Mō Te Pūkenga

About Us

Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology is a national network for all the country’s 25 polytechnics and industry training organisations founded to better serve the needs of ākonga, employers and communities.

A change in direction

Te Pūkenga is currently in a process of disestablishment following the change in direction given in December 2023 Letter of Expectations (LoE) from the Tertiary Education and Skills Minister. The Government no longer wants a centralised approach to vocational education and instead wants to restore decision-making to regional institutions.

Our journey

During 2018 –2023, New Zealand vocational education underwent significant reforms. The aim was to create a sustainable system responsive to the fast-changing world of skills, learning and work, and to better serve the needs of ākonga, employers and communities.

In April 2020 the creation of Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology was an outcome of the vocational education reform. This involved bringing together the 16 ITPs and 9 ITOs into a single, national, unified network of regionally accessible vocational education and training.

Since its establishment, Te Pūkenga has undergone significant organisational change to support the then Government's objectives and achieve the goals outlined in the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE) strategy.

What's next?

Te Pūkenga executive leadership team is progressing a transition plan to align with the Minister’s expectations.

Our educational priorities

A relentless focus on equity and ensuring participation

We honour and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all we do.
Deliver customised learning approaches

Meet the needs of learners and trainees, wherever they are.
Fit for purpose

Services meet the specific regional needs or employers and communities
Success is smooth

Transition educational services in a smooth and efficient manner.

Our desired outcomes

Our network is grounded in nine outcomes that reflect our Charter:

Give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all that we do.
Provide exceptional learning experiences and equitable outcomes for Māori.
Be learner centred. Recognise the diverse and unique needs of all learners, with a focus on the unmet needs of Māori, Pacific and disabled learners, and staff, to empower diversity, belonging, and wellbeing.
Partner with employers to deliver relevant work-integrated education that meets skills needs.
Be responsive and empowering to staff and learners.
Become a connected and future focussed education provider driven by innovation, collaboration, research, data driven decision-making and teaching excellence.
Delivering regional flexibility and nationally consistent outcomes. Create-barrier free access, mobility across, and clear pathways within the network for learners.
Become a sustainable network of provision creating social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing.
Focus on efficient and cost-effective delivery across the network.