About the EPIC challenge
The EPIC challenge is a competition managed by the Young Enterprise Trust and sponsored by MPI and DairyNZ. The aim of the challenge is to raise awareness of the exciting range of careers in our primary industries, such as:
- farmers and farm managers
- engineers and scientists
- environmental planners and resource managers
- product developers
- trade officials and marketing consultants.
Find more job ideas on the:
Who can enter
The competition is open to Year 10 students in New Zealand. They have to identify different jobs in the primary industries and develop a marketing strategy to promote them to their classmates.
Find out more about EPIC – Young Enterprise Trust website
2015 EPIC challenge
The winner was announcedentries for the 2015 EPIC challenge close on 10 December23 November 2015. Congratulations to students from Palmerston North Girls' High School. The winning entry included posters withMore information on becoming a beef manager, dairy farmerabout the competition, and beekeeper,how you and a promotional video.your school can get involved, is on the Young Enterprise Trust's website.
Read Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy's media release – Beehive website
2014 EPIC challenge winners
In 2014, there were 121 entries for the EPIC challenge from 117 schools throughout New Zealand. The winning entry was by 3 students from Huanui College in Whangārei. Their video, Bee in the Scene, highlights the importance of the bee industry to New Zealand and the range of careers available – from beekeeping through to microbiology and horticulture.
Watch the winning entry on Young Enterprise NZ's YouTube channel
The winning students were presented with a trophy at parliament by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
Huanui College also came first in the dairy category of the competition, with their winning entry created to show students the many and varied careers in New Zealand's dairy industry.
Why the primary industries need more people
The EPIC challenge was launched in May 2014 as part of a range of initiatives to attract talented young people to work in the primary industries. MPI’s report on the future workforce needs of the primary sector found an extra 50,000 workers will be required by 2025. Over half of these workers will need a Level 4 or above qualification on the New Zealand curriculum framework.
Qualifications are needed across a range of disciplines to ensure we have more diverse and highly skilled technologically savvy people in the primary industries.
The higher level of skill and increased diversity will allow New Zealand to increase its sustainable production, better protect and manage our resources, and deliver a great range of high value products to national and international markets.
Ensuring that young people develop an understanding of the importance and changing nature of the primary industries in New Zealand, and view careers in the primary industries as an exciting option for them, is going to be an important part of meeting these future skill needs.
Find out more
- Overview report: People Powered
- Full report: Future Capability Needs for Primary Industries in New Zealand
Other ways we're helping recruitment efforts
The Primary Industry Capability Alliance (PICA)
PICA was set up to bring together government, industry and education providers to a look at how we can upskill and attract more people to the primary industries. PICA is involved in a number of initiatives to promote careers in the primary industries.
MPI Graduate Programme
MPI runs an annual learning and development programme for eligible university graduates. The 18-month work rotation exposes participants to the diverse work that MPI does in the primary industry sector.
Who to contact
If you have questions about sponsorships or careers, email info@mpi.govt.nz .