Farming
A Southland dairy farmer is revolutionising agricultural education by partnering with Telford to deliver New Zealand's first app-based farming qualifications.
Tangaroa Walker, founder of the popular Farm 4 Life app, has teamed up with the agricultural campus to offer the Certificate in Farming Systems and Equipment (Level 3) starting June 8.
The qualification combines two certificates: the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Farming Systems) and the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills, both delivered through Walker's video-first learning platform.
"Our qualifications are delivered in a way that's never been done before. It's app-based and completely video-led, so learners don't have to read through resources," Walker said.
The motivation behind Farm 4 Life stems from Walker's desire to prepare young people for farming reality. "I don't want people to be shocked when they get on a dairy farm and realise they've got to get up early. I want them to be prepared for employment," he explained.
Walker, who describes himself as a practical learner, spent five to seven years developing the app to suit hands-on learning styles. "A lot of the people best suited to farming are practical learners. This style of learning plays to their natural strengths."
The app has built significant reach, with 360,000 followers across all platforms and millions of video views both domestically and internationally. "People tune in every day to see real farming, real life, and real challenges," Walker said.
One key advantage is immediate support for learners. "The tutor is literally in your pocket. The help is there instantly, not two weeks later," Walker noted. Updates can be made quickly too: "Instead of rewriting thousands of booklets, we can add a single video and update the learning immediately."
The programme emphasises equipment operation and health and safety, with substantial focus on personal wellbeing including sleep, nutrition, mental health and dealing with isolation.
"We're teaching people how to handle equipment safely — motorbikes, tractors, side by sides, quads — but we're also teaching them how to look after themselves," Walker said. "That's why wellbeing is built into the qualifications from day one, so they're not relying on energy drinks when they're feeling tired and actually getting sleep."
Telford Head of Faculty Hamish Small praised the partnership as demonstrating flexible learning for primary industries. "We have owners and managers like Tangaroa on farm utilising blended delivery, supported by the quality oversight and industry knowledge of Telford."
Small noted the app's technological advancement over recent years. "It's come a long way in terms of the latest technology; there's better engagement as a blended delivery tool and it's more interactive."
With his own farm now operational, Walker can deliver more comprehensive content. "Now that we've got the farm, we can deliver education through engaging, real, on-farm content - and encourage more young people into farming."
Enrolments are open now at https://nzqa.farm4life.co.nz/sign-up-page.