Latest News

EMAIL US on haveyoursay@connexis.org.nz if you have any questions or would like to provide feedback.

We will regularly update this webpage and continue to provide updates as they become available.

2 May 2025

Consultation and Nominations for Governance of Industry Skills Boards

As part of the latest government decision on the future of industry training, the Government have opened consultation on the number and configuration of the future Industry Skills Boards (ISBs), which closes 5pm 20 May 2025.

The ISBs will replace the existing six Workforce Development Councils. Infrastructure is currently serviced by Waihanga Ara Rau. 

The consultation currently proposes seven ISBs, with Infrastructure and Construction having separate ISB entities. The government want to hear from industry on what they want. Consultation closes 20 May 2025, with a decision expected mid-year.

Opportunities to find out more

1. Learn more about the proposed ISBs and consultation here ISB consultation.
2. Undertake the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) ISB Coverage Consultation survey here ISB Survey.
3. Attend one of the TEC webinars currently being run (more information below).

Nominations to ISB Establishment Advisory Group

TEC are seeking nominations for the ISB Establishment Advisory Group. Three industry representatives per industry group will be appointed. Candidates will need to have availability to provide two days per month to the group, and will need to demonstrate strong governance skills, change management experience, industry background; and an understanding of education and training. Nominations close 13 June 2025.

1. Learn more about the ISB Establishment Advisory Group here.
2. To nominate a candidate, please complete the ISB Establishment Advisory Group Member Nomination Form.

TEC Webinars

TEC are running webinars on the proposals set out in the consultation document over the next two weeks. Please register for a webinar that best suits your availability.

Thursday 1 May 2025 6pm to 7pm

Friday 2 May 2025 1pm to 2pm

Tuesday 6 May 2025 11am to 12pm

Wednesday 7 May 2025 6pm to 7pm

Thursday 8 May 2025 1pm to 2pm

28 April 2025

The Consultation for Industry Skills Board Coverage is now open.

As part of their decision to redesign the system for industry training, the Government has decided to disestablish the current Workforce Development Councils and establish new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs).

The redesign proposes setting up seven ISBs, including a separate ISB for Infrastructure industries, which is not a surprise as Infrastructure is a key Government priority.

You can read the full proposal here : Government Proposal on ISB coverage

The Government is seeking feedback on the proposed ISB coverage which is open until 5pm 20th May. You can fill out the survey and have your say here: ISB Coverage Survey

24 April 2025

Minister's announcement on the future system for industry training

This morning the Government announced a decision on the future system for vocational education and training (VET) within New Zealand as they continue to work toward the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga.

Minister's Press Release – you can read her statement here: A Better Path for Apprentices and Trainees

Trainees and Enrolments:

The most important thing to know in the first instance is that your trainees can continue to progress in their training programmes as they currently are and there will be no immediate disruption of our service to you.  You can continue to enrol trainees and apprentices without disruption, and they will be fully supported to the end of their training programme.

Key points to the new system:

The government is introducing a new, independent, and industry-led model for work-based learning. Industry will be the deciders for where their training is to be delivered.

From 1 January 2026:

• New Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will be set up to set training standards, endorse programmes and moderate assessments.
• ISBs will also have a workforce analysis function for their sectors and provide investment advice to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
• These will be industry led, with a Board of 8 members, 6 from industry and 2 ministerial appointments.

Work-based learning divisions of Te Pūkenga:

• Connexis, as a work-based learning division of Te Pūkenga, will transfer into an ISB as a separate division of the ISB – they will not be integrated into an ISB. The transition will be a “lift and shift” model.
  • Apprentices and trainees currently with Te Pūkenga work-based learning divisions will move to the ISBs for up to two years.
  • ISBs will be able to enrol new learners until other providers are set up to deliver work-based learning or by 30 June 2027.
  • It is expected that during this period, industry-led private training enterprises could be established to take over delivery from the work-based learning divisions, and ITPs and wānanga could also establish new work-based learning programmes.
  • Industry will make the decision on who will be delivering work-based learning programmes and whether a new PTE is to be established or learners transitioned to an existing PTE/ITP.
• Work-based learning is able to be offered by any provider that meets the government’s quality and funding requirements: institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), private training establishments (PTEs) and wānanga – they must have the support of industry.
• Providers will manage all aspects of an apprenticeship or traineeship, including the pastoral care for learners.

What is still to be announced:

• The number or industry configuration of the Industry Skills Boards, this should be decided in June after consultation.
• Which private providers or polytechnics will be offering work-based learning training programmes for our industries.

Consultation on ISBs and their Configuration:

Consultation on ISBs will commence on Monday 28^th April and close 20^th May, with a decision to be released in June 2025.

TEC Webinars:

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) is holding webinars on the new model next week. Please register at the links below:

• Monday 28 April 5pm to 6pm
• Tuesday 29 April 11am to 12pm

Connexis Service Levels:

Please be assured that our services will continue as normal as we go transition to the new system. We will work to minimise disruption to any training or apprenticeship programmes or the learning support we provide.

PLEASE NOTE: Our staff are facing significant change and uncertainty, if you have any concerns about the level of service or our people, please email haveyoursay@connexis.org.nz

29 January 2025

Consultation for the future of Work-based Learning has now commenced and will close 21 February 2025. 

This targeted consultation is on the options being considered for the future of work-based learning, as outlined in documents released by the Ministry of Education on Monday 27^th January.  You can view the documents here.

This consultation follows on from the VET Redesign consultation that occurred last year in August and September 2024.

20th December 2024, the Minister announced that a new option had come out of the consultation process, and they would be going back out to undertake targeted consultation with industry and employers on Option B (from the original consultation) and Option C (the new model).

