Minister Listens To Industry On Training

Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds has been praised for having listened to industry voices and giving them the lead on work-based training.

MinEx, the national Health and Safety Council for the extractives sector, was among a number of industry bodies which feared the Government would dominate its new industry skills boards (ISBs) in organising industry training and let polytechs do most of the delivery.

MinEx CEO, Wayne Scott, says Ms Simmonds deserves real credit for her announcement today that industries will get more control over how they train people.

"We were concerned departmental officials wanted the new ISBs to coordinate industry training and polytechnics to deliver much of it.

"We asked for it to be work-based, led and owned by industries like ours which are really connected to their trainees and the skills they need to develop."

He says the new ISBs that set training standards, endorse programmes and moderate assessments are welcomed and necessary so long as industry representatives dominate board positions.

"That’s what the Minister seems to be saying."

"For too long under successive Governments, the needs of industry have been ignored, and officials who thought they knew better have decided what training was needed by workplaces.

"This saw some private organisations precluded from providing training with particular impacts on smaller and more remote employers who wanted to upskill their staff on-site or nearby."

Wayne Scott says Cabinet has listened to industry and Ms Simmonds deserves particular credit, given she was a polytech CEO before entering Parliament in 2023.

Ms Simmonds says the Government is making changes to work-based learning so industries have more influence over how they train apprentices and trainees.

She says industry representatives made it clear that the current work-based learning model is not delivering because it has become overly centralised through Te Pūkenga, the national network for polytechnics.

"As a result, the training of apprentices and other workers is often disconnected from the realities of the jobs they are working towards. "

"Beginning next year, the Government will introduce a new, independent and industry-led model for work-based learning.

"This means vocational education and training providers will be able to manage all aspects of an apprenticeship or traineeship at an industry level, rather than taking direction from a centralised behemoth.

"This is great for learners because it makes their learning more relevant to their employment, and it is beneficial to businesses who will gain access to more capable workers to boost their productivity and deliver economic growth.

"Public and industry consultation clearly showed that this model was the preferred option, and this Government is proud to deliver the changes that we called for," Ms Simmonds says.

From 1 January 2026:

- New ISBs will be set up to set training standards, endorse programmes and moderate assessments.

- Apprentices and trainees currently with Te Pūkenga will move to the ISBs for up to two years.

- New students will enrol directly with new work-based learning private providers, polytechnics, or wānanga.

- ISBs will be able to enrol new learners until other providers are set up to deliver work-based learning.

"So, if you’re a learner or an employer - keep going. Your qualifications are essential, and your training is valuable. There will be no disruption, your training stays on track," Ms Simmonds says.

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