Studying at Wintec | Te Pūkenga Garden’s campus inspires ākonga

Alan Brenner has always been interested in nature and landscaping, so when he saw Wintec’s Horticulture programme was held at the Hamilton Gardens he immediately signed up.

Brenner has been a frequent visitor to the gardens, coming at least once a month to enjoy the nature and when he realised the course was held amongst the natural surroundings that he enjoyed so much he said he felt like “the stars had aligned”.

“I think studying here is so inspirational. Being surrounded by nature and being out of the city centre is simply inspiring.”

Brenner has completed his Applied Horticultural Services Level 3 certificate in Amenity and is furthering his studies at Wintec with our Landscape Design Level 4 certificate.

“The amenity program gave me such good roots and foundation for everything that I'm learning. I enjoyed all the things that I didn't think I would enjoy, which was really eye opening. Obviously, I love studying at the gardens, but learning the botanical names of flowers I just found to be so fascinating and that’s something I didn’t expect.”

He has recently gained employment in landscape management doing amenity and landscape maintenance, a job he said he wouldn’t have landed without his studies.

“Because I was taking this program, my now employer thought that was really helpful and that I would know what I'm doing and know how to actually meet the standards of the landscaping job.”

Alan’s boss also took the course Brenner is completing now, meaning she knows what he is going through and has insights for him along the way. 

Now in his late 30s, Brenner said it’s never too late to follow what inspires you and chase your goals.

“As a kid I would garden with my mum helping her design her gardens and I loved it. This has brought that passion back. I'm more inspired with this than ever.

“I think it is so important that we keep this industry going. I think the world's moving in a weird way towards technology and I think we're really losing sight of what matters, the soil under our feet, the plants that grow our food. These are things that I think people are taking for granted. I think if we learn more about them as a society and as students, I think we can sort of spread that knowledge.”