Aotearoa New Zealand’s rail industry is poised for transformation, but we must ensure the workforce has the right skills to be able to seize the opportunities ahead. That’s the message from a new collaborative report commissioned by Hanga-Aro-Rau alongside the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), focused on developing the skills needed to support a modern and sustainable rail sector.

The report, Building New Zealand Rail Skills for the Future, was prepared by PWC on behalf of the ARA and Hanga-Aro-Rau, in consultation with sector representatives. It offers a comprehensive view of the current challenges and opportunities in rail workforce development. It highlights an urgent need for targeted training pathways, improved career visibility, and cross-sector collaboration to prepare for technological changes and major infrastructure investments, including Auckland Light Rail.

As the Workforce Development Council for manufacturing, engineering and logistics, Hanga-Aro-Rau is committed to ensuring vocational education aligns with industry needs. This mahi is about more than filling current gaps — it’s about creating a rail workforce that reflects the diversity of Aotearoa and is equipped for future demands.

Hanga-Aro-Rau Deputy Chief Executive Samantha McNaughton explains that the future of Aotearoa New Zealand’s rail sector hinges on a skilled, future-ready workforce. “This report highlights the critical need for coordinated action to attract and retain talent, invest in training, and align workforce development with our infrastructure ambitions. At Hanga-Aro-Rau, we’re committed to working alongside industry, iwi, and government partners to ensure that rail careers are accessible, inclusive, and resilient to the challenges ahead,” Sam says.

Providing concrete steps to address the challenges facing the rail workforce, the report identifies three key pillars for action:

1. Developing a bipartisan workforce plan for rail, including forecasting demand and identifying skills shortages. This will reduce workforce instability and align long-term infrastructure priorities with workforce needs.
2. Creating vocational pathways, with defined qualifications and accessible on-job and off-job training.
3. Boosting visibility and attraction, especially among Māori, Pacific peoples, and women, to build a more inclusive industry.

Crucially, the report recommends establishing a dedicated cross-sector Rail Skills and Workforce Leadership Group to drive this mahi forward — a move Hanga-Aro-Rau wholeheartedly supports. As the voice of industry within vocational education, Hanga-Aro-Rau is ready to collaborate with partners across government, education, and the rail sector to turn this vision into reality.

The rail industry plays a vital role in decarbonising transport, reducing congestion, and connecting communities. But without a strong, future-focused workforce, we risk leaving these benefits on the table.

Now is the time to act. By building robust training pathways and investing in people, we can ensure rail remains a safe, innovative, and sustainable mode of transport for generations to come.

Read the key figures from the report HERE and the full report HERE