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The Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council will be closing operations from 19 December, and disestablished from 31 December 2025. The Energy and Infrastructure Industry Skills Board; Construction and Specialist Trades Industry Skills Board; Electrotechnology and Information Technology Industry Skills Board will pick up its functions.

Latest news

Ngā karere
Research reinforces the need to prioritise worker wellbeing to tackle labour shortages
08/12/25
Research reinforces the need to prioritise worker wellbeing to tackle labour shortages
New research developed in collaboration with ConCOVE Tūhura and Martin Jenkins underscores the critical importance of worker‑centred support in addressing labour shortages and improving retention across New Zealand’s construction...
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Report calls for stronger industry partnerships to lift scaffolding training standards
30/11/25
Report calls for stronger industry partnerships to lift scaffolding training standards
Scaffolding trades are essential to safe, quality construction across Aotearoa. Our people, sites, and providers are dedicated to skilled scaffolders, but do our systems fully...
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2025 Annual Report
04/11/25
2025 Annual Report
Waihanga Ara Rau’s 2025 Annual Report highlights four years of progress delivering industry-led vocational education for the construction and infrastructure sectors. In the 2024-25 financial...
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Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay BCATS Cluster Workshop 
11/08/25
Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay BCATS Cluster Workshop 
Our Assurance team facilitated BCATS cluster moderation workshops in Napier on 10-11 June.  These are our second lot of cluster events this year, following the...
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Open Polytechnic graduate wins industry design competition 
11/08/25
Open Polytechnic graduate wins industry design competition 
TOPNZ (Open Polytechnic) learner Jillian Wilson has won the first-ever NZCB (New Zealand Certified Builders) Apprentice Challenge design competition. “I’m pretty chuffed. It’s taken me...
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New Disability Action Plan sets direction for a more inclusive industry
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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Supporting employers to attract, grow and retain Māori talent
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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Strengthening Short Course Training
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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Backflow device testing micro-credential
29/05/25
Backflow device testing micro-credential
A new micro-credential has been developed for backflow device testing and was submitted to NZQA for approval in December 2025. This project has transitioned to...
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Quality in focus: site visits underway for PGD and Scaffolding Block Courses
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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New Gender Affirmation guidelines launched to support people in Construction and Infrastructure.
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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Supporting Pacific success in construction and infrastructure
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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