The Muka Tangata Workforce Development Council will be closing operations from 19 December, and disestablished from 31 December 2025. The Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board will pick up its functions.
In early December 2024, Muka Tangata started a new qualifications development project for the Wool industry.
The scope of this project includes the New Zealand Certificate in Woolshed Skills (Level 3), the New Zealand Certificate in Wool Harvesting (Level 3) and the New Zealand Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing (Level 4).
Industry-endorsed, accessible qualifications are crucial for the sustainability of the wool industry.
We will work together with the Wool industry to review and develop these qualifications to ensure their relevance and alignment with current industry needs. The review will also assess what other products, such as micro-credentials and skill standards, may be needed to support the qualification.
Key areas of focus include supporting potential provision, student access and various educational pathways including further product development with industry guidance.
Update – December 2025:
We worked with industry, providers and employers to review the Level 3 NZ Certificate in Wool Harvesting along with nine shearing standards, the Level 3 NZ Certificate in Wool Shed Skills, and the Level 4 NZ Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing along with six unit standards in wool handling.
After public consultation was completed in October 2025, this project has resulted in a new leading wool handler micro credential and skill standard ‘Manage wool preparation in a wool harvesting operation’ and a new Level 5 NZ Certificate in Wool Technology and Classing along with revised and expired standards.
These have now been submitted to NZQA for approval and are due for publication early 2026.
In August 2023, we initiated a project to work with industry to develop four micro-credentials to support the Wool Harvesting industry: Development of Wool Harvesting micro-credentials 2023 – Muka Tangata.
We have worked with industry leaders and vocational education and training bodies to research, analyse and construct a workable solution for the industry.
Review scope:
The Wool industry has acknowledged the lack of a successful industry training model.
This work is informed by research undertaken by the Food and Fibre Centre of Vocational Excellence and work we are doing to map non-formal training delivery to formal qualification development.
Key milestones:
Muka Tangata Workforce Development Council will be closing operations from 19 December, and disestablished from 31 December 2025.
The Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board will lead this function from January 2026. Please visit the website for more information. Home – Food And Fibre
Our heartfelt thanks to our industries, providers and government agency partners for your engagement and support of our mahi over the past four years.
Muka Tangata finishes operations on 19 December 2025.
We are continuing to process applications for pre-moderation, consent to assess, micro-credential support, and programme endorsement. We’re working to our usual 20-day turnaround, but please be aware we can’t guarantee new applications will be completed before we close.
Any applications still in progress at that time will be handed over to the newly established Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board for completion.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss a proposed submission, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible.
