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Northland Farm & Primary Industry Training
Get Certified, Stay Safe
Kevin brings a wealth of real-life experience to the training sessions, which makes the content not only highly relevant but also practical.
Julie Thomson
Reconnecting Northland
Why Train With Us?
Our courses are designed for real-world farming and primary industry work. We focus on safety, compliance, and building the confidence you need on the job.
With local expertise, flexible group bookings, and no hidden travel fees, we make training accessible across Northland.
AG VEHICLE TRAINING
Tractor, quad bike, motorbike, and LUV (side by side) courses designed for safe and confident operation.
CHAINSAWS
Chainsaw safety and tree felling courses for all levels of experience.
GROWSAFE (AGRI CHEMICALS)
Approved training for safe use of agrichemicals.
FENCING
Learn the fundamentals of fence construction and maintenance.
What We Offer
Delivering non unit standard based, primary industries training across Northland. Our courses ensure safety, compliance, and confidence for New Zealand’s primary industries while avoiding excessive paperwork.
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Agricultural Vehicles — Tractors, quad bikes, motorbikes, and LUVs.
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Chainsaw Skills — Chainsaw use and tree felling.
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Fencing Training — Practical fence construction and maintenance.
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Growsafe Certification — Basic & Standard agrichemical training.
The Courses
Growsafe Basic
Who is this course for?
The Growsafe Basic Certificate is designed for people who are:
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Working under supervision in roles involving agrichemicals
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New to agrichemical use or completing pre-employment training
This course focuses on building practical skills and safe work habits, ensuring all staff who handle agrichemicals understand how to protect their own health and safety. Holders of a Growsafe Basic Certificate should always work under the supervision of someone with a Growsafe Standard (or higher) Certificate.
What does the course cover?
This one-day training provides the essential knowledge and hands-on skills for the safe use of agrichemicals. You’ll learn how to:-
Follow workplace procedures and label instructions
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Apply agrichemicals safely in real work situations
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Build confidence in task-related safety practices
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Growsafe Basic
Who is this course for?
The Growsafe Standard Certificate is designed for agrichemical users who work
independently with little or no supervision. It is suitable if you:-
Are responsible for agrichemical use on a single site or property
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Have responsibility for managing or supervising OTH
What does this course prepare you for?
With the Standard Certificate, you’ll be making on-site decisions such as:-
Which agrichemicals to use
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Correct spray concentrations
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Equipment setup and calibration
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Notification requirements
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Record-keeping and spray diaries
Why is it important?
The EPA Hazardous Substances (Hazardous Property Controls) Notice 2017 recognises the Growsafe Standard Certificate as an acceptable qualification for using highly ecotoxic agrichemicals in ground-based applications.In addition, most regional plans require agrichemicals used in commercial operations (such as farms, orchards, vineyards, and forests) to be applied in line with NZS8409. These plans also specify that users hold a Growsafe Standard Certificate (or equivalent training).
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LUVs (Side by Sides)
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for people working in the primary industries who need the skills and knowledge to safely operate a light utility vehicle (LUV/side-by-side) with trailed or mounted equipment, or while carrying loads. It is relevant for those driving on flat or rolling terrain as part of their daily work.What does this course cover?
The training provides both theory and practical learning to ensure safe operation of light utility vehicles in different workplace conditions.Learning outline includes:
Safe operation on flat terrain
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Identifying hazards and applying control measures
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Reporting and recording accidents or near misses
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Understanding safety requirements
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Familiarity with controls and displays
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Vehicle dynamics and handling
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Managing trailed equipment and loads
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Pre-ride safety checks
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Driving a LUV on flat terrain
Safe operation with equipment, loads, and on rolling terrain
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Operating a LUV with trailed equipment
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Operating a LUV with mounted equipment or load
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Driving safely on rolling terrain
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Quad Bikes
Who is this course for?
This course is for people working in the primary industries who need the skills and knowledge to safely operate a quad bike (ATV) with trailed or mounted equipment, or while carrying loads. It is designed for those riding on both flat and rolling terrain as part of their work.What does this course cover?
The training combines theory and practical learning to build safe quad bike operating skills across a range of conditions.
