Education and Training Act 2020
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Version as at 23 February 2026
Education and Training Act 2020
Public Act |
2020 No 38 |
|
Date of assent |
31 July 2020 |
|
Commencement |
see section 2 |
Note
The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.
Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.
This Act is administered by the Ministry of Education.
Contents
The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:
1 Title
This Act is the Education and Training Act 2020.
2 Commencement
(1)
Sections 17 to 18C come into force on 1 February 2023.
(2)
Sections 90, 134, 138 to 146, 164, 165, 174 and Part 2 of Schedule 26 come into force on 1 January 2023.
(3)
Sections 71 to 75 and 127(1)(d) and Schedule 20 come into force on 1 January 2021.
(4)
The rest of this Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.
(5)
An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Part 1 Preliminary provisions
3 Outline of Act
(1)
This Act, which sets out New Zealand’s education and training system (the system), is divided into 6 Parts.
(2)
This Part (Part 1) covers the following preliminary matters:
(a)
the purposes of this Act:
(b)
[Repealed](c)
the statement of expectations for agencies serving the system:
(d)
the strategies for tertiary education and international education:
(e)
(f)
the defined terms used in this Act:
(g)
the transitional and savings provisions needed for this Act:
(h)
the extent to which this Act binds the Crown.
(3)
Part 2 sets out provisions regarding early childhood education, which is the initial stage of the system.
(4)
Part 3 sets out provisions regarding primary and secondary education, which are the stages of the system that follow early childhood education.
(5)
Part 4 sets out provisions regarding tertiary education and vocational education and training, which are the stages of the system that follow secondary education.
(6)
Part 5 sets out provisions relating to performance, funding, and support of the system.
(7)
Part 6 sets out provisions relating to the administration of the system.
Compare: 2018 No 4 s 4
Section 3(2)(b): repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 4 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
4 Purpose of Act
The purpose of this Act is to establish and regulate an education system that—
(a)
provides New Zealanders and those studying in New Zealand with the skills, knowledge, and capabilities that they need to fully participate in the labour market, society, and their communities; and
(b)
supports their health, safety, and well-being; and
(c)
assures the quality of the education provided and the institutions and educators that provide and support it; and
(d)
honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports Māori-Crown relationships.
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 145AAA, 160, 376, 377; 1992 No 55 s 1A
5 Minister may issue statement of national education and learning priorities
[Repealed]Section 5: repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
6 Statement of expectations
(1)
The Minister and the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti may, for the purposes of providing equitable outcomes for all students, jointly issue a statement that sets out expectations for the following agencies:
(a)
the Ministry:
(b)
TEC:
(c)
NZQA:
(d)
the Education Review Office:
(e)
Education New Zealand.
(2)
The statement must specify what those agencies must do to give effect to public service objectives (set out in any enactment) that relate to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
(3)
Before issuing the statement, the Ministers must consult Māori.
(4)
The statement must be issued to each agency specified in the statement and published in the Gazette.
(5)
[Repealed]7 Tertiary education strategy
(1)
The Minister must, by notice in the Gazette, issue a tertiary education strategy that sets out the Government’s—
(a)
long-term strategic direction for tertiary education, which must include—
(i)
economic goals:
(ii)
social goals:
(iii)
environmental goals:
(iv)
the development aspirations of Māori and other population groups; and
(b)
current and medium-term priorities for tertiary education.
(2)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, withdraw and replace, or amend, a tertiary education strategy.
(3)
Before issuing, withdrawing and replacing, or significantly amending the strategy, the Minister must consult—
(a)
the persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit to consult in the circumstances; and
(b)
TEC.
(4)
An amendment forms part of the tertiary education strategy it amends.
(5)
A tertiary education strategy remains in place until it is withdrawn or replaced.
8 International education strategy
(1)
The Minister may issue an international education strategy that sets out—
(a)
the Government’s long-term strategic direction for international education; and
(b)
the Government’s current and medium-term priorities for international education.
(2)
Before issuing the Government’s international education strategy, the Minister must consult the organisations or people that, in the Minister’s opinion, have a substantial interest in international education and ought to be consulted.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 271
9 Te Tiriti o Waitangi
(1)
The main provisions of this Act that recognise and respect the Crown’s responsibility to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi are—
(a)
section 4, which states that the purpose of this Act includes establishing and regulating an education system that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports Māori-Crown relationships; and
(b)
[Repealed](c)
section 6, which provides that the Minister and the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti may, for the purpose of providing equitable outcomes for all students, and after consulting with Māori, jointly issue and publish a statement that specifies what the Ministry, TEC, NZQA, the Education Review Office, and Education New Zealand must do to give effect to public service objectives (set out in any enactment) that relate to Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and
(d)
[Repealed](e)
subpart 6 of Part 3, which provides for the establishment and operation of Kura Kaupapa Māori, Te Aho Matua, and te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua; and
(f)
(g)
section 321(c), which provides that the council of a polytechnic must ensure that the polytechnic operates in a way that allows the polytechnic to develop meaningful relationships and engage with communities at a local level, including with Māori employers and hapū and iwi.
(2)
Other provisions related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the context of the regulation of the education system include—
(a)
the definition of school community in section 10(1), which includes a Māori community associated with a school; and
(b)
section 17(2)(a), which provides that before the Minister may grant approval to apply for an early childhood service, the Minister must take into account the availability of services in the area with different offerings, for example, the provision of te reo Māori; and
(ba)
section 127(2)(e), which provides that, when meeting its paramount objective in governing a school, the board must ensure that it—
(i)
seeks to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students; and
(ii)
takes all reasonable steps to provide for students to be taught, and to learn, in te reo Māori on request of their parents or immediate caregivers; and
(iii)
takes reasonable steps to ensure that the policies and practices for the school reflect New Zealand’s cultural diversity; and
(c)
section 278(2)(a), which provides for Māori contribution to decision making in tertiary education and vocational education and training; and
(d)
section 281(1)(b), which provides that councils of institutions have a duty, in the performance of their functions and the exercise of their powers, to acknowledge the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and
(e)
section 314(d), which provides that one of the characteristics of polytechnics is that they improve outcomes for Māori students and trainees and Māori communities in collaboration with Māori and iwi and interested persons or bodies; and
(f)
section 402, which provides that TEC comprises members appointed in accordance with section 28(1)(a) of the Crown Entities Act 2004 after consultation with the Minister for Māori Development; and
(g)
section 476(4)(b)(v), which provides that when considering whether to appoint a person as a member of the Teaching Council, the Minister must have regard to the collective skills, experience, and knowledge making up the overall composition of the Teaching Council, including understanding of the partnership principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and
(ga)
section 535B, which provides for how a code administrator must exercise and perform its functions, powers, and duties in relation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and
(gb)
section 536A(1), which provides for how a DRS operator must exercise and perform its functions, powers, and duties in relation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and
(h)
section 597(2)(d), which provides that a good employer in the education service is an employer who operates an employment policy containing provisions requiring recognition of the aims and aspirations of Māori, the employment requirements of Māori, and the need for greater involvement of Māori in the education service.
Section 9(1)(b): repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 6(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 9(1)(c): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 9(1)(d): repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 6(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 9(1)(f): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 4 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 9(1)(g): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 4(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 9(2)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 5(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 9(2)(ba): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 6(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 9(2)(c): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 9(2)(e): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 4(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 9(2)(ga): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 5(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 9(2)(gb): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 5(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
10 Interpretation
(1)
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
academic freedom has the meaning given in section 267(4)
academic year means a period of 12 months commencing on 1 January
accreditation means the following:
(a)
an accreditation to provide an approved programme or part of a programme under section 441:
(b)
an accreditation to provide an approved micro-credential under section 446A
adult student means a student who is aged 20 years or over
affected student means a student who is required to attend school in accordance with a multiple timetable arrangement
allowance includes a bursary, a grant, and a scholarship
anchor polytechnic means a polytechnic that is specified to be an anchor polytechnic by an Order in Council made under section 315
applicable organisation means an organisation that provides an applicable service
applicable person, in relation to an applicable organisation, means any body or person who administers, controls, governs, manages, operates, or owns the organisation
apprentice means a person receiving apprenticeship training
apprenticeship training means a type of vocational education and training that—
(a)
is provided for a person who is working in an industry while undertaking training in that industry; and
(b)
is provided wholly or partly at the person’s workplace, mainly by or on behalf of the person’s employer; and
(c)
consists of a programme of study or training, or both, leading to a qualification in the skills of an industry that provides entry into an occupation in that industry; and
(d)
is facilitated by a person that receives funding from TEC
apprenticeship training agreement means an agreement between an employee and their employer that relates to the employee’s receipt of, or that provides for the employee to receive, apprenticeship training
apprenticeship training code means the training code (if any) issued under section 378
approved micro-credential means a micro-credential approved under section 445
approved programme means a programme approved under section 439
award means—
(a)
a certificate, diploma, degree, or other qualification listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework:
(b)
a certificate or other document granted in recognition of a student’s achievement in and completion of a micro-credential:
(c)
a certificate granted in recognition of a student’s achievement in scholarship examinations as part of the student’s secondary education
board member means a member of a board constituted under subpart 5 of Part 3
board of trustees or board means a board constituted under subpart 5 of Part 3 and,—
(a)
in relation to a State school, means the school’s board:
(b)
in relation to a principal, means the board of the relevant State school:
(c)
if a commissioner has been appointed to act in place of a board, means the commissioner
board staff, in relation to a board on any day, means the people who, on the day, are not students enrolled full-time at a school administered by the board and who,—
(a)
on the day, have taken up a permanent appointment to a position in the employment of the board, or a position (at a school administered by the board) in the employment of a body established under this Act or of the Secretary; or
(b)
during the period of 2 months ending with that day, have been continuously employed in that position
capstone assessment, in relation to a student or trainee enrolled in a programme that leads to a qualification, means a final assessment that requires the student or trainee to demonstrate their overall achievement of knowledge, skills, and attributes set out in the graduate profile for the qualification
category A wānanga means a wānanga that—
(a)
is established under section 398E(1) or reconstituted under clause 90(1) of Schedule 1; and
(b)
is a Crown entity
category B wānanga means a wānanga that—
(a)
is established under section 398I(1) or converted under clause 94(2) of Schedule 1; and
(b)
is not a Crown entity
category C wānanga means a wānanga that—
(a)
was established under section 268; and
(b)
has not been reconstituted under clause 90(1) of Schedule 1 or converted under clause 94(2) of Schedule 1; and
(c)
is a Crown entity
Charter School Agency or Agency means the Charter School Agency established under section 23 of the Public Service Act 2020
charter school contract means,—
(a)
in relation to the operation of a charter school, a contract entered into under section 212L:
(b)
in relation to a sponsor, a contract to which the sponsor and the Agency are parties
charter school/kura hourua or charter school means a school in respect of which—
(a)
the Authorisation Board has approved a sponsor under section 212I; and
(b)
a charter school contract with the Crown is in force
Charter Schools Authorisation Board or Authorisation Board means the board established under section 212A
chief executive of Oranga Tamariki means the chief executive of the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
Chief Referee means the person appointed as Chief Referee under section 219(1)
Chief Review Officer means the chief executive of the Education Review Office
closing date, in relation to a levy, means the date, specified in the ballot paper under clause 10(b) of Schedule 16, by which ballot papers must be returned
code, in relation to well-being and safety, means a code of practice issued under section 534
code administrator means a person or agency appointed under section 535A
cohort entry policy means a policy that provides for a child who proposes to enrol at a State school to be assigned to a group of children and for all of the children in that group to be enrolled in the school on the same date, being a date that is determined in accordance with section 64
combined board means a board that governs more than 1 school
community of learning means a community of learning approved by the Minister in accordance with section 116
Competence Authority means the Competence Authority established by rules made under section 486
Complaints Assessment Committee means the Complaints Assessment Committee established by rules made under section 486
composite school means a school that offers education to students in any of years 1 to 8 and in any of years 9 to 13
consensual methods means dispute resolution processes in which the parties reach mutual agreement on the outcome of the dispute (for example, facilitation or mediation)
contract of enrolment, in relation to an international student, means a written contract entered into between the student (or a parent of the student if the student is under the age of 18 years) and the board of a State school or a sponsor that entitles the student to receive tuition at the school
contributing school means a school that offers education to students in years 1 to 6
converting school means a State school that proposes to convert to a charter school
council, in relation to an institution, means the body that governs the institution in accordance with section 271
Crown agent has the same meaning as in section 10(1) of the Crown Entities Act 2004
Crown entity group has the meaning given by section 136(1) of the Crown Entities Act 2004
deputy chief referee means a person appointed as a deputy chief referee under section 219(3)
designated character school means a school designated in accordance with sections 204 and 205
Director of Regulation or Director means the person appointed under section 27A
Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards means the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards described in section 437
disciplinary body means either or both of the Complaints Assessment Committee and the Disciplinary Tribunal
Disciplinary Tribunal means the Disciplinary Tribunal established by rules made under section 486
distance school means a school for the time being designated under section 196 as a distance school
domestic student means an individual who is—
(a)
a New Zealand citizen; or
(b)
the holder of a residence class visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 who satisfies the criteria (if any) prescribed by regulations made under subsection (2); or
(c)
a person of a class or description of persons required by the Minister, by notice, to be treated as if they are not international students (see subsection (11))
domestic tertiary student means an individual—
(a)
who is—
(i)
a New Zealand citizen; or
(ii)
the holder of a residence class visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 who satisfies the criteria (if any) prescribed by regulations made under subsection (2); or
(iii)
a person of a class or description of persons required by the Minister, by notice, to be treated as if they are not international students (see subsection (11)); and
(b)
who is a tertiary student enrolled at an institution or a registered establishment
DRS means the student contract dispute resolution scheme established under section 536
DRS operator means a person or an organisation appointed under section 536(4)
early childhood education, in relation to Part 2, means education and care services provided by—
(a)
an early childhood service; and
(b)
a playgroup that opts to be certified under this Act
early childhood education and care centre—
(a)
means premises that are used regularly for the education or care of 3 or more children (not being children of the persons providing the education or care or children enrolled at a school who are being provided with education or care before or after school) under the age of 6 years by day (or part of a day) but not for any continuous period of more than 7 days; and
(b)
despite paragraph (c), includes premises that—
(i)
are situated within premises of the kinds described in paragraph (c)(i) to (x); and
(ii)
are used regularly or principally for the education or care of 3 or more children under the age of 6 years who are children of—
(A)
staff who work within premises of the kinds described in paragraph (c)(i) to (x); or
(B)
persons attending those premises as residents or students; but
(c)
excludes premises of the following kinds:
(i)
registered schools:
(ii)
hostels:
(iii)
residences (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989):
(iv)
institutions under the control of the Ministry of Health or Health New Zealand:
(v)
hospital care institutions (within the meaning of section 58(4) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001):
(vi)
children’s health camps operated by an organisation funded by a State service to provide an education service to children attending health camps:
(vii)
premises where all the children present are members of the same family in the care of a member of the family, or members of the same family in the care of a caregiver who is not acting for gain or reward:
(viii)
any premises, during any period of use for the education or care of 3 or more children under the age of 6 years, none of whom attends for any period exceeding 2 hours per day, in circumstances where the children’s parents or caregivers are—
(A)
in close proximity to the children and are able to be contacted; and
(B)
able to resume responsibility for the children at short notice:
(ix)
any premises, during any period of use for the operation of a playgroup, licensed home-based education and care service, or licensed hospital-based education and care service:
(x)
any premises, during any period of use for the education or care of children for any period not exceeding 4 hours a week in circumstances where the children’s parents or caregivers are—
(A)
in close proximity to the children and are able to be contacted; and
(B)
able to resume responsibility for the children at short notice
early childhood education and care service means—
(a)
a free kindergarten that is an early childhood service whose licence permits no child to attend for a period of more than 4 hours on any day; and
(b)
any other early childhood service that is declared to be an early childhood education and care service by regulations made under this Act
early childhood service means an early childhood education and care centre, a home-based education and care service, or a hospital-based education and care service
education with a special character means education within the framework of a particular or general religious or philosophical belief, and associated with observances or traditions relating to that belief
educational outcome means a credit, grade, mark, or other measure of student achievement that contributes towards the student gaining—
(a)
a qualification listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework; or
(b)
an award that recognises the successful completion of a micro-credential; or
(c)
recognition for successfully meeting the learning outcomes of a standard listed on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards
effective date, in relation to an integration agreement, means the date on which the integration of the school takes place
election year means a year divisible by 3
employer, in relation to a teacher or authorised person in a teaching position, means any one of the following who employs, or intends to employ, 1 or more teachers or authorised persons in a teaching position:
(a)
the board of a State school:
(aa)
a sponsor:
(b)
the managers of a private school:
(c)
the person or body that appoints staff at an early childhood education and care service:
(d)
the Secretary, in the Secretary’s capacity as an employer under section 614
employment agreement has the same meaning as in the Employment Relations Act 2000
employment-based trainee teacher means a person who is undertaking an initial teacher education programme that includes a period of employment by a board
employment-based trainee teaching position means a position established by the Secretary under section 615(1)
enrol includes admit, and enrolment and enrolled have corresponding meanings
enrolment scheme means a scheme developed and implemented (and not since abandoned) under this Act or regulations made under this Act
equal employment opportunities programme means a programme that is aimed at the identification and elimination of all aspects of policies, procedures, and other institutional barriers that cause or perpetuate, or tend to cause or perpetuate, inequality with respect to the employment of any persons or group of persons
Federation of Polytechnics Committee or Federation Committee means the board established under section 325
federation polytechnic means a polytechnic that is a member of the federation of polytechnics that is not an anchor polytechnic
financial product has the meaning given by section 7 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013
financial year,—
(a)
in relation to a school, means a year ending with 31 December:
(b)
in relation to any body, means a year ending,—
(i)
if the Minister has specified a day for the purpose, with that day; and
(ii)
with 30 June in every other case
free kindergarten means an early childhood education and care centre controlled by a free kindergarten association founded for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a kindergarten or kindergartens
free kindergarten association means an organisation that is for the time being specified in Schedule 2A
full primary school means a school that offers education to students in years 1 to 8
funding approval means a decision made by TEC under section 425 to fund (in whole or in part) some or all of the tertiary education programmes and activities described in an organisation’s proposed plan under clause 4(d) of Schedule 18
governing member, in relation to a private training establishment, means—
(a)
any director:
(b)
any member occupying a position equivalent to that of a director:
(c)
if the establishment is a trust, any trustee:
(d)
if the establishment is a partnership, any partner:
(e)
any senior manager:
(f)
any shareholder with a controlling interest in the establishment
government training establishment means—
(a)
a Crown entity (within the meaning of section 10(1) of the Crown Entities Act 2004) for the time being approved by the Minister for the purposes of this definition; or
(b)
a department (within the meaning of the Public Finance Act 1989) for the time being approved by the Minister for the purposes of this definition; or
(c)
the New Zealand Defence Force; or
(d)
the New Zealand Police
half-day, in relation to a school, means a period of 2 hours or more during which the school is open for instruction
home-based education and care service—
(a)
means the provision of education or care, for gain or reward, to children who are under the age of 5 years, or who are aged 5 years but not enrolled at school, in—
(i)
the children’s own home; or
(ii)
the home of the person providing the education or care; or
(iii)
any other home nominated by a parent of the children; and
(b)
includes the provision of education or care to any child of the person providing the service who is—
(i)
under the age of 5 years; or
(ii)
aged 5 years but not enrolled at school
hospital-based education and care service means the provision of education or care to 3 or more children under the age of 6 years who are receiving hospital care within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001
hostel means a boarding establishment used mainly or solely for the accommodation of students enrolled at a registered school
