Shaping the future of work-based learning

Please talk to your Primary ITO Training Adviser or contact person, if you have any questions or would like more information.

Following changes to the vocational education system, Primary ITO moved out of the NZ Institute of Skills and Technology (Te Pūkenga) and into the Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board (ISB) as a standalone business unit on 1 January 2026.

Primary ITO training will continue as normal throughout 2026 and enrolments remain open.

Government changes to work-based learning from 2027 include three options for delivery of work-based learning: Private Training Establishments (PTEs), Institutes of Technology or Polytechnics, or Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Next steps include Primary ITO engaging with all the sectors we work with about the changes, the three options for delivery of work-based learning, and how to give feedback. This includes an online session open to all employers in early March. Further details and an invitation have been emailed to all employers with staff in Primary ITO training or that have recently completed.

Industry will need to make decisions and provide feedback by the end of March 2026. 

This is an important time for industry to have their say and influence the direction taken for each sector, to ensure future training remains practical, relevant, and aligned with industry needs. 

With over 6000 learners and 3500 employers, Primary ITO currently supports a diverse range of workplaces and sectors in the food and fibre industry across New Zealand.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please talk to your Primary ITO Training Adviser or contact person, or email info@primaryito.ac.nz