Note: On 9 February 2026, the following amendment to the Education (Criteria for Significant Amendment to a Plan and Replacement of a Plan) Notice 2025 was published. This amendment should be read in conjunction with the original Gazette notice published on 19 September 2025:

Gazette notice for Significant Plan Amendment and Replacement Plan criteria

9 February 2026

Under clause 20(3) and 20(6)(b) of Schedule 18 of the Education and Training Act 2020, the notice with the above title, published in the New Zealand Gazette, 19 September 2025, Notice No. 2025-sl5245 is amended by:

• Replacing Part 1 paragraph 2 with the following in paragraph 1:

5. increase the number of EFTS in a work-based mode of learning; or
6. change or add a programme or activity in a work-based mode. Changes include any programme or activity not delivered before in work-based mode as well as any changes to current work-based programmes and activities such as mode, EFTS or resulting award changes.

• replacing Part 1 paragraph 9 with “make a change to a programme, activity, region and/or mode of delivery over the course of a year that affects either: 
  • 50% or more of the TEO’s total programmes or activities when measured by hours; or
  • 50 or more EFTS and 50% or more of the TEO’s total programmes or activities when measured by EFTS.”
• replacing Part 2 paragraph 10 with:   

10. the criteria for assessing a significant amendment to a plan are the same as the criteria prescribed by the TEC under section 424 of the Act for assessing proposed plans, set out in the relevant Education (Proposed Investment Plans: Content and Submission; Assessment Criteria; and Plan Summaries) Notice that applied to the Plan when it was originally approved.
11. The criteria for assessing a replacement of a plan are the same as the criteria prescribed by the TEC under section 424 of the Act for assessing proposed plans, set out in the current Education (Proposed Investment Plans: Content and Submission; Assessment Criteria; and Plan Summaries) Notice. 

Dated at Wellington this 9th day of February 2026.  

TIM FOWLER, Chief Executive, Tertiary Education Commission.