household does not include hostel
immediate caregiver,—
(a)
in relation to a student who usually lives in a household that includes the student’s father or mother but not both, but also includes the spouse or partner of the father or mother, means the spouse or partner; and
(b)
in relation to a student who usually lives in a household that includes the student’s father or mother and no spouse or partner of the father or mother, but also includes a person who has turned 20 years and has a day-to-day responsibility for the student clearly greater than that of any other person, means that person; and
(c)
in relation to a student who usually lives in a household that does not include the student’s father or mother, means any member of the household who has turned 20 years and has a day-to-day responsibility for the student clearly greater than that of any other person
independent trustee, in relation to a private training establishment, means a trustee that does not provide any other service to the establishment other than that referred to in section 356
industry means 2 or more enterprises that use—
(a)
the same or similar inputs and methods of production to produce the same or similar products; or
(b)
the same or similar methods to provide the same or similar services
industry skills board means an industry skills board established under section 362
initial teacher education programme means a training programme recognised by the Teaching Council as suitable for people who want to teach
institution means—
(a)
a polytechnic:
(b)
a university:
(c)
a wānanga
integration means the conditions and procedures on and by which a private school may become established as part of the State system of education, and may remain part of that system, on a basis that preserves and safeguards the special character of the education that the school provides, and integrated has a corresponding meaning
integration agreement means an agreement entered into under clause 5 of Schedule 6
intermediate school means a school that offers education to students in years 7 and 8 only
international student means an individual who is not a domestic student
Kura Kaupapa Māori means a school designated in accordance with section 201
land has the same meaning as in the Land Transfer Act 2017
lead provider means a provider of secondary–tertiary programmes that is recognised by the Minister by notice in the Gazette under clause 5 of Schedule 8 as a lead provider of those programmes
levy group means the members of an industry described in a levy order, or proposed to be described in a levy order, who have to, or are to, pay a levy or proposed levy
licensed early childhood education and care centre means an early childhood education and care centre in respect of which the service provider holds a current licence issued under regulations made under section 636
licensed early childhood service means an early childhood service in respect of which the service provider holds a current licence issued under regulations made under section 636
licensed home-based education and care service means a home-based education and care service in respect of which the service provider holds a current licence issued under regulations made under section 636
licensed hospital-based education and care service means a hospital-based education and care service in respect of which the service provider holds a current licence issued under regulations made under section 636
listed skill standard means a skill standard that is listed on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards
lone board means a board that administers 1 school only
managers of a private school means all the people who control and manage the school, whether or not they have a proprietary interest in it
medical practitioner means a health practitioner who—
(a)
is, or is treated as being, registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of medicine; and
(b)
holds a current practising certificate
member of an industry means a person who employs persons who work in that industry or a self-employed person in that industry
micro-credential means study or training that—
(a)
leads to an award; but
(b)
does not, of itself, lead to an award of a qualification listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework
Minister means the Minister of the Crown who, under any warrant or with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act or part of this Act
Ministry means the department of State that, with the authority of the Prime Minister, is for the time being responsible for the administration of this Act or part of this Act
MSD has the same meaning as in Schedule 2 of the Social Security Act 2018
multiple timetable arrangement means an arrangement under which more than 1 timetable is run on the same day (whether consecutively or concurrently)
NCEA means national certificate of educational achievement
NZQA means the New Zealand Qualifications Authority continued by section 430
overcrowding, in relation to a school, means the attendance at the school of more students than its site or facilities can reasonably be expected to take
parent, in relation to an individual, means,—
(a)
for the purposes of serving on a board of a State school (whether elected, appointed, or co-opted), the mother, father, guardian, or immediate caregiver of the individual:
(b)
for all other purposes, the mother, father, or guardian of the individual
participating board—
(a)
means the board of a State school; and
(b)
includes a commissioner appointed in place of a board; but
(c)
excludes a board of a State school or a commissioner if that party has been a participant but, with the Minister’s approval, has withdrawn from, and is not for the time being a participant in, a school risk management scheme
participating student means a student undertaking a secondary–tertiary programme who is enrolled at any of the following:
(a)
a secondary school:
(b)
a composite school:
(c)
a private school, other than a school registered only as a primary school:
(d)
a specialist school that is a relevant school
partner, in the phrase “spouse or partner”
and in related contexts, means civil union partner or de facto partner
payrolled school means a school to which section 579 applies
permanent member, in relation to the teaching or general staff of an institution, means a member of the staff who—
(a)
is employed, on a full-time or part-time basis, for a period ending, unless sooner terminated, on the member’s resignation or retirement; or
(b)
has been employed, on a full-time or part-time basis, whether under an employment agreement for a fixed term or otherwise, for at least 3 months; or
(c)
has been employed, on a full-time or part-time basis, whether under an employment agreement for a fixed term or otherwise, for less than 3 months and whose employment is, in the opinion of the chief executive of the institution, likely to continue for at least 3 months from the date of commencement of that employment
person dealing—
(a)
means the other party to a transaction, if an act of a board is a transaction; and
(b)
includes a person who has acquired property, rights, or interests from a board
person responsible for teaching and learning means the person appointed under section 212O(d)(ii)
personal property includes money
playgroup means a group that meets on a regular basis to facilitate children’s play and in respect of which—
(a)
no child attends for more than 4 hours on any day; and
(b)
more than half of the children attending on any occasion have a parent or caregiver present in the same play area at the same time; and
(c)
the total number of children attending on any occasion is not greater than 4 times the number of parents and caregivers present in the same play area at the same time
polytechnic means an institution established under section 315
practising certificate means a certificate issued under clause 10(2) or (6) of Schedule 3
prescribed means prescribed by this Act or by regulations made under this Act
prescribed quality assurance requirements means the quality assurance requirements prescribed by NZQA under section 452(1)(i)
primary education means education for students in a primary, an intermediate, a specialist, or a composite school at the relevant year levels
primary school means a contributing school or a full primary school
principal means the chief executive of a State school and, in relation to a school, a person enrolled at a school, or the enrolment of a person at a school, means the principal of the school, and except in section 119(1)(c) includes an acting principal
private school means a school registered under section 214
private training establishment means an establishment, other than an institution, that provides post-school education or training, including vocational education and training
proceeding means any legal or administrative proceeding, and includes an arbitration
professional leader means—
(a)
the principal:
(b)
in the case of an early childhood service, the professional leader of the service:
(c)
in the case of any other educational institution, the chief executive or person occupying an equivalent position
programme, in relation to an institution within the meaning of section 10(5), means a programme of study or training that leads to a qualification listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework
property means real and personal property of every description
proprietor means the body corporate that—
(a)
has the primary responsibility for determining the special character of a private school or State integrated school and for supervising the maintenance of that special character; and
(b)
owns, holds in trust, or leases the land and buildings that constitute the premises of the private school or a State integrated school
proposed sponsor has the meaning given in section 212F(1)(a)
provider—
(a)
means a person or body that is—
(i)
a registered school; or
(ii)
an institution; or
(iii)
a registered establishment; or
(iv)
an organisation that provides adult and community education that receives funding under section 425 or 428:
(b)
has, for the purposes of Part 4, the meaning specified in paragraph (a) and includes—
(i)
a government training establishment, a registered establishment, and a wānanga:
(ii)
a relevant school:
(c)
means, in relation to well-being and safety in subpart 7 of Part 5, a person or body that is,—
(i)
in respect of international students, a registered school, an institution, or a registered establishment; or
(ii)
in respect of domestic tertiary students, an institution or a registered establishment
provider group means a group of providers of secondary–tertiary programmes that is recognised by the Minister by notice in the Gazette under clause 1 of Schedule 8 as a provider group
psychologist means a health practitioner who—
(a)
is, or is treated as being, registered with the Psychologists Board continued by section 114(1)(a) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as a practitioner of the profession of psychology; and
(b)
holds a current practising certificate
qualification means a qualification listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework, which may include qualifications offered by universities
Qualifications and Credentials Framework means the framework described in section 436
qualifying member, in relation to a levy group, means a member who does not have a certificate of exemption under clause 14 of Schedule 16
reasonably convenient school means a State school that a reasonable person living in the area in which the school is situated would judge to be reasonably convenient for a particular student, taking into account the age of the student, the distance to be travelled, the time likely to be spent in travel, the reasonably available modes of travel, common public transport routes, and relevant traffic hazards; and the meaning may vary as between different schools depending on—
(a)
whether the school is a single-sex or co-educational school:
(b)
whether the school is an ordinary State school, a Kura Kaupapa Māori, a designated character school, a State integrated school, or a specialist school:
(c)
whether the school is a primary, an intermediate, a secondary, or a composite school
record of achievement means a record of a student’s educational outcomes maintained by NZQA or a tertiary education provider
refund period means,—
(a)
in relation to a domestic student who, before 1 January 2015, is enrolled in a programme or part of a programme, or enrolled in a micro-credential, the 7 days after the first day of the programme or micro-credential for which the attendance of the student at the establishment is required:
(b)
in relation to a domestic student who, on or after 1 January 2015, is enrolled in a programme or part of a programme, or enrolled in a micro-credential, the period of time that begins when the student’s fees are paid to the private training establishment (or paid directly to the independent trustee) and ends on the later of 7 days after—
(i)
the first day of the programme or micro-credential for which the attendance of the student at the establishment is required; or
(ii)
any other day that the establishment permits the student to begin attendance
registered establishment means a private training establishment that has been granted registration by NZQA under subpart 5 of Part 4 and whose registration has not been cancelled
registered school means a State school, a State integrated school, a private school, or a charter school
registration or registered, in relation to any person, means the entry of the person’s name on the register kept under clause 8 of Schedule 3
regular teacher means a teacher who is not a relieving teacher or an employment-based trainee teacher
related entity, in relation to an institution, means a person or body that is a related party for the purpose of any financial reporting standard that applies to the institution under generally accepted accounting practice
relevant industry means the industry described in the levy order or proposed levy order
relevant school means—
(a)
a secondary school; or
(b)
a composite school; or
(c)
a private school, except a school registered as a primary school only; or
(d)
a specialist school; or
(e)
a charter school
relevant services includes—
(a)
the design, development, or delivery of micro-credentials and programmes of study or training, including teaching and study materials, and the assessment against skill standards; and
(b)
the development and ongoing operation of a quality management system, including monitoring programme delivery and moderating assessments; and
(c)
the provision of shared administration services and information systems for 2 or more federation polytechnics (including, without limitation, student management and learning management systems, contract procurement, human resources, finance, and accounting systems)
relieving teacher means a teacher employed by a board to undertake some or all of the duties of a regular teacher who, at that time, is absent from work but remains employed (on salary) by the board
review officer means a person designated under section 465, and includes the Chief Review Officer
school community, in relation to a school, means—
(a)
the parents, families, and whānau of the school’s students; and
(b)
the Māori community associated with the school; and
(c)
any other person, or group of persons, who the board or a sponsor considers is part of the school community for the purposes of the relevant provision
school risk management scheme means the school risk management scheme established under section 576
seclude, in relation to a student or child, means placing the student or child involuntarily alone in a room from which they cannot, or believe they cannot, freely exit
secondary component, in relation to a secondary–tertiary programme, means the portion of the programme that consists of participation in secondary education, whether or not provided by the school at which the participating student is enrolled
secondary education means education for students in a secondary, specialist, or composite school at the relevant year levels
secondary school means a school that offers education to students in any of years 9 to 13
secondary–tertiary programme means a full-time programme for a participating student that—
(a)
consists of a secondary component and a tertiary component; and
(b)
is co-ordinated by a provider group or a lead provider in accordance with the provisions in Schedule 8
Secretary means the chief executive of the Ministry
senior manager, in relation to a private training establishment, means—
(a)
the chief executive officer or person occupying an equivalent position; or
(b)
any member of staff in charge of academic issues, marketing, administration, finance, student fee trust funds, or student services
serious criminal activity means any offence involving fraud, violence, or harm to children, any sexual offence, or any crime involving dishonesty
serious harm, in relation to a domestic tertiary student or an international student, means an event or circumstances that seriously and detrimentally affect the ongoing welfare of the student, including (without limitation) physical injury, physical illness, or mental illness
serious misconduct means conduct by a teacher—
(a)
that—
(i)
adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, the well-being or learning of 1 or more students; or
(ii)
reflects adversely on the teacher’s fitness to be a teacher; or
(iii)
may bring the teaching profession into disrepute; and
(b)
that is of a character or severity that meets the Teaching Council’s criteria for reporting serious misconduct
service provider means each of the following:
(a)
in relation to an early childhood education and care centre, the body, agency, or person who operates the centre:
(b)
in relation to a home-based education and care service, the body, agency, or person who provides, or offers to provide, that education or care:
(c)
in relation to a hospital-based education and care service, the body, agency, or person who provides that education or care:
(d)
in relation to a playgroup, the person or persons who operate the playgroup
signatory provider means a provider that has been approved by a code administrator under section 531A(1) as a signatory provider and that is a signatory to a code issued under section 534(1)(b) or (c)
skill standard—
(a)
means a specification of skills, the levels of performance in those skills, and the learning outcomes associated with those skills; and
(b)
in relation to any vocational education and training (or proposed vocational education and training), means a specification of some or all of the skills in which training is (or is proposed to be) received, the levels of performance in those skills intended to be attained by people receiving the training, and the learning outcomes associated with those skills
solicited voluntary payment from parents, in relation to a board, means a payment that is—
(a)
to be made or made by or on behalf of a parent, or parents, of any student, or students, likely to be enrolled or enrolled at a school administered by the board; and
(b)
a payment that the parent has, or that those parents have, no legal obligation to make; and
(c)
sought in any way (whether directly or indirectly) from the parent or those parents, by or on behalf of the board
special education means education for children who require educational services beyond that normally obtained in an ordinary class in a State school
special institution means a State school that is—
(a)
for the time being specified in Schedule 2; or
(b)
a distance school
special programme means a programme, or a programme of a type, that the Secretary has, by notice in the Gazette, approved as a special programme and—
(a)
that provides—
(i)
special education; or
(ii)
Māori language immersion classes; or
(iii)
any other type of specialised education to overcome educational disadvantage; or
(b)
that is a programme—
(i)
that takes a significantly different approach in order to address particular student needs; and
(ii)
that would not be viable unless it could draw from a catchment area beyond the school’s home zone; and
(iii)
to which entry is determined by an organisation or process that is independent of the school
special service means a service established under section 197 as a special service
specialist school means a school that offers special education to students in any of years 1 to 13
specified industries, in relation to an industry skills board, means the 1 or more specified industries covered by the industry skills board
specified user means—
(a)
an education provider (as defined in clause 1 of Schedule 24); and
(b)
the Ministry; and
(c)
NZQA; and
(d)
TEC; and
(e)
any other agency or body declared by regulations made under section 649 to be a specified user
sponsor means the governing body of a charter school that the Authorisation Board has approved under section 212I to operate the school
State integrated school means a State school that—
(a)
offers education with a special character; and
(b)
has been established as a State integrated school under clause 5 of Schedule 6
State school means a school that is a primary school, an intermediate school, a composite school, a secondary school, or a specialist school
student accommodation means premises that are exempt under section 5B of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986
student claimant, in relation to a provider or signatory provider, means a person who—
(a)
is a domestic tertiary student or an international student enrolled by the provider or signatory provider; or
(b)
is a former domestic tertiary student or a former international student enrolled by the provider or signatory provider; or
(c)
intends to be, or is in the process of being, enrolled by the provider or signatory provider as a domestic tertiary student or an international student
Te Aho Matua means a statement that sets out an approach to teaching and learning that applies to schools designated under section 201
te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua means the body commonly known as Te Rūnanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, being the most suitable to be responsible for determining the content of Te Aho Matua and for ensuring that it is not changed to the detriment of Māori
Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga means the body incorporated as Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga Incorporated, or its successor, to represent the collective interests of wānanga established under this Act
teacher includes—
(a)
a registered teacher; and
(b)
a former registered teacher; and
(c)
a person who holds a limited authority to teach; and
(d)
a person who formerly held a limited authority to teach
Teaching Council means the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand continued by section 474(1)
teaching position means a position in a registered school or licensed early childhood service that—
(a)
requires its holder to instruct students; or
(b)
is the professional leader, deputy professional leader (however described), or assistant principal of a school; or
(c)
is the professional leader of an early childhood service
TEC means the Tertiary Education Commission continued by section 401(1)
tertiary component, in relation to a secondary–tertiary programme, means the portion of the programme that consists of the participating student’s apprenticeship training or participation in tertiary education that—
(a)
is provided by any 1 or more of the following:
(i)
a board of a secondary school, a composite school, or a specialist school that is a relevant school:
(ia)
a sponsor of a secondary school or composite school:
(ii)
the managers of a private school, other than a school registered only as a primary school:
(iii)
a government training establishment:
(iv)
an institution:
(v)
a registered establishment; and
(b)
may include work experience (other than work experience obtained by a student under section 53) as part of the programme that is approved by the provider of the secondary or tertiary component of the programme
tertiary education organisation means—
(a)
a tertiary education provider:
(b)
an industry skills board:
(c)
an individual or body that—
(i)
provides tertiary education-related services; and
(ii)
is identified as a tertiary education organisation by the Minister by notice (see subsections (11) and (12))
tertiary education provider means any of the following:
(a)
an institution:
(b)
a registered establishment:
(c)
a government training establishment:
(d)
any other person or body that provides, or proposes to provide, tertiary education and that is funded through non-departmental output classes from Vote Education
trainee—
(a)
means an employee who has a training agreement; and
(b)
includes an apprentice
training agreement means an agreement between an employer and an employee that relates to the employee’s receipt of, or provides for the employee to receive, vocational education and training (whether provided by the employer or some other person), and that sets out—
(a)
the responsibilities of the employer and employee under the training agreement; and
(b)
the responsibilities and activities of a provider and an industry skills board (if applicable) in relation to the training specified in the training agreement
university means an institution established as a university under section 268(1)
unsupervised access, in relation to children at a licensed early childhood service or students at a school, means access to any child that is not access by, or supervised by, or otherwise observed by, or able to be directed (if necessary) by, any 1 or more of the following:
(a)
a registered teacher or holder of a limited authority to teach:
(b)
an employee of the school or service on whom a satisfactory Police vet has been conducted within the last 3 years:
(c)
a parent of the student
Vice-Chancellor, in relation to a university, means the chief executive of the university, by whatever name called
Vice-Chancellors Committee means the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors Committee continued by section 311
vocational education and training—
(a)
means education and training that lead to the achievement of industry-developed skill standards, qualifications, or other awards; and
(b)
includes work-based training
walking distance, in relation to travel between a person’s residence and a school,—
(a)
where there is no public transport that the person can conveniently use, means the distance (measured along the most direct route by public road, public footpath, or a combination of both) between the residence and the school; and
(b)
where in both directions there is public transport that the person can conveniently use, means the sum of the following distances (each measured along the most direct route by public road, public footpath, or a combination of both) or, where the distance is greater in one direction than the other, the greater distance:
(i)
the distance between the residence and the place where public transport must first be taken (or finally be left); and
(ii)
the distance between the school and the place where public transport must finally be left (or first be taken); and
(iii)
every intermediate distance between one element of public transport and another
wānanga means an institution established as a wānanga,—
(a)
before the commencement of Part 4A, under section 268:
(b)
after the commencement of Part 4A, under that Part
work-based training means systematic training and assessment (including apprenticeship training) in the skills characteristic of, or likely to be valuable to, persons engaged in an industry (or 2 or more industries) that is provided to persons engaged in that industry (or those industries)—
(a)
by or on behalf of employers in that industry (or those industries); or
(b)
for the benefit of employers and employees in that industry (or those industries).
