Frequently asked questions (FAQs) – consultation on Industry Skills Boards’ coverage

Here are some questions and answers that may help with your submission on Industry Skills Boards’ (ISBs’) coverage, nominations for Establishment Advisory Groups, and understanding of the system changes.

ISB consultation

What does it mean if I cannot see my sector listed?

We are currently consulting on the broad coverage areas for each ISB. You may not see your specific sector listed, but it doesn’t mean your sector will not be covered. We want to hear from you about which ISB you think will be best for your sector, via the consultation feedback survey. Later in the year, ISB Establishment Advisory Groups will consult again on the details of their ISBs’ coverage.

I want an ISB specifically for my industry.

The amount of government funding for ISBs is capped, so the number of ISBs that can be established is limited. ISBs will need to have sufficient size and scale, as small ISBs will not be financially viable.

ISBs will cover a range of sectors and will need to find ways to ensure the voices of all the industries within their grouping are heard.

You have said that you don’t want to see small or niche ISBs, what does that mean?

The amount of government funding for ISBs is capped, so the number of ISBs that can be established is limited. ISBs will need to have sufficient size and scale, as small ISBs will not be financially viable and will be unable to meet the needs of their industries.

ISB Establishment Advisory Group nominations

How do you join the establishment advisory boards to influence the setup of ISBs?

Nominations are currently open for the Establishment Advisory Groups for ISBs. You can use the nomination form.

Candidates are expected to have significant governance experience, combined with strategic leadership experience. These roles are not intended to act as advocates for a specific industry or industries. Ideally, members of Establishment Advisory Groups will transition to membership of the first governing body of each Industry Skills Board. This will provide continuity in governance and ensure effective relationships and performance.

Can you confirm that governance Boards will include Māori, Pacific and disabled people?

The make-up of the governance of ISBs will be predominantly determined by Industry, with Industry selecting six of the eight Board members. We expect industry to nominate governance members who understand the workforce challenges and opportunities of their sectors. As Māori, Pacific and disabled learners are an important part of our workforce, we expect ISB governance to support learning that deliver for these learners, as well as for other groups with particular needs.

Changes to the VET system and the transition period

Can you please explain the different groups involved in the changes?

ISBs Industry Skills Boards	Industry Skills Boards are new entities that will be established formally from 1 January 2026. They have a core role of standard setting for vocational education across their allocated sectors. They will also work to share the voice of industry and advise TEC about workforce needs. Each ISB will be set up through an Order in Council and will be industry led (6 out of 8 board members will come from industry).
ISB EAGs Industry Skills Boards Establishment Advisory Groups	These groups will exist from mid-2025 until the end of the year to support the establishment of the new ISBs. Their focus is on governance and organisation establishment rather than industry advocacy.
ITPs Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics	ITPs are independent regional polytechnics that will be established in 2026. The location of these will be decided by the government in mid 2025. Not all ITP business divisions within Te Pūkenga will be able to be established as independent entities in 2026.
ITP EAGs Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Establishment Advisory Groups	These groups will exist from mid-2025 until the end of the year to support the set up of the ITPs that are being established at the beginning of 2026. Their focus is on establishing the regional polytechnics as they are split out from the national entity of Te Pūkenga.
ITOs Industry Training Organisations	Before the Reform of Vocational Education in 2023 all work-based training was delivered by ITOs. In 2023 the majority of work-based training done in ITOs moved into Te Pūkenga, becoming the work-based learning divisions. Many of the entities continued to use their ITO branding even though ITOs did not technically exist in the system from 2023. These work-based learning divisions of Te Pūkenga will move into ISBs on 1 January 2026, for up to 2 years.
PTEs Private Training Establishments	PTEs are registered with and quality assured by NZQA. They are training providers who have met specific requirements. Training providers (which are not a university, polytechnic or wānanga) must hold PTE registration to be eligible for TEC funding. PTEs may be companies or not-for-profit organisations.
VET Vocational Education and Training	Vocational education and training includes all provision at Levels 3 to 7 (non-degree) of the New Zealand qualifications and credentials framework as well as Level 2 when it is delivered in the workplace. It does not include degree level provision or foundation educations. VET can be delivered in the workplace (work-based) in a classroom/campus setting (provider-based) or by distance and online learning (extramural).
TEC Tertiary Education Commission	TEC’s core role in the VET system is funding. We fund the provision at this level in line with funding mechanisms from government.
NZQA New Zealand Qualifications Authority	NZQA assures the quality and integrity of New Zealand qualifications. The register providers, quality assure programmes and for some areas act as a standard setter. They also oversee the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice.

