Menu

Home Kāinga
Latest news Ngā karere
Publications Pānuitanga
Work with us Tuia mai
FAQs and answers
Contact us
Working with you to

Strengthen the construction and infrastructure workforce.

Find out more

Construction & Infrastructure contribute:

15 %

NZ workforce 2022

$52747 m

NZ GDP 2022 (14.4%)

98256

business units 2022

Latest news

Let’s level up: realising the potential of the disabled workforce
11/11/24

Let’s level up: realising the potential of the disabled workforce

We are proud to launch this groundbreaking research, which reveals the hidden potential of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s disabled workforce. Commissioned from All is for All...
Read more
Keeping Building Construction & Allied Trade Skills relevant
07/11/24

Keeping Building Construction & Allied Trade Skills relevant

We are reviewing Building Construction and Allied Trade Skills (BCATS) qualifications and standards to ensure they are fit for purpose. New Zealand Certificate in Building, Construction, and...
Read more
Showcasing Kaiapoi High School’s building course
31/10/24

Showcasing Kaiapoi High School’s building course

Supporting schools is an important part of our mahi. We do this by visiting schools, organising and running cluster moderation events, and carrying out desk-top...
Read more
Is the grass really greener?
24/10/24

Is the grass really greener?

The long-held belief that Australia offers better financial opportunities for New Zealanders in the construction and infrastructure sectors may no longer hold true, according to...
Read more
Building skills for life
23/10/24

Building skills for life

Rolleston Prison Construction Yard staff hosted Tracy-Lee Burkhart, Qualification Developer, in September.  Tracy-Lee was keen to learn about the construction industry training programme and the methodology...
Read more
Micro-credential and skill standards for exterior cleaning
16/10/24

Micro-credential and skill standards for exterior cleaning

We’re excited to announce that we have begun the development of a micro-credential for exterior cleaning and associated skill standards to support this micro-credential. Why...
Read more
New skill standards on the way for Wheels, Tracks & Rollers (WTR)
10/10/24

New skill standards on the way for Wheels, Tracks & Rollers (WTR)

We are in the initial stages of developing new skill standards, or potentially a single standard, for Wheels, Tracks, and Rollers (WTR) to replace the...
Read more
Call for Māori workforce to get upskilled to address the construction and building skills crisis
09/10/24

Call for Māori workforce to get upskilled to address the construction and building skills crisis

With New Zealand facing a critical shortage of 375,000 skilled construction workers over the next three years, a new plan aimed at boosting Māori participation...
Read more
Strengthening assessment practices: Assurance project updates
20/09/24

Strengthening assessment practices: Assurance project updates

The Waihanga Ara Rau Assurance team has been busy with projects and webinars over the last few months. Check out some highlights below: Compliance Training...
Read more
Temporary Traffic Management Credentials Framework – what it means for providers
20/09/24

Temporary Traffic Management Credentials Framework – what it means for providers

The Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) sector has developed a TTM Credentials Framework to reflect the requirements of New Zealand’s new risk-based approach to TTM. This...
Read more
Leading the way in workforce development with outstanding support from education providers
19/08/24

Leading the way in workforce development with outstanding support from education providers

In a resounding endorsement of our efforts, we’ve received a vote of confidence from education providers across New Zealand. According to a survey conducted by...
Read more
Supporting good assessor practice
15/08/24

Supporting good assessor practice

We recently hosted a successful series of webinars on Assessor Practice, with over 150 people attending from a number of schools, ITPs and PTEs. The...
Read more
Carpentry Skill Standards development
14/08/24

Carpentry Skill Standards development

Share your thoughts! Contribute to the development of new carpentry skill standards. We’re excited to announce that we’re developing new skill standards for the carpentry...
Read more
The future of vocational education for construction & infrastructure
05/08/24

The future of vocational education for construction & infrastructure

A government proposal containing options for the future structure of the vocational education and training system has been released. It’s important that we have a...
Read more
New Plumbing Gasfitting and Drainlaying apprenticeship model
23/07/24

New Plumbing Gasfitting and Drainlaying apprenticeship model

A new Plumbing Gasfitting and Drainlaying (PGD) apprenticeship model will begin in January 2025. The new model will deliver more flexible training and a better learning...
Read more
Infrastructure Site Supervision Review
11/07/24

Infrastructure Site Supervision Review

Our project reviewing qualifications for infrastructure site supervision pathways is progressing well. From February to May we consulted with industry via a survey and held nationwide meetings...
Read more
Water Services development of skills and pathways
11/07/24

Water Services development of skills and pathways

We are conducting a comprehensive review of water services qualifications and standards to ensure they meet industry needs. We are excited to support the industry...
Read more
Young Kiwis doubt strength and smarts for Construction jobs
09/07/24

Young Kiwis doubt strength and smarts for Construction jobs

According to our latest research, many young New Zealanders are steering clear of careers in construction, engineering, and infrastructure, viewing them as too physical and...
Read more
Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Apprentice Training Model Roadshows
21/06/24

Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Apprentice Training Model Roadshows

