Land Based Training

What Land Based Training does

Land Based Training (LBT) is a New Zealand-based Private Training Establishment that delivers vocational education and training across the primary industries sector. Founded in 1996 by Rob Gollan and Jeremy Higgie, the company operates as a trading name of New Zealand Management Academies Limited (NZMA), itself a subsidiary of UP Education Limited. LBT holds NZQA Category 1 provider status — the highest quality rating for NZ training establishments — and issues NZQA-accredited qualifications from Level 2 through Level 5.

The core product portfolio spans Agriculture (including Farming Systems Dairy/Sheep at Level 3, Agriculture at Level 4 with dairy and livestock strands, and Livestock Production Management at Level 5), Apiculture (Level 3), Horticulture (Levels 2–3), Construction and Infrastructure (Level 2), Pest Operations (Level 3), Workplace Literacy and Numeracy, and specialised programmes including the residential Otiwhiti Station Agricultural School and micro-credentials. Delivery is on-campus, on-farm, and increasingly online, supported by Canvas LMS as the learning management system. Programmes are delivered through 40+ training sites nationwide, ranging from small regional towns to larger cities, including a residential 2000-hectare station in Hunterville.

The business model is a hybrid of fee-for-service tuition and government funding. Domestic students pay tuition fees (e.g., $2,165 for Level 3 Farming Systems Sheep, $3,366 for Level 3 Horticulture, $481–$492 for Level 4 Agriculture strands), while many Level 2 programmes are free for eligible learners aged 16–24 under Youth Guarantee and Fees Free schemes, and Level 3–5 programmes may qualify for Final Year Fees Free via Inland Revenue. Government revenue (managed services stream) is therefore a material indirect income source alongside direct student fees. Distribution relies on direct website enrolment, on-campus and on-farm sites, school Gateway programmes, and a dense network of iwi, marae, A&P Society, MSD, and Beef + Lamb NZ partnerships. Customer segments include school leavers aged 16–24, working farmers seeking credentials, Māori and Pasifika learners (with culturally appropriate delivery), secondary school Gateway students, learners with disabilities, and a small international cohort via the TERRAMI Korea programme.

Name

Land Based Training

Legal name

New Zealand Management Academies Limited

Website

https://landbasedtraining.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Land Based Training is a New Zealand Private Training Establishment delivering NZQA-accredited vocational programmes (Levels 2–5) in agriculture, horticulture, apiculture, construction, and pest operations across 40+ sites nationwide, serving school leavers, working farmers, and Māori/Pasifika learners through on-campus, on-farm, and online delivery under parent UP Education Limited.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance (EDAOAOAN), Landscape, Turf & Groundskeeping Trades (EDAOAOAC)

Keywords

• Vocational agriculture training
• Primary industry education
• Horticulture apprenticeship programs
• Apiculture training courses
• Pest operations certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Wanganui

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Domestic Student Tuition Fees: Fee-for-service vocational education programmes at Levels 2-5 across agriculture, horticulture, apiculture, construction, and pest operations. Students pay tuition fees which may be subsidized through government schemes.
2. Government Funding (Fees Free, Youth Guarantee, Student Loans): Programmes receive government funding through schemes including Final Year Fees Free, Youth Guarantee (for 16-24 year olds), and Student Loans/Allowances via StudyLink. This represents indirect government revenue supporting operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Land Based Training is a New Zealand Private Training Establishment that delivers vocational education programmes at NZQA Levels 2 through 5 across agriculture (dairy, sheep, livestock), horticulture, apiculture, construction and infrastructure, pest operations, and workplace literacy. Programmes combine on-campus, on-farm, residential, and online delivery across 40+ training sites, leading to NZQA-accredited qualifications and practical employment outcomes in primary industries.

