Ngā Putanga Kōrero

It is our privilege to share with you the 2022-2023 Annual Report for Hanga-Aro-Rau, which details our extensive work with Industry to transform and improve vocational education for manufacturing, engineering and logistics. Over the past 12 months, we have been leading and coordinating industry efforts both nationally and regionally to identify workforce needs and support the vocational education system and employers to meet those needs. We have supported this work with research, analysis, advocacy, workforce plan development and contributing to career services.

An important piece of research about the logistics sector has found that the highly fragmented sector faces a number of challenges, including attracting and retaining workers. We commissioned this research to shine a light on the challenges and successes of an industry that underpins the growth of every sector of our economy.

We are thrilled to announce the release of our Operational Plan for 2023-24. This comprehensive document sets out crucial mahi that Hanga-Aro-Rau is committed to achieving over the next 12 months. Te-Whakamanutanga-Operational-Plan-2023-24 builds on two critical pillars that define the strategic vision and direction of Hanga-Aro-Rau. First, our Statement of Strategic Direction charts our course over the next five years. Second, the Letter of Expectation 2023-24 gifted to us by the rangatira on our governing Council, reinforcing our commitment to achieving transformational change in the vocational education system in Aotearoa for our industries.

We are immensely proud to be able to share with you He Mahere Moana, our Statement of Strategic Direction (SSD). This document forms the foundation of our mahi for the next five years (2023-28). In this document, we reflect on our journey ahead and draw on the inspiration of wayfinding which has manufacturing, engineering and logistics at the heart of it. With significant cultural guidance, we sought an opportunity to draw on traditional skills, stories and aspirations to influence how we, much like many other cultures before us, can seek out greater horizons and better opportunities. Haere mai! We welcome you to board our waka and travel with us on our haerenga (journey) towards a transformed vocational education system.

We’re driving transformational change in vocational education to deliver the skills our industries need. One of the ways we can do this is through the investment advice we prepare each year for the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). The recommendations in this kete we gift to the TEC are the result of thousands of hours of deep kōrero and collaboration with those who join us on our haerenga (journey) to transform vocational education in Aotearoa. Ngā mihi nui to all those who have generously shared their knowledge and expertise, including employers, industry associations, pakihi Māori (Māori business), iwi, hapū, Regional Skills Leadership Groups, unions, education providers and more.

This comprehensive review dives deep into our mahi and successes from our establishment on 04 October 2021 through to the end of our first financial year on 30 June 2022. Some of the highlights include how we are honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in everything we do, the formation of our pivotal Industry Stakeholder Group (ISG), and how we are putting skills leadership into action. We also recap the key activities of each of our tīma – Corporate Services, Improvements and Operations, Industry Standards, Industry Transformation, and Māori Workforce Development. Our annual report concludes with a wrap-up of our strong financial position.

We are delighted to have commissioned this research with Deloitte on the current and future workforce development needs of New Zealand's manufacturing and engineering sectors, with a deep dive into how COVID-19 has impacted these industries. We now invite you to carefully consider the key findings and opportunities and how we can all apply them to address the unique needs of our manufacturing and engineering industries.

We’re here to drive transformational change in vocational education to deliver the skills our industries need. One of the ways we can do this is through the investment advice we are mandated to prepare each year for the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). It is with pleasure that we share our Advice for 2023 Investment to the Tertiary Education Commission. We make our recommendations based on our current understanding of industry expectations and regional needs.

It is with immense pride that Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council presents our first Skills and Workforce Leadership Plan (SWLP) for the manufacturing, engineering and logistics industries. The SWLP forms part of the blueprint for our year ahead: the opportunities we see for the sectors we serve, ideas for what is needed to meet the national and regional skill requirements – both currently and for the future – and begins to develop a picture of how our industries have been impacted by challenges from within our borders and beyond.

Chief Executive Phil Alexander-Crawford and Deputy Chief Executive Samantha McNaughton welcome you to read our 2022/23 Operational Plan. Our goal for this plan is to help shape a sustainable, equitable, globally engaged and adaptive Aotearoa to enable greater social mobility and prosperity. It will also drive transformational change in our vocational education system to make it accessible and inclusive to all, with industry voice always at the centre of our work.

The approach we taking to make the Workforce Development Council operational is described in this Establishment Plan. This plan covers the “Establishment Phase” of our WDC, defined by the TEC as the period from 1 July 2021 until 30 June 2022.