The Government's decision to disestablish the current Workforce Development Councils (WDC) sees the establishment of new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs).

The ISBs will take on some of the WDC functions from January 2026. There will be differences between WDCs and ISBs. ISBs will have a role strongly focused around their standard setting function with a lower level of government funding available. We also expect that the number and coverage of ISBs could be different from the WDC model.

Included below are details on;

• The current ISB Industry Consultation process,
• The Minister's decision on the work-based learning model,
• A call for nominations for the new Establishment Advisory Groups for the ISBs. 

As well as how all of this applies to the services you rely on from our team at Hanga-Aro-Rau and our ongoing commitment to our key stakeholders. 

You can also view all of this information at the Hanga Aro Rau dedicated landing page here

Consultation on the number and coverage of Industry Skills Boards opens.

Today TEC has commenced consultation on the number and coverage of Industry Skills Boards. The proposals also include some sectors where standards setting is proposed to transition to NZQA.
The consultation document can be found here. Consultation on Industry Skills Boards’ coverage | Tertiary Education Commission

TEC will be running webinars on the proposals set out in the consultation document in the next two weeks.

You can register for a webinar here.

Consultation runs from 28 April until 5.00pm Tuesday 20 May 2025.

Minister announces Government’s decision on future work-based learning model.
 
Last Thursday 24th April, the Minister for Vocational Education announced the government’s decision to introduce an industry-led, independent work-based learning model.

See Minister Simmonds' full press release here: A better path for apprentices and trainees | Beehive.govt.nz.

The key aspects are:

• Any qualified provider (institutes of technology and polytechnics, private training establishments, wānanga) can offer work-based learning, managing all aspects of apprenticeships and traineeships.
• Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will be established from 1 January 2026 to develop qualifications and standards, endorse programmes, and provide workforce analysis.

The transition of this model will see Te Pūkenga’s work-based learning divisions transfer to ISBs for up to two years, ensuring continuity in training.

For more information, and to sign up to one of their webinars happening today and tomorrow, see the TEC page: New work-based learning model.

This decision reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring the vocational education system is more responsive to industry needs. It follows the targeted consultation earlier this year and confirms that WDCs will still be disestablished on 31 December 2025 and Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will be operational from 1 January 2026.
 

Nominations for Establishment Advisory Groups for Industry Skills Boards

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 received before 13 June 2025 will be considered 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

What does this mean for Hanga-Aro-Rau and the services you rely on?
Right now, this means that we are continuing with our current 2024-25 work programme and don’t anticipate changes until 30 June 2025 (the end of our current funding).

We are working with TEC to develop an amended work plan to ensure we can deliver our functions and wind-up Hanga-Aro-Rau by 31 December 2025. This amended plan will cover the period 1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025.

Hanga-Aro-Rau is committed to advocating for industry to have a strong voice in the new system. We also want to ensure the needs of our current and future workforces are met, particularly Māori, Pacific People, disabled people, and other underrepresented groups.

We believe that the redesign process is best supported by robust evidence and policies that have been proven to work well, which is exactly why we have developed three white papers, focusing respectively on Māori, Pacific Peoples and disabled people. The success of these groups is essential to the success of the VET system as a whole. They can be downloaded from our website on the links below.

1. Redesigning Vocational Education and Training system to unlock the potential of Māori and the Māori economy through workforce development: Strategies to inform vocational training design.
2. Redesigning the Vocational Education and Training system to unlock the potential of Pacific Peoples through workforce development: Strategies to inform vocational training design. 
3. Unlocking the potential of the disabled: Strategies to inform redesign of the Vocational Education and Training system, and its link to employment support and recruitment,

We know how critical a strong workforce is to strengthen and grow the Aotearoa New Zealand economy.