(2)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations prescribing criteria that the holder of a residence class visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 must satisfy in order to fulfil the requirements of paragraph (b) of the definition of domestic student or paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of domestic tertiary student in subsection (1).
(3)
Regulations under subsection (2) must be confirmed by an Act (see subpart 3 of Part 5 of the Legislation Act 2019).
(3A)
[Repealed](4)
Despite the definition of immediate caregiver in subsection (1), a student does not have an immediate caregiver if the student—
(a)
usually lives in a household that includes the student’s father and mother; or
(b)
usually spends approximately equal time in 2 or more households; or
(c)
does not usually live in a household.
(4A)
(5)
For the purposes of subpart 2 of Part 5 (apart from section 456), the definition of institution in subsection (1) includes any government training establishment, registered establishment, relevant school, industry skills board, or other body, except that—
(a)
an industry skills board is not an institution for the purposes of the following sections:
(i)
(ii)
sections 446A and 446B:
(iii)
(b)
an other body is not an institution for the purposes of sections 441 to 444.
(6)
For the purposes of sections 563 to 572, unless the context otherwise requires,—
agreement includes a deed, a contract, an agreement, an arrangement, and an understanding, whether oral or written, express or implied, and whether or not enforceable at law
assets means any real or personal property of any kind, whether or not subject to rights, and includes (but is not limited to)—
(a)
any estate or interest in any land, including all rights of occupation of land or buildings:
(b)
all buildings, vehicles, plant, equipment, and machinery, and any rights in them:
(c)
all livestock, products from livestock, and crops:
(d)
all financial products within the meaning of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013:
(e)
all rights of any kind, including rights under Acts, deeds, agreements, or licences, planning rights, water rights, and clean air licences, and all applications for and objections against applications for those rights:
(f)
all patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, and other intellectual property rights whether enforceable by Act or rule of law:
(g)
goodwill, and any business undertaking:
(h)
all natural gas, petroleum, and other hydrocarbons
institution includes a subsidiary of an institution
liabilities includes—
(a)
liabilities and obligations under any Act or agreement; and
(b)
deposits and other debt securities within the meaning of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013; and
(c)
contingent liabilities
rights includes powers, privileges, interests, licences, approvals, consents, benefits, and equities of any kind, whether actual, contingent, or prospective
transfer includes—
(a)
to assign and convey; and
(b)
to vest by Order in Council; and
(c)
to confer estates in fee simple of land held by the Crown; and
(d)
to grant leases, rights, and interests in any real or personal property; and
(e)
in the case of liabilities, the assumption of the liabilities by an institution.
(7)
For the purposes of subparts 3 and 4 of Part 6, unless the context otherwise requires,—
education service means—
(a)
service in the employment of—
(i)
a State school; or
(ii)
an institution; or
(iii)
any other place of education for which a separate employer for the purposes of this Act is designated by any enactment or by the Minister:
(b)
service as a registered teacher in the employment of any free kindergarten association that controls a free kindergarten:
(c)
service as a teacher in the employment of the Secretary under section 614
employer,—
(a)
in relation to a State school, means the board:
(b)
in relation to a free kindergarten, means the free kindergarten association by which that free kindergarten is controlled:
(c)
in relation to an institution, means the chief executive of the institution:
(d)
in relation to any other place of education in the education service, means—
(i)
the person or body designated by an enactment as the employer for the purposes of this Act in respect of the place of education; and
(ii)
in the absence of a person or body designated by an enactment, means a person or body designated for that purpose by the Minister:
(e)
in relation to a person employed as a teacher under section 614, means the Secretary.
(8)
For the purposes of sections 653 to 659, unless the context otherwise requires,—
education entity means—
(a)
a registered school:
(b)
a service provider:
(c)
a hostel:
(d)
a private training establishment:
(e)
an institution:
(f)
an educational body
educational body—
(a)
means a body corporate that is recognised by the Minister as a body that provides any educational or developmental service or facility; and
(b)
includes a tertiary education organisation
governing body, in relation to an education entity, means the body that is primarily responsible for the governance of the education entity
instruction includes the provision of education services through online or distance learning, or through any other means.
(9)
Unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a)
every reference in Schedule 6 to a State school is to be treated as excluding a State integrated school:
(b)
every reference elsewhere in this Act and in any other enactment or document to—
(i)
a State primary school is to be treated as including a State integrated school that is a primary school:
(ii)
a State secondary school is to be treated as including a State integrated school that is a secondary school:
(iii)
a State school is to be treated as including a reference to a State integrated school.
(10)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, amend Schedule 2 by—
(a)
adding the name of a State school to it; or
(b)
omitting the name of a State school from it; or
(c)
substituting for the name of a State school any different name if that school has changed its name.
(10A)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, amend Schedule 2A by—
(a)
adding the name of an organisation if the organisation has been formed from the restructuring of an organisation that is specified in Schedule 2A or from the merger of 2 or more organisations that are specified in Schedule 2A; or
(b)
omitting the name of an organisation if the organisation has ceased to exist or ceased to operate a free kindergarten; or
(c)
substituting for the name of an organisation any different name if that organisation has changed its name.
(11)
The following are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements):
(a)
a notice under paragraph (c) of the definition of domestic student in subsection (1):
(b)
a notice under paragraph (a)(iii) of the definition of domestic tertiary student in subsection (1):
(c)
a notice under paragraph (c)(ii) of the definition of tertiary education organisation in subsection (1), unless it applies only to 1 or more named individuals or bodies:
(d)
regulations under subsection (2):
(e)
an order under subsection (10):
(f)
an order under subsection (10A).
(12)
If a notice under paragraph (c)(ii) of the definition of tertiary education organisation in subsection (1) is not secondary legislation, the Minister must give the notice to—
(a)
the TEC; and
(b)
the individuals or bodies named in the notice.
(13)
[Repealed]Compare: 1964 No 135 s 2; 1989 No 80 ss 2, 11B, 60, 91A, 92, 139AC, 145, 159, 159B, 164A, 216, 232, 234C, 238D, 239, 246, 302, 309, 320, 323, 342, 348, 378, 414, 476B, 492, Schedule 6 cls 1, 19; 1992 No 55 ss 2, 25
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (11) | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 10(1) academic freedom: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 7 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 10(1) accreditation: replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) anchor polytechnic: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(5) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) approved micro-credential: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) approved training scheme: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) award paragraph (a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) award paragraph (b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) category A wānanga: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 5(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(1) category B wānanga: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 5(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(1) category C wānanga: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 5(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(1) Charter School Agency or Agency: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) charter school contract: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) charter school/kura hourua or charter school: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) Charter Schools Authorisation Board or Authorisation Board: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) code: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) code administrator: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) consensual methods: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) contract of enrolment: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) converting school: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) council: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) Crown agent: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) Director of Regulation or Director: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 4 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 10(1) Directory of Assessment Standards: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) domestic student paragraph (b): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 19(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(1) domestic student paragraph (c): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 10(1) domestic tertiary student paragraph (a)(iii): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 10(1) DRS operator: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) early childhood education: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 4 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 10(1) early childhood education and care centre paragraph (c)(iv): replaced, on 1 July 2022, by section 104 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 (2022 No 30).
Section 10(1) early childhood education and care centre paragraph (c)(iv): amended, on 30 June 2024, by section 43 of the Pae Ora (Disestablishment of Māori Health Authority) Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 5).
Section 10(1) educational outcome: replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) employer paragraph (aa): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) excluded early childhood service: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) Federation of Polytechnics Committee or Federation Committee: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(5) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) federation polytechnic: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(5) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) free kindergarten association: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) industry skills board: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(5) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) institution paragraph (a): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) Kura Kaupapa Māori: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 19(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(1) listed skill standard: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) micro-credential: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) Minister: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(6) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or NZIST: repealed, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Section 10(1) NZIST subsidiary: repealed, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Section 10(1) person responsible for teaching and learning: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) polytechnic: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(5) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) programme: amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) programme: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) proposed sponsor: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) provider paragraph (c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) qualification: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) Qualifications and Credentials Framework (previously Qualifications Framework): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) refund period paragraph (a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) refund period paragraph (b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) refund period paragraph (b)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) registered school: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) relevant school paragraph (e): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(6) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) relevant services: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(5) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) school community paragraph (c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(7) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) signatory provider: replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(7) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) skill standard: replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(8) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) specified industries: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) specified user paragraph (a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(9) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) sponsor: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) student claimant paragraph (b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) teaching position paragraph (c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(10) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 19(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(1) tertiary component paragraph (a)(ia): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(8) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(1) tertiary education organisation paragraph (b): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(3) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) tertiary education organisation paragraph (c)(ii): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 10(1) training agreement: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 5(4) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(1) training package: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(11) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) training scheme: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(12) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(1) wānanga: replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 5(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(1) workforce development council: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(2): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 19(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(3): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 10(3A): repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(9) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 10(4A): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 19(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 10(5): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(14) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(5): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(5)(a): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 10(10)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(15) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(10A): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(16) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(11): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 10(11)(f): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 6(17) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 10(12): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 10(13): repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 4(10) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
11 Transitional, savings, and related provisions
The transitional, savings, and related provisions set out in Schedule 1 have effect according to their terms.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 2A
Part 2 Early childhood education
13 Outline of Part 2
(1)
This Part, which concerns the regulation of early childhood education, is divided into 3 subparts.
(2)
Subpart 1 provides for the licensing and certification of early childhood services.
(3)
Subpart 2 concerns the administration of licensed early childhood services.
(4)
Subpart 3 sets out several offence provisions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 308
14 Purpose of Part 2
The purpose of this Part is to regulate an early childhood education system to—
(a)
set and implement minimum standards to provide for quality early childhood education that allows all children to establish strong foundations for learning, well-being, and life outcomes; and
(b)
support the choice of parents and caregivers to participate in the labour market.
Section 14: replaced, on 23 February 2026, by section 5 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
14A Objectives of Part 2
The objectives of this Part are to support the purpose in section 14 by—
(a)
protecting the health, safety, and well-being of children receiving early childhood education; and
(b)
improving educational and developmental outcomes for those children; and
(c)
supporting accessibility and choice for parents and caregivers, including by providing for licensing and certification of different types of services and enabling their funding; and
(d)
providing information to parents, caregivers, and others to improve knowledge about the quality of early childhood education, including to inform parental choice; and
(e)
implementing a licensing and certification system that provides service providers, parents, and caregivers with certainty and clarity, as far as is reasonably practicable, regarding minimum standards for quality services.
Section 14A: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 5 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Subpart 1—Licensing and certification
15 Service providers operating early childhood education and care centres must be licensed
(1)
A service provider who operates an early childhood education and care centre must be licensed in accordance with regulations made under section 636.
(2)
A licensed early childhood education and care centre may be operated within the premises of a registered school, and its status as an early childhood education and care centre is not affected by the fact of its being operated within those premises.
16 Certain other service providers may be licensed
A service provider who provides a home-based education and care service or a hospital-based education and care service may, but need not, be licensed in accordance with regulations made under section 636 in respect of the service.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 316
17 Ministerial approval required to apply for licence
[Repealed]Section 17: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
17A Conditions on approval to apply for licence
[Repealed]Section 17A: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
17B Expiry of approval to apply for licence
[Repealed]Section 17B: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
17C Revocation of approval to apply for licence
[Repealed]Section 17C: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
17D Minister may issue statements relating to network of licensed early childhood services
[Repealed]Section 17D: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
18 Secretary to assess whether applicants for approval to apply for licences are fit and proper
[Repealed]Section 18: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
18A Secretary to assess financial viability of proposed early childhood service
[Repealed]Section 18A: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
18B Notification of adverse assessment
[Repealed]Section 18B: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
18C Appeal against adverse assessment
[Repealed]Section 18C: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 5 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
19 Requirements for licensed home-based education and care service
(1)
A licensed home-based education and care service may be provided to no more than 4 children per home.
(2)
While children are participating in the service, the total number of children present in a home in which the service is provided (including those receiving the service) may not be more than 6.
(3)
In this section,—
children means children aged 13 years or younger (other than children of the educator who are enrolled at school)
educator means the person who—
(a)
provides education and care and comfort directly to children in the person’s care; and
(b)
attends to the health and safety of those children.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 317A
20 Playgroups may be certified
A service provider who operates a playgroup may, but need not, apply for a certificate issued under regulations made under section 637 in respect of the playgroup.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 318
21 Application of Legislation Act 2019 to certain material incorporated by reference
(1)
This section applies if section 64 of the Legislation Act 2019 is relied on to incorporate material by reference in criteria prescribed under section 636(2)(b) or 637(2)(b) of this Act.
(2)
Despite section 65 of the Legislation Act 2019, clause 1 of Schedule 2 of that Act (which is about consultation) does not apply in relation to the incorporation of that material.
Section 21: replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
22 Records
The service provider of a licensed early childhood service must keep, and make available to the Secretary or the Director of Regulation on request,—
(a)
a register of the children who attend or have attended the service, specifying the date of birth of each; and
(b)
a record of the attendance of children at the service; and
(c)
a record of all fees and other charges paid in respect of children’s attendance at the service; and
(d)
evidence that parents of children attending the service have regularly examined the attendance record; and
(e)
any other records that are necessary to enable the service’s performance to be monitored adequately.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 313
Section 22: amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 6 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Subpart 2—Administration
23 Curriculum frameworks
(1)
The Minister may prescribe or change a curriculum framework for—
(a)
licensed early childhood services:
(b)
certified playgroups.
(2)
The Minister may prescribe or change a curriculum framework only if the Minister has consulted with organisations that the Minister considers represent those likely to be substantially affected by the framework or change.
(3)
[Repealed](4)
The curriculum framework may specify—
(a)
different commencement dates for different provisions of the curriculum framework or for different purposes; and
(b)
a transitional period during which service providers may elect to comply with another specified curriculum requirement.
(5)
A service provider must implement any applicable curriculum framework in accordance with any regulations made under section 636 or 637.
(6)
A curriculum framework under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 314
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette with a statement of where it can be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 23(3): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 23(4): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 23(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
24 Prohibition on corporal punishment and seclusion in early childhood services
(1)
A person must not—
(a)
use force, by way of correction or punishment, toward a child enrolled at or attending an early childhood service; or
(b)
seclude a child enrolled at or attending an early childhood service.
(2)
In this section, person means an individual who—
(a)
is employed or engaged by a service provider of an early childhood service; or
(b)
is supervising or controlling a child on behalf of a service provider of an early childhood service; or
(c)
owns, manages, or controls an early childhood service.
25 Police vetting in respect of early childhood services
A service provider of a licensed early childhood service must obtain Police vets of non-teaching and unregistered employees, contractors, and other adults in accordance with Schedule 4.
26 Kindergarten attendance fees
(1)
Fees may be charged in respect of the attendance of any child at any kindergarten (whether or not it is known or described as a free kindergarten).
(2)
Subsection (1) has effect despite anything to the contrary in—
(a)
any enactment or rule of law; or
(b)
anything in the constitution of any body corporate.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319I
27 Parent’s right of entry
The parent of a child has a right to enter the premises of a licensed early childhood education and care centre or a licensed home-based education and care service when the child is there unless the parent—
(a)
is required to comply with—
(i)
a court order that prohibits access to, or contact with, the child (either generally or when attending the centre or service); or
(ii)
a warning under section 4 of the Trespass Act 1980 to stay off the premises; or
(b)
is suffering from a contagious or infectious disease likely to have a detrimental effect on the children if passed on to them; or
(c)
is, in the opinion of a person responsible for the operation of the centre or service,—
(i)
under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that has a detrimental effect on the functioning or behaviour of the person; or
(ii)
exhibiting behaviour that is, or is likely to be, disruptive to the effective operation of the centre or service.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319A
Director of Regulation
Heading: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 7 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
27A Director of Regulation
(1)
The Secretary must appoint a person to be the Director of Regulation.
(2)
The Secretary must be satisfied that the person has the appropriate experience and expertise to perform and exercise the functions, duties, and powers of the Director of Regulation.
(3)
The person must be employed by the Ministry but need not be a current employee of the Ministry at the time of appointment.
(4)
When performing or exercising a function, duty, or power under this Act, the Director—
(a)
does so as an employee of the Ministry; but
(b)
must exercise independent judgement if this Act requires the Director to do so (for example, if there is a requirement to act independently of the Minister or any other person).
Section 27A: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 7 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
27B Functions of Director of Regulation
The functions of the Director of Regulation are to—
Statutorily independent functions
(a)
issue licences to early childhood services and certify playgroups:
(b)
enforce compliance by service providers with applicable requirements under this Act, including by undertaking investigations and prosecutions, as appropriate:
Other functions
(c)
provide support, information, and guidance to service providers about applicable requirements under this Act:
(d)
provide information to parents, caregivers, and other interested parties on the compliance by service providers with applicable requirements under this Act:
(e)
carry out proactive, regular, risk-based monitoring of compliance by service providers with applicable requirements under this Act:
(f)
help improve the knowledge of parents, caregivers, and other interested parties about the quality of early childhood education:
(g)
assess and respond to—
(i)
complaints about licensed early childhood services and certified playgroups:
(ii)
complaints and appeals from service providers regarding decisions under this Act:
(iii)
incidents at licensed early childhood services and certified playgroups:
(h)
collect and provide information to the Secretary that is necessary for the Secretary to perform and exercise their functions, duties, and powers under this Act and other legislation, including in relation to system stewardship, monitoring, funding, and child protection:
(i)
publish and regularly update information about the Director’s general regulatory approach, including a regulatory strategy:
(j)
collaborate with other agencies involved in regulating early childhood services and playgroups, including by sharing information with those agencies if permitted or authorised by or under law:
(k)
carry out any other functions conferred or imposed on the Director under this Act or any other legislation.
Section 27B: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 7 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
27C Performance and exercise of Director’s functions, duties, and powers
(1)
In performing and exercising their functions, duties, and powers, the Director of Regulation must give effect to—
(a)
the purpose set out in section 14; and
(b)
the objectives set out in section 14A.
(2)
In performing the functions set out in section 27B(a) and (b), the Director of Regulation must act independently of the Minister and the Minister must not give directions to the Director in relation to performing those functions.
(3)
The Director of Regulation is accountable to the Secretary for the performance of their functions and duties, and for the exercise of their powers.
(4)
The Director of Regulation must have arrangements in place to avoid or manage conflicts of interest relating to the performance of their functions and duties, and the exercise of their powers.
