Horticulture

Goodbye fees, study horticulture for free.

As part of the government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) to rebuild New Zealand's economy, you can now study some of our horticulture programmes for free^.

Click here to find out more.

If you love nature, it doesn't get better than a career in working in the outdoors.

Whether it's landscaping, caring for trees or looking after parks and reserves. The horticulture industry has a range of roles that are in high demand in New Zealand and overseas.

Get hands-on skills and gain real-world experience in the horticulture industry.

Choose to specialise in Arboriculture (tree maintenance), landscaping or parks and gardens.

Potential jobs
JobAverage salary»
Arborist

$17-$22 per hour (with 1-5 years’ experience)

$22-$35 per hour (with more than 5 years’ experience)

Gardener $16-$30 per hour
Grounds Person

$31K-$60K per year (groundskeepers)

$60K-$100K per year (highly experienced senior groundskeepers)

Landscape Gardener

$16-$23 per hour (with 1-2 years’ experience)

$35-$40 per hour (with more than 2 years’ experience)

»Sourced from careers.govt.nz January 2018

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Your work experience or previous tertiary study may count towards achieving your qualification. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at MIT is designed for those who already have the on-the-job skills and knowledge, but want to take their career to the next level with a qualification.

With RPL we can measure and match your existing skills against credits in our courses – creating a tailored path of study that will not only save you money, but also help you to complete your qualification faster.

To learn more about what our programmes can offer you, view our available programmes by subject area, or make an appointment to speak with us on 0800 62 62 52 or email enquiries@manukau.ac.nz.

Why choose MIT?

We provide some of the most practically based horticultural training programmes in New Zealand.

Our facilities include 1,800 square metres of greenhouse, where a wide range of nursery, cut flower and hydroponic crops are grown. Our outdoor facilities include a vegetable garden and an extensive nursery, including trees, shrubs, perennials and bedding plants that are sold to the public. Our students also take regular field trips as part of our programmes.

Whatever your education or work history, you can enter at a level that suits your specific needs. You can choose from a range of certificate and diploma qualifications, with both part-time and full-time study that can fit around your work or family commitments.

^Free study for the specified qualifications may be available to you under the government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF). Visit https://www.tec.govt.nz/funding/funding-and-performance/funding/fund-finder/targeted-training-and-apprenticeship-fund/faqs-for-learners for eligibility criteria and more information. Students must be eligible to study as a domestic student and meet any other entry criteria as required. Some costs may also apply. Free study is subject to funding confirmation.

Programmes

The following programmes are available in this area of study:

Level 3
Level 4
Level 5