Update to hairdressing, salon skills and barbering qualifications

Important information for providers delivering hairdressing, salon skills and barbering qualifications
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Important information for providers delivering hairdressing, salon skills and barbering qualifications

August 2025

This notice is for education providers delivering qualifications and unit standards in hairdressing, salon skills and barbering that reference the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980.

These regulations were revoked by the Government at the end of July 2025. In their place, the Ministry of Health has issued new public health guidance for the hairdressing and barbering industry, which can be viewed by clicking the button below.

In response to this regulatory change, Toi Mai WDC has issued a moderation ruling for the assessment of relevant unit standards and qualifications.

Public Health Guidance for Hairdressers and Barbers (Ministry of Health)

Key points for providers

Providers submitting assessment material for pre-moderation no longer need to reference the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980.

As best practice, providers can now reference the replacement Public Health Guidance for Hairdressers and Barbers 2025 in place of the regulations.

Learners must continue to be taught and assessed on the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and other relevant legislation and guidelines. These should be clearly contextualised to the hairdressing and barbering environments.

For post-moderation of assessments conducted after July 2025, references to the 1980 regulations are no longer required.

Providers with existing assessments can remove reference to the 1980 regulations and do not need to resubmit currently approved assessment material.

Please note

All Toi Mai unit standards in hairdressing, salon skills and barbering that currently reference the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980 will be revised and updated when they are next reviewed.

For qualifications, if they are already being reviewed, the update will be made during that process. All others will be republished shortly with the new guidance reference.

Further information on the regulatory change can be found on the Ministry for Regulations website:

Hairdressing and barbering industry regulatory review (Ministry for Regulation)

Any questions?

If you have further questions, please email us at moderation@toimai.nz

Level 3, Tower B 49-61 Tory Street, Wellington, New Zealand

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