Section 27C: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 7 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
27D Principles guiding performance and exercise of Director’s functions, duties, and powers
The Director of Regulation must have regard to the following principles when performing or exercising a function, duty, or power under this Act:
(a)
the health, safety, and well-being of children receiving early childhood education is paramount:
(b)
the learning and development of those children is essential and supports their readiness to transition to school:
(c)
the role of parents and caregivers in the early childhood education of their children is recognised and supported:
(d)
principles relating to good regulatory practice, including (without limitation) decision-making that—
(i)
is risk-based, proportionate, fair, and transparent; and
(ii)
avoids imposing unnecessary costs on parents, caregivers, and service providers.
Section 27D: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 7 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
27E Delegation of Director’s functions, duties, and powers
(1)
The Director of Regulation may, either generally or specifically, delegate to a person any of their functions, duties, or powers.
(2)
A delegation—
(a)
must be in writing; and
(b)
may be revoked at will in writing; and
(c)
may be subject to instructions or conditions.
(3)
Despite subsection (1), the Director of Regulation—
Delegation to person within public service who is not Ministry employee
(a)
may delegate their functions, duties, or powers to a person described in subsection (4) only if—
(i)
the Secretary consents in writing to that delegation; and
(ii)
the delegation is for a specified period; and
Delegation to person outside public service
(b)
may delegate a clearly identified function, duty, or power to a person outside the public service only if—
(i)
the Secretary consents in writing to that delegation; and
(ii)
the delegation is for a specified period; and
(iii)
the Director is satisfied that any conflicts of interest will be avoided or managed; but
(c)
must not delegate the general power of delegation.
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (3)(a), the person is a person who—
(a)
is not an employee of the Ministry; but
(b)
is a public service employee, or an individual working in the public service as a contractor or as a secondee from elsewhere in the State services in relation to a function of the public service.
(5)
The person to whom any functions, duties, or powers are delegated may perform or exercise those functions, duties, or powers in the same manner, subject to the same restrictions, and with the same effect as if they had been conferred on that person directly by this Act (subject to any instructions given or conditions imposed by the Director of Regulation).
(6)
A person purporting to act under a delegation is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.
(7)
In this section,—
public service has the meaning given in section 10 of the Public Service Act 2020
public service employee has the meaning given in section 65 of the Public Service Act 2020
State services has the meaning given in section 5 of the Public Service Act 2020.
Section 27E: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 7 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Subpart 3—Offences
28 Service providers must be licensed
(1)
Every service provider who operates an early childhood education and care centre commits an offence if the service provider—
(a)
operates the centre without holding a current licence to operate the centre; or
(b)
ceases to operate a centre for which it holds a current licence to operate the centre, in circumstances other than an emergency, without first telling the Secretary and the Director of Regulation that it intends to stop operating the centre; or
(c)
ceases to operate the centre for which it holds a current licence to operate the centre, in circumstances involving an emergency, and fails to tell the Secretary and the Director of Regulation as soon as practicable after the closure.
(2)
A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction,—
(a)
in the case of an offence against subsection (1)(a), to a fine not exceeding $50,000; and
(b)
in the case of an offence against subsection (1)(b) or (c), to a fine not exceeding $200.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 315(2), (3)
Section 28(1)(b): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 8 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 28(1)(c): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 8 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
29 Offence relating to obstruction of right of entry
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000, who obstructs, hinders, resists, or deceives any person exercising or attempting to exercise a right of entry conferred by section 27.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319H
30 Offence of insulting, abusing, or intimidating teacher or staff
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000, who intentionally insults, abuses, or intimidates a teacher or staff member of an early childhood education and care centre—
(a)
within the presence or hearing of any child at the centre; and
(b)
while on centre premises or in any other place where children are assembled for purposes associated with the centre.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319G
Part 3 Primary and secondary education
31 Outline of Part 3
(1)
This Part, which concerns primary and secondary education, is divided into 11 subparts.
(2)
Subpart 1 concerns priorities, rights, and responsibilities.
(3)
Subpart 2 concerns restrictions on the right to enrol and attend school.
(4)
Subpart 3 concerns teaching, learning, and well-being.
(5)
Subpart 4 concerns searches and the surrender of property.
(6)
Subpart 5 concerns the administration of State schools.
(7)
Subpart 6 concerns the establishment and designation of State schools.
(7A)
Subpart 6A concerns the establishment and operation of charter schools/kura hourua.
(8)
Subpart 7 concerns private schools.
(9)
Subpart 8 concerns secondary–tertiary programmes.
(10)
Subpart 9 concerns resolving serious disputes.
(11)
Subpart 10 sets out various miscellaneous provisions.
(12)
Subpart 11 sets out several offence provisions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 308
Section 31(7A): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 6 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
32 Purpose of Part 3
The purpose of this Part is to establish a schooling system that supports all learners/ākonga to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be lifelong learners/ākonga and fully participate in the labour market, society, and their communities by—
(a)
ensuring that all children and young people are present in the schooling system to be able to exercise their right to an education, including setting up fair and consistent processes when students are excluded from the system that aim to return them to education as soon as possible; and
(b)
supporting the health, safety, and well-being of students; and
(c)
providing for what is to be taught in schools; and
(d)
establishing governing bodies for State and State integrated schools, and providing for their elections, duties, powers, administration, and accountabilities; and
(da)
providing for the approval of governing bodies for charter schools/kura hourua and their duties, powers, administration, and accountabilities; and
(e)
establishing and managing a network of State schools and charter schools that allows every student to access quality schooling and provides choice about the types of education they receive; and
(f)
regulating the teaching profession to ensure the quality of teaching in the schooling system, including (without limitation) setting standards for the registration of teachers; and
(g)
providing for the efficient and effective administration of the schooling system; and
(h)
honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supporting Māori-Crown relationships that make a difference to learning; and
(i)
reflecting and integrating te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori in the schooling system.
Section 32(da): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 7(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 32(e): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 7(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Subpart 1—Priorities, rights, and responsibilities
33 Right to free enrolment and free education at State schools or charter schools (including entitlement to attend full-time)
(1)
Except as provided in this Part, every domestic student is entitled to free enrolment and free education at any State school or charter school during the period beginning on the student’s fifth birthday and ending on 1 January after the student’s 19th birthday.
(2)
This right includes the entitlement to attend the school at which the student is enrolled during all the hours that the school is open for instruction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 3
Section 33 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 8(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 33(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 8(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
34 Students with special educational needs have same rights to education at State schools or charter schools as others
(1)
Except as provided in this Part, students who have special educational needs (whether because of disability or otherwise) have the same rights to enrol, attend, and receive education at State schools or charter schools as students who do not.
(2)
This section does not limit or affect subpart 2 (which concerns restrictions on the right to enrol and attend school).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 8
Section 34 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 9(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 34(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 9(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
35 Domestic students aged between 6 and 16 years must be enrolled at registered school
(1)
Every domestic student must, during the period beginning on the student’s sixth birthday and ending on the student’s 16th birthday, be enrolled at a registered school.
(2)
Before a domestic student’s seventh birthday, the student is not required to be enrolled at a school more than 3 kilometres walking distance from the student’s residence.
(3)
Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to international students.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 20
36 Students of registered schools required to attend whenever schools are open
(1)
Except as provided in this Act, a student is required to attend a registered school whenever it is open if the student—
(a)
is required to be enrolled at a registered school:
(b)
is aged 5 years and is enrolled at a registered school.
(2)
A board or sponsor must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the school’s students attend the school when it is open.
(3)
For the purposes of this section, a student attends a school on any day if, on the day,—
(a)
it has been open for instruction for 4 hours or more; and
(b)
the student has been present for 4 hours or more when it was open for instruction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 25(1)-(3)
Section 36(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
37 Special education
(1)
If satisfied that a student under the age of 21 years should have special education, the Secretary must—
(a)
agree with the student’s parent that the student should be enrolled, or direct the parent to enrol the student, at a particular State school, charter school, or specialist school; or
(b)
agree with the student’s parent that the student should have, or direct the parent to ensure that the student has, education or help from a special service.
(2)
If an agreement is reached or a direction is given under subsection (1), the student concerned must be allowed to enrol at the State school, charter school, or specialist school concerned or to have education or help from the special service concerned.
(3)
Subsection (1) applies despite anything in this Act that relates to enrolment schemes, or anything in the enrolment scheme of any school, but is subject to subpart 2.
(4)
Subject to section 47(4), if a direction has been given under subsection (1), a parent who, more than 1 month after it was given, fails or refuses to comply with it commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty set out in section 243(1) (which relates to a failure to enrol).
(5)
A student may not be or continue to be enrolled at a specialist school, or have or continue to have education or help from a special service, except under an agreement or direction given under subsection (1).
(6)
Despite sections 62 and 67,—
(a)
a student under the age of 5 years may be or continue to be enrolled at a primary school or below year 9 at a composite school; and
(b)
a student under the age of 21 years who turned 14 years in any year may, in any later year, be or continue to be enrolled at a primary school or below year 9 at a composite school; and
(c)
a student under the age of 21 years may be or continue to be enrolled at a secondary school or above year 8 at a composite school if, in the Secretary’s opinion, the student has made insufficient progress in terms of any curriculum statement for year 8 made under section 90; and
(d)
a student under the age of 21 years may be or continue to be enrolled at a secondary school or above year 8 at a composite school, on or after 1 January after the student’s 19th birthday, under an agreement or direction under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 9
Section 37(1)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 11 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 37(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 11 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 37(6)(c): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
38 Long-term exemptions from enrolment
(1)
An employee of the Ministry designated by the Secretary for the purpose (a designated officer) may, on application by a parent of the student, grant the parent a certificate that exempts the student from the requirements of section 35 if the designated officer is satisfied that the student—
(a)
is to be taught at least as regularly and well as in a registered school; or
(b)
is to be taught at least as regularly and well as in a specialist school or a special service (if the student would otherwise be likely to need special education).
(2)
If a designated officer refuses to grant a certificate under subsection (1), the applicant may appeal to the Secretary, who, after considering a report on the matter from the Chief Review Officer, must confirm the refusal or grant a certificate.
(3)
The Secretary’s decision is final.
(4)
An exemption certificate granted under this section must state why it was granted.
(5)
The Secretary may revoke an exemption certificate, but only if the Secretary—
(a)
has made reasonable efforts to get all of the relevant information; and
(b)
has considered a report on the matter from the Chief Review Officer; and
(c)
is not satisfied under subsection (1).
(6)
If the Secretary thinks any student to whom an exemption certificate applies would be better off if receiving special education, the Secretary may revoke the certificate and issue a direction under section 37.
(7)
An exemption certificate expires when the person to whom it applies turns 16 years or enrols at a registered school, whichever occurs first.
(8)
A certificate continues in force until it is revoked or expires.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 21
39 Exemption from enrolment of student who has turned 15
(1)
The Secretary may, on application by a parent of a student who has turned 15 years, grant the parent a certificate that exempts the student from the requirements of section 35 if the Secretary is satisfied that it is sensible to do so, on the basis of—
(a)
the student’s educational problems; and
(b)
the student’s conduct; and
(c)
the benefit (if any) the student is likely to get from attending another available school.
(2)
However, the Secretary may not exempt any student who—
(a)
has made insufficient progress in terms of any curriculum statement for year 8 made under section 90; or
(b)
has not enrolled for a year level above year 8.
(3)
The Secretary must tell the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki the name and address and any other available contact details of every student exempted under subsection (1).
(4)
If satisfied that it is in the best interests of any student to do so, the Secretary may revoke the student’s certificate granted under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 22
Section 39(2)(a): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
40 Effect of exemption under section 38 or 39
While an exemption certificate granted under section 38 or 39 is in force,—
(a)
the exempted student does not have to be enrolled at any school; and
(b)
no person has to have the exempted student enrolled at any school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 23
41 Exemption of person placed in residence or programme under Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
(1)
The Secretary may, on an application from the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki, grant a certificate to the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki that exempts a student from the requirements of section 35 if satisfied that the requirements set out in subsection (2) have been met.
(2)
The requirements are that the student—
(a)
has been placed—
(i)
in a residence established under section 364 of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989; or
(ii)
in a residential programme instituted by, and operated under contract with, the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki and the student would otherwise be in a residence established under section 364 of that Act; and
(b)
is to receive education services that are appropriate to the student’s needs.
(3)
The Secretary may revoke a certificate granted under subsection (1)—
(a)
on notification by the chief executive that the student exempted has been released from a residence other than for a temporary period; or
(b)
if the Secretary is no longer satisfied that the student exempted meets the requirements of subsection (2); or
(c)
at the request of the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki and if satisfied that an exemption from the requirements of section 35 is no longer required.
(4)
A certificate granted under subsection (1) continues in force until it is revoked or it expires.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 22A
42 Exceptions to attendance because of well-being or transitional plan
(1)
Despite section 36, on the request of a parent of a student enrolled at a registered school, the parent, the principal, and the Secretary may, if they consider it is in the student’s best interests, agree a plan that reduces the student’s hours of attendance to help meet the student’s well-being needs as identified, in writing, by a medical practitioner or a psychologist.
(2)
A full-time caregiver of the student may act as a parent under subsection (1) if the Secretary considers it appropriate for the caregiver to do so.
(3)
Despite section 36, if a student is aged 5 years and is enrolled at a registered school, a parent of the student, the principal, and the Secretary may, if they consider it is in the student’s best interests, agree a plan to help the transition of the student to school, depending on the particular needs of the student.
(4)
A student subject to a plan agreed under subsection (1) or (3) is required to attend school in accordance with the plan.
(5)
A plan agreed under subsection (1) may not be for a period that exceeds 6 months, but may be renewed or extended for 1 further period of 6 months if—
(a)
the parent initiates the request for the renewal or extension; and
(b)
the parent, the principal, and the Secretary agree that the renewal or extension is in the best interests of the student.
(6)
The medical practitioner or psychologist requirement specified under subsection (1) does not apply to a renewal or extension under subsection (5).
(7)
A plan agreed under subsection (3) may not be for a period that exceeds 6 months and may not be renewed or extended.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 25(3A)
43 Exceptions to attendance because of secondary–tertiary programmes and multiple timetable arrangements
(1)
Section 36 does not apply to a participating student who is enrolled at a registered school for the purposes of the secondary component of the student’s secondary–tertiary programme, but a participating student must attend the school for any portion of the programme as notified by the provider group or lead provider under clause 9 of Schedule 8.
(2)
Section 36 does not apply to an affected student, but the student must attend school for the whole of the time period (or periods) each day during which their timetable is running.
(3)
A board or a sponsor that is running a multiple timetable arrangement must take all reasonable steps to ensure that an affected student attends the school for the whole of the time period (or periods) each day during which the student’s timetable is running.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 25(4)–(7)
Section 43(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 12 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
44 Exemption from attendance because of walking distance to school or some other reason
(1)
Despite section 36, the Secretary may, on application by a parent of a student, grant a certificate to the parent of the student that exempts the student (entirely or partly) from attending a school if the Secretary is satisfied that—
(a)
the student is under the age of 10 years and the walking distance between the student’s residence and the school is more than 3 kilometres; or
(b)
the walking distance between the student’s residence and the school is more than 5 kilometres; or
(c)
it is sensible to exempt the student for some other reason.
(2)
The parent of a student exempted under subsection (1) is not subject to the requirements of section 35 in respect of the student for the period to which the exemption relates.
(3)
A certificate granted under subsection (1) must state—
(a)
the grounds on which it was granted; and
(b)
the day on which it expires.
(4)
A certificate granted under subsection (1)(a) or (b) may not specify an expiry day more than 1 year after the day it is granted.
(5)
A certificate granted under subsection (1)(c) may not specify an expiry day more than 7 school days after the day on which it is granted.
(6)
When a certificate granted under subsection (1) expires, the Secretary may issue another in its place.
(7)
The Secretary may cancel a certificate issued under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 26
45 Exemption of student from attendance for period of no more than 5 days
(1)
Despite section 36, if satisfied that a student’s absence is justified, the principal of the school may exempt the student from attending the school for a period of no more than 5 school days.
(2)
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, a certificate from the principal stating that a student was absent from school for any period and that the principal is not satisfied that the absence was justified is sufficient proof that the student was absent for that period without being exempted under subsection (1).
(3)
For the purposes of this section, judicial notice must be taken of the appointment and signature of the principal.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 27
46 Secretary may require enrolment of certain children at distance school
(1)
The Secretary may, by notice in writing, require the parent of a student who holds an exemption certificate issued under section 44 or who has been directed under section 82(1) to enrol the student at a distance school to—
(a)
enrol the student at a distance school specified in the notice; and
(b)
ensure that the student does the work of the course in which the student is enrolled.
(2)
Enrolment must,—
(a)
for a student exempted under section 44(1)(b), be for the period of exemption; and
(b)
in any other case, be until the student turns 16 years or any shorter period specified in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 28
47 Reconsideration of special education enrolment or services
(1)
A parent of a student may, by a request made in accordance with this section, require reconsideration of—
(a)
a direction under section 37(1) relating to the student; or
(b)
if the student is a domestic student, the Secretary’s refusal to come to an agreement under that subsection relating to the student.
(2)
A request must be made to the Secretary in writing within 1 month after the direction or refusal concerned.
(3)
If a request is made in relation to a direction given by the Secretary,—
(a)
the direction does not take effect—
(i)
until the Secretary has reconsidered and confirmed it; or
(ii)
where a request is made under subsection (4)(c), until that request has been considered by an arbitrator and the parent concerned has been told of the arbitrator’s decision; and
(b)
an offence is not committed under section 37(4) if the direction has not taken effect.
(4)
If a request is made, the following provisions apply:
(a)
if the request relates to a direction, the Secretary must reconsider it and then—
(i)
confirm it, or cancel it and issue another, or cancel it and refuse to issue another, as seems appropriate; and
(ii)
notify the parent concerned in writing of the result of the reconsideration and the reasons for it:
(b)
if the request relates to a refusal, the Secretary must reconsider whether or not the matter concerned should be agreed, and then—
(i)
agree or refuse to agree to the matter with the parent concerned, as appropriate; and
(ii)
notify the parent concerned in writing of the result of the request and the reasons for it:
(c)
a parent who is dissatisfied with the result of the reconsideration may, by a request in writing to the Secretary, require the result to be sent to an arbitrator.
(5)
A direction takes effect immediately, and section 37(2) applies accordingly, if—
(a)
a request has been made under subsection (4)(c) in respect of the result of the reconsideration by the Secretary of a direction under section 37(1); and
(b)
1 month after the Secretary notified the parent concerned of the name of a person who is to represent the Secretary in the appointment of an arbitrator, the Secretary’s representative and a nominee of the parent have not appointed an arbitrator.
(6)
If a parent makes a request under subsection (4)(c), the following provisions apply:
(a)
the Secretary must as soon as practicable give the parent the names of 3 people (other than an employee of the Ministry or an employee or a member of a board) who, in the Secretary’s opinion, have experience in or expert knowledge of special education:
(b)
within 14 days of being given the names, the parent must tell the Secretary—
(i)
which one of the people is acceptable; or
(ii)
that none of them is acceptable, and the name of some other person who is:
(c)
if, within 14 days of being given the names, the parent tells the Secretary that one of the people is acceptable, the person concerned is to be the arbitrator:
(d)
if, within 14 days of being given the names, the parent tells the Secretary that none of the people is acceptable, and the name of some other person who is, the Secretary must as soon as practicable accept or reject the other person:
(e)
if the Secretary accepts the other person, the other person is to be the arbitrator:
(f)
if the Secretary rejects the other person, the Secretary must as soon as practicable tell the other person the name of a person to act as the Secretary’s agent in choosing an arbitrator, and the other person and the Secretary’s agent must, as soon as practicable, choose the arbitrator:
(g)
if within 14 days of being given the names, the parent does not comply with paragraph (b), the Secretary must choose one of the 3 people to be the arbitrator:
(h)
once it is known who the arbitrator is, the Secretary must give the arbitrator a copy of all the relevant documents:
(i)
the arbitrator must give the parent notice in writing that—
(i)
the arbitrator has been appointed; and
(ii)
the parent may make written submissions:
(j)
on receiving written submissions from the parent or 21 days after notifying the parent (whichever comes first), the arbitrator must tell the parent and the Secretary when and where the arbitrator is to hear the matter:
(k)
the parent (or a nominee), a representative of the parent, the Secretary (or a nominee), and a representative of the Secretary may take part in the hearing and may require the student concerned to be present:
(l)
except as provided in this subsection, the arbitrator is to decide how the hearing is to proceed:
(m)
if, at the hearing, the parent of the student concerned produces evidence about the student that was not available to the Secretary when the Secretary reconsidered the relevant direction or refusal to come to an agreement under section 37(1),—
(i)
the arbitrator may not consider that evidence and must refer the case back to the Secretary:
(ii)
the Secretary must reconsider the decision that was the subject of the arbitration, and subsection (4) applies to the Secretary’s decision under this subparagraph with any necessary modifications:
(n)
subject to paragraph (m), after the hearing, the arbitrator must confirm the Secretary’s decision or direct the Secretary to make a different decision:
(o)
the Secretary must comply with the arbitrator’s direction:
(p)
despite subsection (1), a parent does not have the right to request the reconsideration or reference to an arbitrator of a decision that the Secretary has made in accordance with an arbitrator’s direction:
(q)
despite subsection (1), if the arbitrator confirms a decision of the Secretary to refuse to come to an agreement under section 37(1), no parent has a right to require the reconsideration or reference to an arbitrator of a further refusal made in respect of the same student within 12 months after the confirmation of the decision.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 10
48 Board of State school or sponsor may appoint attendance officer
(1)
A board of a State school or a sponsor must, by any means it thinks fit, take all reasonable steps to ensure the attendance of students enrolled at its school.
(2)
For the purposes of complying with subsection (1), the board or sponsor may appoint an attendance officer for the schools it administers.
(3)
A person may be appointed as an attendance officer by more than 1 board or sponsor.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 31(1)–(3)
Section 48 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 13(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 48(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 13(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 48(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 13(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 48(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 13(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
49 Powers of attendance officers and constables
(1)
An attendance officer or a constable may detain any person who appears to have turned 5 years and not to have turned 16 years, and who appears to be absent from school, and question the person as to—
(a)
the person’s name and address; and
(b)
the school (if any) at which the person is enrolled and its address; and
(c)
the reason for the person’s absence from school.
(2)
Before exercising the power under subsection (1), an attendance officer must produce a distinctive badge or other evidence of appointment.
(3)
The attendance officer or constable may, if not satisfied that the person has a good reason for not being at school, take the person to the person’s home, or to the school at which the attendance officer or constable thinks the person is enrolled.
(4)
The following persons may file charging documents, conduct prosecutions, and take any other proceedings under this Part:
(a)
an attendance officer:
(b)
a principal:
(c)
the person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school:
(d)
a person appointed by a board, a sponsor, or the Secretary for the purpose.
(5)
A certificate sealed by a board or a sponsor showing that a person named in it is appointed for any purpose under this section is sufficient evidence of the matters specified in the certificate, and the authenticity of, and validity of the affixing of, a board’s or a sponsor’s seal may not in any proceedings under this Part be inquired into or disputed.
(6)
This section applies—
(a)
to a participating student only in relation to any portion of the student’s secondary–tertiary programme during which the student is required to attend school, as notified by the provider group or lead provider under clause 9 of Schedule 8:
(b)
to an affected student only in relation to the time period (or periods) each day during which the student’s timetable is running.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 31(4)–(9)
Section 49(4): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 14(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 49(5): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 14(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 49(5): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 14(2)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Release from tuition
50 Release from tuition on religious or cultural grounds
(1)
This section applies to students enrolled at—
(a)
a State school that is not a State integrated school; or
(b)
a charter school.
(2)
A student over the age of 16 years, or a parent of a student under the age of 16 years, may ask the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school to release the student from tuition in a particular class or subject.
(3)
A request under subsection (2) must be made in writing and at least 24 hours before the start of the tuition.
(4)
The principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may not release the student unless satisfied that—
(a)
the parent or student has asked because of sincerely held religious or cultural views; and
(b)
the student is to be adequately supervised (whether within or outside the school) during the period of release from tuition.
(5)
On receiving a request from a parent under subsection (2), the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must, before agreeing to release the student, take all reasonable steps to find out the student’s views on the matter.
(6)
Subject to subsection (4), the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must release the student from the tuition and (if the student is to be supervised outside the school) let the student leave the school during the tuition unless satisfied that it is inappropriate to do so, having regard to—
(a)
the student’s age, maturity, and ability to formulate and express views; and
(b)
any views the student has expressed.
(7)
Nothing in this section limits or affects section 59.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 25A
Section 50(1): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 15(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 50(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 15(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 50(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 15(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 50(5): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 15(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 50(6): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 15(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
51 Release from tuition for specified parts of health curriculum
(1)
A parent of a student enrolled at a State school or charter school may ask the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school in writing to ensure that the student is released from tuition in specified parts of the health curriculum related to sexuality education.
(2)
On receiving a request under subsection (1), the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must ensure that—
(a)
the student is released from the relevant tuition; and
(b)
the student is supervised during the period of release from that tuition.
(3)
Subsection (1) does not require a principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school to ensure that a student who is to be excluded from tuition in specified parts of the health curriculum related to sexuality education is excluded at any other time while a teacher deals with a question raised by another student that relates to the specified part of the curriculum.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 25AA
Section 51(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 16(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 51(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 16(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 51(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 16(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 51(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 16(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
52 Release from tuition for outside tuition or if good reasons to leave early
The principal of a State school or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may,—
(a)
if satisfied that the student is to receive outside the school tuition acceptable to the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school, release a student from attendance at the school, for a period or periods agreed with a parent of the student, to receive the tuition (and, as appropriate, travel between the school and the place where the tuition is to be given):
(b)
let a student leave early on a particular day if satisfied that—
(i)
the student has, on the day on which the school was open for instruction, been present at the school for 4 hours or more; and
(ii)
there are good reasons for the student to leave before the school closes on the day.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 25B
Section 52: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 17(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 52(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 17(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
53 Courses, work experience, and visits outside school premises
(1)
A board or sponsor may authorise any students to undertake courses of education, gain work experience, or make visits outside the school premises.
(2)
If authorisation is given, the student must be treated as attending the school while undertaking the course, gaining the experience, or making the visit.
(3)
A principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school, a teacher, or an occupier of a workplace may not allow a student to go into, or remain in, a workplace to gain work experience except in accordance with any conditions prescribed by the Minister by notice.
(4)
A student who is in any workplace to gain work experience is to be treated as being employed by the workplace, and every enactment and collective agreement (to the extent that it relates to the health, safety, and welfare of workers) applies to the student and the occupier of the workplace accordingly.
(5)
However, subsection (4) does not—
(a)
entitle a student to be paid; or
(b)
require a student to join or belong to a union; or
(c)
entitle a student to enter or remain in a workplace; or
(d)
require any person to pay a levy, fee, or charge of any kind.
(6)
A notice under subsection (3) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 71
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 53(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 18(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 53(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 18(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 53(3): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 53(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
54 Restrictions on employing school-age children
(1)
An employer may not employ any person under the age of 16 years—
(a)
within school hours; or
(b)
if the person is a student participating in a secondary–tertiary programme and the employment would interfere with the person’s ability to undertake the secondary–tertiary programme; or
(c)
if the person is enrolled at a distance school and the employment would interfere with the person’s ability to do the work of the course in which the student is enrolled; or
(d)
if the person’s parent is granted an exemption certificate under section 38 and the employment would interfere with the person’s ability to be taught as well and as regularly as in a registered school; or
(e)
if the employment would—
(i)
prevent or interfere with the person’s attendance at school; or
(ii)
in the case of a person who is a participating student, interfere with the person’s ability to undertake their secondary–tertiary programme; or
(iii)
if the person is enrolled at a distance school, interfere with the person’s ability to do the work of the course in which the person is enrolled.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply if the person provides the employer with a certificate of exemption or other satisfactory evidence that verifies that the person is exempted (otherwise than under section 38(1)) from enrolment at any school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 30(1), (2)
Religious instruction and observances at State primary and intermediate schools
55 Application
Sections 56 to 60 apply to religious instruction and observances in State primary and intermediate schools only.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 81
56 Religious instruction and observances in State primary and intermediate schools
(1)
This section applies if a State school’s board, after consultation with the principal, determines that school buildings may be used for the purposes of religious instruction or observances conducted in a manner approved by the board.
(2)
Despite section 97 and any other provisions in this Act or regulations made under this Act relating to the closure of schools, any 1 or more classrooms at the school, or the school as a whole, may be closed during the school day for any period or periods not exceeding 60 minutes in aggregate in any week or 20 hours in a school year for the purposes of religious instruction or observances conducted by voluntary instructors approved by the school’s board.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 78
57 Additional religious instruction
(1)
This section applies if the Minister is satisfied that—
(a)
the majority of the parents of students attending a State school wish their children to receive religious instruction additional to that provided under section 56; and
(b)
the additional religious instruction is not to the detriment of the normal curriculum of the school.
(2)
Despite sections 56 and 97, the Minister may, after consulting the school’s board, authorise the additional religious instruction to the extent and subject to any conditions that the Minister thinks fit.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 78A
58 Student attendance at religious instruction must be confirmed
(1)
A student enrolled at a State school may only attend or take part in any religious instruction at the school if a parent of the student has confirmed in writing to the principal that they wish for the student to take part or attend.
(2)
A parent who has given an indication of wishes under subsection (1) may withdraw it.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 79(2)
59 Student attendance at religious observances not compulsory
(1)
A student enrolled at a State school may not be required to attend or take part in any religious observances if a parent of the student does not wish the student to take part and makes this wish known in writing to the principal.
(2)
A parent who has given an indication of wishes under subsection (1) may withdraw it.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 79
60 Teacher may be released from duties to take part in religious instruction or observances
(1)
A teacher at a State school must, if the school’s board approves the teacher’s request, be released from school duties for up to 30 minutes a week to allow them to take part in the school’s religious instruction and observances.
(2)
However, a person must not directly or indirectly bring any pressure to bear on a teacher to induce the teacher to take part, and the position of any teacher and their opportunities for appointments or promotion must not be adversely affected because the person does not take part in the school’s religious instruction and observances.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 80
Miscellaneous provisions
61 Exemptions from taxation
(1)
Every board must be treated as the agent of the Crown in respect of its property and the performance of its functions and is entitled to all the privileges that the Crown enjoys in respect of exemption from taxation and the payment of fees or charges, and from other obligations.
(2)
Nothing in subsection (1) exempts the board from—
(a)
the payment of goods and services tax under the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985; or
(b)
any obligation imposed by that Act.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 187
Subpart 2—Restrictions on right to enrol at and attend school
Restrictions on enrolment at primary school
62 Restrictions on primary school enrolment
The following persons may not be enrolled at or continue to be enrolled at a primary school or below year 9 at a composite school:
(a)
a child under the age of 5 years:
(b)
a child who turned 14 years in a previous year:
(c)
a child who, in the Secretary’s opinion, has made sufficient progress, in terms of any curriculum statement for year 8 made under section 90.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 5
Section 62(c): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
63 Cohort entry policy
(1)
A State school or charter school may adopt or revoke a cohort entry policy after complying with the requirements of section 65.
(2)
A cohort entry policy must—
(a)
apply to all children aged 5 years who have not previously enrolled at a registered school; and
(b)
provide that they may be enrolled only on a date determined in accordance with section 64.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 5A
Section 63(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 19 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
64 Dates for starting school under cohort entry policy
(1)
This section applies to a State school or charter school that has a cohort entry policy.
(2)
A child may be enrolled no earlier than the child’s fifth birthday on a date that is—
(a)
a term start date:
(b)
a mid-term start date.
(3)
In this section,—
mid-term start date means a date that is published as a mid-term start date under section 66
term start date, in relation to a school, means a date that is the first day of a term on which the school is open for instruction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 5B
Section 64(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 20 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
65 Adoption or revocation of cohort entry policy
(1)
When adopting a proposed cohort entry policy for a State school or charter school, a board or sponsor must take all reasonable steps to discover and consider the views of the following persons about the policy and whether it is generally acceptable:
(a)
parents of students at the school:
(b)
employees of the board or sponsor at the school:
(c)
early childhood services in the local community:
(d)
parents of prospective students of the school.
(2)
When considering whether to revoke a cohort entry policy, a board or sponsor must take all reasonable steps to discover and consider the views of the persons described in subsection (1) as to whether the policy should be revoked.
(3)
A board or sponsor must take all reasonable steps to give notice of at least 1 term to the Secretary and the persons described in subsection (1) before a cohort entry policy takes effect or ceases to have effect.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 5C
Section 65(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 21(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 65(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 21(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 65(1)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 21(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 65(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 21(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 65(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 21(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
66 Publication of mid-term start dates
(1)
The Minister must, before 1 July in any year, publish in a notice the mid-term start dates for the following year.
(2)
A mid-term start date must be the Monday that is closest to the date that is halfway between the first and last dates of a term.
(3)
A notice under subsection (1) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 5D
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Restrictions on enrolment at secondary school
67 Restrictions on secondary school enrolment
(1)
A person who, in the Secretary’s opinion, has made insufficient progress in terms of any curriculum statement for year 8 made under section 90 may not be enrolled at or continue to be enrolled at a secondary school or above year 8 at a composite school.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who turned 13 years before 1 April in the previous year.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 6
Section 67(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
68 Restrictions on enrolment at distance school
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, fix criteria for enrolment in early childhood, primary, and secondary education at a distance school.
(2)
A notice under subsection (1) may fix different criteria for—
(a)
different distance schools:
(b)
distance schools of different classes or descriptions:
(c)
early childhood, primary, and secondary classes at distance schools.
(3)
A person may not be enrolled at a distance school unless—
(a)
the school’s board is satisfied that the person’s enrolment meets the criteria fixed under subsection (1) (if any); or
(b)
the person is entitled under section 33 to free education at a State school and the Secretary has directed the distance school’s board to enrol the person.
(4)
The Secretary may not give a direction under subsection (3)(b) unless satisfied that the only State school that the person can conveniently attend is a distance school.
(5)
If the Secretary is satisfied that a person who is enrolled at a distance school in accordance with a direction under subsection (3)(b) can conveniently attend a State school that is not a distance school, the Secretary may notify the board of the distance school of that fact.
(6)
If the board of a distance school receives a notice under subsection (5), it must cancel the person’s enrolment unless the board is satisfied that the person’s enrolment meets the criteria fixed under subsection (1) (if any).
(7)
The board of a distance school must cancel the enrolment if it is satisfied that—
(a)
a person’s enrolment at a distance school does not meet the criteria fixed under subsection (1) (if any); and
(b)
a direction under subsection (3)(b) has not been made in respect of the person relating to the school.
(8)
The board of a distance school may delegate the task of being satisfied that enrolments meet or do not meet the criteria fixed under subsection (1) (if any) to the principal.
(9)
For the purposes of subsection (4), the distance school must offer education at the level, and in the subjects, required by the person or a parent of the person.
(10)
A notice under subsection (1) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 7
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
69 Some domestic students may have to pay fees for tuition from distance schools
(1)
The following students may not be enrolled or continue to be enrolled in a course, class, or programme at a distance school unless the appropriate fee (if any) prescribed by the board with the Minister’s consent has been paid:
(a)
a domestic student who has turned 16 years and is not enrolled full-time at a registered school:
(b)
a domestic student enrolled at a private school:
(c)
a domestic student who is granted an exemption certificate under section 38(1).
(2)
Subsection (1) does not give any person the right to enrol at or receive tuition from a distance school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 7A
70 Evening classes
(1)
The board of a State school may—
(a)
provide evening classes:
(b)
prescribe and charge appropriate fees (if any) for the evening classes it provides:
(c)
refuse to allow a person to take part in evening classes it provides if the person fails to pay the relevant fees.
(2)
In this section, evening classes means classes at a school usually held outside normal school hours (for example, after school or during weekends) and open to people not enrolled full-time at the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 7B
Enrolment schemes
71 Purpose and principles
(1)
The purpose of the enrolment scheme of a State school is—
(a)
to avoid overcrowding, or the likelihood of overcrowding, at the school; and
(b)
to ensure that the selection of applicants for enrolment at the school is carried out in a fair and transparent manner; and
(c)
to enable the Secretary to make the best use of existing networks of State schools.
(2)
In achieving its purpose, the enrolment scheme of every State school must, as far as possible, ensure that—
(a)
the scheme does not exclude local students; and
(b)
no more students are excluded from the school than is necessary to avoid overcrowding at the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 11A
72 When enrolment schemes required
(1)
If overcrowding occurs or is likely to occur at a State school, the Secretary must establish an enrolment scheme for the school.
(2)
An enrolment scheme must comply with Schedule 20 and any regulations made under this Act regarding enrolment schemes.
73 Content of enrolment schemes
A State school’s enrolment scheme must—
(a)
define a home zone for the school; and
(b)
identify any special programmes offered by the school and the criteria by which students are to be accepted into any special programme.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 11C
74 How enrolment schemes work
(1)
A person who lives in the home zone of a State school that has an enrolment scheme is entitled to enrol at that school.
(2)
An applicant for enrolment at a school with an enrolment scheme who lives outside the school’s home zone is entitled to enrol at the school only—
(a)
if the applicant is offered a place at the school in accordance with the procedure set out in the enrolment scheme; or
(b)
if the Secretary has agreed or directed under section 37, or directed under section 76, 82, or 87 or clause 14 of Schedule 20, or directed in accordance with regulations made under this Act, that the student be enrolled at the school; or
(c)
if all of the following apply:
(i)
the student has been excluded or expelled from another school (school A); and
(ii)
the principal of the school at which the student wishes to enrol agrees, by arrangement with the principal of school A, to enrol the student; and
(iii)
the Secretary endorses the proposal.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 11D
75 Additional entitlement to enrol in certain circumstances
(1)
Despite section 74, the Secretary may authorise an enrolment scheme to permit a student to enrol at the school as if the student lived in the home zone of the school if,—
(a)
in the case of an existing enrolment scheme whose home zone is amended,—
(i)
the student lives outside the amended home zone; and
(ii)
the student has a sibling who is enrolled at the school at the time that the amendment is implemented; and
(iii)
the sibling, at the time that the amendment is implemented, lives inside the home zone as it was before the amendment; and
(iv)
the student, at the time of enrolment, lives inside the home zone as it was before the amendment:
(b)
in the case of a new enrolment scheme, the student—
(i)
lives outside of the home zone of the new enrolment scheme; and
(ii)
has a sibling who is enrolled at the school at the time that the new enrolment scheme is implemented.
