New Zealand Apprenticeships are for anyone who:

  • Is aged 16 or older
  • Is working in an industry
  • Is completing an apprenticeship programme with an ITO (like HITO)

To make sure all apprentices, employers, and ITOs get the most out of apprenticeships, the Tertiary Education Commission has a Code of Good Practice. All parties should follow the guidelines set out in the Code.

You can download your own copy of the Code here.

An apprentice should:

  • Be informed – that means learning as much as possible about the industry they want to work in and the requirements of an apprenticeship before they start.
  • Be a good employee – a good apprentice is safe, professional, and respectful. They make sure to follow the terms set out in their employment agreement.
  • Be an active and committed learner – the apprentice follows their training plan and makes the effort to learn all the skills they need.
  • Communicate clearly – the apprentice communicates with their employer and HITO to make sure their training goes smoothly.

An employer should:

  • Be informed – a good employer will learn everything required for hiring and training an apprentice, and only an employer who is prepared to take on an apprentice will go ahead.
  • Be a good employer – the employer  will make sure their apprentice is healthy and safe, and be clear about their expectations of their employees.
  • Train and mentor employees – a good employer will provide the mentoring and training their apprentice needs to succeed in the workplace and gain their qualification.
  • Support access to off-job training – the employer will ensure their apprentice can attend any off-job training required.
  • Ensure the ITO has access to the apprentice – HITO will need to meet with the apprentice and communicate with them throughout their training.
  • Communicate clearly – the employer needs to communicate clearly with their apprentice and HITO around training and employment requirements.

HITO will:

  • Make sure apprentices and employers are well-informed – We will provide information about apprenticeships and training, including access to the Code of Good Practice.
  • Develop a training plan with the apprentice and employer – HITO will work with apprentices and employers to develop a training plan to make sure the apprentice can learn the skills they need within a suitable timeframe.
  • Support the implementation of the training plan – HITO will provide resources, support, and access to off-job training for the apprentice and employer as needed.
  • Support the apprentice and the employer – HITO provide guidance and resources to support apprentices and employers and help them overcome training barriers.
  • Communicate clearly – HITO will communicate clearly with the employer and apprentice around training and training progress.
  • Provide further support for the apprentice – if the employer cannot continue to train their apprentice, HITO will make reasonable efforts to help apprentices find new employers to continue their training.

All parties should work together to address any training issues. If further support is required, the Tertiary Education Commission can mediate.

HITO cannot provide information on employment disputes, but we can direct employers and apprentices to an appropriate place to find this information.

HITO