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 Rau stands at the forefront, guiding strategic investments in education and training. With an unwavering commitment to shaping a skilled, resilient workforce, we have submitted our comprehensive investment advice to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for the 2025 delivery year.

Understanding the unique demands of our industries—from housing shortages to large-scale infrastructure projects—our advice is underpinned by rigorous analysis and industry feedback. We’ve pinpointed where growth and adjustments are needed, ensuring that our training ecosystem meets today’s needs and anticipates tomorrow’s challenges.

Our recommendations to the TEC are informed by a detailed review of the current landscape, including assessing the impacts of recent initiatives and economic shifts. Despite the end of the Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) and other financial pressures, the enduring strength of our sectors’ project pipeline and the forecasted recovery in mortgage rates signal a robust demand for skilled workers in 2025.

To all our partners and stakeholders in the construction and infrastructure sectors, this advice is a roadmap designed to navigate the complexities of workforce development. It reflects a collective vision for a future where education and training are precisely aligned with industry needs, ensuring we keep pace with demand and lead with innovation and excellence.

As we move forward, let’s engage in open dialogues, embrace new opportunities for collaboration, and invest in the skills that will build our nation’s future. Together, we can achieve a resilient, skilled workforce that drives New Zealand’s growth and prosperity.

Explore sector-specific investment advice

Note: Our advice is based on ‘growth or decreases’ benchmarked on the 2021 delivery year. This reference point allows for an underpinning increase of approximately 12% or 7,200 learners in 2025 when compared to 2023 learner numbers. The following sector and qualification-specific advice is over and above the underpinning increase.