Shaping the future of vocational education and training

Industry voice needed in shaping the future of vocational education and training

On August 1, the Government announced its proposed reforms to the vocational education and training system in Aotearoa New Zealand. A six-week consultation period has followed, giving you the opportunity to help shape the final structure.  

Industry voice is vital in building a system that develops a skilled and future-proofed workforce and meets the needs of both industry and learners. We strongly encourage you to take the opportunity to advocate for the needs of your industry during this process. 

What is being proposed 

The consultation document sets out three key proposals: 

• Proposal 1: A return to a regional institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITP) network that would see a combination of stand-alone ITPs and others joined in a federation model. 

• Proposal 2: Two options for an industry-led system for standards-setting and industry training:
  Option A – replace Workforce Development Councils with a small number (possibly up to 8) of Industry Training Boards, similar to the Industry Training Organisation system.
  Option B – replace Workforce Development Councils with a small number (possibly up to 8) of scaled down, industry-specific standards-setting bodies. 

• Proposal 3: Proposed changes to vocational education and training funding from 2026 to better support the reformed system. 

You can view the full consultation document and the Regulatory Impact Statement on the Ministry of Education website.

Consultation on proposals

The Government has sought feedback on the proposed changes from industry, and other organisations involved with, and invested in, the vocational education and training system. This consultation closed on 12 September 2024.

Working closely with food and fibre sector organisations, Muka Tangata prepared the submission below on the government’s proposals. We seek to ensure that the food and fibre sector can access the skilled workers it needs to work productively and profitably. 

Read the key points of our submission, and our full submission document here ›