Eight ISBs began operating on 1 January 2026, with each responsible for representing specified industries and helping ensure vocational education and training reflects their skills and workforce needs.

What do ISBs do?

ISBs have a range of responsibilities across the vocational education and training system, including:

• setting standards: developing, setting, and maintaining standards, qualifications, micro-credentials, national curricula and capstone assessments.
• programme endorsement and moderation: endorsing programmes and moderating assessments to support quality and consistency.
• advising TEC: providing advice on industry priorities.
• workforce planning: undertaking strategic workforce analysis and planning for their sectors.
• industry representation: providing a voice for their industries within the vocational educational and training system.

Temporary role in work-based learning

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, some ISBs are also temporarily overseeing work-based learning business divisions. Their role includes supporting the continuity and quality of work-based learning while these arrangements are in place.

Which industries do ISBs cover?

All industries are covered by the eight ISBs, with some industries spanning more than one ISB. The broad sectors are:

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

For more detail about which industries sit within each ISB, see Coverage of ISBs (ANZSIC and Sector Descriptors) (PDF 310 KB).

How are ISBs governed?

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

Board members are selected for their governance capability and industry experience – they are not intended to be representative positions, but each member is required to have relevant experience. Boards are required to operate in the interests of all industries within their sector coverage.

Each ISB is also required to establish industry advisory groups. These groups provide a way for industries covered by the ISBs to contribute to its work and help ensure their perspectives are heard.

Establishing the ISBs

ISBs were established through amendments to the Education and Training Act 2020. The legislation gives ISBs a formal role in setting and maintaining standards, qualifications and micro-credentials, and providing industry advice to support the vocational education system. ISBs replaced the six Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) that previously undertook these roles.

Since beginning operations on 1 January 2026, ISBs have progressively built their governance arrangements, standards setting functions, programme endorsement and moderation processes and their capacity to engage with employers and industry groups.