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Strengthen the construction and infrastructure workforce.
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in construction and infrastructure?
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Construction & Infrastructure contribute (2023):
13
%
of NZ workforce
$
54256
m
to NZ GDP (15.9%)
96976
businesses
82100
learners
Latest news
26/06/25
New Disability Action Plan sets direction for a more inclusive industry
Waihanga Ara Rau has launched a Disability Action Plan to help drive real change for disabled people working in, or connected to, the Construction and...
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25/06/25
Supporting employers to attract, grow and retain Māori talent
Whaia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei. Pursue that which is precious, and do not be deterred by anything less...
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09/06/25
Strengthening Short Course Training
Latest news from the Short Course Training Project The Short Course Training Project team has been focusing on changes to the Training and Assessment Guidance...
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29/05/25
Backflow device testing micro-credential
We’re excited to announce that we are in the final stages of developing a micro-credential for backflow device testing. Why is this important? Drinking water...
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27/05/25
Quality in focus: site visits underway for PGD and Scaffolding Block Courses
Two projects are now underway to better understand and strengthen how practical training is delivered and assessed in two key trades: Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying...
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22/05/25
New Gender Affirmation guidelines launched to support people in Construction and Infrastructure.
With around 60,000 employees in New Zealand identifying as trans or non-binary (2023 Ipsos LGBT+ Global Pride Survey), there is a need for employers to...
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06/05/25
Supporting Pacific success in construction and infrastructure
New resource launched for employers We’re proud to announce the launch of a new webpage, Industry LEO: Supporting Pacific Talent in Construction and Infrastructure, tailored...
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03/04/25
NZ Facing long-term engineering skills shortage
New Zealand is facing a shortfall of about 2,300 new engineers each year – and the problem is getting worse. Waihanga Ara Rau, the Workforce...
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01/04/25
Future skills spotlight: A career in infrastructure
Major investments in infrastructure are creating exciting career opportunities in Aotearoa. The government’s 2024 announcement of a 30-year National Infrastructure Plan includes over $120 billion...
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26/03/25
Good assessment practice – the importance of comments
Do your Assessors ask: What is the point of writing Assessor comments, when ākonga are provided verbal feedback and the assessments are filed away? Are...
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26/03/25
New insights on Workforce, Industry, and Training
The latest updates to the Workforce Insights Platform (WIP.org.nz) are now live, bringing fresh data and enhanced analysis to help you better understand workforce trends,...
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24/03/25
Skill Standards Good Practice Guides now available
The introduction of skill standards as the building blocks of qualifications allows us to reset how the vocational education system delivers the skills industry needs....
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24/03/25
Laisa lays it on the line
We spoke to Laisa Pickering at the Line Mechanic Competition. This competition was part of the Annual Connection 2024 event in Te Awamutu. Laisa is...
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11/03/25
New Building Pathways initiative to strengthen industry training
Waihanga Ara Rau is making changes to improve how building qualifications work for learners and employers. The Building Pathways Project proposes the introduction of micro-credentials...
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19/02/25
Our plans for the next six months
We’re committed to supporting our sectors and ensuring that industry voices continue to shape the future. We’re rolling out Workforce Development Plans for different sectors,...
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14/02/25
Infrastructure Site Supervision qualification reviewed to address industry recommendations
Meeting industry needs The demand for skilled site supervisors is growing as New Zealand continues to invest in infrastructure projects. Through nationwide consultation, we engaged...
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13/02/25
Supporting industry through change
As New Zealand’s vocational education system transitions, Waihanga Ara Rau remains committed to supporting the construction and infrastructure industry, our key stakeholders, and our people....
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05/02/25
Last Date for Assessment
One area that education providers need to be aware of is ensuring that standards are assessed against a current version of that standard. A programme...
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27/01/25
Cross Agency Collaboration for Better Outcomes
Qualifications and quality assurance leaders from government education bodies have committed to collaborate more strongly in 2025 to ensure industry and learner needs are met...
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20/12/24
Update on the vocational education system
Today, we learnt that the Minister of Tertiary Education and the government have released their decisions regarding the redesign of the vocational education and training system –...
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05/12/24
Building better pathways
We’ve been consulting with the building industry to understand how micro-credentials or smaller qualifications could be useful to help businesses and the workforce thrive. We’re dedicated...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,”...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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With industry, for industry.
Strengthening skill recognition in demolition
Nurturing leaders in TTM
Making a difference for industry
Identifying skills needed in Dunedin
Progress in the reinforcing 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.
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