This change occurs alongside the establishment of 8 new industry skills boards, also to be established on 1 January 2026 and announced by Minister Simmonds on 2 July 2025.

The changes are part of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill, currently being considered by the Education and Workforce Select Committee and expected to pass into legislation in October 2025. The proposed legislation also provides for mergers or closures if any polytechnic is unable to achieve long-term viability.

The 10 polytechnics returning to regional governance are:

• Ara Institute of Canterbury (Ara)
• Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT)
• Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
• Southern Institute of Technology (SIT)
• Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
• Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec)
• Unitec Institute of Technology and Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) – to merge and stand-alone
• Otago Polytechnic – to stand alone within the federation
• Universal College of Learning (UCOL) – to stand-alone within the federation
• The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand – to serve as the anchor polytechnic of the new federation.

Four other polytechnics will remain within Te Pūkenga — NorthTec, Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT), Whitireia Community Polytechnic/Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec), and Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP), while they work toward financial and operational viability. Decisions on their future are expected in the first half of 2026.

Te Pūkenga will continue to operate as a transitional entity for up to 1 year, managing unallocated programmes and supporting a smooth transition.

With more than 250,000 students participating in vocational education each year, the changes are designed to ensure industry has a stronger role in training and local polytechnics, under local leadership, are better positioned to meet the needs of their learners and employers.