Waihanga Ara Rau has worked closely with employers, apprentices, training providers, and industry associations to identify key challenges and develop solutions that will create a more flexible, transparent, and supportive Building Pathway.
This report is an essential read for employers, training providers, apprentices, and industry organisations who want to stay informed and be involved in shaping the future of the building trades.
Industry, providers and learners have told us that while they highly value the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry, it doesn’t work for everyone.
This report outlines the insights and solutions developed in response to industry feedback. It provides:
To complement existing qualifications, we are introducing micro-credentials as part of the Building Pathway. These will:
Introducing skill standards creates a common set of ‘building blocks’ for all construction qualifications. It makes it easier for everyone to understand what learners are being taught, how they’re progressing, and what they’ll be able to do once they’re qualified.
Using the same skill standards across qualifications also clarifies which skills are shared between different trades and training pathways.
In 2024, we worked with industry to develop Core Construction and Carpentry skill standards that would act as the ‘building blocks’ for an updated Building Pathway.
For the rest of the year, we will work with industry to review existing qualifications and develop micro-credentials based on these new skill standards.
Completed in 2024
Underway now
Develop a micro-credential(s) and supporting guidance information for onsite environmental sustainability across construction environments.
Alongside the review of NZC Carpentry (Level 4) and NZC Construction Trades Skills (Level 3), consult with industry and develop micro-credentials for areas of technical trade skills identified for:
As the suite of concrete qualifications and skill standards are developed, consult with industry and develop required micro-credentials for:
Targeted consultation to explore opportunities to support tradespeople to further develop skills that support them to be effective trade professionals (e.g. personal and professional development, interpersonal skills).
Use existing core construction and carpentry skill standards to develop micro-credential(s) for new starters.
Targeted consultation to confirm support and demand for the development new credentials for the following areas:
Provide transition information between micro-credentials, current building qualifications and the new skill standards in the Carpentry Programme Guidance.
