Please be assured, all BCITO industries, employers and apprentices will continue to receive great support from us through this transition. While there is transfer of ownership from Te Pūkenga to industry, this should not 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 present Government is introducing 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).

Te Pūkenga’s work-based learning divisions (including BCITO) along with our learners will transfer to an ISB at the beginning of 2026.

Work-based learning divisions can also apply to transition from the ISBs to Private Training Establishments (PTEs), which would take over the delivery of training. In collaboration with industry, BCITO is advocating strongly for the establishment of an industry-owned and led PTE under the BCITO brand and is in the process of applying to NZQA and TEC for their approval for BCITO to transition to this.

Although there will be changes to reporting lines and ownership for BCITO during this time, courses and qualifications will continue to be delivered, and every effort will be made to ensure that training is not disrupted. BCITO staff will continue to work with employers and enrol learners as we do to today through all transition phases – it is vital for industry that we continue to respond to their training needs and maintain our high levels of service.

For further information on vocational education reform visit the TEC website.

If you have any questions, please contact us Communications@bcito.org.nz

Development of a Private Training Establishment (PTE)

Considerable work has been undertaken on establishing an industry-owned and governed Private Training Establishment (PTE) for BCITO’s current learners, employers, industries, and staff in 2026.

Formation of the PTE is led by the Construction Growth Foundation (CGF) in close collaboration with BCITO. Originally named the Building and Construction Training Fund (BCTF), the CGF was established in October 2021, as part of BCITO’s transition into Te Pūkenga. The CGF represents 17 industry association members.

Establishing a PTE includes registering an industry owned organisation. The CGF has consulted the relevant industry associations on this and has received outstanding support, and registration of the charitable industry organisation that will operate the BCITO PTE was approved in August.

The next stage in the PTE process involves detailed applications to NZQA and TEC, which are well underway. We are currently reaching out to our industry partners, employers and apprentices to support this process. As part of this we are asking our employers and apprentices to show your support and take part in a brief survey. This is open until the end of August – if you are a member of industry, we encourage you to have your say here: