New Industry Skills Boards announced

The Government has decided that, following the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga, eight new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs) will begin operations from 1 January 2026 – after legislation passes later this year 

The Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill passed its first reading in Parliament in May 2025. It proposes creating a network of regional polytechnicals, which will operate as standalone institutions or within a federation.  

Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds said the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and creation of the new ISBs will “return decision making to local providers” and give the industry a voice in work-based learning. 

“This is all part of our plan to make sure that the training people receive is aligned to what industry needs, and skills are matched to ensure they are fit-for-purpose, paving the way for economic growth. We want to ensure our workforce across key growth sectors are ready to hit the ground running,” said Simmonds. 

“The ISBs will be led by industry experts, who know their trades and sectors best. They will set training standards, oversee quality and make sure apprenticeships and traineeships match what employers and students need.” 

The ISBs will also be in temporary charge of work-based training, currently overseen by Te Pūkenga, and will cover: 

• Automotive, transport and logistics. 

• Construction and specialist trades. 

• Food and fibre (including aquaculture). 

• Infrastructure. 

• Manufacturing and engineering. 

• Services. 

• Health and community. 

• Electrotechnology and information technology. 

Simmonds said that ISBs will have three main funding sources. They will receive some core public funding, they can choose to charge fees to fund their quality assurance functions, and industries can also choose to support ISBs through a levy. 

Simmonds said that New Zealand’s vocational learners will now enjoy more relevant and valuable training. 

“We want every apprentice and trainee to be confident their qualifications will be recognised by employers [who] can trust the system to deliver skilled workers ready to step into roles.. 

“This is a win for apprentices, trainees, employers and the economy. We’re building a modern, connected work-based learning system that supports quality jobs and drives the economic growth powering New Zealand’s future.”