Rural / Farming

A Taste for Dairying

21:14 pm on 3 July 2020

Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles

Teina McIntyre is sick of living in a caravan.

The former furniture remover is one of the first students to take part in Dairy NZ's GoDairy training programme - a free, entry-level course for people looking at changing careers and moving into dairy farming.

Teina grew up on farms and is tempted by dairy farming's rent-free accommodation, a decent wage and possibly free meat and milk.

And he loves the thought of working outside.

"I just want to get amongst it," he says.

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Teina's partner Caitlin McRae is also on the course.
 
"I haven't worked on a farm before but now, seeing it all, I definitely reckon it might actually be where I belong," she says.

The three week course finishes next week.

'I just hope we'll ace it and get a job. I'm just hoping to get onto a good farm. I really want to just start working."

Dairy NZ says there are about 1000 vacancies for dairy staff.

So far 93 people have signed up for the GoDairy courses.  

Three-and-a-half million dollars are being spent on the campaign to attract newcomers to the industry.