(2)
Before granting an authorisation under subsection (1), the Secretary must be satisfied that doing so—
(a)
is in the best interests of the school and local community; and
(b)
can be managed within the existing school network.
(3)
For the purposes of this section, child A is the sibling of child B if—
(a)
both children have the same parent; or
(b)
a parent of child A is married to, or in a civil union with, a parent of child B; or
(c)
a parent of child A was married to, or in a civil union with, a parent of child B at the time when child B’s parent died; or
(d)
a parent of child A is the de facto partner of a parent of child B; or
(e)
both children live in the same household and, in recognition of family obligations, are treated by the adults of that household as if they were siblings; or
(f)
the Secretary, by written notice to the school, advises that child A is to be treated as the sibling of child B.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 11F(3)
Other restrictions on enrolment and attendance
76 Secretary may direct that students attend particular schools
(1)
The Secretary may, on the recommendation of the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki, direct—
(a)
the board of a State school to enrol a person at the school; or
(b)
the sponsor to enrol a person at the charter school.
(2)
However, the Secretary may not give a direction under subsection (1) unless the Secretary has first taken all reasonable steps to consult—
(a)
a parent of the person; and
(b)
the board or sponsor concerned; and
(c)
the chief executive of Oranga Tamariki and any other person or organisation that, in the Secretary’s opinion, may be interested in, or able to advise on or help with, the person’s education or welfare.
(3)
The board or sponsor must comply with a direction given under subsection (1).
(4)
A direction given under subsection (1) overrides any enrolment scheme the school may have in place.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 18A
Section 76(1): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 22(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 76(2)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 22(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 76(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 22(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
77 Principals or persons responsible for teaching and learning may preclude students for health reasons
(1)
A principal of a State school or the person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may preclude a student from the school if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the student may have a communicable disease (within the meaning of the Health Act 1956).
(2)
As soon as practicable after precluding a student under subsection (1), the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must make all reasonable efforts to tell the following persons that the student has been precluded and why:
(a)
the school’s board or sponsor; and
(b)
the student (if the student has turned 20 years) or a parent of the student (in any other case); and
(c)
the Medical Officer of Health.
(3)
If a student has been precluded on suspicion of having a communicable disease, the board or sponsor must, as soon as practicable, investigate the matter and—
(a)
cancel the preclusion; or
(b)
confirm that the student should stay precluded until the board or sponsor has received a certificate from a medical practitioner stating that the student is well enough to go back to school.
(4)
The following persons are not liable for any act done or omitted in good faith with reasonable care in exercising or performing, or in intending to exercise or perform, a power or duty under this section:
(a)
a principal:
(b)
the person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school:
(c)
a board:
(d)
a sponsor.
(5)
If a parent is charged with an offence against section 244—
(a)
it is a defence to the charge if it is proved that—
(i)
the student did not attend because the student was precluded for having a communicable disease; and
(ii)
the time for which the student did not attend was no longer than was necessary for the board to cancel the preclusion or the student to get well enough to go back to school; and
(b)
except to the extent set out in paragraph (a), it is not a defence to the charge that the student did not attend because the student was precluded under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 19
Section 77 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 23(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 77(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 23(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 77(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 23(3)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 77(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 23(3)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 77(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 23(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 77(3)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 23(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 77(4): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 23(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
78 Purpose of sections 79 to 89
The purpose of sections 79 to 89 relating to the standing-down, suspension, exclusion, or expulsion of a domestic student from a State school or a charter school is to—
(a)
provide a range of responses for cases of varying degrees of seriousness; and
(b)
minimise the disruption to a student’s attendance at school and facilitate the return of the student to school when that is appropriate; and
(c)
ensure that individual cases are dealt with in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 13
Section 78: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 24 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
79 Application of sections 80 to 89
Sections 80 to 89 (and any rules made under section 89) apply only in relation to domestic students at a State school or a charter school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 13A
Section 79: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 25 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
80 Principals of State schools or persons responsible for teaching and learning in charter schools may stand down or suspend students
(1)
The principal of a State school or the person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may stand down or suspend a student if satisfied on reasonable grounds that—
(a)
the student’s gross misconduct or continual disobedience is a harmful or dangerous example to other students at the school; or
(b)
because of the student’s behaviour, it is likely that the student, or other students at the school, would be seriously harmed if the student were not stood down or suspended.
(2)
A stand-down may be for 1 or more specified periods, and—
(a)
the period or periods may not exceed 5 school days in any one term:
(b)
a student may be stood down more than once in the same year but for not more than 10 school days in total in that year:
(c)
in calculating the period of a stand-down, the day on which the student was stood down, and any day on which the student would not have had to attend school in any event, may not be counted:
(d)
the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may lift the stand-down before it is due to expire.
(3)
If a student has been stood down or suspended, the following provisions apply in relation to the student’s attendance at the school:
(a)
the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may require the student to attend the school if the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school reasonably considers that the student’s attendance is appropriate for the purposes of section 84:
(b)
the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must allow the student to attend the school if a parent of the student requests that the student be permitted to attend the school and the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school considers the request is reasonable:
(c)
otherwise the student does not have to, and is not permitted to, attend the school while stood down or suspended.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 14
Section 80 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 26(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 80(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 26(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 80(2)(d): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 26(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 80(3)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 26(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 80(3)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 26(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
81 Powers of State school board and charter school sponsor when suspended students aged under 16 years
(1)
If a student aged under 16 years has been suspended from a State school or a charter school, the school’s board or the sponsor may—
(a)
lift the suspension before it expires, either unconditionally or subject to any reasonable conditions the board wants to make:
(b)
extend the suspension conditionally for a reasonable period determined by the board when extending the suspension, in which case subsection (2) applies:
(c)
if the circumstances of the case justify the most serious response, exclude the student from the school by extending the suspension and requiring the student to be enrolled at another school.
(2)
If the board or sponsor extends a suspension conditionally, the board or sponsor must impose reasonable conditions aimed at facilitating the return of the student to school and must take appropriate steps to facilitate the return of the student to school.
(3)
If a student fails to comply with any condition imposed under this section in respect of the lifting or extension of their suspension, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may request the board or sponsor to reconsider the action it took under this section.
(4)
If subsection (3) applies, the board or sponsor may confirm or reverse its earlier decisions or may modify its earlier decisions by taking any action specified in subsection (1).
(5)
If the board or sponsor has not sooner lifted or extended it or excluded the student under subsection (1)(c), the suspension of the student ceases to have effect—
(a)
at the close of the seventh school day after the day of the suspension; or
(b)
if the suspension occurs within 7 school days before the end of a term, at the close of the tenth calendar day after the day of the suspension.
(6)
If the board or sponsor excludes the student under subsection (1)(c), the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must try to arrange for the student to attend another school that is suitable and that the student can reasonably conveniently attend.
(7)
If the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school is unable, by the tenth school day after the day of the board’s or sponsor’s decision to exclude a student, to arrange for the student to attend another school, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must tell the Secretary what steps the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school took in trying to do so.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 15
Section 81 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(2)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(4)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(5): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(6): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(6)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(6): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(6)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(7): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(7)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 81(7): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 27(7)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
82 Secretary’s powers when excluded students aged under 16 years
(1)
If the Secretary is satisfied that the board of a State school or a sponsor has excluded a student aged under 16 years from the school under section 81(1)(c), and that the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school has not arranged for the student to attend another school, the Secretary must,—
(a)
if satisfied that it is appropriate for the student to return to the school from which the student has been excluded, lift the exclusion; or
(b)
arrange for, and if necessary direct, the following to enrol the student at the other school:
(i)
the board of any other State school (other than a State integrated school):
(ii)
the sponsor of any other charter school.
(c)
direct a parent of the student to enrol the student at a distance school.
(2)
The Secretary may not lift an exclusion under subsection (1)(a) or give a direction under subsection (1)(b) unless the Secretary has made all reasonable attempts to consult—
(a)
the student; and
(b)
a parent of the student; and
(c)
the board or the sponsor; and
(d)
any other person or organisation that, in the Secretary’s opinion, may be interested in, or able to advise on or help with, the student’s education or welfare.
(3)
If the board or the sponsor of a school from which the student has been excluded also controls another school, the Secretary (in exercising the power conferred by subsection (1)(b)) may direct the board or the sponsor to enrol the student at that other school.
(4)
A board or the sponsor must comply with a direction under subsection (1)(b), and the direction overrides any enrolment scheme the school may have in place.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 16
Section 82(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 28(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 82(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 28(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 82(1)(b): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 28(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 82(2)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 28(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 82(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 28(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 82(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 28(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
83 Powers of State school board and charter school sponsor when suspended students aged 16 years or over
(1)
If a student aged 16 years or over has been suspended from a State school or a charter school, the school’s board or sponsor may—
(a)
lift the suspension before it expires, either unconditionally or subject to any reasonable conditions it wants to make; or
(b)
extend the suspension conditionally for a reasonable period determined by the board or sponsor when extending the suspension, in which case subsection (2) applies; or
(c)
expel the student.
(2)
If the board or sponsor extends a suspension conditionally, the board or sponsor must impose reasonable conditions aimed at facilitating the return of the student to school, and must take steps to facilitate the return of the student to school.
(3)
If a student fails to comply with any condition imposed under this section in respect of the lifting or extension of their suspension, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school may request the board or sponsor to reconsider the action it took under this section.
(4)
If subsection (3) applies, the board or sponsor may confirm or reverse its earlier decisions or may modify its earlier decisions by taking any action specified in subsection (1).
(5)
If the board or sponsor has not sooner lifted or extended it or expelled the student under subsection (1)(c), the suspension of the student ceases to have effect—
(a)
at the close of the seventh school day after the day of the suspension; or
(b)
if the suspension occurs within 7 school days before the end of a term, at the close of the tenth calendar day after the day of the suspension.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 17
Section 83 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(2)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(1)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(2)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(4)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 83(5): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 29(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
84 Duties of principals or persons responsible for teaching and learning when students stood down or suspended from State schools or charter schools
(1)
When a student is stood down or suspended from a State school or a charter school, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the student has the guidance and counselling that are reasonable and practicable in all the circumstances of the stand-down or suspension.
(2)
If a student’s suspension is subject to conditions, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must take all reasonable steps to ensure that an appropriate educational programme is provided to the student.
(3)
The purpose of the programme referred to in subsection (2) is to facilitate the return of a student to school and to minimise the educational disadvantages that occur from absence from school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 17A
Section 84 heading: replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 30(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 84(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 30(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 84(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 30(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 84(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 30(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
85 Who may attend meeting concerning suspension
(1)
If a student has been suspended from a State school or a charter school, the student, a parent of the student, and their representatives are entitled to attend at least 1 meeting of the board or sponsor and speak at that meeting, and to have their views considered by the board or sponsor before it decides whether to lift or extend the suspension or exclude or expel the student.
(2)
Instead of attending and speaking at a meeting of the board or sponsor in person, the student, a parent of the student, and their representatives may attend and speak by way of telephone conference or video link.
(3)
However, a telephone conference or video link may be used only if the student and a parent of the student have requested it to be used.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 17B
Section 85 heading: replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 31(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 85(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 31(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 85(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 31(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 85(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 31(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
86 Effect of suspension on school register
(1)
The name of a student aged under 16 years who has been suspended from a State school or a charter school under section 80 or excluded from a State school or a charter school under section 81(1)(c) must stay on the school’s register until the earlier of the following days:
(a)
the day the student is enrolled at another registered school:
(b)
the day the student is given an exemption under section 38 or 39.
(2)
The name of a student who has turned 16 years and is suspended from a State school or a charter school under section 80 must stay on the register of the school until the earliest of the following days:
(a)
the day on which the student is enrolled at another registered school:
(b)
the day on which the student is expelled from the school:
(c)
the day on which the student leaves school:
(d)
1 January after the student’s 19th birthday.
(3)
Subsection (2) applies to a student who is aged under 16 years when suspended from a State school or a charter school under section 80, or who is excluded from a State school or a charter school under section 81(1)(c), and turns 16 years while subject to the suspension or exclusion.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 17C
Section 86(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 32 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 86(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 32 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 86(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 32 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
87 Re-enrolment of excluded or expelled student
(1)
The board of a State school or a sponsor from which a student has ever been excluded or expelled may refuse to enrol the student at the school (unless, in the case of an exclusion, the Secretary has lifted the exclusion under section 82(1)(a)).
(2)
Subject to section 82(1)(b), the board of a State school or a sponsor may refuse to enrol a student who is for the time being excluded or expelled (whether under section 81 or 83) from another State school or another charter school.
(3)
The Secretary may, in the case of a student who has turned 16 years, direct the board of another State school (other than a State integrated school) to enrol a student at the school if—
(a)
the student has been expelled from a State school under section 83; and
(b)
the Secretary has made all reasonable attempts to consult—
(i)
the student; and
(ii)
a parent of the student; and
(iii)
the board; and
(iv)
any other person or organisation that, in the Secretary’s opinion, may be interested in, or able to advise on or help with, the student’s education or welfare.
(3A)
The Secretary may, in the case of a student who has turned 16 years, direct the sponsor of another charter school to enrol a student at the charter school if—
(a)
the student has been expelled from a charter school under section 83; and
(b)
the Secretary has made all reasonable attempts to consult—
(i)
the student; and
(ii)
a parent of the student; and
(iii)
the sponsor; and
(iv)
any other person or organisation that, in the Secretary’s opinion, may be interested in, or able to advise on or help with, the student’s education or welfare.
(4)
A board or sponsor must comply with a direction under subsection (3) and the direction overrides any enrolment scheme the school may have in place.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 17D
Section 87(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 33(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 87(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 33(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 87(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 33(2)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 87(3A): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 33(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 87(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 33(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
88 Notice requirements for stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions, and expulsions
(1)
Immediately after a student is stood down under section 80, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must tell the Secretary and a parent of the student—
(a)
that the student has been stood down; and
(b)
the reasons for the decision of the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school; and
(c)
the period for which the student has been stood down.
(2)
Immediately after a student is suspended under section 80, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must tell the board or sponsor, the Secretary, and a parent of the student—
(a)
that the student has been suspended; and
(b)
the reasons for the decision of the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school.
(3)
Immediately after the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school or the board or sponsor lifts a suspension, extends a suspension, excludes a student, or expels a student, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school or the board or sponsor must tell the Secretary and a parent of the student—
(a)
that the suspension has been lifted or extended, and the period of the extension (if any), or that the student has been excluded or expelled; and
(b)
the reasons for the decision of—
(i)
the principal; or
(ii)
the person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school; or
(iii)
the board; or
(iv)
the sponsor.
(4)
Nothing in this section requires the board or sponsor to tell a parent of a student about an action taken under this section if the student has turned 20 years.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 18
Section 88(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(1)(b): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(3)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(3)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(2)(b): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(5)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(5)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(3)(b): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(6) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 88(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 34(7) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
89 Secretary may make rules
(1)
The Secretary may make rules (which must be consistent with this Act) regulating the practice and procedure to be followed by boards, sponsors, principals, persons responsible for teaching and learning in charter schools, students, parents of students, and other persons under sections 80 to 88, including (without limitation) rules—
(a)
setting out procedural requirements to be followed when a proposed stand-down, suspension, exclusion, or expulsion is to be considered or decided:
(b)
specifying who should be consulted about the circumstances of a stand-down, suspension, exclusion, or expulsion:
(c)
setting out the steps to be taken by the principal (or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school) and board (or sponsor), respectively, when a student has been stood down, suspended, excluded, or expelled:
(d)
specifying the notices to be given when a decision not to lift a suspension, or a decision to extend a suspension or expel a student, is made and the particulars to be set out in each notice:
(e)
specifying time limits within which specified things are to be done and the reports that are to be produced and the persons who are to produce them:
(f)
providing reasonable measures (which must not be inconsistent with the Privacy Act 2020) to protect the privacy of individuals:
(g)
providing for any other matters that the Secretary considers desirable in the interests of natural justice.
(2)
Before making any rules under this section, the Secretary must—
(a)
publish in the Gazette, and on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Ministry, a notice of the Secretary’s intention to make the rules; and
(b)
give interested persons reasonable time (as specified in the notice) to make submissions on the proposed rules; and
(c)
consult the persons and groups that the Secretary thinks fit.
(3)
Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 18AA
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 89(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 35(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 89(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 89(1)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 35(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 89(1)(f): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 667(3)(a).
Section 89(3): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Subpart 3—Teaching, learning, and well-being
Curriculum and performance measures of schools
90 Curriculum statements and national performance measures
(1)
The Minister may make the following:
(a)
foundation curriculum policy statements, which are statements of policy concerning teaching, learning, and assessment that are made for the purposes of underpinning and giving direction to—
(i)
the way in which curriculum and assessment responsibilities are to be managed in schools:
(ii)
national curriculum statements and locally developed curricula:
(b)
national curriculum statements, which are statements of—
(i)
the areas of knowledge and understanding to be covered by students during the years of schooling; and
(ii)
the skills to be developed by students during the years of schooling; and
(iii)
desirable levels of knowledge, understanding, and skill to be achieved by students during the years of schooling:
(c)
national performance measures, which are targets against which the performance of boards can be measured.
(2)
Without limiting subsection (1), a national curriculum statement may—
(a)
specify different commencement dates for different provisions or different purposes, which dates may differ according to the classification or designation of a school, the group or year level of students attending a school, or any combination of those classifications, designations, groups, and levels:
(b)
specify a transitional period during which a board may elect to comply with an existing curriculum statement or the new curriculum statement, and specify a date on which a board must begin complying with the new curriculum statement.
(3)
The following instruments under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements):
(a)
foundation curriculum policy statements:
(b)
national curriculum statements:
(c)
national performance measures.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 60A; 2017 No 20 s 41(2), (5)
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving a general description of it and indicating where the full text can be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
91 Board of State school must consult about delivery of health curriculum
(1)
The board of a State school must, at least once every 2 years, after consulting the school community, adopt a statement on the delivery of the health curriculum.
(2)
The purpose of the consultation is to—
(a)
inform the school community about the content of the health curriculum; and
(b)
ascertain the wishes of the school community regarding the way in which the health curriculum should be implemented given the views, beliefs, and customs of the members of that community; and
(c)
determine, in broad terms, the health education needs of the students at the school.
(3)
The board may adopt any method of consultation that it thinks fit to best achieve the purpose, but it may not adopt a statement on the delivery of the health curriculum until it has—
(a)
prepared the statement in draft; and
(b)
given members of the school community an adequate opportunity to comment on the draft statement; and
(c)
considered any comments received.
(4)
In this section,—
school community means,—
(a)
for a State integrated school, the parents of students enrolled at the school, and the school’s proprietors:
(b)
for any other State school, the parents of students enrolled at the school:
(c)
in every case, any other person who the board considers is part of the school community for the purpose of this section
statement on the delivery of the health curriculum means a written statement of how the school intends to implement the health education components of the relevant national curriculum statements.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 60B
Restrictions on appointment and continued employment of teaching staff
92 Restrictions on appointment of teachers
(1)
An employer may not appoint the following persons to a teaching position:
(a)
a person—
(i)
whose registration has been cancelled; and
(ii)
who has not since been registered again:
(b)
a person whose practising certificate is suspended under section 498 or 500(1)(d) or cancelled under section 500(1)(g):
(c)
a person whose authorisation has been cancelled and who has not since—
(i)
been authorised again; or
(ii)
been registered as a teacher:
(d)
a person whose limited authority to teach is suspended under section 498 or 500(1)(d).
