Hanzon: Turning on-farm learning into recognised skills

Hanzon supports learning on the farm, an approach that appeals to students who have a more practical mindset and learn better on the job where real skills are developed, rather than in the classroom. Supplied.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut New Zealand’s borders, the ripple effects across the agricultural sector were immediate.

 Contractors suddenly faced a shortage of skilled seasonal workers, and the government’s suggestion that “anyone can drive a tractor” struck a nerve.

“When COVID hit, borders closed, and we couldn’t get staff in. Contractors were left scrambling,” says Golden Bay based recruitment consultant and farmer Richard Houston.

“We went to the government asking for exemptions, but they dismissed it, saying tractor driving was easy - bus drivers, baristas, or taxi drivers could do it. We pushed back, explaining that it takes time and skill to operate expensive machinery safely. Their response was, “Where’s your proof?”

For Houston, that moment highlighted a glaring gap: the industry lacked a way to prove the skill and training required to operate expensive farm machinery and carry out essential seasonal tasks.

From that frustration, the Hanzon app was born.

“We needed a way to demonstrate the complexity of the work, and the training involved. So, we created a program to capture exactly what junior staff were doing: logging their hours, tasks, and responsibilities. It started as evidence for government, but I quickly realised how valuable it would be for the industry itself.”

The web-based app provides an easy way for students to log their work and record “micro-credentials” – the skills developed by practical, hands-on learning so employers can see a potential employees experience and skill set.

The idea evolved into a digital logbook that records not only hours behind the wheel, but also the specific tasks, equipment, and responsibilities a worker undertakes.

“It gives the student a tangible record they can take to job interviews or use to step into new opportunities.

“We trialled it with Primary ITO courses, where our logbook replaced the traditional paper version. What we saw confirmed it: formal training often doesn’t stick, but real learning happens on the job. Our system captures that. Employers love it too, because they can see at a glance how much practical work a trainee has really done.”

Traditionally, learners working towards micro-credentials like a tractor licence recorded their experience in paper logbooks.

Hours, weather conditions, and terrain were noted down, then signed off by tutors or employers.

The Hanzon app takes this process digital.

 Learners can log their daily work in as they go, and tick off specific tasks such as setting up a mower or carting silage. Employers and tutors can view the data, validate it, and provide feedback.

The app supports learning on the farm, an approach that appeals to students who have a more practical mindset and learn better on the job where real skills are developed, rather than in the classroom.

“The reality is, a two-day course won’t turn someone into a great tractor driver,” he says. “They learn by doing, by having good employers who mentor them and give them time to develop. What we’ve built is a tool that captures that learning and gives young people a way to prove what they’ve done.”

The app is not limited to machinery. Its database now covers a wide range of agricultural activities and is already being broadened into other farm tasks.

The app isn’t just for paid work either.

It can be used by students working on the farm on the weekends or helping out the neighbours.

“It’s a way for a 16-year-old working on grandad’s farm in the school holidays to capture that experience. It might only be a few weeks here and there, but when they’re ready to apply for a job, they’ve got evidence of what they’ve done. That’s powerful,” Houston says.

Employers, too, benefit from a clearer picture of a candidate’s abilities.

“As a farmer, you want to know: can this person hook a mower onto a tractor? Can they milk cows unsupervised? This system shows you in black and white,” Houston explains.

All information in the app can be exported and printed or submitted as part of formal assessments.

Students register on the website www.hanzon.co.nz no need to download any app – and currently the platform is free. Houston is hoping to keep it that way and is hoping to attract funding to achieve this.

 “My goal is to keep it free, or very low cost, so that any young person can use it,” he says. “I’d love to see a couple of thousand rural kids on the program, all capturing their experience and building their careers. That’s the vision.”

With ongoing interest from training providers and potential expansion into other sectors, Hanzon is well-placed to play a central role in shaping how agricultural skills are taught, validated, and valued.

As Houston puts it:

 “Farmers want to know that a person can do the job safely and well. Certificates show the learning, but Hanzon captures the practical experience behind it.”