This has re-established regionally led polytechnics and replaced Workforce Development Councils with Industry Skills Boards.

Background#

Vocational education is very important to New Zealand’s economy, as it gives learners the skills they need for work.

Each year, around 250,000 people study in the vocational education and training (VET) tertiary system. About half learn on campus or online through polytechnics, private training establishments (PTEs), and Wānanga. The other half train on the job through apprenticeships and traineeships.

In October 2025, the Government passed legislation to:

• disestablish Te Pūkenga
• enable the establishment of regional institutes of technology and polytechnics as either stand-alone or federated entities
• establish industry skills boards to replace workforce development councils.

Below is an overview of the changes from the status quo in 2025.

More information on implementing the new system can be found on the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)’s website.

Changes to the vocational education and training system – TEC

Ten regional polytechnics re-established in January 2026#

From 1 January 2026, 10 regional polytechnics will operate as independent institutions restoring local governance and decision-making for these regions:

• 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)
• Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec as a merged institution
• Otago Polytechnic
• Universal College of Learning (UCOL)
• The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.

Unitec and Manukau Institute of Technology will stand up as a single entity. The Government has agreed in principle that Otago Polytechnic and UCOL will be standalone within a new federation model to be established in 2026. The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand will serve as the anchor institution for the Federation.

Te Pūkenga has been renamed the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) and will act as a transitional entity to support programme handover and continuity.

Four other polytechnics will remain within the NZIST while they work toward financial viability. They are continuing to deliver education and training to their regions.

• NorthTec
• Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT)
• Whitireia Community Polytechnic/Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)
• Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP).

Decisions on their future are expected in the first half of 2026. Implementing these decisions will emphasise continuity for learners, so that they can complete their programmes. It is important that schools and polytechnic students contact their local polytechnic to see if there are any changes to programmes or courses.

Industry skills boards#

Industry Skills Boards are industry-led bodies responsible for setting vocational education standards and temporarily managing work-based training previously overseen by New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Each has responsibility (coverage) for a linked group of industry sectors.

As standards-setters, Industry Skills Boards:

• make sure qualifications are trusted, valued, and relevant to employers
• support quality assurance across vocational education
• undertake analysis and planning for workforces in their coverage
• provide investment advice to the Tertiary Education Commission.

Industry Skills Boards are governed by a mixture of industry nominees and ministerial appointees, which must include employer and employee representation, and are required to maintain industry advisory groups that make sure they are connected to the priorities and needs of the sectors that they cover.

They will help ensure that vocational education supports good employment outcomes, retraining opportunities, and a modern, growing economy.

The 8 Industry Skills Boards are:

• The Construction and Specialist Trades ISB
• The Education, Community, and Health ISB
• The Electrotechnology and Information Technology ISB
• The Energy and Infrastructure ISB
• The Food and Fibre ISB
• The Manufacturing and Engineering ISB
• The Services ISB
• The Transport ISB.

The Electrotechnology and Information Technology ISB will have coverage for creative sectors.

If you're planning to study or already a student at a polytechnic#

You should continue to enrol or study at your local polytechnic but find out what course changes are happening. The polytechnics that are temporarily staying in the NZIST will still be operating as normal. Although there will be some changes to how polytechnics are organised, programmes will continue to be delivered, and every effort will be made to make sure that learning is not disrupted.

See the section 'Thinking about Studying at a Polytechnic in 2026' below on this page.

If you are planning to go into or already in work-based learning#

All apprentices and trainees currently enrolled in Te Pūkenga/New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology programmes will remain with their existing work-based learning division.

Changes to the ownership of your programme, will mean that your programme will now be managed through an industry skills board. It will continue to be delivered with as few changes as possible. Find out about these changes from your polytechnic or work-based learning division (see the list further down this page).

There will be no changes if you are enrolled or planning to enrol in an apprenticeship or traineeship with someone other than the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.

You should continue to enrol and complete apprenticeships and other work-based training with existing providers.

Information on changes to work-based learning#

From 1 January 2026, the work-based learning divisions of the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, including existing enrolments, will each transfer to an Industry Skills Board for up to 2 years.

Over the next 2 years, each Industry Skills Board will work on an appropriate future for these apprenticeships and traineeships that serves the needs of learners, employers, and their industries. This might mean a single education provider takes on all the programmes temporarily managed by an Industry Skills Board. In some cases, this will happen very quickly, while for others the process may take a bit longer.

All of Industry Skills Board’s programmes and enrolments will need to shift to polytechnics, Private Training Establishment (PTE), or Wānanga by 1 January 2028.

Work-based learning divisions#

The ISBs will take on the following work-based learning divisions on 1 January 2026.

Construction and Specialist Trades ISB

Building Apprenticeships in New Zealand | BCITO

Education, Community, and Health ISB

Careerforce

Manufacturing and Engineering ISB

Competenz NZ | Skills Development

Energy and Infrastructure ISB

Connexis – Infrastructure Training

EarnLearn

Food and Fibre ISB

Primary ITO (including the NZ Primary Industries Trades Academy)

Services ISB

HITO – Apprenticeships in Hairdressing, Barbering, Beauty Therapy

ServiceIQ

Transport ISB

MITO

The contact details for work-based learning divisions will remain unchanged when they move into an Industry Skills Board.

Transition#

From 1 January 2026:

• New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s former work-based learning divisions will temporarily operate as separate divisions of the industry skills boards.
• Industry Skills Boards will be able to continue enrolling learners where there aren’t alternative work-based programmes at PTEs, polytechnics or Wānanga. They won’t be able to enrol new learners if appropriate programmes are available through providers.
• Over the transition, industry skills boards will actively move learners to work-based programmes at polytechnics, PTEs or Wānanga.
• On 31 December 2027, industry skills boards will cease managing training and all remaining enrolments with them will end.

End state#

After 1 January 2028:

• Industry skills boards will only be standards-setting bodies and won’t manage any training.
• Polytechnics, PTEs, and Wānanga will all be able to offer work-based learning and will have developed new apprenticeships and traineeships.
• Some industries will have set up private providers to take on programmes currently in New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology's work-based learning divisions.

Thinking about studying at a polytechnic or in work-based learning#

If you're considering enrolling in a polytechnic or an apprenticeship, the Tahatū Career Navigator has information on study and training choices.

Study and training – Tahatū Career Navigator

There are also several financial support options available to help you plan your study.

Student allowance

A weekly payment to help with living costs while you study. You don’t need to pay this back. Learn more and check your eligibility on StudyLink.

Student Allowance – StudyLink

Student loan

Helps cover course fees, course-related costs (like books or a laptop), and living costs. You’ll need to repay this once you earn over $24,128 a year before tax ($464 a week before tax).

Student Loan – StudyLink

Fees Free

From 2026, eligible learners may have the final year of their first tertiary qualification or training programme covered, up to $12,000. This can include work-based programmes like apprenticeships.

Find out more about the eligibility requirements and when it is best to apply for Fees Free on the Inland Revenue website.

Fees Free – Inland Revenue

Some tertiary providers may also provide a few courses to domestic students that have no fees, or offer scholarships which cover course fees.

You will need to check this with the individual training provider.

Publicly released Cabinet papers and other reports#

All publicly released Cabinet papers, advice and reports can be found on the below page.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) redesign

Information will also be on the Tertiary Education Commission’s website, including links to the current consultation on Industry Skills Boards’ coverage.

About vocational education – Tertiary Education Commission