HITO and Te Pūkenga

August 2024 update – Vocational Education and Training Consultation

Industry training in New Zealand plays a crucial role in developing a skilled workforce and ensuring that people are equipped with the knowledge and competencies necessary to meet the demands of various industries.

The government is currently reviewing the structure of the vocational education and training sector.

Hon. Penny Simmonds, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, has released the proposed plan for the future of vocational education and training (VET) system in New Zealand.

The plan includes a six-week consultation period, 1 August – 12 September, in which New Zealanders are encouraged to have their say on the proposed structure, and what they believe is the best structure for New Zealand.

Three proposals for feedback:

The change proposal is divided into 3 parts: Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs), Former Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) and Funding.

Part 1 – Institute of Technology and Polytechnic (ITP) proposal

It is proposed that those ITPs that are financially viable get to be autonomous, stand-alone entities operating within their region and those ITPs that are not financially viable become a federation of ITPs supported by Open Polytechnic.
Feedback is being asked for on whether this seems to be a good model for going forward. No specifics on which ITPs would be stand-alone vs which would be part of the federation have been provided in the proposal. You can provide feedback by emailing vocationaleducation.reforms@education.govt.nz

Part 2 – Industry Training Organisation (ITO)/Work Based Learning proposal

There are two options to provided feedback on.

Option 1 – Industry Training Boards – return to a model similar to the previous ITO model with up to 8 organisations responsible for standard setting and arranging of training. It is not yet decided whether there would be a monopoly for these Industry Training Boards on the arranging of training.
Option 2 – Separate Standard setting and arranging training organisations. This would involve up to 8 organisations operating a scaled down version of Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) to look after standard setting. Those industries not engaged with current industry training/arranging of training are proposed to be returned to NZQA. Those current WBL divisions undertaking arranging of training would set up as stand-alone organisations, similar to PTEs, to offer the arranging of training component in direct competition with ITPs and PTEs, who would also offer arranging of training.
Feedback in being asked for on which option is preferred and whether there should be a monopoly on arranging training. You can provide feedback by emailing vocationaleducation.reforms@education.govt.nz

Part 3 – Funding

Restore funding rates similar to previous Student Achievement Component (SAC) funding rates.
Stop the Strategic Component Fund and increase provider funding by 10% from 2025.Provide feedback on a return to similar funding to previous.
Reprioritise funding from work-based learning to fund standard setting separately from arranging training. Regardless of which option is chosen for the ITO/WBL proposal, standard setting would be funded separately.
Feedback is being asked for on the funding model. You can provide feedback by emailing vocationaleducation.reforms@education.govt.nz

Once decisions are made, new policy will be developed. Expected date for implementation is 1 January 2026.

Key dates:

1 August – 12 September 2024 – Consultation open. A number of in person and on line events are planned to support the consultation (see below).
October – December 2024 – Decisions to be taken and confirmed, With recommendations to cabinet end of November
January – June 2025 – Legislative process will occur
1 January 2026 – New system comes into effect

Consultation events:

Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and Ministry of Education (MoE) are holding face-to-face consultation events using the 16 ITPs for venues and have provided the following information about sessions.

For those who are unable to attend a face-to-face session, online events will be available. We will provide more details on venues and registrations as they become available.

Gillian Dudgeon (TEC) and Katrina Sutich (MoE) will travel to the region to hold the meetings and spend the afternoon in the region. These face-to-face regional sessions will also have an associated online session for those that are unable to attend in person.

For consultation event dates and to register to attend, visit https://www.tec.govt.nz/vocational-education/vocational-education/consultation-on-proposed-changes-to-the-vocational-education-and-training-vet-system/

Face-to-face public meetings

Date	Location	Details	Registration
Tuesday 13 August	South Auckland Manukau Institute of Technology – Manukau Campus Manukau Station Road, Auckland, Level 1, Lecture Theatre, Room 110	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Wednesday 14 August	Central Auckland Unitec – Mt Albert Campus 139 Carrington Road, Mount Albert, Auckland Room 183-1104	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Tuesday 13 August	Christchurch Ara – Ara City Campus 130 Madras Street Christchurch Central City Te Puna Wanaka – Wharenui, Room TM 102	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Wednesday 14 August	Greymouth Tai Poutini Polytechnic, 73 87 Tainui Street, Greymouth Meeting Room CB1/2, Campbell Building	2:30pm – 3:30pm	Register here
Thursday 15 August	Northland Whangarei Northtec – Whare Kai D200 and can be located via Gate 1 off Raumanga Valley Road	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Thursday 15 August	Nelson NMIT Nelson, 322 Hardy Street entrance A Block – Room A, 211 Lecture theatre	2:30pm – 3:30pm	Register here
Monday 19 August	Dunedin/Otago Otago Polytechnic – The Hub, Dunedin Campus 95 Forth Street, Dunedin	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Tuesday 20 August	Invercargill Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), 133 Tay St, Invercargill (Cnr of Ythan and Forth Streets)	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Wednesday 21 August	Taranaki WITT Te Pūkenga – New Plymouth campus 20 Bell Street, Welbourn, New Plymouth Block A, room A103	3pm – 4pm	Register here
Thursday 22 August	Palmerston North UCOL – Palmerston North campus 18 Princess Street, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North Room 7.2.07	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Monday 26 August	Rotorua Toi Ohomai – Mokoia Campus G210 Mokoia Drive, Mokoia, Rotorua	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Tuesday 27 August	Tauranga Toi Ohomai – Windermere Campus H110 70 Windermere Drive, Tauranga	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here
Wednesday 28 August	Hamilton Wintec – Wintec House, Corner Ward and Anglesea Streets, Hamilton	Session 1 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the ITP proposal) Session 2 – 4pm to 5pm (Purpose: to explain the proposals, with a greater focus on the industry training proposals)	Register here

HITO and Te Pūkenga: Background and timeline

February 2019

Government announces a Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) with the key purpose to create a strong, unified, sustainable vocational education system that delivers the skills that learners, employers, and communities need to thrive.

April 2020

Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology is created, bringing together 16 Institutes of Technologies and Polytechnics (ITPs) and 9 Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) into a single unified and integrated network of vocational education, supporting work-based, on-campus, and online learning across Aotearoa New Zealand.

June 2022

HITO’s decision to transition into Te Pūkenga announced at HITO AGM.

September 2022

HITO becomes the HITO Business Division of the Work Based Learning Limited (WBL) subsidiary of Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

January 2023

HITO becomes part of national Te Pūkenga network.

December 2023:

Government announces it’s intention to disestablish Te Pūkenga.

August 2024

Hon. Penny Simmonds, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, releases the proposed plan for the future of vocational education and training (VET) system in New Zealand, including a six-week consultation period between 1 August and 12 September 2024.