We are conducting a comprehensive review of water services qualifications and standards to ensure they meet industry needs. We are excited to support the industry in ensuring these are fit for purpose for the sector and that graduates can meet future industry requirements.

The project will involve reviewing the water qualifications listed below, considering any new credentials required (such as standards to support trade-waste training), and developing a set of new skill standards that will be used in place of unit standards in programmes across the reviewed qualification suite.

• New Zealand Certificate in Water Treatment (Small Scale Systems) (Level 3) [Ref: 2240]
• New Zealand Certificate in Drinking-water Treatment (Level 4) [Ref: 4138]
• New Zealand Diploma in Drinking-water Treatment (Level 5) [Ref: 4139]
• New Zealand Certificate in Wastewater Treatment (Level 4) [Ref: 4142]
• New Zealand Diploma in Wastewater Treatment (Level 5) [Ref: 4143]
• New Zealand Certificate in On-site Wastewater Management Systems Design (Level 4) [Ref: 4216]
• New Zealand Certificate in Drinking-water Supply (Assessment) (Level 5) [Ref: 4223]

This review will include the unit standards in the following domains:

• Drinking – Water
• Drinking – Water Assessment
• Wastewater Treatment
• Water – Generic
• Water Reticulation
• Water Treatment

How this review will progress

• Stage 1 – Investigative phase – discover and define (underway now).
• Stage 2 – Review of qualifications and development of associated standards.
• Stage 3 – NZQA approval application and implementation.

Give your feedback by 31 July

Give feedback on a specific qualification	This survey seeks to understand where the qualifications do not meet workforce needs. Who should complete this survey? People who have recently worked with graduates or are delivering training of the qualifications and people who have recently completed training leading to a qualification in the water services sector.
Give feedback on specialist area/s	This survey provides an opportunity for you to feedback on a specialist area/s. These areas include drinking water, drinking water assessment, wastewater treatment, water treatment, water supply distribution (network), stormwater, and trade waste. Who should complete this survey? People who wish to give feedback on what core skills and knowledge are needed to address today’s challenges, as well as future challenges and opportunities. It is also for those who have knowledge of current industry NZQA unit standards and wish to feedback on any standards that need review due to outdated practices and/or outdated information.
Give feedback on small-scale water systems	Who should complete this survey? People who wish to give feedback on the skills and knowledge needed to operate and maintain small-scale drinking water and/or wastewater systems.

We want to hear from you

Your feedback is crucial to the success of this review and development work. Waihanga Ara Rau wants to hear from you about the skills, knowledge, and attributes required to support the water services industry around New Zealand.

If you wish to be involved in the review or notified of wider industry consultation to provide feedback, please email Lorraine Moss-Smith, Qualifications Developer.

Questions and comments/Ngā pātai me ngā tākapu?

If you have any questions, please get in touch.