Learning outline includes:
Safe operation on flat terrain
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Identifying hazards and applying control measures
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Reporting and recording accidents or near misses
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Understanding safety requirements
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Familiarity with controls and displays
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Quad bike dynamics and handling
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Safe riding techniques
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Managing trailed equipment and loads
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Pre-ride safety checks
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Riding a quad on flat terrain
Safe operation with equipment, loads, and on rolling terrain
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Operating a quad bike with trailed equipment
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Operating a quad bike with mounted equipment or load
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Riding safely on rolling terrain
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Tractor Training
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for people working in the primary industries who need the skills and knowledge to safely operate a tractor and PTO-driven implement on flat terrain. It is suitable for those who use tractors as part of their daily work and require practical training in both safe operation and equipment handling.What does this course cover?
The training includes both theory and practical components, focusing on safe tractor use, legal responsibilities, and the operation of PTO-driven implements.Learning outline includes:
Safe operation of a tractor on flat terrain
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Legal requirements for tractor use
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Identifying hazards and applying control measures
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Reporting and recording accidents or near misses
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Attaching and detaching a PTO-driven 3-point linkage mounted implement
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Operating a tractor safely
Safe operation with attached implements and PTO-driven equipment
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Tractor stability and safe handling
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Dynamics of tractors with attached implements
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Two-wheel vs four-wheel drive tractor dynamics
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Maintaining a PTO-driven implement and tractor
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Operating a tractor with PTO-driven equipment
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Fencing
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for anyone from beginners to those with experience who want to develop or refine their fencing skills. Training can be tailored to meet the needs of individual employers, with adjustments made to the learning outline if required.
What does this course cover?
The course combines both theory and practical, hands-on training in the field. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills needed for safe, effective, and efficient fence construction and maintenance.
Learning outline includes:
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Basic fence construction techniques
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How to open and draw out a coil of wire
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Replacing broken posts and repairing existing fences
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Identifying and using fencing tools, construction materials, and fence supports
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Installing wooden battens
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Constructing both temporary and permanent electric fences
Book Now
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Exclusive, High-End Living
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for people working in the primary industries who need the skills and knowledge to safely and confidently operate a chainsaw as part of their daily work. It is suitable for both new and experienced operators who want to ensure they meet industry standards for safety and efficiency.
What does this course cover?
The training combines theory with practical, hands-on learning. Participants will develop safe operating techniques, equipment knowledge, and essential maintenance skills.
Learning outline includes:
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Legal requirements for PPE and safe use of chainsaws
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Rules for transporting flammable liquids in vehicles
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Approved fuel containers for on-site carriage
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Chainsaw chain care: tensioning, sharpening, and setting depth gauges
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Stripping, reassembling, and maintaining a chainsaw
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Safe cutting techniques, including working with compression and tension wood
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About us
At Farm Wise Skill Safe Ltd, we are committed to delivering practical, industry-relevant safety training for people working in New Zealand’s primary industries. From farm vehicle training (tractors, quad bikes, light utility vehicles) to chainsaw safety, fencing, and agrichemical (Growsafe) certification, our courses are designed to keep workers safe, confident, and compliant.
Locally owned and operated, Farm Wise Skill Safe is run by Kevin and Kerry Mitchell. Based in Northland, our training services cover the region from Auckland to Cape Reinga, bringing hands-on expertise to farms, orchards, vineyards, forestry, and agricultural businesses.
OUR MISSION
At Farm Wise Skill Safe, we are dedicated to supporting farm safety, upskilling workers, and empowering employment in Northland and beyond. By combining industry expertise with practical, hands-on training, we aim to raise the standard of farm safety and agricultural training across New Zealand.
Meet Kevin
Kevin Mitchell is the lead trainer, bringing a wealth of practical knowledge and teaching experience. With a background spanning mechanical engineering, welding, dairy, beef, and sheep farming, Kevin has spent the last 15 years specialising in primary industries training.
He has worked as a tutor, a quality supervisor at the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, and a contracted trainer for Training Ventures before launching Farm Wise Skill Safe.
Kevin is passionate about empowering people with the skills to work safely and effectively, helping them gain confidence, achieve compliance, and build long-term careers in the primary industries.
Meet KeRRY
Kerry Mitchell was previously the Regional Manager for Taratahi in Tai Tokerau (Northland). With extensive experience managing training enterprises, she now oversees course bookings and business operations for Farm Wise Skill Safe.
Her background ensures that every training programme is well-structured, efficient, and tailored to meet the needs of both employers and employees.
Get in Touch
Book a Course or Request More Info
Please reach out via the form or give us a call to lock in your next training.
Call us
Bookings & more information;
021 305 801
021 306 118