About Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology
The Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology (FIAT) is a private tertiary provider specialising in horticulture education. It has operated since 2015 and is based in the South Auckland vegetable-growing area, with a regional centre on the outskirts of Tauranga. FIAT operates as part of the Rupex group, a horticulture production business with over 25 years of operation in New Zealand.
The institute offers two NZQA-accredited qualifications in horticulture production: the New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production Level 4 and the New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production Level 5. Both programmes are approved by the Tertiary Education Commission for domestic student funding and are recognised by Immigration New Zealand for international student visas.
Tuition is delivered on working production sites, reflecting the institute's focus on practical, field-based training. FIAT's stated rationale for its establishment includes an identified shortage of skilled workers in the New Zealand horticultural sector and the need to transfer practical expertise from retiring industry professionals to a new generation of workers.
The institute is directed by Raj Saini, PhD (Crop Sciences).
Programmes
Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology offers three NZQA-accredited horticulture programmes, open to both domestic and international students:
- New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Production — Level 4 — one year (40 weeks)
- New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production — Level 5 — one year (40 weeks)
- New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture Production — Level 5 — two years (40 weeks per year)
Admissions
The source material for Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology does not contain concrete information about the admissions or application process, including steps, deadlines, or required documents. Prospective applicants can direct enquiries to the institute at 760 Glenbrook Road, Kingseat, Auckland, by phone on +64 9 236 3738 or +64 27 278 2789, or by email at enquiry@fiat.ac.nz.
Subject area: Agriculture/Horticulture/Science
The Ministry of Education groups Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology under Agriculture/Horticulture/Science — the broad field of education and training it's classified under in the official tertiary directory.
Agriculture/Horticulture/ScienceAddress
Where Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology is based, taken directly from the Ministry of Education's own address record for this provider.
- Street760 Glenbrook Road
- SuburbKingseat
- CityPukekohe
- Postcode2679
- Territorial authorityAuckland - Franklin
- RegionAuckland Region
No coordinates are published for tertiary providers in this dataset, so no map is shown here.
Contact Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology
Find the published contact details for Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology, including its phone number, website and other available contact information.
- Phone+64 9 236 3770
- Emailenquiry@fiat.ac.nz
- Fax09-236 3772
- Websitewww.fiat.ac.nz
Contact details combine official Ministry of Education records with information published on Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology's own website, reviewed by the KuraData team on 10 September 2026.
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Fees and Other Costs
In addition to standard course fees, Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology (FIAT) charges additional fees in certain circumstances. NZQA charges are passed on to students separately and are not included in course-related cost estimates.
- Resits: $100.00
- Re-enrolment in a module: $125 per credit
- NZQA – registering completed credits and qualifications: $1.58 per credit awarded (approximately $379.20)
- NZQA – re-issuing a certificate on graduation: $15.30
Refunds and Withdrawals
Students who wish to withdraw must notify the Administrator in writing. Refunds are processed within two weeks of written confirmation of eligibility.
The refund policy varies depending on when a student withdraws:
- Before the course commences: full refund of all fees paid, less an admin/legal deduction of approximately NZ$500.
- Domestic students withdrawing within the first eight days: full refund less the lesser of 10% of fees paid or $500.
- International students withdrawing within the first ten days: refund of all course fees less up to 25% of total fees paid.
- After the first ten days: no refund, except at the discretion of the Principal/CEO in exceptional circumstances.
If FIAT cancels or closes a course, students are offered alternative training dates or a pro rata refund within five working days. In the case of a natural disaster closure, no refund is made if the course resumes before the 11th working day; students who opt out within 20 days receive a pro rata refund from the date they ceased attending.
Facilities
The Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology's Auckland property includes the following production and teaching facilities:
- GH I — a 4,000 m² greenhouse used for growing vegetable seedlings for outdoor crops
- GH II — a 2,000 m² greenhouse, fully heated by hot air circulation, used for native seedling production
- GH III — a 2,600 m² greenhouse, fully heated by hot water circulation, used for growing summer and hothouse crop seedlings
- Outdoor growing area — more than 5,000 m² of open space
- Commercial water bore — with drawing rights of 300 cubic metres per day
- Water reservoir — fully lined, with a capacity of 1,000 cubic metres
Curated by the KuraData team from Franklin Institute of Agri-Technology's own website, reviewed 10 September 2026.
Data source
- SourceTertiary Providers Directory — Ministry of Education
- Ministry data last checked6 September 2026
- AI-assisted content based onFranklin Institute of Agri-Technology's official website — reviewed by KuraData 10 September 2026