Kaiako Future Farming

About the role

The Lead Kaiako for Future Farming Te Wairau (Blenheim) is a 9-month fixed-term contract role based in Te Wairau with remote working for planning. You will lead and co-create the Future Farming Te Wairau Programme by organising Thursday classes (9am-2:45pm) during term time with farmers and community members. This role involves working 9 hours Thursdays with flexible planning time.

Key responsibilities

• Leading and co-creating the Future Farming Te Wairau Programme by organising each 9am-2:45pm Thursday class with farmers and community members
• Inspiring ākonga (students) to engage in regenerative farming by embodying Papa Taiao values, building reciprocal relationships and supporting their diverse needs
• Supporting ākonga every Thursday during term time to gain skills including soil science, water management, basic chainsaw skills, pest plant management, mammalian pest management, forestry, apiculture, fencing and high value food production
• Ensuring robust health and safety of the programme both administratively and practically
• Leading the assessment of NZQA unit standards
• Participating in promotion of the programme
• Recording evidence for funding requirements and managing administration for the programme
• Attending national and regional team meetings and professional development
• Driving ākonga to and from farms and sites

About you

• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• A passion for te taiao (the natural world) and young people
• Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with a diversity of people
• Ability to manage administration using Google Drive and a Student Management System
• An understanding and commitment to decolonising education
• A current full driver's licence, preferable a P endorsement
• Willing to undergo a safety check to work with young people
• High awareness and strong commitment to Health and Safety
• Farming experience and connections into Te Wairau (ideally)
• Teacher training or willing to undertake training supported by Papa Taiao (ideally)

About us

Papa Taiao has been training people in Tiaki Taiao / care for the natural world since 2012. Papa Taiao believes that by building courses and qualifications for regeneration and sustainability, we can assist communities to prepare a workforce with the skills needed for the future. The primary industry sits on the interface between the natural world and primary production. Papa Taiao's focus is on training an emerging regenerative sector workforce capable of restoring degraded communities and ecosystems. In Golden Bay, Papa Taiao started delivering short courses in 2018. In 2025, we delivered our first Mohua Future Farming Programme which aims to connect young people with innovative farming methods that have earth care at the centre.

Link to Future Farming Course Information- https://tradesacademy.ac.nz/tradesacademycourses/future-farming/

Video- https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CXanQ3v63/

Additional Opportunities

For Whakatū (Nelson) based applicants, there is opportunity to be involved in the Future Farming Mohua Programme too. This is an identical role for a programme run out of Mohua (Golden Bay) on Fridays. See the full range of roles available here https://bit.ly/46H3xLt