Construction Trade Skills for Future Qualifications

Home Construction trade skills

What’s included in this part of the project

the review of the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3)
the development of new skill standards listed in the table below.
specifying which skill standards will be required to achieve the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills in the future.

The process we followed

We’ve consulted extensively with employers, learners, and providers throughout 2025 to gather your feedback on the current qualification and opportunities for improvement.

We worked closely with our Technical Advisory Groups to design an updated Construction Trade Skills (“Pre-trade”) qualification based on the feedback we received.

We held a series of regional events, and we invited learners, employers and providers to give their feedback on proposals for a new, fit-for-purpose qualification.

These events were focused on confirming that:

the skills within the qualification align with industry’s expectations
the proposed changes enhance the qualification pathway
the qualification strikes the right balance between consistency and flexibility, so the qualification works for different trades, regions and situations.

The new qualification graduate profile outcomes (GPOs) have been reviewed and align with the newly developed core construction, carpentry and painting and decorating skill standards.

How this information is presented

This information shows how the proposed qualification outcomes and mandatory skill standards fit together to form the updated programme’s framework.

The information in the table below adds detail to the framework:

Graduate Profile Outcomes – these high-level statements describe what a graduate of the qualification will know, do and be.
Aligned skill standards – these are the standards ākonga (learners) will need to achieve to meet the graduate outcomes, and ultimately the qualification. We’ve included skill standards at L2 and L3 to recognise progression during training.

Download a summary of the key changes to the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3)

Proposed New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (version 3)

with optional strands in Carpentry and Specialist Trades.

View the full qualification document

	Aligned skill standards		Notes
	Level 2	Level 3
Apply safe and sustainable work practices in the construction trades sector (10 credits)	40291 Reduce material waste in a construction environment		These will be mandatory core skill standards for industries and pathways.
	40299 Implement practices to maintain a healthy and safe construction environment	40287 Contribute to a healthy and safe team in a construction environment
Communicate effectively in the construction sector (10 credits)	40289 Use and respond to trade language to progress construction tasks	40290 Respond to the construction environment when interacting with others
		Digital L3 Use digital tools to access and communicate information in a construction environment
Read and apply information from drawings and plans to complete introductory construction projects (5 credits)		40297 Interpret information from plans and documentation for construction tasks
Use measurements and calculations to complete familiar construction tasks (5 credits)	40294 Interpret measurements in a construction environment	40295 Problem-solve using calculations in a construction environment
	Carpentry pathway	Painting & Decorating pathway (one example for Specialist Trades)
Follow established industry methods, using familiar tools and materials, to carry out construction tasks (30 credits).	40310 Use and store hand and power tools for construction tasks 40286 Select and use common materials for construction tasks 40301 Work with timber materials for construction tasks 40803 Carry out site establishment tasks 40819 Carry out site set-out requirements 40813 Carry out sub-floor framing and flooring tasks	40502 Safely handle and store paint and decorating materials 40501 Select and use painting and decorating tools and equipment 40504 Apply paint by brush and roller to substrate surfaces 40503 Prepare surfaces for painting and finish 40288 Implement controls to manage hazardous substances in existing buildings and structures		Programmes will include sector specific skill standards or modules that focus on methods, tools and materials for practical skills in a construction sector/s. The skill standards listed for Carpentry will be required and included in Programme Guidance. An example for Specialist Trades is also listed – in this case for Painting & Decorating.
Optional Carpentry strand NOTE: These are the skill standards required to achieve the Carpentry strand.
Plan own tasks and manage resources to ensure safety within a structured carpentry project (10 credits).		40288 Implement controls to manage hazardous substances in existing buildings and structures 40304 Plan own tasks to fit within a construction work programme Business L3 Explain factors that impact on construction businesses
Use current construction processes and technologies to carryout assigned work for a carpentry project (40 credits).	Hazard awareness Identify common hazardous substance and safety controls in a construction environment	40311 Manage tools and equipment use in a construction environment 40788 Carry out insulation installation tasks 40303 Describe suitability of concrete used in construction 40821 Carry out internal finishing trim tasks Project Carry out construction tasks using standard techniques towards a project Site Awareness Maintain site awareness in a construction environment
Implement established project monitoring practices to ensure carpentry work meets industry standards (10 credits).		40300 Maintain standards of work in a construction environment Monitor & Evaluate Monitor and evaluate completion of own construction tasks
Optional Specialist Trades strand – Painting and Decorating pathway example NOTE: This is an example of a potential programme aligned with this strand. There will be a wide range of ways to meet the requirements for the Specialist Trades strand.
Plan own tasks and manage resources to ensure safety within a structured construction project (10 credits).		40304 Plan own tasks to fit within a construction work 40311 Manage tool and equipment use in a construction 40292 Protect the environment when undertaking construction work
Use current construction processes and technologies to carry out assigned work for a specialist trades project (40 credits).		40505 Apply paint by spray methods Project Carry out construction tasks using standard techniques towards a project Site Awareness Maintain site awareness in a construction environment
Implement established project monitoring practices to ensure work meets the industry standards of the specialist trade (10 credits).		40300 Maintain standards of work in a construction environment Monitor & Evaluate Monitor and evaluate completion of own construction tasks

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Construction Trade Skills (Level 3)

What’s included in this part of the project

The process we followed

How this information is presented

Proposed New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (version 3)