Eight new industry boards to replace workforce councils
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
As part of megapolytech Te Pūkenga’s disestablishment, eight new industry skills boards will be set up to replace workforce development councils and temporarily manage work-based learning, the Vocational Education Minister has announced.
Following consultation, Minister Penny Simmonds said the industry skills boards (ISBs) would cover automotive, transport, and logistics; construction and specialist trades; food and fibre (including aquaculture); infrastructure; manufacturing and engineering; services; health and community; and electrotechnology and information technology.
Led by industry experts, they would set training standards, oversee quality and make sure apprenticeships and traineeships matched what employers and students needed, she said.
The eight Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) would replace six workforce development councils (WDCs) and temporarily manage nine industry training organisations (ITOs), currently overseen by Te Pūkenga.
The WDCs would close at the end of the year and the industry boards would begin operating from January 1 once the legislation is passed later this year.
Toi Mai WDC, representing industries including creative, technology, broadcasting, sports and recreation, was “delighted” to see creative and information technology industries in its new vocational education and training (VET) system.
The creative and IT sectors it covered were allocated to several ISBs, instead of being shifted to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as was originally proposed by Government, Toi Mai chief executive Dr Claire Robinson said.
“Toi Mai has been working with industries such as the screen sector to create new and innovative work-based training models. We hope this can continue under the new VET system.”
Te Pūkenga was formed five years ago to run the country’s 16 polytechnics and nine ITOs but has been in the process of disestablishing since the newly elected Government said in December 2023 it would be getting rid of it in its 100-day plan.
In May, the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill passed its first reading. The sector had largely been in limbo, waiting to hear decisions on the future of each part of the megapolytech.
The ISBs were a key part of returning decision-making to local providers and industry, Simmonds said.
“This is all part of our plan to make sure that the training people receive is aligned to what industry needs, and skills are matched to ensure they are fit-for-purpose, paving the way for economic growth.
“We want to ensure our workforce across key growth sectors are ready to hit the ground running.”
ISBs would have three main funding sources including some core public funding, a choice to charge fees to fund quality assurance functions, and industries could also choose to support ISBs through a levy.
About 250,000 learners entered the vocational education system each year — half learning on campus or online, and half through work-based training.
“Whether you’re learning on the job or in a classroom, these changes will make your training more relevant and valuable,” Simmonds said.
'This is a win for apprentices, trainees, employers, and the economy. We're building a modern, connected work-based learning system that supports quality jobs and drives the economic growth powering New Zealand’s future.'
Decisions on the future of the 16 polytechs would be made mid-year in 2025, Simmonds said. Each business division was yet to find out whether they would standalone, operate within a federation, or face closure.
Te Pūkenga would remain as a transitional entity until the end of next year to manage unallocated programmes and activities.