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Qualifications and Standards

Our standard-setting responsibilities

Hanga-Aro-Rau is responsible for setting the national standards that define the skills, knowledge, and competencies required across New Zealand’s manufacturing, engineering, logistics, and related industries.

Our responsibilities include:

  • Developing and maintaining unit standards and skill standards that reflect current and future industry needs

  • Developing qualifications and micro-credentials that support workforce development and career progression

  • Collaborating with industry, providers, and regulatory bodies to ensure all standard-setting is practical, relevant, and future-focused

Through this mahi, we help ensure vocational education is aligned with industry needs, responsive to change, and delivers real value to learners, employers, and the economy of Aotearoa New Zealand.

What you can find on this page

  1. Design and review process
  2. Active qualification and standard-setting projects
  3. Change report bulletins

Design and review process

Hanga-Aro-Rau uses a development process to work alongside industry, providers and associated stakeholders to develop qualifications, standards, and micro-credentials.
The stages in this model are used to show progress throughout each review Hanga-Aro-Rau undertakes.

Active qualification and standard-setting projects

Project and qualification titleQual refReview to be started byProject statusMilestone
New Zealand Certificate in Mines Rescue 278431/12/2022 Work in progressStage 4: change and feedback cycle with stakeholders
New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Diesel Fuel Technology 345431/05/2024 Work in progressStage 1: Internal project team activation
New Zealand Certificate in Heavy Wheel Alignment 405731/07/2024 Due to startStage 2: Consultation with industry, training providers
New Zealand Certificate in Fellmongery and Leather Processing 248630/11/2024 Work in progressStage 4: change and feedback cycle with stakeholders
New Zealand Certificate in Fellmongery and Leather Processing 249230/11/2024 Work in progressStage 4: change and feedback cycle with stakeholders
New Zealand Diploma in Leather Processing (Technology) 249430/11/2024 Work in progressStage 4: Change and feedback cycle with stakeholders
New Zealand Certificate in Supply Chain Management 281131/03/2025Work in progressStage 6: Submission to NZQA
New Zealand Diploma in Supply Chain Management 281231/03/2025Work in progressStage 6: Submission to NZQA
New Zealand Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Trade Assistant) 236531/03/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, stakeholders
New Zealand Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Trade) 236631/03/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, stakeholders
New Zealand Certificate in Drilling 262131/03/2025Due to startStage 1: Activate internal project team
New Zealand Certificate in Drilling 262231/03/2025Due to startStage 1: Activate internal project team
New Zealand Certificate in Drilling 262331/03/2025Due to startStage 1: Activate internal project team
New Zealand Certificate in Domestic Maritime Operations (Restricted Limits) 250530/06/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, training providers
New Zealand Certificate in Maritime Crewing 250630/06/2025Work in progressStage 5: Industry endorsement
New Zealand Certificate in Maritime Crewing 250830/06/2025Work in progressStage 5: Industry endorsement
New Zealand Certificate in Maritime Crewing 251130/06/2025Work in progressStage 5: Industry endorsement
New Zealand Certificate in Rail Operations (Train Manager) 288530/06/2025Work in progressStage 1: Activate internal project team
New Zealand Certificate in Rail Operations (Train Driver) 288630/06/2025Work in progressStage 1: Activate internal project team
New Zealand Certificate in Coachbuilding 422530/07/2025Due to startProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Certificate in Coachbuilding 422630/07/2025Due to startProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Certificate in Dairy Processing 426830/09/2025Work in progressStage 1:Activate internal project team
New Zealand Certificate in Dairy Processing Engineering 426630/09/2025Due to start-
New Zealand Certificate in Dairy Processing Engineering 426730/09/2025Due to start-
New Zealand Certificate in Yacht Rig Structures 312630/11/2025Work in progressStage 7: NZQA reviewer assigned
New Zealand Certificate in Meat Processing and Meat Product Manufacturing (Halal) 249330/11/2025Due to start-
New Zealand Certificate in Fire Detection and Alarm Systems 257530/11/2025Due to start-
New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing 272930/11/2025Proposed deferralTo be reviewed 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing 273030/11/2025Proposed deferralTo be reviewed 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing 273130/11/2025Proposed deferralTo be reviewed 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing 273230/11/2025Proposed deferralTo be reviewed 2026
New Zealand Diploma in Meat Processing Operations 301631/12/2025Work in progressProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Certificate in Marine Engineering Class 5 432131/12/2025Due to startProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Certificate in Power Boat Rigging 384731/12/2025Work in progressStage 7: NZQA reviewer assigned
New Zealand Certificate in Power Boat Systems Servicing and Repair (Technician) 384831/12/2025Work in progressStage 7: NZQA reviewer assigned
New Zealand Diploma in Dairy Processing 227031/12/2025Work in progressStage 1: Internal project team activated
New Zealand Certificate in Maritime Operations 251231/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry training providers
New Zealand Certificate in Maritime Operations 251331/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, training providers
New Zealand Diploma in Yacht Operations 251631/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, training providers
New Zealand Certificate in Domestic Maritime Operations (Coastal and Offshore) 289231/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, providers
New Zealand Certificate in Solid Wood Manufacturing 196731/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Solid Wood Manufacturing 196931/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Solid Wood Manufacturing 197331/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Timber Machining 197431/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Domestic Maritime Crewing 289531/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, training providers
New Zealand Certificate in Wood Manufacturing 230931/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Wood Handling and Distribution 231031/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Finger Jointing 231131/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Saw Doctoring 231331/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Wood Panel Manufacturing 240531/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Wood Panel Manufacturing 240631/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Composite Wood Panel Manufacturing 240731/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Sawmilling 240931/12/2025Due to startDue to begin 2025. Handover to ISB 2026
New Zealand Certificate in Passive Fire Protection Installation 411031/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, providers
New Zealand Certificate in Rail Yard Operations 432731/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, providers
New Zealand Diploma in Marine Engineering 251431/12/2025Due to startProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Diploma in Nautical Science 251531/12/2025Due to start-
New Zealand Certificate in Rail Operations (Operations Centre) 432831/12/2025Work in progressStage 2: Consultation with industry, providers
New Zealand Certificate in Dairy Systems (Engineering) 256131/12/2025Due to startProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Building Services (Trade) 271731/12/2025Due to start-
New Zealand Certificate in Locksmithing (Trade) 271831/12/2025Work in progressStage 1: Internal project team activation
New Zealand Certificate in Fishing Vessel Crewing 289131/12/2025Due to startProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Diploma in Fishing Vessel Operations 289331/12/2025Due to startProposed extension to review date. Industry consultation underway
New Zealand Diploma in Marine Electro-technology 289431/12/2025Due to start-
New Zealand Certificate in Marine Systems 312431/12/2025Due to start-

Contact us

If you’d like to contact us about our qualifications or standards, receive a copy of a programme guidance document, or want to find out how to get involved, please email [email protected]