Qualifications and standards overview

Our role for qualifications and unit standards.

We are responsible for developing and maintaining qualifications, as well as developing, setting, and maintaining unit standards for the industries under our coverage.

Prior to our establishment in 2021, these qualifications and standards were managed by Transitional Industry Training Organisations (TITOs).

Identifying which qualifications and unit standards have been transferred to Waihanga Ara Rau.

Details for all qualifications and standards have been updated on NZQA’s system. You can find out which ones have been transferred to Waihanga Ara Rau by searching NZQA’s website:

• For qualifications, search for the qualification by keyword or qualification number on the NZQA website. Click on the qualification to view the name of the current qualification developer.
• For standards, search for the unit standard by number (or via field/subfield/domain) on the Directory of Assessment Standards. The name of the current standard-setting body is displayed on the resulting screen.  Note: the individual Word and PDF documents relating to the standard will still show the previous standard setting body’s details.

Skill Standards

Over time, skill standards will replace unit standards as the core components of vocational programmes. NZQA will soon begin consultation on the design of these standards. Substantial progress on their design is expected in the first half of 2022.

Providers will have the opportunity to participate in the development of skill standards where they have an interest in the subject area. When unit standards are replaced, this will be communicated to providers with existing consent to assess and there will be time to update existing programmes to reflect new skill standards.

Support for providers

A range of guidance documents are available to support providers developing programmes that lead to the award of one of our qualifications.  View guidance documents now.