Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) are industry-led bodies responsible for setting and maintaining qualifications, credentials and standards, endorsing programmes, quality assuring assessments, advising on workforce development priorities, and strengthening collaboration between vocational education and industry.

During the transition from the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST), formerly Te Pūkenga, to a new industry-led work-based learning system, ISBs are also temporarily overseeing some work-based learning business divisions.

ISBs were established through an amendment to the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Act 2025. The changes to the Act give ISBs a formal role in setting and maintaining skill standards, qualifications, and training packages, and in providing industry advice to support a fit-for-purpose vocational education system. 

ISBs enable employers and industry groups to influence training priorities, ensuring learners graduate with skills that matter in the real world.

What do ISBs do?

ISBs have a broad set of responsibilities:

• Setting standards: Develop, set, and maintain standards, qualifications, micro-credentials, and national curricula.
• Programme endorsement and moderation: Endorse vocational programmes and moderate assessments to ensure quality and consistency.
• Advising government: Provide advice to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) on funding priorities.
• Workforce planning: Conduct strategic workforce analysis and planning for their sectors.
• Overseeing work-based learning: Ensure continuity and quality, where a work-based learning division has temporarily transitioned into an ISB. 
• Industry representation: Act as the voice of their sector into the vocational educational and training (VET) system.

Which industries do ISBs cover?

All industries have been assigned to one of the eight ISBs which have been formally established, covering these sectors:

• Transport
• Electrotechnology and Information Technology
• Education, Health and Community
• Energy and Infrastructure
• Manufacturing and Engineering
• Services
• Food and Fibre
• Construction and Specialist Trades

This document lists the various industries that sit within each of the above sectors: 

Coverage of ISBs (ANZSIC and Sector Descriptors) (PDF 310 KB)

ISB members and staff

Each ISB is governed by a board of eight members – six industry-nominated members and two ministerial appointments who have also been nominated by industry. 

ISB members have been selected for both their governance capability and their industry experience. Given the broad coverage of the ISBs, it will not be possible for all industries to have a dedicated representative on an ISB, therefore the boards are required to operate in the interests of all industries within their sector coverage.

All ISBs are required to establish industry advisory groups to enable the industries that they represent to provide input that will assist the Board in the performance of its functions. This will ensure that all industries have a voice through their ISB.

ISBs have employed some staff from the former Workforce Development Councils (WDCs). This expertise will provide continuity for industry and enable the ISBs to build capability as quickly as possible.

ISBs started operating from January 2026

From 1 January 2026, ISBs began delivering services progressively:

• Early months: The focus is on laying strong foundations, including establishing governance structures, setting standards, and putting in place processes for programme endorsement and moderation.
• First half of 2026: As these early foundations settle, ISBs will grow their capacity to engage and build partnerships with employers and industry groups.
• Ongoing: ISBs will gain momentum, driving a more agile, industry-responsive VET system that adapts to changing needs.