News

Award-winning KiwiPrune makes short work of vine clips 18 June 2025 A team of school students come up with a way to solve a headache for kiwifruit harvesters. Read more
Top innovators announced 13 June 2025 The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award. Read more
Crocodile Pit Winners 2025 10 April 2025 This year’s Agribusiness Crocodile Pit showcased an impressive standard of innovation. Read more
Cultivating knowledge: Horticulture and Agribusiness at St Paul’s 4 March 2025 St Paul’s students gain hands-on experience in the school orchard. Read more
Maddy Tims: Driving Education and Innovation in the Thoroughbred Industry 19 July 2024 Maddy Tims, Education & Project Manager at Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, is working in innovative programmes and about her journey from the Agribusiness classroom to thoroughbreds. Read more
Quick Flow snaps up winning spot at 2024 Crocodile Pit 1 May 2024 The annual Crocodile Pit took place at St Paul’s Collegiate School on Tuesday 9 April 2024 which saw schools from all over the Waikato compete in a dragon-like den where they show off their invention to a panel of judges. Read more
Year 13 Student Michael Robinson recognised for his Agribusiness initiative 13 October 2023 There’s a bright future in the field of agriculture for Michael Robinson (Sargood 2019 – 2023). Read more
Fieldays 2023: Innovation Awards winners committed to sustainability and advancing the sector 19 June 2023 Waikato Herald features St Paul's Collegiate School winners of the Young Innovator of the Year Award Read more
Sustainability at core of business for Kaipaki Dairies 16 June 2023 Collegians John Heskett (Hall 2005-2009) and Riley Chick (Sargood 2010-2014) are proud to own game-changing agribusiness, Kaipaki Dairies. Read more
Wizards and bungees – 2023 Crocodile Pit 3 May 2023 Each year, Agribusiness students at St Paul’s Collegiate School approach the Crocodile Pit to present an innovative Agribusiness idea. Read more
Agribusiness in Schools 10-year anniversary 13 April 2023 Agribusiness in Schools has marked its 10-year anniversary with the aim of getting more students and schools involved in the programme. Read more
Growing new farming talent in NZ schools 26 July 2022 Retaining New Zealand’s place as a top agricultural global producer requires attracting young talent to the primary sector. Read more
Steri-Needle takes the St Paul’s Crocodile Pit win 13 May 2022 Probiotic honey, phone apps, and innovative agricultural tools were just some of the products pitched at the Year 13 Agribusiness Crocodile Pit. Read more
St Paul’s students set to go head-to-head 26 April 2022 Two teams from St Paul’s Collegiate School heading to FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year grand final in Whangārei. Read more
Pioneer Student of Agribusiness 8 February 2022 After growing up on a dairy farm and kiwifruit orchard in the Bay of Plenty, Kate Wilkins (Harington 2012-2014) thought she would never pursue a career in horticulture. Read more
Passion for growing agribusiness education 19 November 2021 The introduction of agribusiness to New Zealand’s secondary school curriculum was a team effort, but continues to be driven by the enthusiasm of Waikato teacher Kerry Allen. Read more
Teaching the teachers about Agribusiness 4 November 2021 In her role as National Agribusiness Subject Advisor, Melanie Simmons thrives on instilling a passion for the primary industry in both teachers and students throughout New Zealand. Read more
Hugh Jackson in the workforce 4 November 2021 Hugh Jackson (Sargood 2012-2016) first studied Agribusiness in high school in 2015 as a year 12 student when the subject was still in its infancy. Read more
Ag programme goes gangbusters 19 October 2021 WITH ALL sectors of agriculture and horticulture screaming out for staff, tertiary establishments are reporting higher levels of interest, suggesting this career pathway is making strides in our secondary schools. Read more
Tape Cage snaps up first place at St Paul’s Crocodile Pit 28 April 2021 Dairy shed cleaning products made using a by-product of kiwifruit, silage and hay netting made from wool and liquid based fertiliser made from seaweed were just some of this year’s Year 13 Agribusiness class innovations presented at St Paul’s 2021 Crocodile Pit. Read more
St Paul’s wins at biosecurity awards 17 November 2020 St Paul’s agribusiness programme has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to protecting New Zealand’s environment from pests and diseases. Read more
St Paul’s announced as 2020 Biosecurity Awards finalist 13 October 2020 St Paul’s agribusiness programme has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to protecting New Zealand’s environment from pests and diseases. Read more
Cutting-edge tech to aid stock management 13 August 2020 An app developed by four St Paul’s Collegiate School’s agri-business girls has also earned them an inaugural innovation award. This year’s secondary school winners of the B.linc Innovation Awards spoke to Richard Rennie about the Ewe-nique app. Read more
Flash Flow wins innovation award 28 July 2020 A turbine device using the flow of water to glow a light to help farmers detect whether they have a water leak, is the latest invention created by students of St Paul’s Collegiate School to win them Fieldays 2020 Young Inventor of the Year. Read more
Innovation keeps quad bike riders safe 18 June 2020 From circular anti-mastitis teat sprayers, chemical monitoring apps, biodegradable dyes to detect water leaks and cattle neck attachments to assist drenching to nano gardens for kitchen benches, it was a showcase of innovation at this year’s Crocodile Pit. Read more
Motivated by Montana exchange 19 August 2019 An exchange opportunity in Montana, USA, has left Mikayla McClennan with many memorable experiences – one being a close-up encounter with a bison! Read more
Young environmentalist wins international travel award 8 August 2019 Marnie Best won a trip to attend the Future Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology programme in Australia. Read more
Students float winning idea at Fieldays 14 June 2019 A solution for combatting dirty water in animal troughs has won a group of St Paul’s students the title of ‘Young Innovator of the Year’ at Fieldays. Read more
Improving farm efficiency with new innovations 30 April 2019 Agribusiness students wowed judges with their creativity, problem solving and presentation skills when they succinctly pitched their innovation in this year’s Crocodile Pit. Read more
USA trip for TeenAg student 28 March 2019 Mikayla McClennan (Year 13) has been chosen to attend the 4-H Congress in Bozeman, Montana in July. She is one of six TeenAg members from across NZ selected to take part. Read more