The Branching Out project is subsidising up to 30 locals to attend a hempcrete construction course in Taranaki
Building on promising hemp growing trials as part of the Branching Out project, and with a pilot-scale hemp processing facility arriving in the region this year, Venture Taranaki is partnering with the Australian Hemp Masonry Company and HempCentral Ltd (Wānaka), to bring a renowned Australian hempcrete construction course to Taranaki.
Local licensed builders, architects, draughtspeople, engineers, or related professionals who have a genuine interest in hempcrete construction (using hemp fibre, grown and processed in Taranaki), are encouraged to register their interest in attending this course.
The growing and processing of hemp fibre for construction applications has been identified as having significant potential for Taranaki.
Venture Taranaki has a vision of Taranaki becoming the largest North Island hub for the production and innovation of industrial hemp (iHemp) fibre and for the supply of hurd fibre for hempcrete and other applications. With four houses in Taranaki having been constructed from hempcrete (and more in development), the region is already a leader in the application of hempcrete within New Zealand.
Given the many benefits of hempcrete, both in terms of its building performance and sustainability advantages over traditional construction materials, Taranaki has a real opportunity to establish a large-scale hemp fibre industry capable of generating jobs, innovative products, and both up- and down-stream value for the local economy.
Course details
Delivered by the Australian Hemp Masonry Company, the training package includes two online workshops and one day of practical training. Please note that both must be completed.
2 x 3-hour zoom workshops covering theory (online)
We’re offering the opportunity of two groups for the Hemp Construction Online Theory Workshops with a maximum of 15 people per class. There are two stream options:
- Theory Group 1: Mon 06 & Mon 12 October (6.30pm - 9.30pm)
- Theory Group 2: Mon 20 & Mon 27 October (6.30pm - 9.30pm)
1 x day practical training in Ngāmotu/New Plymouth
This full day training will give you experience in mixing and installing hempcrete. Practical course dates include:
- Option 1: Fri 31 Oct (8.00am - 4.00pm)
- Option 2: Sat 01 Nov (8.00am - 4.00pm)
Cost and sponsorship details
Theory component:
All trainees will need to pay $330 AUD inc GST (approximately $360 NZD) directly to Australian Hemp Masonry Company via their website, once enrolment for the practical training component has been confirmed via Venture Taranaki.
Practical component:
Taranaki-based trainees may be eligible to attend this part of the course for FREE. The Branching Out Project is able to offer this subsidy towards accelerating the development of a hemp fibre value chain for the region.
Non-Taranaki residents will pay $360 NZD + GST.
While some spaces on the practical training course may be available for non-Taranaki residents, our aim is to provide as many places as possible for Taranaki-based builders and construction professionals who have intention to build hempcrete buildings/projects here in the short-medium term.
In order to keep costs down, attendees will need to bring their own lunch to the practical training day, although hot drinks and morning and afternoon tea will be provided.
Register your interest
Course trainers
The theory component of the AHMC Hemp Building training package is delivered by Klara Marosszeky, founder of the Australian Hemp Masonry Company. Klara is a certified workplace trainer and assessor with over 20 years of experience in hemp building who brings invaluable knowledge and insights to her online course.
Travelling from Tasmania to deliver the practical training, Ben Convery is a qualified workplace trainer and assessor with experience overseeing training, delivering training, and also managing a number of successful projects with indigenous communities.
AHMC has a strong technical advisory board and works with architects and building designers, supplying materials and delivering training to builders in all states of Australia. They have supplied to over 250 residential hempcrete projects across Australia, as well as to three residential projects in New Zealand. Several of the Australian projects have won energy efficiency and sustainable design awards. AHMC have also supplied materials for several, and varied, commercial projects in Australia as well as in Singapore, including most recently for the construction of three hemp buildings within Mildura Council's Powerhouse Project Development in Victoria and for the refurbishment of Hobart's iconic Forestry Building at University of Tasmania.
What you will learn
The theory aspect of the course will cover:
- The history of Hemp construction
- Hemp construction and the Building Code
- Applications in new residential and commercial building, as well as in retrofitting
- The material’s performance characteristics
- Where you can and can’t use hempcrete
- Design detailing
- Tools, options for formwork and formwork set up
- Workplace health and safety
- Making mixes and installation guidelines
- Techniques for managing curing
- Optional external and internal finishes
- Repairs and making changes
The practical aspect of the course will include:
- Experience in mixing and installing hempcrete
- Hands-on experience learning to mix the hurd and binder well
- Learning techniques for using hempcrete to ensure that the end result looks good, as well as providing optimal thermal and acoustic performance
Who should apply?
Venture Taranaki is looking for certified builders, architects, draughtspeople, or engineers who are interested in hempcrete as a building material, and in applying learnings to the Taranaki construction industry. Other construction professionals (e.g. developers, planners, designers, sustainability experts, certifiers, trainers) or those looking to self-build or to commission a hempcrete build are also welcome to apply.
Selection process
If more than 30 people apply for the course, the Branching Out team will assess applicants based on the information provided within their Expression of Interest submissions.
About our hemp growing trials and our plans for the future
The Branching Out project has completed two seasons of hemp fibre growing trials with consistently strong crop establishment, fibre yields, and quality. The project aims to have at least 70 hectares of hemp fibre growing in the region by 2028 and has secured a pilot-scale hemp fibre processing facility capable of handling 640 tonnes of hemp (equivalent to 70 ha) annually.
Hempcrete and other fibre-based materials offer strong market potential, along with downstream job creation, value-chain innovation, and measurable emissions reduction in the construction sector. With its strategic location, advanced engineering base, and growing expertise in sustainable materials, Taranaki is well positioned to lead as a national hub for low-carbon construction.
Additionally, hempcrete interest in New Zealand is growing, with Branching Out receiving regular enquiries by homeowners, builders, construction material designers, architects, and developers. Engagement with sustainable building networks, local Māori stakeholders, and manufacturers, alongside links to Australia’s more advanced hemp construction sector, further confirms market demand.
While the course being offered is focused on hempcrete in-situ construction, further opportunities are being explored by the Branching Out project for ‘like-for-like’ sustainable alternatives to approved fibreboard products - offering a path to meet sustainability goals in construction while laying the groundwork for a large-scale hemp industry.
Learn more about our hemp fibre project, including our blueprint outlining the opportunity for hemp in Taranaki.
Watch: NZ hemp construction in action
This three-minute video provides a great example of a hempcrete house build, featuring Lochlan Urquhart, from Wānaka-based Erkhart Construction.
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