By Matthew Dolan NZPPI Chief Executive
There are number of decisions being made in the vocational education space over the next few months that will determine how our workforce is trained in the future.
This is the result of the education reforms that started almost a decade ago and are now finally being implemented. This is an important opportunity for our sector to build a training system that works for us.
One of the biggest changes is that responsibility for developing and maintaining qualifications has now moved from the Primary ITO to a new Industry Skills Board (ISB), while the delivery of training will be undertaken by training providers, including polytechs and training companies.
The Primary ITO itself is also changing, transitioning from a government agency into a new training company that will operate alongside other training businesses.
This is a positive step. The changes will separate the development of qualifications from the delivery of training.
This was a significant discussion point at our recent conference, where we heard frustration about the nursery qualifications being out of date and lacking relevance for trainees and employers. Updating the standards will require significant investment if they are to become useful again.
This presents us with a choice. Should we invest in updating the existing unit standards, or should we take the opportunity to rethink how qualifications are structured altogether?
A problem with the current system is duplication across sectors.
Take plant identification as an example. There are currently six unit standards covering this core skill, one standard each for nursery, landscaping, arboriculture, ecological restoration or fruit production, indoor cropping and garden maintenance.
Instead of maintaining several standards that teach the same skill, we could remove duplication by developing one high-quality standard that is shared across all these sectors. Each industry could then apply that knowledge in ways that reflect its own work.
There are many other opportunities to simplify and improve the system that will result in better quality training. It also gives learners skills that are recognised across a wider range of careers, making it easier for people to move between sectors as their careers develop.
If we engage in this work early and work with aligned sectors, we have an opportunity to influence the future direction of the system. If we do not, others will be happy to make those decisions for us.
This is an important conversation. It is also an exciting one. The opportunity to fix the longstanding issues and frustrations with the system will happen later this year.
NZPPI is encouraging the discussion with our members and the other plants and environment sectors.
Contact NZPPI to share your feedback.
Read Matthew Dolan's commentary on workforce shortages: Why you can't fill your skilled roles (and it's going to get harder) - April 2026
Learn more about Plant Careers and NZPPI's workforce and education programmes.