(2)
An employer may not permanently appoint a person to any teaching position if the person does not hold a practising certificate.
(3)
Despite subsection (2), an employer who is a sponsor may permanently appoint to a teaching position a person who holds a limited authority to teach.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 349
Section 92(3): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 36 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
93 Restrictions on continued employment of teachers
(1)
An employer may not continue to employ the following persons in a teaching position:
(a)
a person—
(i)
whose registration has been cancelled; and
(ii)
who has not since been registered again:
(b)
a person whose practising certificate is suspended under section 500(1)(d):
(c)
a person whose authorisation has been cancelled and who has not since—
(i)
been authorised again; or
(ii)
been registered as a teacher:
(d)
a person whose limited authority to teach is suspended under section 500(1)(d).
(2)
An employer may not continue to employ in a teaching position a person who holds neither a practising certificate nor an authorisation if the person is not under the general supervision of a person who holds a practising certificate.
(3)
An employer may not, in any calendar year, continue to employ in a teaching position a person who holds neither a practising certificate nor an authorisation if the sum of the following periods is not less than the period specified in subsection (4):
(a)
the period or periods for which that person has already during that year been employed by the employer in a teaching position or positions:
(b)
any period or periods (of which the employer is aware) for which that person has already during that year been employed by any other employer in a teaching position or positions:
(c)
any period or periods (of which the employer is aware) for which that person has during that year been employed as a teacher by the employer at an early childhood education and care service.
(4)
The period is 20 half-days or any greater number of half-days the Teaching Council has allowed in any particular case, each being a half-day on which the school or early childhood education and care service at which the person was then employed was open for instruction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 350
94 Chief executive of distance school not required to be registered
(1)
The chief executive of a distance school is not required to be registered.
(2)
This section overrides sections 92 and 93.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 350A
94A Appointment of chief executive of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
The chief executive of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu is appointed for a term of not more than 5 years, but may be reappointed for 1 or more terms.
Section 94A: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 20 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
95 Restrictions on teachers subject to interim suspension
(1)
This section applies to a person employed in a teaching position if the person—
(a)
holds a practising certificate that is suspended under section 498; or
(b)
has a limited authority to teach that is suspended under section 498.
(2)
The employer of the person—
(a)
must ensure that the person does not carry out any of the duties of the teaching position concerned; and
(b)
if the person is employed at a registered school or an early childhood education and care service, must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that the person does not undertake any activities that might bring them into contact with students enrolled at the school or children who attend the service.
(3)
The person may not carry out any of the duties of the teaching position concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 351
96 Further provisions relating to registration of teachers, practising certificates, and authorities to teach
The registration of teachers, the issue of practising certificates, and the grant of authorities to teach must be done in accordance with Schedule 3.
Other restrictions and requirements
97 Teaching in State primary and intermediate schools must be secular
(1)
Teaching in every State primary and intermediate school must, while the school is open, be entirely of a secular character.
(2)
However, religious instruction and observances at State schools may be held in accordance with subpart 1 of this Part.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 77
98 Prohibition on corporal punishment and seclusion in registered schools
The following persons must not use force, by way of correction or punishment, towards any student enrolled at or attending a registered school or seclude any student enrolled at or attending the school:
(a)
a person who is employed or engaged by the school’s board, the sponsor, or the managers of a private school:
(b)
a person who is supervising or controlling a student on behalf of the school’s board, the sponsor, or the managers of a private school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139A
Section 98(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 37 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 98(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 37 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
99 Limits on use of physical restraint at registered schools
(1)
A person holding a teaching position or an authorised staff member at a registered school must not physically restrain a student unless the conditions set out in subsection (2) are met.
(2)
The conditions are that—
(a)
the physical restraint is necessary to prevent imminent harm to the student or another person; and
(b)
the person holding a teaching position or authorised staff member reasonably believes that there is no other option available in the circumstances to prevent the harm; and
(c)
the physical restraint is reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.
(3)
In subsection (2), harm means harm to the health, safety, or well-being of the student or another person, including any significant emotional distress suffered by the student or the other person.
(4)
For the purposes of this section and sections 100 and 101,—
authorised staff member means an employee of a registered school who is trained and authorised by the employer to use physical restraint in accordance with this section
physically restrain, in relation to a student, means to use physical force to prevent, restrict, or subdue the movement of the student’s body or part of the student’s body against the student’s will.
(5)
Nothing in this section limits or affects section 98.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AC
Section 99(1): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 5(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 99(2)(b): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 5(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
100 Rules on use of physical restraint at registered schools
(1)
The Secretary must make rules prescribing the practice and procedure to be followed by employers, principals, persons holding a teaching position, and authorised staff members relating to the use of physical restraint at registered schools.
(2)
The rules must include—
(a)
requirements to keep written records on the use of physical restraint, including requirements to notify, monitor, and report on the use of physical restraint; and
(b)
a procedure for authorising staff members to use physical restraint in accordance with section 99.
(3)
When developing rules under this section, the Secretary must make reasonable efforts to consult—
(a)
children and young people, in particular those who are Māori and those with disabilities or learning support needs:
(b)
parents, whānau, and caregivers:
(c)
national bodies representing the interests of—
(i)
teachers:
(ii)
principals:
(iii)
governing bodies of schools:
(iv)
parents:
(v)
the disability community.
(4)
Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AD
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | It is not required to be published | LA19 s 73(2) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
101 Guidelines on use of physical restraint and behaviour management at registered schools
(1)
The Secretary must, by notice in the Gazette, issue guidelines on the use of physical restraint and behaviour management at registered schools.
(2)
The guidelines must include—
(a)
best practice examples of—
(i)
how to use physical restraint safely; and
(ii)
how to assess significant emotional distress; and
(iii)
understanding, and responding safely to, behaviour; and
(b)
a framework for decision making and problem solving to prevent, de-escalate, and safely respond to disruptive or assaultive behaviour; and
(c)
advice on assessing behaviour escalation levels that precede imminent harm to health, safety, or well-being.
(3)
When developing guidelines under this section, the Secretary must make reasonable efforts to consult—
(a)
children and young people, in particular those who are Māori and those with disabilities or learning support needs:
(b)
parents, whānau, and caregivers:
(c)
national bodies representing the interests of—
(i)
teachers:
(ii)
principals:
(iii)
governing bodies of schools:
(iv)
parents:
(v)
the disability community.
(4)
Employers, principals, persons holding a teaching position, and authorised staff members at registered schools must have regard to the guidelines.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AE
Section 101(4): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 7 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
102 Students at State schools or charter schools may be released from tuition or for outside tuition
(1)
A student enrolled at a State school or a charter school may be released from a particular class or subject on religious or cultural grounds in accordance with section 50.
(2)
A student enrolled at a State school or a charter school may be released from tuition of specified parts of the health curriculum related to sexuality education in accordance with section 51.
(3)
A student enrolled at a State school or a charter school may be released from tuition at a State school or be allowed to leave early in accordance with section 52.
Section 102 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 38(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 102(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 38(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 102(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 38(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 102(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 38(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
103 Students at State schools or charter schools must receive guidance and counselling and their parents must be told about certain things
The principal of a State school or the person responsible for teaching and learning at a charter school must take all reasonable steps to ensure that—
(a)
students get good guidance and counselling; and
(b)
students in year 7 and above are provided with appropriate career education and guidance that is designed to prepare them to join the workforce or undertake further education or training when they leave school; and
(c)
a parent of the student is told of matters that, in the opinion of the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning at a charter school (as the case may be),—
(i)
are preventing or slowing the student’s progress through the school; or
(ii)
are harming the student’s relationships with teachers or other students.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 77
Section 103 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 39(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 103: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 39(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 103(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 39(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
104 Required Police vetting
The board of a State school, the sponsor, and the managers of a private school must obtain Police vets of non-teaching and unregistered employees and contractors in accordance with the requirements of Schedule 4.
Section 104: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 40 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Subpart 4—Searches and surrender of property
105 Interpretation
(1)
In this subpart, unless the context otherwise requires,—
authorised staff member means a board employee who is authorised by the board to exercise powers under section 106 or 107
harmful item means an item that a teacher or an authorised staff member has reasonable grounds to believe poses an immediate threat to the physical or emotional safety of any person
item includes information stored in electronic form
outer clothing includes (without limitation) any coat, jacket, jumper, or cardigan
rub-down search means a search in which the person conducting the search—
(a)
runs or pats their hand over the body of the person being searched, whether outside or inside the clothing of the person being searched:
(b)
inserts their hand inside any pocket or pouch in the clothing of the person being searched
search, in relation to a student, includes—
(a)
a strip search; and
(b)
a rub-down search
socks does not include tights or stockings
strip search means a search where the person conducting the search requires the person being searched to—
(a)
remove any of the latter person’s clothing other than outer clothing, head covering, gloves, footwear, or socks; or
(b)
raise, lower, or open all or any part of the latter person’s clothing
student includes a person under the supervision of a teacher, whether or not the person is enrolled at the school at which the teacher is employed
teacher means a person employed at a State school in a teaching position.
(2)
An authorisation referred to in the definition of authorised staff member must be in writing and may be subject to conditions.
106 Surrender and retention of property
(1)
This section applies if a teacher or an authorised staff member has reasonable grounds to believe that a student has hidden or in clear view on or about the student’s person, or in any bag or other container under the student’s control, an item that is likely to—
(a)
endanger the safety of any person; or
(b)
detrimentally affect the learning environment.
(2)
The teacher or authorised staff member may require the student to produce and surrender the item.
(3)
If the item is stored on a computer or other electronic device, the teacher or authorised staff member may require the student—
(a)
to reveal the item:
(b)
to surrender the computer or other electronic device on which the item is stored.
(4)
A teacher or an authorised staff member may do either or both of the following in relation to an item surrendered under this section:
(a)
retain the item for a reasonable period:
(b)
dispose of the item (if appropriate).
(5)
A teacher or an authorised staff member may retain a computer or other electronic device surrendered under subsection (3)(b) for a reasonable period.
(6)
If an item or a computer or other electronic device is retained under this section, it must be stored in an appropriate manner.
(7)
At the end of any period of retention, any computer or other electronic device, or any item that is not disposed of under subsection (4)(b), must be—
(a)
returned to the student; or
(b)
passed to another person or agency, as appropriate.
(8)
A teacher or an authorised staff member who exercises a power under this section must comply with any rules made under section 113.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAA
107 Searches of clothing and bags or other containers
(1)
This section applies if a teacher or an authorised staff member—
(a)
has reasonable grounds to believe that a student has a harmful item on or about the student’s person, or in any bag or other container under the student’s control; and
(b)
has required the student to produce and surrender the harmful item under section 106 and the student has refused to produce and surrender it.
(2)
The teacher or authorised staff member may do any of the following:
(a)
require the student to remove any outer clothing, except where the student has no other clothing, or only underclothing, under that outer clothing:
(b)
require the student to remove any head covering, gloves, footwear, or socks:
(c)
require the student to surrender the bag or other container.
(3)
The teacher or authorised staff member may search any clothing or footwear removed, and any bag or other container surrendered, under subsection (2).
(4)
If, during a search under this section, the teacher or authorised staff member finds a harmful item or an item that is likely to detrimentally affect the learning environment, the item may be seized by the teacher or authorised staff member.
(5)
Section 106(4) to (7) applies, with any necessary modifications, to an item seized under subsection (4).
(6)
A teacher or an authorised staff member who exercises a power under this section must comply with any rules made under section 113.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAB
108 Restrictions on searches under section 107
(1)
A teacher or an authorised staff member who carries out a search under section 107 must carry out the search with decency and sensitivity and in a manner that affords the student the greatest degree of privacy and dignity consistent with the purpose of the search.
(2)
Unless impracticable, a search under section 107 must be carried out—
(a)
by a teacher or an authorised staff member who is of the same sex as the student; and
(b)
in the presence of the student and another teacher or authorised staff member who is of the same sex as the student.
(3)
Unless impracticable, a search under section 107 may not be carried out in the view of any person other than the person carrying out the search, the student, and another teacher or authorised staff member.
(4)
A teacher or an authorised staff member who carries out a search under section 107 must—
(a)
return any clothing or footwear removed and any bag or other container surrendered as soon as the search is completed; and
(b)
keep a written record of any items seized under section 107(4).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAC
109 Limits on sections 106 and 107
(1)
Nothing in section 106 or 107 permits a teacher or authorised staff member to—
(a)
search any student; or
(b)
use physical force against a student; or
(c)
require a student to provide a bodily sample (but a teacher or authorised staff member may encourage a student to participate in a voluntary drug treatment programme that involves testing of bodily samples).
(2)
Nothing in section 106 or 107 permits a teacher or an authorised staff member to have a dog with them for the purpose of exercising a power under that section.
(3)
The powers set out in sections 106 and 107 may not be exercised in relation to 2 or more students together unless the teacher or authorised staff member has reasonable grounds to believe that each student has an item specified in section 106(1) or a harmful item on or about their person, or in any bag or other container under their control.
(4)
Subsection (1) does not limit or affect section 81 or 83, or sections 41, 48, and 59 of the Crimes Act 1961.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAD
110 Prohibitions on searches by contractors
(1)
(2)
However, a contractor may bring a dog that is trained for the purpose of searching to a school and use the dog for the purpose of searching school property (including lockers, desks, or other receptacles provided to students for storage purposes).
(3)
In this section, contractor means a person who works at a school under a contract for services.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAE
111 Refusal to produce, reveal, or surrender item
(1)
If a student refuses to produce, reveal, or surrender an item or computer or other electronic device under section 106(2) or (3), a teacher or an authorised staff member may take any disciplinary steps, or steps to manage the student’s behaviour, that the teacher or authorised staff member considers reasonable.
(2)
If a student refuses to remove any outer clothing, head covering, gloves, footwear, or socks or to surrender a bag or other container under section 107(2), a teacher or an authorised staff member may take any disciplinary steps, or steps to manage the student’s behaviour, that the teacher or authorised staff member considers reasonable.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAF
112 Power to search storage containers not affected
Sections 106 and 107 do not limit or affect any power to search any locker, desk, or other receptacle provided to students for storage purposes.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAG
113 Rules about surrender and retention of property and searches
(1)
The Secretary must make rules (which must be consistent with this Act) regulating the practice and procedure to be followed by boards, principals, teachers, and authorised staff members under sections 106 to 111, including (without limitation) rules—
(a)
providing for the keeping of written records relating to the use of the powers under section 106; and
(b)
prescribing requirements relating to the keeping of written records under section 107; and
(c)
prescribing the procedure for authorising staff members to exercise powers or carry out functions under sections 106 to 114; and
(d)
specifying the circumstances in which items may be disposed of under section 106(4)(b); and
(e)
setting out requirements for the storage of items and computers and other electronic devices under section 106(6); and
(f)
providing for the return of items and computers and other electronic devices under section 106(7)(a).
(2)
Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAH
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 113(2): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
114 Guidelines about surrender and retention of property and searches
(1)
The Secretary must issue guidelines for the exercise of powers and carrying out of functions under sections 106 to 113.
(2)
Boards, principals, teachers, and authorised staff members must have regard to guidelines issued under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139AAI
Subpart 5—Administration of State schools
General provisions
115 When State schools must be open
State schools must be open and closed for instruction in accordance with regulations made under section 638.
Section 115: amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 21 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
116 Communities of learning for State schools
The Minister may approve, and the Secretary may enter into an agreement with, a community of learning in accordance with Schedule 5.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 71C
117 State schools may use off-site locations approved by Minister
(1)
This section applies to the use of off-site locations by schools to provide education to 1 or more students on a long-term or full-time basis.
(2)
The Minister may, by written notice to the board of a State school, approve the use of an off-site location by the school.
(3)
The Minister may issue a notice under subsection (2) only if satisfied that the school’s board and the owner or occupier of the off-site location have both agreed to that use and the terms of that use.
(4)
Except as provided under this Act, a school may not—
(a)
use an off-site location; or
(b)
host an off-site location for another school.
(5)
If approval is given under subsection (2), the board must, before any use is made of the off-site location, enter into a written agreement with the Secretary that sets out—
(a)
who is responsible for the education provided at the off-site location:
(b)
who is responsible for the welfare and safety of the students at that location:
(c)
the terms agreed on any other matter the Secretary considers relevant in the particular case.
(6)
Off-site location means any premises outside the premises of the school that is to use the off-site location for the purpose described in subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 71A
Functions and powers of boards
118 State schools and special institutions must have boards
(1)
Except as provided in this Act, every State school and every special institution must have a board.
(2)
However, neither is required to have a board while a commissioner holds office to act in place of its board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 93
119 Constitution of boards of State schools
(1)
The board of a State school must comprise—
(a)
no more than 7 and no fewer than 3 parent representatives; and
(b)
the principal of the school or, for a combined board, the principal or principals of the schools administered by the board; and
(c)
except where the principal is the only member of the school staff, 1 staff representative; and
(d)
a number (determined by the board) of board members either—
(i)
co-opted by the board; or
(ii)
appointed by bodies corporate approved by the board for the purpose; and
(e)
for a board that administers a State integrated school, not more than 4 board members appointed by the school’s proprietors; and
(f)
for a board that administers a school where students are enrolled full-time in year levels above year 9, 1 student representative.
(2)
Despite subsection (1), except to the extent that a board has decided otherwise, it must have—
(a)
6 parent representatives, for a board that administers more than 2 schools; and
(b)
5 parent representatives, in any other case.
(3)
Subsection (1) is subject to sections 120, 121, and 122(1).
(4)
Subsection (2) is subject to section 122(1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 94
120 Proprietors of State integrated schools may vary number of board members they appoint
(1)
Despite section 119(1), except as provided in this section, a board that administers a State integrated school must have 4 board members appointed by the school’s proprietors.
(2)
The proprietors of a State integrated school may, by written notice to the board, consent to a reduction in the number of board members the proprietors are entitled to appoint to the board.
(3)
A notice under subsection (2) must—
(a)
specify that it is to take effect on the occurrence of the earlier of the following events:
(i)
the going out of office of board members:
(ii)
the appointment under section 181 of a commissioner to act in the board’s place; or
(b)
specify a day on which it is to take effect, and contain the dismissal (with effect on that day) of enough board members appointed by the proprietors to give effect to the reduction consented to.
(4)
The proprietors of a State integrated school may, by written notice to the board, require an increase (to no more than 4) in the number of board members the proprietors are entitled to appoint to the board.
(5)
A notice under subsection (4) takes effect on the occurrence of the earlier of the following events:
(a)
the going out of office of board members:
(b)
the appointment under section 181 of a commissioner to act in the board’s place.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 94A
121 Boards may alter their constitutions
(1)
A board may, in accordance with this section, decide—
(a)
to increase to no more than 7 the number of board members who are parent representatives:
(b)
to decrease to no fewer than 3 the number of board members who are parent representatives:
(c)
to approve a body corporate for the purpose of appointing a specified number of board members to the board:
(d)
to modify an approval under paragraph (c) by increasing the number of board members a body corporate may appoint to the board:
(e)
in its absolute discretion, and without giving reasons, to modify an approval under paragraph (c) by reducing the number of board members a body corporate may appoint to the board:
(f)
in its absolute discretion, and without giving reasons, to withdraw an approval under paragraph (c).
