The Government has begun consultation on a proposal to redesign vocational education and training (VET) in New Zealand, and we are encouraging industry operators to share your views on the proposals.
Decisions made following this consultation will have a significant impact. They will affect access to training, the growth of a skilled workforce, and the Government’s investment in future skills and workforce training.
The Government is making three proposals:
1. Replacing Te Pūkenga with an “Institute of Technology and Polytechnic (ITP)” network, made up of: Stand-alone ITPs – for those ITPs that are financially viable on their own; and An “ITP Federation” – consisting of the ITPs who are not financially viable on their own, anchored by the Open Polytechnic.
2. Replacing Workforce Development Councils with:
Option A: ITO-like entities – referred to as Industry Training Boards (working name) – responsible for industry standard-setting and arranging industry training; or
Option B: More focused, industry-specific standards-setting bodies – under this option, arranging industry training is done by providers.
3. Making changes to vocational education funding from 2026 to support the new system.
The full consultation proposal can be found on the Ministry of Education website.
How to get involved:
If you want to hear more about the proposal from the Tertiary Education Commission and Ministry of Education join a hui around the motu at a region near you. Click here to find an updating list of dates, times, and locations.
Ringa Hora are hosting webinars on the following dates:
14 August, 1-2pm Register here
21 August, 4.30-5.30pm Note: TEC and MOE will join this session Register here
27 August, 6.30-7.30pm Register here
4 September, 9.30-10.30am Register here
Details on how to make a submission can be found at the Ministry of Education website. You can keep up to date with developments during the consultation period at the Ringa Hora web page here.