Kokiri Whakamua | Move Forward is a roadshow about the new Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (PGD) apprenticeship model that will begin in January 2025. The...
Read more
BCATS skill standards to be graded
17/06/24

BCATS skill standards to be graded

As part of the development of Building Construction and Allied Trades Skills, BCATS skill standards to replace the current unit standards, the decision was made...
Read more
Update from our Chief Executive
30/05/24

Update from our Chief Executive

As a key person in the Construction and Infrastructure sector, you play a crucial role in the vocational education and training system, and you may...
Read more
Unlocking potential: What the research tells us about the current enablers of employment for disabled people
24/05/24

Unlocking potential: What the research tells us about the current enablers of employment for disabled people

What are the untapped economic and social impacts of empowering disabled people in the workforce, and how can we unlock that potential? This is especially...
Read more
Skill standards good practice project
23/05/24

Skill standards good practice project

The introduction of skill standards allows us to reset how the vocational education system delivers the skills industry needs. We’re working with ConCOVE and Hummingbird...
Read more
From overlooked to in demand: making the trades more tempting
23/05/24

From overlooked to in demand: making the trades more tempting

The construction and infrastructure workforce is facing many challenges right now. Skilled people are starting to leave the industry, either to move to other industries...
Read more
Building the future
18/05/24

Building the future

How Waihanga Ara Rau is working with the construction & infrastructure sector. Waihanga Ara Rau, the Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council, is poised to...
Read more
Core Construction Skill Standards
12/04/24

Core Construction Skill Standards

Share your thoughts! Contribute to the development of new core construction skill standards to help define the skills needed for construction industries. These skill standards...
Read more
Be part of building the pathway for the next generation of leaders
04/04/24

Be part of building the pathway for the next generation of leaders

Join our Te Manu Arataki Leadership Project webinars New Zealand has diverse enterprises, including numerous small and micro businesses and a thriving Māori business ecosystem....
Read more
The sky’s the limit for businesses that retain good people
21/03/24

The sky’s the limit for businesses that retain good people

Using Māori concepts to lift workplace culture. It’s no secret that keeping good people is key to getting the job done and done well. With...
Read more
Identifying skills needs in the regions
21/03/24

Identifying skills needs in the regions

We help the construction and infrastructure industry on a regional basis by identifying the skills a region needs; and ensuring qualifications suit industry needs and...
Read more
Reducing barriers for the future workforce
18/03/24

Reducing barriers for the future workforce

Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro-Rau join forces with All is for All. “Employment outcomes haven’t substantially improved for Disabled people in at least 30 years,”...
Read more
Waihanga Ara Rau charts the course for 2025
29/02/24

Waihanga Ara Rau charts the course for 2025

Empowering the construction and infrastructure Workforce As New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure sectors continue navigating through a landscape marked by challenges and opportunities, Waihanga Ara...
Read more
Joint WDC approach to maximise potential within the disabled community
24/01/24

Joint WDC approach to maximise potential within the disabled community

One significant resource that has been historically overlooked is the estimated twenty-four per cent of New Zealanders who are living with a disability. Waihanga Ara...
Read more
New micro-credentials for Temporary Traffic Management
06/12/23

New micro-credentials for Temporary Traffic Management

Two new micro-credentials for Temporary Traffic Management have been approved by New Zealand Qualifications Authority | Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa (NZQA). These are: Temporary...
Read more
New micro-credential for Underground Utility Location
06/12/23

New micro-credential for Underground Utility Location

A new micro-credential for Underground Utility Location has been approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority | Mana Tohu Mātauranga o Aotearoa (NZQA). This is...
Read more
Digging deep to keep the people who have the skills to build
05/12/23

Digging deep to keep the people who have the skills to build

With increasing work to be done and projects that need completing across construction and infrastructure, we’ve started to dig deeper into why people leave the...
Read more
Building tomorrow’s workforce
05/12/23

Building tomorrow’s workforce

Trades Essentials in action We’re working alongside Workforce Central Dunedin to address workforce needs now and for the future. In collaboration with Hanga-Aro-Rau, we’ve developed...
Read more

With industry, for industry.

Building a highly skilled workforce.

See what qualifications we're working on

Building a highly skilled workforce.

See what qualifications we're working on

We develop and maintain qualifications, unit standards and micro-credentials for the construction and infrastructure industries, ensuring professionals are equipped with the right skills and knowledge to excel. See if we're working on any updates for your industry right now.
Be empowered to make informed decisions.

Explore workforce development plans

Be empowered to make informed decisions.

Explore workforce development plans

We develop Workforce Development Plans that give you insights tailored to your industry sector and region. These help you stay ahead of the curve, anticipate industry trends and make strategic workforce decisions that help grow a skilled workforce.
Build inclusion, boost retention.

Discover resources for trade employers

Build inclusion, boost retention.

Discover resources for trade employers

Level up your workplace culture with practical guides to flexible work, menopause, active bystander intervention, and more.

Get our news as it happens

Keep up to date with Waihanga Ara Rau news delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up now