Ākuhata | August 2025

There is plenty happening on the reform front, including the Tertiary Education Commission consulting with industry to finalise the detailed coverage of the Industry Skills Boards. Read more below. Our August pānui also showcases an innovative new approach to qualification development, a practical new tax micro-credential for Pacific Creatives, plus useful industry insight and Toi Mai going to the Nui Te Kōrero arts hui.

The Tertiary Education Commission has been consulting with industry to finalise detailed coverage for each of the eight new Industry Skills Boards. Consultation closes 29 August 2025. 

Click the button to find out more and have your say.

ISB Boards – nominations closing

Nominations for the ISB Boards also close 29 August. Six of the eight ISB board members will come from industry, and two will be appointed by the Vocational Education Minister.

Establishment Advisory Group members

TEC announced the EAGs members for the ISBs earlier this month. Their responsibilities include selecting Chief Executive-designates and endorsing a “starting” organisational structure for ISB delivery of functions and responsibilities from 1 January 2026.

We are talking with industry, schools and other providers to help prepare our submission on the Government’s proposal to replace NCEA with new national qualifications. If you would like to talk with us email info@toimai.nz 

Consultation closes 15 September.

Active Recreation qualifications: a new approach

We’d like your feedback on a new approach we’ve created to streamline and improve how people get qualified in the active recreation sector.

There are currently heaps of qualifications in the recreation profession space, but many have overlapping content and several don’t get any use. The goal of this new approach is to help make sure employers get skilled, qualified workers to meet their workforce needs.

Watch the video and tell us what you think at info@toimai.nz

New tax qualification for Pacific creatives

A new Introduction to Taxation in the Creative sector micro-credential will give Pacific creatives such as musicians, digital designers and podcasters practical skills to help manage the financial side of their business. 

Toi Mai has engaged extensively with Pacific creatives who told us sole traders and small businesses urgently need this sort of flexible learning opportunity to improve their business skills. 

The micro-credential development was a collaborative effort led by Te Pūkenga with input from Toi Mai, Unitec’s School of Creative Industries, Launch Pad Fale and others. Approved by NZQA, it’s being delivered by provider Let’s Go Music and will be launched in September. A free pilot programme will run in October, supported by the Pacific Business Trust and Ringa Hora, Services Workforce Development Council. 

Entertainment & Event Tech: revised to remove barriers

The New Zealand Certificate in Entertainment and Event Technology (Level 4) has been revised with major changes made to remove barriers for learners.

This qualification has strands in entertainment rigging, lighting, audio, vision, stage management, stage mechanics and scenic construction.

Click the button for more information on the changes.

Evaluating Māori and Pacific wellbeing in the tech sector

Research commissioned by Toi Mai shows the wellbeing benefits of working in the technology sector to Māori and Pacific people and their children. 

Both Māori and Pacific people are under-represented in the tech sector, which would benefit from greater diversity.

The EY research Evaluating wellbeing in the Technology Sector focused on measuring a range of socioeconomic outcomes. Their findings highlight the importance of good income for intergenerational wellbeing, but suggest working in tech links with other benefits – beyond the effect of income – with better health and education outcomes for the children of Māori and Pacific people working in tech.

New research on our website

We recently published the EY research on our website, together with several other research reports we have used over the past three-and-a-half years to deepen our understanding of the industries we represent.