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2025 Cookery Skill Standards Review - Have Your Say

Consultation Closes: Friday 15 August 2025

Ringa Hora Services Workforce Development Council is reviewing cookery unit standards and has developed new skill standards to better reflect current industry practices and align with the reviewed cookery qualifications at Levels 3 and 4. We’re inviting your feedback on the proposed new skill standards before these are submitted for NZQA Quality Assurance. 

What’s Changing? 

  • New Cookery skill standards developed for Levels 3 and 4 
  • Some will replace existing unit standards; others address skills gaps 
  • Replaced unit standards will remain on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards (DASS) for two years before expiring.

View the existing unit standards on the NZQA website.

To see the proposed replacement relationships with current Unit Standards, please see the attached document.

 

Draft skill standards (arranged by qualification)

 

Qualification outcomes/ Ngā hua  Skill Standard 
1  Communicate effectively and behave in a professional and culturally responsive manner with colleagues, managers and customers in a culinary environment. (5 credits)  L3 Communication 
2  Comply with standard operating procedures to work safely and resolve problems in a sustainable and productive manner in a culinary environment. (15 credits)  L3 SOPs 

Plus, standards from Food safety Domain 

3  Prepare, cook and finish a range of food products by applying fundamental cookery techniques using a range of ingredients. (40 credits)  L3 Allergens  

L3 Baking  

L3 Cold Larder  

L 3 Counter Service  

L3 Cookery  

L3 Nutrition  

L3 Sandwiches  

L3 Standard  

L3 Stocks  

L3 Vegetable 

Qualification outcomes/ Ngā hua  Skill Standard 
1  Interact and engage effectively with colleagues, managers, and customers to facilitate service delivery in a culinary environment. (5 credits)  L4 Teamwork 
2  Implement and ensure compliance with relevant standard operating policies and procedures to foster a safe, sustainable, and productive culinary workplace. (15 credits) 
3  Prepare and finish diverse food products, by combining methods and techniques while maintaining workplace safety, food safety, professional and sustainable practice. (100 credits)  L4 Bakery 

L4 Butchery 

L4 Charcuterie 

L4 Cold Larder 

L4 Methods 

L4 Patisserie 

L4 Sauce 

L4 Skills 

L4 Soups 

L4 Vegetable 

Development Process 

We worked with a panel of industry experts and a stakeholder group to: 

  • Develop new Skill Standards 
  • Ensure alignment with new Cookery qualifications 
  • Identify and fill gaps for modern culinary training. 

We Want Your Feedback 

We’re seeking your views on: 

  • Whether the proposed skill standards are fit for purpose 
  • Whether the credits and evidence requirements are appropriate 
  • Whether you agree with the proposed expiry of unit standards to be replaced by new Skill Standards.

Please submit feedback by Friday 15 August. Fill our feedback form here, or alternatively email us using the following details:

  • Email: [email protected] 
  • Subject line: Consultation – Cookery Skill Standards Levels 3 & 4.

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