The government announced in early July that the number of Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) would increase from the seven initially proposed to eight. They cover these broad areas:
As a result of the public consultation during April and May, all industries will be covered by Industry Skills Boards. It has been decided the New Zealand Qualifications Authority will not initially take over any industry coverage, as was suggested in the April consultation document.
Most industries currently served by Ringa Hora are expected to be covered by the Services ISB in the new system. The Services ISB is also set to become the home for several creative industries that are currently covered by Toi Mai.
The Tertiary Education Commission web page on the ISB reform says that the Services ISB will cover business services, creative arts, hairdressing and barbering, hospitality, recreation, retail, and tourism.
A broad list of examples of which sectors will be covered by which ISB can be seen on the Tertiary Education Commission website.
As part of the government’s changes to the vocational education and training system, Te Pūkenga is being disestablished.
The government announced in July it would establish 10 ITPs on 1 January 2026, either as stand-alone entities or as stand-alone within a federation anchored by the Open Polytechnic. Details of which ITPs would be stand-alone and which would be within the federation can be viewed at this page.
The earlier decisions announced by the Minister for Vocational Education are outlined here:
New work-based learning model | Tertiary Education Commission
A better path for apprentices and trainees | Beehive.govt.nz
To summarise:
The TEC is also inviting industries to nominate representatives to help establish the Industry Skills Boards.
Each Industry Skills Board will have an Establishment Advisory Group with three members from industry. Establishment Advisory Groups will be responsible for ensuring each Industry Skills Board can successfully stand up on day one. The role of the Establishment Advisory Groups is focused on governance rather than industry advocacy.
Candidates will need strong governance and change management skills, an industry background and an understanding of education and training.
Nominations closed on 13 June 2025 for the Establishment Advisory Groups which will operate through 2025.
However, industry nominations after this date are still welcomed. Later nominations will be considered for any unfilled positions on Establishment Advisory Groups or for additional members of the first boards of Industry Skills Boards.
We encourage industry bodies to get involved to ensure Industry Skills Board are industry-led from the very beginning.
Further information on the Establishment Advisory Groups and the nomination process can be found here: Help establish Industry Skills Boards | Tertiary Education Commission
The Government wants to restore regional decision-making for local institutions to ensure they can better respond to the education needs of their communities, bring a sharper focus on what industry needs, and make sure the system is financially viable.
Ringa Hora will continue to deliver our functions, carry out our mahi, and engage with industry and training providers until further decisions have been made and/or the new Industry Skills Boards are operational.
We will continue to update you as we know more.
In 2024, the Government proposed changes to the vocational education and training system in New Zealand. These proposals included options to replace Te Pūkenga and Workforce Development Councils, and make changes to vocational education funding from 2026 to support the new system. Feedback on the proposed changes was gathered from industry members to inform Cabinet decision making.
As part of the consultation process, Ringa Hora made a submission that was informed by the views of the Service sector.
We want to acknowledge the considerable time that industry took to engage with us, the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and Ministry of Education (MoE) around this proposal. These conversations and the feedback provided through industry submissions have helped inform our perspectives. We also want to acknowledge the submissions developed by Te Kāhui Ahumahi, Pacific Fono and Hāpaitia.
We want to acknowledge your contributions to our Ringa Hora mahi to date. Your time given to us is precious, not only for the value you add but because it takes you away from your business and people. This is a crucial opportunity for you and others in the sector to influence workplace training and career progression for years to come.
Let’s build a better VET system together.
We look forward to hearing from you if you have questions or feedback about the consultation process.
