Public submissions on the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill closed on 18 June 2025. 

The Bill is currently being considered by Parliament’s Education and Workforce Select Committee. The Committee is scheduled to report back to Cabinet in September, with the Bill expected to pass in October. Implementation of the Bill’s proposals begins on 1 January 2026. 

Background#

The Vocational Education and Training (VET) system is very important to New Zealand and growing the economy.

Vocational Education supports learners to get the skills they need to thrive in employment and to contribute to growing our economy.

Around 250,000 learners access the VET system every year, with around half learning on campus and online at providers – polytechnics, private training enterprises (PTEs), and Wānanga – and half learning mainly on-job through their workplaces via apprenticeships and traineeships.  

In December 2024, the Government agreed to introduce legislation that would:

• 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.

Decisions have now been made by the Government on the future model for work-based learning with further decisions being made in June and July regarding:

• which Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics will be standalone or federated entities
• the number and coverage of Industry Skills Boards.

We will publish public updates as they become available.

Below is an overview of the VET system changes.

What it means for anyone planning to study or already a student at Te Pūkenga#

They should continue to enrol or study at Te Pūkenga. Although there will be some changes to how institutes of technology and polytechnics are organised, programmes will continue to be delivered, and every effort will be made to make sure that learning is not disrupted.

What it means for anyone planning to go into or already in work-based training#

All currently enrolled learners will remain with their existing work-based learning division.

There will be changes to the ownership of some organisations managing work-based learning but learners’ programmes will continue to be delivered.

There will be no changes for people who are enrolled or planning to enrol in an apprenticeship or traineeship with someone other than Te Pūkenga.

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

Information on changes to work-based learning#

The Government will introduce an industry-led independent work-based learning model.

Under this model, vocational education and training providers, including industry, private training establishments, polytechnics, and wānanga, will be able to manage all aspects of an apprenticeship or traineeship in the future.

On 31 December 2025, as part of the transition to the independent model, Te Pūkenga’s 9 work-based learning divisions, including existing enrolments, will transfer to the Industry Skills Boards for up to 2 years.

Transition#

• Te Pūkenga’s former work-based learning divisions operate as separate divisions of the Industry Skills Boards.
• To support new work-based programmes, Te Pūkenga will make the intellectual property of its work-based learning divisions available across its network throughout 2025.
• From 1 January 2026, 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. See Clause 155 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill.
• Where there are gaps in provision, Industry Skills Boards will continue enrolling learners until 31 December 2027.
• By 1 July 2027 (or earlier), Industry Skills Boards will actively transition any remaining learners to programmes at polytechnics, PTEs or Wānanga.
• On 31 December 2027, Industry Skills Boards will cease managing training and all remaining enrolments will end.

End state#

After 1 January 2028:

• Industry Skills Boards established as separate standards-setting bodies.
• Polytechnics, PTEs, and Wānanga will all be able to offer work-based learning.
• Some industries will set up private providers to take on programmes currently in Te Pūkenga's work-based Learning divisions
• The relevant Industry Skills Board endorses the programme.
• The provider manages all aspects of work-based learning. They enrol learners, provide pastoral care, and arrange education and assessment.