This document outlines ConCOVE Tūhura’s submission on the proposed reforms to New Zealand’s work-based learning system. It highlights the opportunity to build a vocational ecosystem that genuinely aligns learner needs with employer expectations, placing learners at the centre and ensuring employers have a meaningful role in shaping training. The submission stresses the importance of clear pathways, culturally responsive support—particularly for Māori and Pacific learners—and a system that strengthens relevance, quality, and equity across the vocational journey.
ConCOVE evaluates the proposed models and identifies key risks, including role confusion, inconsistent support, and fragmented delivery. To address these challenges, the submission recommends integrated learner support, stronger employer partnerships, national consistency in standards, clearly defined system roles, and a sustainable funding model to underpin long-term success. ConCOVE concludes that a learner-centred, employer-led, well-funded system is essential to ensure work-based learning remains adaptable, resilient, and future-focused, and offers its ongoing research and expertise to support future policy design.
ConCOVE Submission on the 2025 Work-Based Learning Reforms (Size: 145 KB | Modified: 27/11/2025)
