Source: NorthTec
The Government has invested $1.1 billion in this year’s Budget to create 11,000 “green” jobs in the hope of jump-starting “a sustainable recovery” from the Covid-19 crisis.
The package would create jobs in the regions including planting native trees, controlling pests, and cleaning up rivers and lakes.
NorthTec is supporting this announcement with the delivery of the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation Level 4 programme with a new environmental strand, available fees-free in 2020.
It is designed for people wanting to take the first step to a career in conservation and environmental management, and is also suitable for and people who generally want to learn more about the ecology of the natural environment of New Zealand.
The programme will be available in semester two and will start on July 20 at NorthTec’s Raumanga campus.
NorthTec Pathway Manager for Community & Environment, said: “This new NorthTec programme at level 4 is perfect for people wanting to take the first step to a career in conservation and environmental management. The programme itself is broad enough for it to be used as a stepping stone to where each students wants to get into in those fields.
“Because of the government announcement, there will be ample opportunities for students to gain employment in these fields. And being available fee-free is a huge bonus for students.
“The Level 4 programme also presents an opportunity for students to have a ‘no cost’ go at studying. To see if this is something you would be interested in without committing to study fees, and then move up to NorthTec’s New Zealand Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 5), which then can lead on to the degree programme.”
Entry criteria for this programme is NCEA Level 2 or equivalent. For applicants over 20 years of age, no academic qualifications are required, but learners must provide evidence of their ability to study at this level.
The government package includes:
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$433 million for 4000 jobs over five years to restore wetlands, and improve the health of rivers and estuaries and the Kaipara Harbour, New Zealand’s largest harbour.
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$200m for a Jobs for Nature Fund for the Department of Conservation (DOC) to partner with councils, tourism businesses, iwi and hapu, and communities to provide nature-based jobs in predator control efforts, restoring wetlands, regenerate planting and improving tracks, huts and other recreational and visitor assets on public conservation land.
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$154.3m for enhancing nature and indigenous biodiversity on public and private land. DOC will work with the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, regional councils and landholder groups to create 1800 jobs in revegetation, pest and weed control, and riparian planting.
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$147.5m for pest control and eradication, including advancing the Predator Free New Zealand vision and working with iwi to prevent the collapse of North Island forests.
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$100m for extensive wilding conifer control on public and private land.
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$40m for pest and weed control on Crown land in river beds and control and eradication of aquatic weeds in lakes Wakatipu and Wānaka.
$27.5m to get ballooning populations of wallabies in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Canterbury and Otago under control.
