Please be assured, all BCITO industries, employers and apprentices will continue to receive great support from us through this transition and this is not expected to impact our learners or employers.

In 2021, as part of the previous Government’s Reform of Vocational Education, BCITO became part of a newly established national vocational education provider Te Pūkenga along with all other Industry Training Organisations and polytechnics.

Following consultation with industry earlier this year, the Government has introduced an industry-led independent work-based learning model for vocational education. This involves disestablishing of Te Pūkenga and return of decision-making and ownership of vocational training to industry. The two key components of the independent model are:

• Work-based learning is able to be offered by any provider that meets the government’s quality and funding requirements: institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), private training establishments and wānanga. Providers will manage all aspects of an apprenticeship or traineeship, including the pastoral care for learners.
• New Industry Skills Boards (ISBs), being established early in 2026 to set training standards, endorse programmes and moderate assessments. These organisations are similar in scope to the existing Workforce Development Councils (WDCs). The Construction & Specialist Trades ISB has been established to support the building and construction sector.

In early December 2025, the Transport Construction and Specialist Trades ISB approved the transition of BCITO to a new industry owned Private Training Establishment (PTE) BCITO Ltd. This transition was also approved by NZQA and TEC.

The move of BCITO to become a PTE is firmly supported by construction industry associations and representatives of each of the 16 trades, who have been engaged throughout the consultation process on the transition.

BCITO will deliver work-based training as a PTE from 1 January 2026, having transferred over all staff, learners, programmes and assets from Te Pūkenga. No action is required by our employers and learners as BCITO transitions, and they will continue to work with the same people and complete the same programmes.

If you have any questions about this, you are welcome to contact us at communications@bcito.org.nz

About BCITO

The Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) is New Zealand’s leading building and construction apprenticeship provider. It is proudly New Zealand-owned, and with a 35-year track record, it is a trusted partner in the sector, delivering over 55,000 trade-qualified professionals in 16 different trades.