Tūhura: Insights to Actions – 20th and 21st August 2025, Te Papa, Wellington
Programme
Programme details may be updated and are subject to change.
Day 1 – Wednesday 20 August 2025
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8:30 am |
Registration Open |
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9:00 am |
Welcome and Introduction (15min) Maretha Smit (Master of Ceremonies) and Katherine Hall (Executive Director – ConCOVE) |
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9:15 am |
Opening address: Co-Chairs’ Vision for the Future (15min) Phil Hokianga (Co-Chair) – ConCOVE |
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9:30 am |
Presentation – Turning Point: Transforming vocational pathways in Aotearoa New Zealand (15min) Aotearoa New Zealand stands at a pivotal moment in reshaping vocational education to meet the future needs of learners, industry, and the nation. In this opening address, Katherine Hall will reflect on her leadership of ConCOVE Tūhura and the research insights generated over the past three years, and explore the system shifts needed to create equitable, future-focused pathways that truly serve learners, employers, and industry. This session sets the scene for the day — bold, evidence-informed, and focused on practical solutions to unlock the full potential of vocational education in Aotearoa.
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9:45 am |
Panel Discussion – Reimaging funding: Building a sustainable future for Vocational Education (40min) Katherine Hall (Executive Director) – ConCOVE Alexandra Vranyac-Wheeler (Chief Executive – Master Electricians) Funding is a key lever in shaping a vocational education system that delivers for learners, employers, and industry. In this session, Katherine Hall is joined by an industry panel to discuss practical, system-compatible changes proposed in ConCOVE Tūhura’s new funding paper, authored by Brenden Mischewski and Roger Smyth. Together, the panel will explore how targeted adjustments can lift system performance without overhauling it. This is a timely conversation on how we make real, workable improvements that strengthen outcomes while supporting sector stability. Presentation PDF – Day 1 0945 Funding panel discussion (Size: 801 KB | Modified: 22/10/2025)
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10:25 am |
Cook Brothers Construction Case study video (5min) This short video showcases the successful Cook Brothers ConstructionApprentice Academy — a tailored, employer-led initiative supporting apprentice development through structured mentoring, strong culture, and on-the-job learning. A real-world example of what good looks like in practice |
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10:30 am |
MORNING TEA (30min) |
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11:00 am |
Presentation – Data-driven decisions for a smarter future: Workforce Journey Indicators and ConstrucTrend (30min) Dr Adam Barker (Founder – Scarlatti) George Makapatama (Deputy Director- ConCOVE) Better data means better decisions. This session explores how two ConCOVE Tūhura tools — Workforce Journey Indicators and the ConstrucTrend survey — are helping the construction and infrastructure sectors make smarter, evidence-based choices. From tracking learner pathways to understanding workforce trends, these tools are designed to drive innovation, inform policy, and support a more responsive, future-focused system. |
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11:30 am |
Presentation – Pathways forward: Empowering Māori and Pasifika workforce futures (30min) This session shares insights from a collaborative project by ConCOVE Tūhura, Amotai, and Poutama Trust, highlighting four high-growth opportunities for Māori and Pasifika-owned construction businesses: trenchless technologies, BIM, energy retrofits, and renewable energy installation. These areas offer clear potential for upskilling, higher-value work, and community impact. The session explores how vocational education can support incremental capability-building and unlock more inclusive, future-focused pathways across the sector.
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12:00 pm |
Presentation – Bringing it together: The Wai project in Wellington (20min) Project Wai is an innovative training solution led by Ngāti Toa Rangatira to tackle critical water infrastructure skill shortages in Aotearoa. This session explores how Project Wai draws together ConCOVE’s research including vocational redesign, degree-level apprenticeships, and applied learning models to create a future-ready workforce grounded in Te Mana o te Wai and mātauranga Māori. Ngāti Toa will share their aspirations for vocational education centre of excellence that restores the mana of wai, creates skilled kaitiaki for our taiao, and transforms traditional training models. This is more than a training facility, it is a system reset. Learn what’s working, what’s possible, and how iwi-led leadership and inclusive design can shape more responsive, resilient vocational pathways for the Wellington region. Please contact hera.whaanga@ngatitoa.iwi.nz if you have any queries around the details of this presentation. |
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12:20 pm |
Panel Discussion – Degree Level Apprenticeships: Driving System change (40min) Brenden Mischewski, Panel Chair – Mischewski Consulting This session shares an update on ConCOVE Tūhura’s Degree-Level Apprenticeship (DLA) pilots — an initiative exploring how degree-level study can be integrated into apprenticeship pathways. Bonus Q&A |
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1:00 pm |
LUNCH (60min) |
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2:00 pm |
Keynote Presentation (60min) Economist and commentator Shamubeel Eaqub brings a sharp economic lens to one of New Zealand’s biggest challenges: low productivity in the construction and infrastructure sectors. Using ConCOVE’s Workforce Journey Indicators as a foundation, he challenges the system to respond with smarter investment in workforce development and vocational education. A timely, data-driven call to action — aligned with ConCOVE’s mission to build a future-ready, high-performing system. Presentation PDF – Day 1 1400 Shammubeel Eaqub (Size: 802 KB | Modified: 22/10/2025) |
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3:00 pm |
Presentation – Vocational pathways in schools: Reimagining student futures (15min) Neil Annenberg, Kaitohu Mātanga | Associate Consulting Director – ThinkPlace How can we strengthen vocational pathways in schools to better prepare students for meaningful futures in trades and infrastructure? This session shares findings from ConCOVE’s research into a fit-for-purpose vocational model for Years 12 and 13. |
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3:15 pm |
Presentation – Future-proofing assessment: AI-generated design for Vocational Education (20min) How can we future-proof assessment in vocational education using artificial intelligence? This session shares insights from ConCOVE Tūhura’s pilot project exploring the use of AI to generate high-quality, personalised assessments aligned to New Zealand’s standards-based system. Centred on the Trades Essentials micro-credential, the project examines whether AI can meet moderation and industry expectations while offering adaptable, engaging tools for diverse learners, and considerably reducing the time to market. Join us to explore how this emerging approach could address current system challenges and help build a more responsive, scalable, and future-ready VET system.
