Updated 5 August 2025
National Consultation of Skill Standards Level 5 and 6
1 August 2025- 23 August 2025
Skill standards have been developed alongside the qualification review of the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) with strand in Leadership [Ref: 2459- version 3], and the New Zealand Diploma in Strategic Leadership (Level 6) [Ref: 5355-1].
The skill standards are also designed to be generic and be used in programmes with leadership components.
Across all the skill standards, we will include:
Your participation in this consultation is invited
We are looking for feedback on the indicative content, word-choice, and clarity of the standard. Your thoughts and feedback on the proposed skill standards are welcomed.
Please send your feedback via email to [email protected] by Friday 23 August 2025.
We look forward to receiving your views so we can finalise and submit the proposed skill standards to NZQA for Quality Assurance in September 2025.
We are happy to add people to the email network at any time. If you wish to be included in the email network or have any questions, please email [email protected]
Please find copies of the draft skill standards for national consultation.
| 2459 New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5) – Leadership strand | ||
| GPO | Credits | Skill Standard – ALL Working Titles |
| Lead with kaitiakitanga to identify operational challenges and apply continuous improvement techniques to support the entity’s performance. | 15 | Assess operational issues and apply continuous improvement techniques to support an entity’s performance |
| Lead others to implement activities that contribute to an entity’s planned changes and improvements to support its performance. | 15 | Lead others to implement activities and change to support an entity’s performance |
| Implement strategies to build a positive team culture that values diversity and supports an entity | 15 | Implement strategies for a positive, diversity inclusive, workplace culture |
| Communicate to lead using interpersonal and influencing techniques to support an entity’s performance.* | 15 | Use interpersonal and influencing techniques to support an entity’s performance |
* This GPO is about communicating as a leader to mentor, coach, influence team and people rather than stakeholders. There are other GPOs in the Core that cover communication with stakeholders. These are:
| 5531-1 New Zealand Diploma in Strategic Leadership (Level 6) | ||
| GPO | Credits | Skill Standard – ALL Working Titles |
| Evaluate the impact of current influences on an organisation’s operations and make strategic recommendations to support an organisation’s performance. | 30 | Analyse and evaluate the impact of current influences on operations to support an organisation’s performance |
| Lead people to enable achievement of strategic organisational goals to support an organisation’s performance.
|
15 | Lead people to enable achievement of individual and/or organisational goals |
| Implement continuous improvement strategies to support an organisation’s performance. | 15 | Apply continuous improvement strategies to support an organisation’s performance |
| Lead and implement change to support an organisation’s performance. | 30 | Lead people and influence change to enhance growth in an organisation |
| Develop and evaluate strategies for a positive workplace culture and team engagement to value diversity and to support an organisation’s performance. | 30 | Lead and implement strategies to develop a positive workplace culture and team engagement that values diversity |
Update on skill standards for Level 3 and 4
Between July 2024- May 2025, Ringa Hora Services Workforce Development Council engaged with industry and education organisations to develop skill standards to align with the graduate profile outcomes of the New Zealand Certificate in Leadership (Level 3) [Ref: 5304] and the New Zealand Certificate in Leadership (Level 4) [Ref: 5306].
The standards were submitted to NZQA in June for evaluation. It will take 20 working days for the application to be picked up and assigned to an evaluator at NZQA and another 20 working days for the evaluation to be returned for more information.
Below is a list of the standards that were submitted to NZQA for approval and a table of how the standards were designed to meet the graduate profile outcomes of the New Zealand Certificates in Leadership, levels 3 and 4. The standards are also designed to be used in any programme with leadership components.
| New Zealand Certificate in Leadership (Level 3) [Ref: 5304] | ||
| Graduate Profile Outcome | Credits | Skill Standard – ALL Working Titles |
| Identify and adopt strategies to enhance personal strengths and values to lead within own contexts and responsibilities.
|
10 | |
| Identify and adopt self-reflection by considering professional and ethical behaviour, personal values, and the impact on others, in a leadership context.
|
10 | |
| Communicate effectively in a socially and culturally responsible manner within a leadership context.
|
10 | |
| Contribute to decision-making and/or solution-building within own contexts and responsibilities. | 10 | |
| New Zealand Certificate in Leadership (Level 4) [Ref: 5306] | ||
| GPO | Credits | Skill Standard – ALL Working Titles |
| Lead others and manage workflows to achieve objectives
|
20 | |
| Apply self-reflection and self-assessment to enhance leadership and management practice. | 10 | |
| Assess situations and apply leadership skills to respond effectively.
|
10 | |
| Promote an inclusive environment to value diversity for positive performance for the organisation. | 5 | |
| Communicate to develop effective relationships with team members or other parties. | 10 | |
| Role-model and promote professional and ethical practices within a leadership role. | 5 | |
