A new series of programmes aimed specifically at the local viticulture and wine industry will be rolled out by Otago Polytechnic’s Central campus, with the first qualification being offering from September 2021. 

The Certificate in Cellar Operations (Level 3) has been developed with industry partners to grow talent within the viticulture industry, which achieved record exports in 2020 totalling $1.92 billion, up 6% on last year (New Zealand Winegrowers 2020 Annual Report). 

Kelly Gay, Otago Polytechnic’s Central campus manager explains, "In Central, we’ve always had a reputation for offering excellent horticulture qualifications, which have had some element of viticulture learning embedded into them, however taking on industry feedback we see the benefit in offering our learners a more dedicated viticulture strand in the programmes we offer. 

“We also want to offer learners in our region the opportunity to learn more on the winery side of the industry, hence us offering the Cellar Operations qualification.

“In the past, wineries have relied on international staff to fill employment shortage gaps, which is becoming harder in the current climate. 

“So, we listened and started developing a suite of standalone viticulture qualifications. 

“The Certificate in Cellar Operations will be the first programme we intend to offer locally with more to announce for 2022,” Kelly says. 

Under Te Pūkenga, the recent government-led reform of Vocational Education, all institutes of technology and polytechnic (ITPs) have an increased desire to collaborate in the development of long-term skills training for industry and firms. 

“The great thing about these programmes is that they pathway into Diploma and Degree programmes that are offered in other key wine growing regions; Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). 

“There is a great opportunity for locals in Central Otago to start their professional viticultural careers here, with options to pathway to further study in other key regions. 

“Under the new Te Pūkenga model, this has become a lot easier for learners.”

One such collaboration is the upcoming Post Graduate Wine Business and Innovation Information and Research Talk, hosted by Otago Polytechnic’s Bannockburn Campus on Thursday 10 June at 4:30pm. 

At this session, Drs Chandré Honeth and Rory Hill, lecturers in the School of Viticulture at EIT in Hawke’s Bay, will be sharing findings from their research, and providing information about the new postgraduate qualifications in Wine Business and Innovation being offered at EIT. 

“We are aligned with our ITP education partners in the vision of developing both talent and relevant knowledge. This event is a great start to a journey of collaboration and development,” Kelly concludes.