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3:35 pm |
Presentation – Beyond the tools: Supporting tradies to thrive as business owners (20min) Eve Price (Portfolio Manager) – ConCOVE Many tradespeople transition from the tools into business ownership with little preparation — contributing to high failure rates among construction and infrastructure SMEs. This session presents early findings from ConCOVE’s Pathways to successful SMEs project, which maps the journey from technical expert to business owner to identify key intervention points. It examines how current industry and vocational education programmes support this shift, highlights gaps, and offers practical recommendations to improve outcomes. The session also explores opportunities for greater collaboration, clearer pathways, and the potential for new qualifications that support long-term success for tradies as business leaders. |
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3:55pm |
AFTERNOON TEA Connect & reflect Networking (60min) |
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5:00 pm |
End of Day 1 |
Day 2 – Thursday 21 August 2025
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8:30 am |
Registration Open |
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9:00 am |
Welcome and Introduction (10min) |
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9:10 am |
Keynote Presentation – The next horizon: Future of vocational education (60min) We are honoured to welcome Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, as our international keynote speaker for Day Two of Tūhura – Insights to Actions. Professor Glover brings a rare depth of experience across tertiary education, workforce strategy, and public policy. In this keynote, he will share reflections from Australia’s national skills agenda — including how systems can respond to future workforce demands while remaining inclusive, agile, and aligned with industry. Drawing on his leadership roles across universities, government, and the emerging tertiary commission, he will offer insights relevant to Aotearoa’s ongoing reform journey. A must-attend session for anyone shaping the future of vocational education, training, and workforce development. |
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10:10 am |
Apprenticeships for Policy Setting: Strengthening the System (30min) Sarah Baddeley, Partner – MartinJenkins Roger Smyth, Director and Principal – SPATE Contracting Ltd Erica Cumming, GM Strategy & Engagement, Waihanga Ara Rau This discussion explores key insights from ConCOVE Tūhura’s paper “Strengthening Support for Apprenticeships: Issues and Opportunities.” |
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10:40 am |
Video case study – Innovation in Action: Augmented Reality in Training (5min) |
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10:45am |
MORNING TEA (30min) |
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11:15 am |
People power: The employer toolkit for engaging apprentices (15min) This session introduces a high-level draft version of the Effective Employer People Practices Toolkit, designed to help employers recruit, develop, retain, and engage apprentices and trainees. Developed through engagement with both employers and apprentices, the session will share initial findings and practical strategies to support apprentices throughout their journey. |
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11:30 am |
Workshop – Supporting trainers: Tools, insights & best practice in action (20min) Shaun Gear – ConCOVE Introduces the Training Advisor Job Description and Competency Framework, developed collaboratively to strengthen professional practice across vocational education. We’ll share how these tools came to life – from identifying sector needs to designing practical solutions together. You’ll hear what’s included, why it matters, and how the resources can help create more consistent, effective support for learners. We’ll also discuss how these tools can be integrated into organisations’ ways of working overtime. ITENZ will continue to use and champion these resources into the future to support capability-building across the sector. Day-2-1130-Shaun-Gear-Trainers-Presentation-Shaun-Gear (Size: 3 MB | Modified: 22/10/2025) |
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11:50 am |
Presentation – Meeting the needs Responsive support models in the C&I sector (20min) Zoe Morgan, Insights and Analytics Manager – Waihanga Ara Rau Natalie James, Senior Consultant – MartinJenkins Supporting workers in the construction and infrastructure workforce requires more than a one-size-fits-all approach. Set against a backdrop of labour market pressures and industry transformation, this session explores what effective pastoral care and needs-based support can look like in real workplace settings. Drawing on evidence gathered over the past few years – and introducing a new support-focused toolkit in development by Waihanga Ara Rau and ConCOVE – the session highlights practical strategies from culturally grounded mentoring to wellbeing-focused retention initiatives. Attendees will leave with tangible ideas and are invited to contribute to an open discussion on the sector-wide mindset shifts and supports needed to drive meaningful change. |
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12:10 pm |
Presentation – Global Perspective: UNESCO (15min) As Lead Expert for the UNESCO-UNEVOC BILT Expert Group, ConCOVE Tūhura is helping shape global thinking on how vocational education can respond to the major transitions of our time — greening, digitalisation, and migration. Day-2-1210-Eve-Price-UNESCO-Wellington-Aug (Size: 577 KB | Modified: 22/10/2025) |
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12:25 pm |
Legacy and next steps: Embedding the work (15min) Katherine Hall will close the event by sharing key insights from ConCOVE’s journey and outlining the practical toolkits and resources being handed over to the sector. This session will reinforce sector ownership and call on attendees to embed and champion the work moving forward. |
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12:40 pm |
LUNCH & Close |