Product overview

Land Based Training is a New Zealand-based registered Private Training Establishment (trading as NZMA - New Zealand Management Academies Ltd, part of UP Education Limited) offering vocational education programmes across the primary industries sector. The organisation delivers programmes through a platform-plus-modules architecture, with core offerings spanning Agriculture (including farming systems, livestock production, and business essentials), Apiculture, Horticulture, Construction and Infrastructure, Pest Operations, and Workplace Literacy. Programmes range from Level 2 entry-level certificates through to Level 5 diplomas, with delivery models including on-campus, on-farm, and online formats. Specialised offerings include the Otiwhiti Station Agricultural School and various micro-credentials and short courses. The training is delivered through Canvas LMS as the online learning platform, with practical hands-on components across more than 40 sites throughout New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Otiwhiti StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand Based Training Agricultural School located in Hunterville, Rangitikei. The 2000 hectare sheep and cattle breeding property has operated since 2007, providing residential training where trainees live on site. Farm trainees are fed, accommodated, taught, and employed on site with training exceeding minimum requirements for Certificate in Agriculture.
• Whangarei A&P Society Farm Intern ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit charitable organisation linking rural and urban communities. Delivers Agriculture Level 4 through farm intern programme where students work on farms whilst studying. Has awarded scholarships for 17 years and works with Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
• Common Unity (Kapiti)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based urban development project providing teaching and support for gardens and orchards at Epuni School. LBT sustainability students visit for practical workshops as part of their course.
• New Plymouth FoodbankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBT horticulture students donate weekly produce grown at Newstart Gardens to the foodbank. Students learn practical skills while contributing to community welfare.
• Newstart GardenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity garden owned by Seventh Day Adventist Church in New Plymouth. Primary location for LBT horticulture, sustainability and apiculture courses. All food grown is donated to local foodbank.
• Parawai Marae, NgongotahacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarae-based delivery of NZ Certificate in Pest Operations (Level 3) in Bay of Plenty. Theory completed at marae with mātauranga, taonga tuku iho and mātauranga o te taiao incorporated into learning.
• Taumarunui Whakaarotahi TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity trust providing Maara Kai site for LBT horticulture and sustainability training in Taumarunui. Trainees learn skills at the community garden including growing kai, native nursery production, and permaculture.
• TERRAMI (Korea Rural & Territorial Development Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOverseas Agriculture Training Project hosting Korean agricultural high school teachers for practical horticulture and farming training in New Zealand.
• Piwakawaka FarmminorStrategic or Co-development Partner72 hectare regenerative farm up Whanganui River hosting Korean teacher visitors. Runs native plant nursery, orchard, and Maara Kai under Koha Kai Initiative donating produce to community.
• Gavin Scott NurseryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNative tree nursery near Fielding owned by self-taught botanist Gavin Scott. Hosts propagation workshops for LBT horticulture courses.
• Beef + Lamb New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough People and Training workstream, supports Farm Intern programmes and similar initiatives including the Whangarei A&P Farm Intern programme.
• Ministry of Social Development (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with LBT for Growing Role Models Expo events and funds Enhanced Taskforce Green programme providing farm work experience to job seekers.
• Te Awa Nui A Rua TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust bringing training opportunities to Taumarunui community, working with LBT to deliver horticulture and sustainability courses.
• Tuatahi (Station Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of stations (Hurakia, Moerangi, Mananui, Taurewa) delivering NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Operations Skills (Level 3) training through workshops and site visits.
• New Plymouth Injury SafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts annual Taranaki Secondary Schools Agricultural Safety Challenge since 1998 with modules delivered by various organisations including LBT.
• Rural Support Trust TararuaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports Enhanced Taskforce Green programme providing cyclone-related fencing repairs on Tararua farms.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• SuniTAFE: Australian TAFE provider in Mildura/Sunraysia delivering agriculture, horticulture and conservation programmes. Comparable curriculum and learner profile, but operates across the Tasman and does not compete in NZ domestic market.

Direct peers

• Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) | Te Pūkenga: NZ institute of technology offering agriculture, horticulture and apiculture programmes across certificate and diploma levels. Comparable in curriculum stack and NZQA-aligned qualifications, with similar on-campus and on-farm delivery models.
• Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) | Te Pūkenga: Hamilton-based NZ institute delivering agriculture, horticulture and apiculture programmes with on-campus and on-farm delivery. Direct competitor for LBT's Waikato-region learners and Hamilton training site.
• Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) | Te Pūkenga: Southland-based NZ institute offering agriculture and horticulture vocational programmes. Competes for similar school-leaver and incumbent farmer segments, with comparable NZQA Level 2-5 offerings.
• Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre: Historic NZ provider of residential farm-based agricultural training (Wairarapa). Operates a similar on-farm, residential model and overlapping curriculum, making it one of the closest comparables despite past ownership changes.
• Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology | Te Pūkenga: Bay of Plenty-based NZ polytechnic offering horticulture, apiculture and agriculture programmes. Overlaps directly with LBT's horticulture and apiculture course portfolio across the central and upper North Island.
• Lincoln University / Telford Campus: Lincoln University's Telford campus provides residential, farm-based agricultural training in the South Island. Competes with LBT's Otiwhiti Station residential model and Level 3-5 agriculture qualifications.
• PrimaryITO (Primary Skills NZ): NZ industry training organisation for primary industries, delivering on-job training and apprenticeships across agriculture, horticulture and apiculture. Closest direct competitor for government-funded vocational pathways serving NZ farmers and growers.

Broad incumbents

• TAFE NSW: Australia's largest vocational training provider, with extensive agriculture, horticulture and apiculture programmes across NSW. Comparable in offering breadth and government-funded model, though at materially larger scale and operating across the Tasman.

Others

• New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA): Sibling entity under the same parent (UP Education Limited / NZMA Limited) and registered legal entity for LBT qualifications. Closely related operationally, sharing back-office systems while operating distinct vocational brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/landbasedtrainingltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/landbasedtraining
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/land-based-training-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Land Based Training