Background
February 2019
Minister Chris Hipkins announced proposed sweeping reforms to the entire vocational education system, aimed at creating a stronger, more unified, and sustainable vocational education system.
August 2019
Following a period of public consultation, these reforms were largely confirmed to proceed.
- Industry Training Organisations (11) will be disestablished
- The 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) will be merged into a single NZ Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST), and will assume responsibility for supporting both workplace-based (on-job) training, and classroom-based (off-job) training
- Between 4 – 7 Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) will be established, and will assume responsibility for skills leadership and standard setting*
- Unified funding system, that funds all provider-based education and all industry training (levels 2-7)
December 2019
*In December 2019 Education Minister, Chris Hipkins, announced that there will be six industry-led Workforce Development Councils, one of which will be for Health, Community & Social Services, which encompasses most of Careerforce’s current coverage. Careerforce currently also has cleaning within its coverage, but the changes announced will see this sector fall within a Service Industries Workforce Development Council.
April 2020 – legislation passed, NZIST created (with ITP’s becoming subsidiaries) Refer website
April 2020 – ITOs became Transitional ITOs (TITOs)
June 2020 – Industry-led interim Establishment Boards appointed. More information about the Health, Community and Social Services WDC iEB here
May 2020 – Expressions of Interest sought re the establishment of Workforce Development Councils
August 2020 – Te Pūkenga is new name for NZIST. Refer website
December 2020 – February 2021 – WDC Order in Council Consultation.
March 2021 – WDC Nominations and Appointment Committees – EOI sought – more information
July and August 2021 – Careerforce undertook extensive stakeholder engagement to outline three possible ‘arranging training’ function transition options.
September 2021 – Careerforce announced decision to propose to TEC that it transitions its ‘arranging training’ function to Te Pūkenga at end December 2022 – more information
October 2021 – Careerforce’s standard setting functions were transitioned to the two Workforce Development Councils (WDCs):
- Toitū te Waiora – the WDC for Community, Health, Education and Social Services www.toitutewaiora.nz
- Ringa Hora – the WDC for Service industries, including cleaning www.ringahora.nz
October/November 2021 – Te Pukenga engaging on its draft Operating Model – more information
June 2022 – Careerforce Transition Plan into Te Pūkenga approved. Careerforce will transition its arranging training function, learners and employees to Te Pūkenga on 1 September 2022. – more information
September 2022 – Careerforce became a business division of Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning Limited.
