Originator/Sponsor: Geoff Taylor (formerly at DairyNZ); Julia Pura-MacKenzie, Ministry of Education; Ben Allomes, (Formerly a Food and Fibre CoVE Board Member)
Portfolio Managers: Fiona Windle
Status: Completed
Lead Agency / Service Provider: Skills Group
Project Scope:
The research outputs of this project comprise 3 phases, firstly an interim data enquiry phase that includes:
- The performance and impact of current approved transitions and pathways programmes, products, and services employed by schools, kura and tertiary providers to encourage secondary students into tertiary studies related to, or work in, the food and fibre sector.
- Outcomes for secondary school ākonga studying horticulture and/or agriculture subjects who subsequently enrol in food and fibre related tertiary studies, or gain work in the food and fibre sector.
- Secondary school ākonga earning wages in the food and fibre sector who subsequently enrol in food and fibre related tertiary studies or gain work in the food and fibre sector.
- Year 11, 12 and 13 secondary school ākonga commencing tertiary studies with a specific focus on food and fibre including total duration of tertiary learning while still at school.
Secondly, a policy review, which captures key themes that indicate a lack of strategic coherence and perceptiveness in the transition space; and the clutter of schemes and the ‘tack-on’ syndrome. International comparisons have been made, an analysis of current New Zealand initiatives, and opportunities for industry are outlined. These all inform recommendations on advancing towards a structured interface to enable New Zealand’s young people to transition smoothly from secondary school to further education and/or employment.
A new rubric on Secondary School Pathway Programmes has been established, which captures the following attributes: strategic integration, access and equity, learning integration, industry and employer partnerships, and outcomes and impact.
The final phase produced a Future Focused report with a forward-looking perspective on opportunities, focusing on how current policy and operational settings can be more effectively applied at intersections between secondary education, tertiary education and employment. Six case studies highlight schools and organisations breaking traditional barriers, and showcasing enterprise and innovation in leveraging relationships between secondary schools, tertiary providers and employers.
The interim data enquiry report of the Secondary School Transitions and Pathways to VET and Employment Project (April 2024) can be viewed here.
The Policy Review (October 2024) can be viewed here.
The Secondary School Pathways Programme Rubric can be accessed under the Pathways tab here.
The Future Focus Report (July 2025) can be viewed here.
View the webinar to hear from the project researchers about the data inquiry and policy analysis results.
The above information was current as at 28 July 2025.