21 Aug 2013

NZ's Lincoln University eyes stronger PNG links

3:17 pm on 21 August 2013

Another New Zealand university wants to attract more students from the Pacific Islands.

After Waikato University this month sent a delegation to Samoa and Victoria extended its involvement with Papua New Guinea, Lincoln University this week committed to a greater link with PNG's Western Province.

The university has extended its LincWantok programme which aims to marry its specialist capabilities with the needs and aspirations of Pacific communities.

Earlier this month it signed a memorandum of understanding with a PNG cabinet minister, Delilah Gore, who says the university can help Papuan New Guineans develop their land.

Lincoln's vice chancellor, Dr Andrew West, says it is confident New Zealand farming systems are transportable, even into tropical environments.

"So what we are finding is that we have systems in New Zealand that can be, in terms of educating people about the basics of agriculture and how the components fit together, how you manage pests, weevil disease, and how you manage soils, that we are able to do that in a way that is transportable into the tropics."

Dr Andrew West of Lincoln University