Industry training in New Zealand plays a crucial role in developing a skilled workforce and ensuring that people are equipped with the knowledge and competencies necessary to meet the demands of various industries.

The government is currently reviewing the structure of the vocational education and training sector. As we go through this review and the resulting changes from it, Connexis will continue to enrol and support trainees and apprentices through its training programmes and support our industries to grow the capability of the infrastructure workforce through national qualifications and training.

Latest News

EMAIL us on haveyoursay@connexis.org.nz if you have any questions or would like to provide your feedback for us to include into our Connexis submission.

29 January 2024

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'.