The government are now asking for your view on these two options:

• The Independent Work-based Learning Model (option B – from the original consultation)
• The Collaborative Work-based Learning Model (option C – the new model)

These options outline how industry apprentices and trainees will be supported through their industry apprenticeship or traineeship programmes and by which entities.

• Option B – Independent WBL Model - current Te Pūkenga WBL Divisions, such as Connexis, would transition into a number of separate provider entities with industry or other private ownership.
  • Employers and apprentices/trainees would in most cases continue to engage directly with only one organisation.

• Option C – Collaborative WBL Model – current Te Pūkenga WBL Divisions, such as Connexis, would be disestablished.
  • Programmes and learners would move into a regional ITP (Polytechnic)
  • Pastoral Care and National Coordination would move to the Industry Skills Board (ISB)
  • Employers and apprentices/trainees would engage directly with, and receive support from, two organisations: the local education provider a learner is enrolled with (ITP), and the national ISB that provides them with pastoral care.

The questions in the new consultation ask:

1. Which of the two models – Independent or Collaborative work-based learning – does your organisation prefer?
2. Why will your preferred model work best for employers and learners in work-based learning?
3. What does your organisation think are the main benefits, costs and risks of each option for employers and learners in your industry?
4. Both models will involve a transition process, but this will be different for each. What will be the critical factors in making transitions work for your industry?

We encourage you to consider the impact of both options to our industries, and to have your say by making a submission to vocationaleducation.reforms@education.govt.nz.

Submissions are accepted up to 5pm on 21 February 2025. If you have any queries, please contact vocationaleducation.reforms@education.govt.nz.

Connexis has been invited to be a part of the targeted consultation with the Minister.

If you would like to provide any comments or feedback for Connexis to consider within our organisation's submission, please email us on haveyoursay@connexis.org.nz

20 December 2024

On Friday 20 December, the Government announced it's plan for Vocational Education and Training (VET) in New Zealand as it proceeds with the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga.

You can find the details of the Government’s announcement HERE.

Key points in brief for work-based learning:

• Following industry feedback in August on proposals for work-based learning, the government has developed a third option C.
• The government will hold targeted consultation in January, with those industry organisations that have provided feedback prior, on this new option C as well as option B from the previous proposals.
  • Option B: The option provided in the August consultation establishing Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) with the added function of providing industry advice, with Work-Based learning divisions transitioned into some sort of provider like a PTE.
  • Option C (new): Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) would be set up undertaking the functions of WDCs including standard setting, investment advice, qualification development. They will also undertake Work Based Learning functions of national coordination for specific industries and pastoral care. The other functions of enrolments and educational components such as assessments would be through Institute of Technology and Polytechnics, Private Training Establishments and Wananga.
• Minister Hon Penny Simmonds intends to be at all the consultation meetings that will commence in late January.
• The minister intends to take decisions based on the outcome of consultation to Cabinet in the first half of 2025.
• A funding paper on the new vocational education and training structure will also be presented to Cabinet in the first half of 2025.
• Once a decision is made on Option B or Option C, consultation will then be held on the industry make-up of ISBs and the required numbers.

What you need to know about the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics

The government also approved the legislative framework to disestablish Te Pūkenga.

• Financially viable Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) will be established as autonomous entities, with the goal of the first standalone ITPs being operational by 1 January 2026.
• Those that are financially unable to be standalone by 2026 will remain within Te Pūkenga during 2026 as other arrangements are explored to make them viable or options such as mergers, sales, and federation models are considered.

What this means for our learners and employers

Please be assured our services will continue as normal in 2025 as we go through this next stage of consultation to determine the delivery of VET in New Zealand. We will work to minimise disruption to any training or apprenticeship programmes or the learning support we provide.

You may continue to enrol new learners in training programmes and they will receive all the support and tools they need. Your Customer Service Account Manager (CSAM) should be your first point of contact if you have questions related to your individual learners.

The Tertiary Education Commission is leading communications on all VET changes and we will continue to provide updates via this webpage as they become available.

18 December 2024

From 12noon on Friday 20th December, an announcement/press release is expected from the Minister after the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Redesign paper was approved through the Social Outcomes Committee this morning. The government has committed to disestablishing Te Pūkenga and restoring regional decision-making for vocational education. A consultation was undertaken from 01 August – 12 September 2024.

The announcement will signal the future VET system for Connexis and the other work-based learning divisions of Te Pūkenga, along with the Polytechnics and the Workforce Development Councils (who are currently gazetted as the industries standard setting bodies). You can review the options put forward for consultation on the Ministry of Education website HERE.

12 September 2024

The consultation period for the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Reform has now ended.

Submissions are currently being analysed and TEC and MoE will provide further information about the next steps as decisions are made.

The VET Reform consultation period ran from 1 August to 12 September 2024 where TEC and MoE ran nationwide sessions for staff, industry stakeholder groups, learners, education providers and others interested in VET.

1 August 2024

Hon. Penny Simmonds, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills released the proposed plan for the future of vocational education and training (VET) system in New Zealand.

The plan included a six-week consultation period in which New Zealanders were encouraged to have their say on the proposed structure, and what they believe is the best structure for New Zealand.

You can review the proposed changes HERE.

30 July 2024

At the request of TEC, under section 332 of the Education and Training Act 2020, Te Pūkenga is engaging specialists to help with the mahi required to move all divisions to be financially sustainable. The initial work, which commenced July 2024, is focused on the 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs). The four organisations engaged are Volte Consulting, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Calibre Partners and Deloitte, with each specialist organisation focused on the specific ITPs within allocated regions.

You can read the communication between TEC and Te Pūkenga regarding the engagement of Specialists on the Te Pūkenga website under Corporate Documents '2024 Specialists to accelerate work to improve the viability and sustainability of former Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics'.