Why are you putting standard setting and delivery/arranging of training back together?

The training functions that are moving into the ISBs will only be there temporarily. By January 2028, no training will be delivered by ISBs. During the transition period, the training unit will sit within the ISB but will not be fully integrated into it.

How will you ensure ISBs manage the conflict of interest involved with being both the standard setter and a training deliverer?

During the transition period, each training unit will sit within the relevant ISB but will not be fully integrated into it, as this arrangement is only temporary.

If industries are grouped together in one ISB, will they stop having unique qualifications?

No. ISBs will be able to create and maintain standards, credentials and qualifications that are specific to the sectors they cover – in the same way Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) do.

I am worried that ISBs will only look after work-based learning.

ISBs will create and maintain standards, credentials and qualifications for all the sectors they cover at the vocational level. This will include products that support provider-based (including polytechnic) delivery, and extramural programmes as well as work-based learning.

Will the work-based learning division of the new ISB be able to continue developing programmes? Or does all new development stop on 1 January 2026?

The focus for work-based learning during the transition period (where the training units sit within the ISBs) will be on preparing for transfer, rather than growing. There will, however, be cases where new standards, credentials or qualifications will be required to meet industry needs. In these cases, new provision will be supported.

What is happening with standard setting and delivery for secondary to tertiary transition programmes like Gateway and Trades Academies?

We will be looking at how these programmes will be supported, and expect this information to be covered in the transition plans developed by WDCs and Te Pūkenga work-based learning divisions.

What will happen to WDCs? What will be done to ensure expertise in WDCs is retained in the new system?

The standard-setting functions of WDCs will continue until the end of 2025, when they will be disestablished and ISBs will be stood up. In the upcoming months, WDCs will develop plans to transfer relevant functions to ISBs.

ISBs have a more targeted role than WDCs. It is expected that some WDC staff involved in these functions will transition into ISBs.

Who is responsible for determining who is eligible to become a new PTE or work-based provider? What will the criteria be?

NZQA determines whether an organisation has the appropriate capability to become a registered provider (PTE). TEC determines whether the provider's offering is suitable for government funding. Funding decisions will be informed by industry preferences about a network of provision.

Will regional ITPs be able to offer programmes nationally?

Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) are being set up to deliver regionally, to maximise the strength of local knowledge. We expect that this will be the main focus of their provision, however we will consider other arrangements if these have the support of industry.

Do Managed Apprentices stay with their Polytech provider or move to an ISB in January 2026?

We are currently working through the detail of what Managed Apprenticeships will look like in the future. Currently, no changes are expected for Managed Apprentices already enrolled with a Polytechnic.

What is happening with ITOs?

ITOs ceased to exist in 2022, although many Te Pūkenga work-based learning business divisions continued to use their old ITO names. Te Pūkenga work-based learning divisions will move temporarily into ISBs. This work-based learning will move into providers (including polytechnics, wananga and PTEs) by 31 December 2027.

How will industry continue to have a voice in the system when there is only provider-based learning for their sector?

An ISB will take on vocational standard setting for its entire sector, not just for the work-based learning elements. This means it will be responsible for all standards, credentials and qualifications for that sector.

The term "industry" is very broad. When you say industry will inform choices who do you mean?

ISBs have a role in communicating industry voice, and their governance will be industry led. ISBs will work with established industry groups and associations as well as employers and other sector stakeholders. ISBs will be expected to put in place mechanisms that identify the needs of all industries they represent.

What expectations does TEC have regarding collaboration between the ISB Establishment Advisory Groups?

We have an expectation for all ISBs and ISB Establishment Advisory Groups that they work together cooperatively, especially where the qualifications they cover will impact multiple sectors.

For industries that move to NZQA, who will provide workforce advice and undertake the industry engagement for these industries?

These functions within ISBs (including the advice to TEC) will only exist for sectors covered by ISBs. If you consider that one of the sectors currently proposed to move to NZQA needs to have advice to TEC associated with it, please complete the consultation survey and suggest the most appropriate ISB to cover that sector.

When will the new funding parameters for WBL be released? This is a critical pathway for all providers as business owners.

The work-based learning funding rates will be published after Budget 2026.