Future of the remaining polytechnic divisions from the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Te anamata mō ngā wāhanga kuratini e toe ana i te New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
The government has agreed to establish another three polytechnics – NorthTec, Western Institute of Technology Taranaki and Whitireia/WelTec. Tai Poutini Polytechnic will be transferred to the Open Polytechnic.
The government has agreed to establish another three polytechnics – NorthTec, Western Institute of Technology Taranaki and Whitireia/WelTec. Tai Poutini Polytechnic will be transferred to the Open Polytechnic.
The three polytechnics will be legally established by Orders in Council on 1 October 2026 and will be operational on 1 January 2027. They will be stand-alone entities, and are proposed to be members of the Federation.
| Polytechnic | Region |
| NorthTec | Northland |
| Western Institute of Technology Taranaki (WITT) | Taranaki |
| Whitireia and WelTec (as a single entity) | Wellington metro area, Hutt Valley, Porirua and Kapiti |
Tai Poutini, on the West Coast, will transfer to the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand on 1 January 2027. Learners will continue to study and train in the same place with the same tutors.
This marks a major milestone in the redesign of New Zealand’s vocational education and training (VET) system. Establishing these final three stand-alone polytechnics, and transferring Tai Poutini to the Open Polytechnic, will complete the transition to a strong network of regionally led polytechnics.
Until October 2026, establishment activities for the new polytechnics will be conducted by Establishment Advisory Groups (EAGs), similar to those put in place to oversee the 10 polytechnics established on 1 January 2026.
Introducing the Establishment Advisory Groups for the new polytechnics
We are pleased to announce the members of the EAGs for the new polytechnics.
There is a dedicated EAG for each new polytechnic. The members of these groups bring together a diverse mix of leaders, selected for their connection to a specific region and their proven governance capabilities.
Appointing members to these groups is a key milestone for the redesign of the vocational education and training system.
| Polytechnic | EAG members |
| NorthTec | Graeme Kerr (Chair) Nicola Faithfull Tim Robinson |
| Western Institute of Technology (WITT) | Patrick Landrigan (Chair) Jonathan Young Arun Chaudhari |
| Whitireia and WelTec | Ross Browne (Chair) Janet Lane Professor Dr Dr Jens Mueller |
The role of the EAGs
EAGs will make “in principle” decisions to enable the new polytechnics to stand up successfully on Day One. These decisions are intended to be confirmed by the councils when they are established.
The key tasks for EAGs will be to:
- determine the size of the polytechnic council and endorse its constitution
- select (via a recruitment process) a chief executive-designate who can be appointed by the council of the polytechnic once established
- endorse key policies that the governing body may need to adopt from 1 January 2027
- prepare the documentation that the governing body and the chief executive of the organisation will require on 1 January 2027.
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) will provide information, coordination and administrative support to the EAGs.
During 2026, the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council will continue to have full authority over all aspects of the polytechnic business divisions. The EAGs’ role is exclusively to perform a defined set of set-up functions for the new polytechnics, which do not start operating until January 2027.