The Programme runs for approximately 24 weeks and totals around 600 hours of structured learning.

Who the Programme is For

The Programme is designed for:

  • Final-year B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, B.Sc. Horticulture, or equivalent students whose university curriculum includes a structured internship or work-integrated learning component.
  • Recent graduates of agriculture or horticulture programmes who want full-cycle exposure to a commercial horticulture system before entering the workforce.
  • International cohorts referred under formal university partnership arrangements with Imperial.

Applicants must be of good character, in good health, and have functional working English. A reference from the home university or a previous supervisor is required.

What the Programme Covers

The Programme is organised into four stages that follow the kiwifruit growing calendar:

  • Stage 1 — Winter foundations (Weeks 1–3).
    Induction, biosecurity, vine architecture, dormant pruning, soil management, and irrigation system fundamentals.
  • Stage 2 — Spring growth and pollination (Weeks 4–10).
    Bud break, canopy management, vine training, flowering biology, pollination operations, and pollination effectiveness assessment.
  • Stage 3 — Summer development and protection (Weeks 11–17).
    Fruit set, thinning, integrated pest management, pest and disease identification (including Psa monitoring), and nutrition management.
  • Stage 4 — Autumn harvest and packhouse (Weeks 18–24).
    Fruit development, maturity assessment, pre-harvest preparation, harvest operations, packhouse processes, post-harvest biosecurity, and a final reflective integration phase.

A full curriculum document is available on request.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion, trainees will be able to:

  • Describe the kiwifruit growing calendar and the biological basis of each stage.
  • Identify common kiwifruit cultivars and their commercial characteristics.
  • Demonstrate basic competence in core orchard operations under supervision.
  • Identify common kiwifruit pests, diseases, and disorders and explain integrated pest management principles.
  • Explain pre-harvest and post-harvest quality criteria and the basics of packhouse operations.
  • Apply New Zealand biosecurity, health and safety, and orchard hygiene practices.
  • Maintain a structured logbook of training activities and reflective learning.
  • Communicate professionally with supervisors, partner site staff, and the wider training cohort.

How the Programme is Delivered

Trainees follow a single integrated programme that combines:

  • Theory sessions at Imperial’s Auckland campus — classroom-based modules covering plant biology, orchard systems, integrated pest management, biosecurity, post-harvest, and reflective practice.
  • Demonstrations and supervised practical learning at partner orchards and packhouses, scheduled around the kiwifruit growing calendar.
  • Structured reflection — daily logbook entries, weekly review sessions, and a final 3,000-word reflective report.

Trainees are present at partner sites for learning purposes only. They do not perform commercial production tasks under their own responsibility, do not operate machinery beyond what is required for supervised demonstrations, and do not replace paid staff. The Programme is unpaid; trainees are learners, not workers.

Imperial retains overall responsibility for curriculum delivery, supervision, assessment, and trainee welfare throughout the Programme.

Assessment

Trainees are assessed against the eight learning outcomes through:

  • Weekly logbook entries reviewed by the Programme team.
  • Mid-stage knowledge assessment at the end of Stage 2.
  • Stage-end practical competence checks.
  • A final 3,000-word reflective integration report.

Trainees who complete all assessment components receive a Certificate of Completion from Imperial College of New Zealand Limited. The certificate states the duration, the learning outcomes, and the partner sites attended. The certificate does not constitute a New Zealand qualification on the NZQF.

Programme Delivery Team

Programme Director. Rakshan Tungala — Master of AgriBusiness (Massey University), with prior hands-on experience in New Zealand kiwifruit, glasshouse, dairy, and pastoral horticulture operations. Rakshan is the sole director of Imperial College of New Zealand Limited and leads programme design, partner-site relationships, and trainee oversight.

Education Support. Imperial’s education team supports trainees with academic administration, accommodation referrals, induction, and ongoing welfare check-ins throughout the Programme.

Partner-site Supervisors. Each partner orchard or packhouse nominates a site supervisor who is responsible for day-to-day instruction and supervision of trainees while they are on site. Partner sites must hold all relevant New Zealand health and safety, biosecurity, and operating compliance.

Programme Fee and What it Covers

The Programme fee is charged per trainee and is published on the application page (or available on request from Imperial’s admissions team).

The Programme fee covers:

  • Tuition and curriculum delivery (theory + supervised practical learning).
  • Partner-site coordination and supervision arrangements.
  • Trainee induction, biosecurity orientation, and health and safety training.
  • Logbook materials, assessment, and Certificate of Completion.
  • Administrative oversight throughout the 24-week Programme.

The Programme fee does not cover:

  • Travel to and from New Zealand.
  • New Zealand visa application fees, immigration levies, or medical and police checks.
  • Personal living expenses (food, transport within New Zealand, personal items).
  • Accommodation. Imperial can provide referral assistance to partner accommodation providers, but trainees meet their own accommodation costs.
  • Comprehensive medical and travel insurance for the duration of the Programme. Insurance is mandatory and is the trainee’s responsibility to arrange before arrival.

Visas and Immigration

The Programme is unpaid and is structured training, not paid employment. International applicants typically require a New Zealand work visa under the appropriate Immigration New Zealand instructions for student-trainees.

Imperial does not provide immigration advice. Immigration advice in New Zealand can only be provided by a Licensed Immigration Adviser, a New Zealand-registered lawyer, or another person exempt under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007.

Applicants who require visa support are referred to a Licensed Immigration Adviser of their choice. Imperial works with Professional Visa Solutions Limited (Licence 201301110) on cohort intakes from partner universities, but applicants are free to engage any Licensed Immigration Adviser they prefer.

Acceptance into the Programme does not guarantee the grant of a New Zealand visa. Visa decisions are made solely by Immigration New Zealand based on the applicant’s individual circumstances.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted in cohorts aligned to the kiwifruit growing calendar.

To apply, applicants submit:

  • A completed application form (available on request).
  • A current CV.
  • A copy of academic transcripts and a letter from the home university confirming enrolment and approval of the Programme as part of the applicant’s degree (where applicable).
  • A short statement of interest (approximately 500 words).
  • One academic or professional reference.

Imperial reviews applications and conducts a short interview, in person or by video call. Successful applicants receive a written offer of training placement.

To request an application pack, contact Imperial’s admissions team at the addresses on this website.

Contact

Imperial College of New Zealand Limited Auckland, New Zealand NZQA Education Organisation #7499 NZBN 9429036664351.

For Programme enquiries: [admissions email] Phone: [admissions phone]

This page describes the Kiwifruit Horticulture Training Programme delivered by Imperial College of New Zealand Limited. Programme content, schedules, and partner sites may be adjusted from time to time in response to the growing season, partner availability, and operational requirements. Material changes are notified to enrolled trainees in writing.