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About Us » Covid-19

Our response to Covid-19

Current settings – Covid-19 protection framework 

New Zealand has now moved to the Covid-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights). 

For more information on the Covid-19 Protection Framework, visit the Unite against Covid-19 website. 

Our position on vaccinations

Te Pūkenga has confirmed a default position statement for the network on Covid-19 vaccinations. It states that anyone visiting a Te Pūkenga network location (employees, learners, contractors, visitors, etc.) must be vaccinated, unless a local risk assessment determines otherwise.

All subsidiary organisations are completing (or have completed) risks assessments which will inform their local vaccination policy.

We are taking this risk-based approach as it allows us to strike a balance between inclusion and equity and our health and safety obligations. As parent organisation, we’re striving for consistency across the network and want to keep our ākonga (learners) and kaimahi (staff) safe, but we also recognise that some subsidiaries may have different requirements to meet the needs of their communities, iwi aspirations and the requirements of the Covid-19 Protection Framework traffic light system.

The statement applies to Te Pūkenga people, all Institutes of Training and Polytechnics, and Work-based Learning divisions that sit under Te Pūkenga.

You can read our position statement here: Te Pūkenga Position Statement regarding COVID-19 Vaccination

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The wellbeing and safety of kaimahi and ākonga is at the heart of everything we do. We want everyone in the network to be confident that they can attend our work locations safely (as far as practicable) without contracting Covid-19 that can be spread to their whānau when returning to their community.

    Following public health advice and direction from the Government, Te Pūkenga has confirmed a default position that anyone (including network employees, learners, contractors, and visitors) accessing a Te Pūkenga network location must be fully vaccinated, unless a local risk assessment states otherwise.

  • As the parent organisation for the network, Te Pūkenga is providing a default position on vaccine requirements. Each subsidiary is responsible for completing a risk assessment and developing a vaccination policy for their organisation based on the risk assessment.

    We are taking this risk-based approach as it allows us to strike a balance between inclusion and equity and our health and safety obligations. As the parent organisation, we’re striving for consistency across the network and want to keep our ākonga and kaimahi as safe as practicable, but we also recognise that some subsidiaries may have different requirements to meet the needs of their communities, iwi aspirations and the requirements of the Covid-19 Framework traffic light system.

  • The default position on vaccines applies to employees, learners, contractors and visitors who physically access Te Pūkenga network locations.

    Exemptions to this will be based on the outcome of any local risk assessments.

  • We recognise that digital solutions are an important part of managing vaccinations and that health information is particularly sensitive. Chief Information Officers across the network are collaborating on how we can do this safely and securely.

Useful links to information for students and learning providers

Ministry of Education advice for tertiary providers.

Ministry of Education advice for tertiary learners 

StudyLink information for learners 

Mental Health Foundation and NauMai for online mental health tools and guidance 

Ministry of Health for health advice, including vaccination information  

Unite against Covid-19 for information on settings and requirements 

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