Massey Vet students explore the Marlborough Research Centre

Fourteen final year vet students from Massey University had a chance to explore the operations at the Marlborough Research Centre (MRC).

“Their visit showed them what the area has to offer and what opportunities their degree will give them in the future,” says Marlborough vet and local contact for the group, Peter Anderson.

Massey University final year vet students received a guided tour through the Bragato Research Institute (BRI) Research Winery led by Ngarita Warden, Research Winemaker at BRI.

The students spent the morning visiting a farm before arriving on campus.

Receiving a well-rounded presentation of the work at the New Zealand Wine Centre, the students met representatives from Plant and Food Research, NMIT Te Pūkenga, Wine Marlborough, Bragato Research Institute (BRI), MBIE and DNAiTECH.

After an overview of the grape and wine industry, they toured the BRI Research Winery. Pam Wood, Curriculum Area Manager for Primary, Food and Environment shared the education opportunities at NMIT Te Pūkenga. The students received information about the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ), an industry-wide certification programme led by New Zealand Winegrowers and heard from MBIE about the role and function of the Regional Skills Leadership Group in Marlborough.

The talks created plenty of interest with questions and discussion.

A highlight was DNAiTECH’s presentations about point of care work and the possible benefits for vet services.

“The vet students were in the district mainly to look at Marlborough’s way of farming sheep and beef”, says Peter.

“As a vet I have had MRC’s assistance and funding for grape marc trial work, so I wanted to show them what is happening at the centre.”

“As practicing vets they will be talking to farmers around the country on issues that the MRC is involved with including freshwater protection and methane reduction.”