National Industry Advisory Groups

Industry is truly at the centre of what we do, and how we do it. When we say, ‘What matters to industry matters to us’, we mean it. We are uniquely placed to ensure industry voice influences training provision, investment advice and the future of workforce development. Like us, our industry stakeholders know that a strong and productive workforce relies on strong, accessible and relevant career and education pathways.

That is why we have worked hard across our industries to create nine National Industry Advisory Groups (NIAGs), comprised of industry leaders from around the country. We are excited to be involved with these partnerships and look forward to working together to transform the vocational education training system, making it better for learners, businesses and New Zealand overall.

Role of the NIAGs 

The role of the NIAGs is to advise Hanga-Aro-Rau about skills and training issues within their specific industry sector, with a particular focus on lifting the skill levels of the Māori workforce and other traditionally under-served groups.  

NIAGs are a way for specified industries to provide Hanga-Aro-Rau with input about the performance of its functions and to enable industry to raise issues and concerns.  

The NIAGs will do this by:  

• providing advice and feedback on the strategic direction, trends and performance within their sectors
• providing advice on the current and future skills and knowledge requirements of their sector, to inform the development and maintenance of quality, fit for purpose qualifications, and inform Hanga-Aro-Rau of potential funding advice to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)
• being a forum, Hanga-Aro-Rau can obtain informed advice from on issues or developments relevant to their sector and, where appropriate, test new initiatives and concepts prior to their launch
• providing guidance on, and input into, the arrangements for managing the consistency of qualifications
• advocating and promoting industry training within their sector
• supporting with the coordination of activities to improve performance within the industry 
• ensuring that Māori and Pacific people in the workforce are appropriately supported
• providing a mechanism for the specified industry to provide input into the performance of the WDC’s functions. 

Check out our terms of reference.

If you would like to be considered for NIAG membership, please fill out this Expression of Interest form.

Click on the industry below to find out more about that sector’s NIAG and its mahi.