Mount Albert Grammar School farm to expand

Mount Albert Grammar School Farm. Photo: MAGS

ASB and the Mount Albert Grammar School Foundation have announced plans today to redevelop the ASB MAGs Farm at Mount Albert Grammar School in central Auckland.

The redevelopment follows renewal of the school's lease on the farm in 2013, which saw ASB lease the 8.1 ha site to the school, for an effective 99-year term, with a nominal annual rent of $1.

ASB's General Manger of Rural Mark Heer says the ASB MAGS Farm has been providing Auckland secondary schools with a foundation for successful agricultural industry careers over the last 80 years.

"Together, with Mount Albert Grammar School and with advice from KPMG, we are pleased to announce that along with industry partners, we are committing to redeveloping the farm into a world-class education and experience facility. We look forward to working together with the Mt Albert community and wider stakeholders in the months ahead to determine what the facility may look like," Mr Heer says.

"It's our goal that the ASB MAGS Farm evolves into a cutting-edge educational facility that showcases the best in innovative agricultural-tech developments including environmental best practices and practical training, with a focus on balancing agricultural productivity with future sustainability."

KPMG's Global Head of Agribusiness Ian Proudfoot says the expansion is one answer to a looming skills shortage in New Zealand's primary sector, where 50,000 people are required to support the sector's growth.

"With this skills shortfall, the facility will be transformational for the understanding that students in the wider Auckland region have of the importance of the primary industries to the New Zealand economy and the career opportunities it presents to them," Mr Proudfoot says.

"We have a vision of providing real agriculture and horticulture experiences to about 25,000 students from Auckland each year, once the centre is fully operational, to help them understand that the sector needs app developers, consumer experience specialists and scientists, as well as people in traditional farming roles."

Mount Albert Grammar School Headmaster Dale Burden says the school's agriculture and horticulture programmes are expanding to full academic courses from Years 10-13, including the introduction of an agribusiness course.

"We welcome investment in our farm facilities to help provide students with the best possible preparation for study and work in the primary industries, and further afield."

The redevelopment of the ASB MAGS Farm at Mount Albert Grammar School and construction of the experience centre will be further advanced in consultation with other Foundation Partners including KPMG, Fonterra, Landcorp Farming, Te Tumu Paeroa, Plant and Food Research, NZX Agri. Other primary sector participants will be invited to take an active role in supporting this collaborative project, as well as the wider Mount Albert community.