Background
In February 2019, the then Minister Chris Hipkins announced proposed sweeping reforms to the entire vocational education system. In the years since, and with changes of Government, there have been a series of announcements and consultations. This has included the disestablishment of Industry Training Organisations (ITOs), the creation and then disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), and now, the creation of Industry Skills Boards (ISBs), and ‘industry-led’ Private Training Enterprises (PTEs).
We will continue to update this page regularly with key milestones in the ongoing Redesign of Vocational Education, and also provide regular updates via our Skills for Good newsletters.
As has been the case throughout this reform/redesign journey since it first kicked off in 2019, our top priority has been to minimise any related disruption to our employers and learners. As employers, you can absolutely continue to enrol learners, with complete confidence that they will be able to complete their training programmes and be awarded their qualifications.
For further information on the redesign of vocational education, please visit the Ministry of Education website or the TEC website.
Latest update
January 2026
On 1 January, Careerforce transitioned out of Te Pūkenga and into the Education, Health and Community Industry Skills Board (ISB), as a distinct business division. This is for a maximum period of up to two years. During this time, it is expected that industry need to determine their future training provision requirements, including the potential for Careerforce to transition into an industry-governed Private Training Establishment (PTE), as is already underway for many other Te Pūkenga Work Based Learning divisions. You can read more about the Education, Health and Community ISB here.
December 2025
Te Pūkenga (now known as the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or NZIST), will be disestablished and new entities called Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) have been established. Responsibility for work-based training will be transferred from NZIST to the new ISBs from 1 January 2026.
On 1 January 2026, the Careerforce business division of NZIST (including all existing programmes and training activities) will transfer, as a distinct business division, into the Education, Health and Community ISB.
12 September 2025
2 July 2025 – confirmation that eight Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will be established, including one with Health & Community coverage. ISB’s will assume the standard setting responsibilities currently held by Workforce Development Councils (WDCs). The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) confirms that Careerforce will transition into the Health & Community ISB on 1 January 2026, as a distinct business division. Members of the Establishment Advisory Group (EAG) for the Health & Community ISB, that are responsible for ensuring the ISB can successfully stand up as an organisation on day one have subsequently been confirmed as:
- Jen Pelvin (Chair)
- Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti
- Orquidea Tamayo Mortera
Further information on the role of the EAGs can be found here.
The TEC have since sought nominations (from industry) for representatives of the inaugural ISB Boards, to be in place from 1 January 2026. Nominations closed 29 August, and announcements from TEC are expected shortly.