(2)
A decision under subsection (1) must be made by resolution of the board passed at a meeting of the board open to all parents of students enrolled at the school or schools administered by the board.
(3)
Before making a decision under subsection (1), the board must take reasonable steps to ensure that the parents of students enrolled at the school or schools administered by the board have reasonable notice of—
(a)
the time, day, and place of the meeting of the board at which the decision is to be made; and
(b)
the nature of the decision; and
(c)
the fact that they have a right to attend the meeting.
(4)
If a board decides to decrease the number of board members who are parent representatives,—
(a)
no parent representative is to go out of office; and
(b)
no casual vacancy for a parent representative may be filled unless the vacancy has reduced the number of parent representatives on the board to fewer than the decreased number decided by the board.
(5)
All co-opted board members go out of office as if they had resigned if a board decides to decrease the number of board members who are parent representatives to a number that is not more than the total number of—
(a)
co-opted board members for the time being holding office; and
(b)
board members capable of being appointed in accordance with approvals under subsection (1)(c).
(6)
If, when any co-opted board members have gone out of office under subsection (5), the number of board members on the board concerned who are parent representatives is not more than the number of board members capable of being appointed in accordance with approvals under subsection (1)(c),—
(a)
the approvals under subsection (1)(c) of the organisations by whom they may be appointed must, starting with the most recent and continuing successively to the least recent, be treated as having been withdrawn; and
(b)
all board members appointed by an organisation whose approval has been treated as having been withdrawn go out of office as if they had resigned,—
until the number of board members who are parent representatives is more than the number of board members capable of being appointed in accordance with approvals under subsection (1)(c).
(7)
A vacancy on a board caused by a decision to increase the number of members who are parent representatives must be filled by election as if it were a casual vacancy, but is not capable of being filled by selection.
(8)
A board that makes a decision under subsection (1) must ensure that, as soon as practicable after making it, the Secretary is given written notice of the nature of the decision and the day on which it was made.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 94B
122 Composition of boards of special institutions
(1)
The Minister must, by notice in the Gazette, determine the composition of the board of a special institution.
(2)
A notice under subsection (1)—
(a)
may apply to a specified institution or specified institutions, or to institutions of a specified class or description:
(b)
may revoke or amend any other notice.
(3)
However, no board member is to go out of office by reason only of the amendment or revocation of a notice under subsection (1).
(4)
If a notice under subsection (1) relates to a special institution that is a distance school, the notice must specify—
(a)
that the board is required to have a staff representative as a member; and
(b)
whether the staff representative is to be elected, co-opted by the board, or appointed by the Minister.
(5)
One board may administer a number of special institutions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 95
123 Other provisions relating to boards
Other provisions relating to boards are set out in the following schedules:
(a)
Schedule 22, which contains provisions relating to the constitution and operation of boards and combining and splitting boards:
(b)
Schedule 23, which contains provisions relating to the election, appointment, and co-opting of board members.
124 Status of board
(1)
A board (and not the school) is a body corporate.
(2)
A board—
(a)
is accordingly a legal entity separate from its members, office holders, employees, and the Crown; and
(b)
continues in existence until it is dissolved in accordance with this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 2
125 Board is governing body
(1)
A board is the governing body of its school.
(2)
A board is responsible for the governance of the school, including setting the policies by which the school is to be controlled and managed.
(3)
Under section 130, the school’s principal is the board’s chief executive in relation to the school’s control and management.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 4
126 Bylaws
(1)
A board may make bylaws that the board thinks necessary or desirable for the control and management of the school.
(2)
Before making a bylaw, the board must consult its staff, its students (to the extent that the board considers appropriate), and the school community regarding the proposed bylaw.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 18
127 Paramount objective of boards in governing schools
(1)
A board’s paramount objective in governing a school is to ensure that every student at the school is able to attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement.
(2)
To meet the paramount objective, the board must meet the following supporting objectives:
(a)
to give effect to its obligation to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the school’s students attend the school when it is open:
(b)
to ensure that the school uses good quality assessment and aromatawai information to monitor and evaluate students’ progress and achievement, including any assessment or aromatawai specified in a foundation curriculum policy statement:
(c)
to ensure that the school—
(i)
is a physically and emotionally safe place for all students and staff; and
(ii)
gives effect to relevant student rights set out in this Act, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, and the Human Rights Act 1993; and
(iii)
takes all reasonable steps to eliminate racism, stigma, bullying, and any other forms of discrimination within the school:
(d)
to ensure that the school is inclusive of, and caters for, students with differing needs:
(e)
to ensure that it—
(i)
seeks to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students; and
(ii)
takes all reasonable steps to provide for students to be taught, and to learn, in te reo Māori on request of their parents or immediate caregivers; and
(iii)
takes reasonable steps to ensure that the policies and practices for the school reflect New Zealand’s cultural diversity:
(f)
to give effect to its obligations in relation to—
(i)
any foundation curriculum statements, national curriculum statements, and national performance measures; and
(ii)
teaching and learning programmes; and
(iii)
monitoring and reporting students’ progress:
(g)
to perform its functions and exercise its powers in a way that is financially responsible:
(h)
if the school is a member of a community of learning that has a community of learning agreement under clause 2 of Schedule 5, to comply with its obligations under the agreement:
(i)
to comply with all of its other obligations under this or any other legislation.
(3)
In this section,—
paramount objective means the highest-priority objective
supporting objective means an objective that is essential and supports the paramount objective.
Section 127: replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 8 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
128 Staff
A board may, in accordance with this Act, appoint, suspend, and dismiss school staff.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 6
Section 128: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
129 Boards may appoint, suspend, and dismiss principal
(1)
The powers conferred on a board by section 128 include the powers to appoint, suspend, and dismiss a principal.
(2)
Two or more boards may appoint 1 person to be the principal of 2 or more schools administered by the boards.
(3)
A combined board may appoint 1 person to be the principal of 2 or more schools administered by the board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 75A
130 Principal is chief executive of board in relation to school’s control and management
(1)
A school’s principal is the board’s chief executive in relation to the school’s control and management.
(2)
Except to the extent that any enactment, or the general law of New Zealand, provides otherwise, the principal—
(a)
must comply with the board’s general policy directions; and
(b)
subject to paragraph (a), has complete discretion to manage the school’s day-to-day administration as they think fit.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 76
131 Board has complete discretion
(1)
A board has complete discretion to perform its functions and exercise its powers as it thinks fit.
(2)
Subsection (1) is subject to this Act, any other enactment, and the general law of New Zealand.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 13
132 Things boards may do
(1)
A board may do anything that it is authorised to do by this Act.
(2)
A board may do anything that a natural person of full age and capacity may do.
(3)
Subsection (2) applies except as provided in this Act or another enactment or rule of law.
(4)
A board may do an act under this section only for the purpose of performing its functions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 14
133 Board’s policies and practices must reflect cultural diversity
[Repealed]Section 133: repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 9 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
134 Statements of variance and annual reports
(1)
A board must give the Secretary—
(a)
a statement of variance by a date fixed by the Secretary each year; and
(b)
an annual report as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, and no later than a date fixed by the Secretary.
(2)
The annual report must contain the following:
(a)
the information required by regulations made under section 639; and
(b)
the board’s annual financial statements; and
(c)
the auditor’s report provided under section 135; and
(d)
in respect of the board or, in the case of a Crown entity group, each Crown entity in the group,—
(i)
the total value of the remuneration (other than compensation and other benefits referred to in subparagraph (v)) paid or payable to the board members in their capacity as board members by the board (or entities in the group) during the financial year; and
(ii)
the total value of the remuneration (other than compensation and other benefits referred to in subparagraph (v)) paid or payable to the committee members in their capacity as committee members by the board (or entities in the group) during the financial year (except that this subparagraph does not apply to board members whose remuneration is disclosed under subparagraph (i)); and
(iii)
the number of employees (other than principals of the school) to whom, during the financial year, remuneration (other than compensation and other benefits referred to in subparagraph (v)) was paid or payable in their capacity as employees, the total value of which is or exceeds $100,000 per annum, and the number of those employees in brackets of $10,000; and
(iv)
a report, presented in the manner required by the Minister by notice in the Gazette, on the total remuneration (including benefits, any compensation, ex gratia payments, any other payments, and any other consideration paid or payable in the school principal’s capacity as an employee) paid to a principal of the school; and
(v)
the total value of any compensation or other benefits paid or payable to persons who ceased to be board members, committee members, or employees during the financial year in relation to that cessation and the number of persons to whom all or part of that total was payable; and
(e)
the statement of variance.
(3)
In addition, a board that is a parent in a Crown entity group must, to the extent required to do so by generally accepted accounting practice, prepare consolidated financial statements in relation to the group for that financial year.
(4)
The annual financial statements must be in the form (if any) determined by the Secretary after consultation with the Auditor-General.
(5)
The annual financial statements must be accompanied by a statement of responsibility that complies with section 155 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 but that is signed by the chair of the board and the principal instead of 2 members.
(6)
The requirements of this section and section 135 as to annual financial statements also apply to a Crown entity subsidiary of a board as if the subsidiary were a board and with all necessary modifications.
(7)
The rest of the amendments made to this section by Schedule 6 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply as provided in section 198 of that Act.
(8)
In this section,—
board member and employee include a person who was a board member or an employee at any time during the applicable financial year but who is no longer a board member or an employee
statement of variance means a statement that details—
(a)
any variance between the school’s performance and the achievement of the school’s objectives set out in its strategic plan and annual implementation plan; and
(b)
any matters required by regulations made under section 639.
(9)
However, in relation to a 2023 school charter, statement of variance means the statement referred to in subsection (2)(e) as it read, or would have read, immediately before the commencement of subsection (8).
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 68
135 Audit
(1)
A board must submit its annual financial statements to the Auditor-General within 90 days after the end of each financial year.
(2)
The Auditor-General must audit the financial statements and provide an audit report on them to the board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 87A
136 Annual report to be made available
A board must ensure that its annual report is available to the public on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 87AB
137 Annual financial statements of boards
(1)
A board must provide its audited annual financial statements to the Secretary no later than 31 May in the year after the previous financial year.
(2)
The Minister must make available (including, without limitation, by electronic means) to a member of Parliament on request from that member of Parliament any statement provided to the Secretary under subsection (1).
(3)
The statement must be made available not later than 1 month after the request was received by the Minister.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 87C
Attendance management
Heading: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
137A Attendance management plan
(1)
A board must have an attendance management plan for its school.
(2)
The attendance management plan must—
(a)
set out a strategy and a process for the school to identify and respond to student absences, for the purpose of returning students to attendance (as required under section 36); and
(b)
comply with any regulations made under section 638 relating to the content of attendance management plans.
Section 137A: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
137B Preparing attendance management plan
In preparing an attendance management plan, a board must have regard to any guidelines on the management of school attendance issued by the Secretary.
Section 137B: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
137C Review of attendance management plan
(1)
A board must review its attendance management plan in accordance with regulations made under section 638.
(2)
Following the review, the board must—
(a)
readopt the plan; or
(b)
adopt a new or amended plan.
Section 137C: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
137D Attendance management plan to be on Internet site
A board must ensure that its attendance management plan is available to the public on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the board.
Section 137D: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Strategic planning and reporting
138 School strategic plan and annual implementation plan
(1)
A board must have the following strategic planning documents for its school:
(a)
a strategic plan, for each 3-year period or for a shorter period determined by the Secretary, that sets out the board’s strategy for achieving (or making progress towards achieving) its objectives during that period; and
(b)
an annual implementation plan for each year that sets out how the board intends to implement that strategy during the year.
(2)
A board must prepare its first strategic plan and annual implementation plan when required by regulations made under section 639 to do so.
(3)
If, at the commencement of this section, a board has a charter in effect for the 2022 year, the charter is to be treated as the board’s first strategic plan.
(4)
If a board’s strategic plan is its 2022 school charter, the statement of variance is not required to include a comparison with an annual implementation plan.
(5)
However, a board with a 2022 school charter as its strategic plan must continue to update the annually updated sections of its charter until its first annual implementation plan is required under regulations made under section 639.
(6)
The annually updated sections of a 2022 school charter must be updated no later than a date fixed by the Secretary.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
139 Preparing strategic plan
(1)
A board must prepare a strategic plan for every 3-year period, or for a shorter period determined by the Secretary, and submit it to the Secretary in accordance with regulations made under section 639.
(2)
The strategic plan must comply with any regulations made under section 639 relating to the form and content of strategic plans.
(3)
In preparing a strategic plan, the board must—
(a)
consult—
(i)
the school community; and
(ii)
the school’s staff; and
(iii)
where appropriate, the school’s students; and
(iv)
any other persons required by the regulations; and
(b)
comply with any other regulations relating to the development of strategic plans; and
(c)
in the case of a State integrated school, ensure that the plan reflects the school’s special character; and
(d)
in the case of a designated character school, ensure that the plan reflects the school’s different character or, in the case of a Kura Kaupapa Māori, its special characteristics.
(4)
In preparing a strategic plan, the board may consult any person, group, or organisation that it thinks fit to consult.
(5)
This section is subject to section 138(3).
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
Section 139 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 11(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 139(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 139(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 139(3): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 11(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 139(3)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 11(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 139(3)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 11(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 139(4): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
140 Secretary may review strategic plan
(1)
The Secretary may review a strategic plan in accordance with regulations made under section 639.
(2)
After reviewing the strategic plan, the Secretary may direct that the board—
(a)
consider, or further consider, any matter and revise the plan in the light of that consideration; or
(b)
revise the plan as directed by the Secretary.
(3)
If the strategic plan is returned to the board, the board must comply with the Secretary’s directions and then resubmit a revised plan.
(4)
[Repealed](5)
If a board fails to comply with the Secretary’s directions, or resubmits a revised strategic plan that still does not meet the requirements of the Act or the regulations, the Secretary may revise the plan and confirm it by giving written notice to the board.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
Section 140 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 12(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 140(1): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 12(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 140(2): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 12(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 140(3): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 12(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 140(4): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 12(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 140(5): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 12(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
141 Amending strategic plan
(1)
A board may amend its strategic plan.
(2)
If the board considers that a proposed amendment to its strategic plan is significant, the board must comply with the requirements of section 139(3) before confirming an amendment.
(3)
The Secretary may require a board to amend its strategic plan.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
Section 141(1): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 13 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 141(2): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 13 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
142 Expiry of strategic plan
(1)
A strategic plan expires 3 years after the plan takes effect.
(2)
However, a 2022 school charter (which is a document that is to be treated as a board’s first strategic plan) expires when replaced by a strategic plan adopted in accordance with regulations made under section 639.
(3)
If there is no new plan to replace the expired plan, the expired plan continues to apply for a period approved by the Secretary.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
143 Preparing annual implementation plan
(1)
A board must prepare an annual implementation plan.
(2)
The plan must—
(a)
contain the information required by regulations made under section 639; and
(b)
be prepared in accordance with those regulations.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
144 Amending annual implementation plan
A board may amend its annual implementation plan.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
145 Board to monitor performance against strategic planning documents
(1)
A board must monitor and evaluate its performance—
(a)
in achieving (or making progress towards achieving) its objectives in accordance with its strategic plan; and
(b)
in implementing its strategy in accordance with its annual implementation plan.
(2)
The monitoring and evaluation must be carried out in accordance with regulations made under section 639.
(3)
The board must report on its performance in the annual report, in accordance with regulations made under section 639.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
146 Strategic planning documents to be on Internet site
A board must ensure that its strategic plan and annual implementation plan are available to the public on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the board.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 158
Validity of acts and liability
147 Acts in breach of statute invalid
(1)
An act of a board is invalid (unless section 148 applies) if—
(a)
the act is contrary to, or outside the authority of, an Act; or
(b)
the act is done otherwise than for the purpose of performing its functions.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not limit any discretion of a court to grant relief in respect of a minor or technical breach.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 20
148 Some natural person acts protected
(1)
Section 147, or any rule of law to similar effect, does not prevent a person dealing with a board from enforcing a transaction that is a natural person act unless the person dealing with the board knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that—
(a)
an express restriction in an Act makes the act contrary to, or outside the authority of, the Act; or
(b)
the act was done otherwise than for the purpose of performing the board’s functions.
(2)
A person who relies on subsection (1) has the onus of proving that the person did not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have had, the knowledge referred to in that subsection.
(3)
A board must report, in its annual report, each transaction that the board has performed in the year to which the report relates that was invalid under section 147 but enforced in reliance on subsection (1).
(4)
To avoid doubt, this section does not affect any person’s remedies under the general law (for example, remedies in contract).
(5)
In this section, natural person act—
(a)
means an act that a natural person of full age and capacity can do (whether or not the act is something that is also authorised by an Act); and
(b)
includes entry into a contract for, or relating to,—
(i)
the acquisition of financial products (within the meaning of section 7 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013) or the borrowing of money; or
(ii)
the purchase, leasing, or sale of, or other dealings with, property; or
(iii)
the employment, or engagement of the services, of a person.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 21
149 Acts that are not in best interests of board
It is irrelevant to the validity of an act that the act is not, or may not be, in the best interests of a board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 22
150 Dealings between boards and other persons
(1)
A board may not assert against a person dealing with the board that—
(a)
a person held out by the board to be a member, office holder, chief executive, employee, or agent of the board—
(i)
has not been duly appointed in that capacity or has ceased to be appointed in that capacity; or
(ii)
does not have the authority to exercise a power that, given the nature of the board, a person appointed to that capacity customarily has the authority to exercise; or
(iii)
does not have the authority to exercise a power that the board holds the person out as having; or
(b)
a document issued on behalf of the board by a member, office holder, chief executive, employee, or agent of the board who has actual or usual authority to issue the document is not valid or genuine.
(2)
However, a board may assert any of those matters if the person dealing with the board has, or could reasonably be expected to have had, knowledge of the matter.
(3)
Nothing in this section affects a person’s right to apply, in accordance with the law, for judicial review.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 23
151 Personal liability of board members
(1)
A board member is not personally liable for—
(a)
any act done or omitted by the board; or
(b)
any loss to the board arising out of any act done or omitted by the board member.
(2)
However, subsection (1) applies only if the act or omission was (as far as the board member’s involvement is concerned) in good faith in the performance or intended performance of the functions of the board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 24
Financial and property matters and application of Crown Entities Act 2004
152 Board to be financially responsible
A board must perform its functions and exercise its powers in a way that is financially responsible.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 25
153 Application of Crown Entities Act 2004
(1)
A board is a Crown entity for the purposes of section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
However, that Act applies to boards only to the extent that subsection (3) provides.
(3)
The provisions set out in Schedule 3 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply to boards and their Crown entity subsidiaries (within the meaning of that Act).
(4)
A board must comply with any direction given under section 107 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(5)
If the board does not comply with a direction, it may be dismissed under section 171(1)(i).
154 Restrictions on acquisition of securities
(1)
Sections 160 and 161 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply.
(2)
Under section 161 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, a board may not acquire securities—
(a)
other than—
(i)
a debt security denominated in New Zealand dollars that is issued by a registered bank, or by any other entity, that satisfies a credit-rating test that is specified in regulations made under Part 4 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 or a notice in the Gazette published by the Minister of Finance; or
(ii)
a public security; or
(b)
otherwise than as provided in—
(i)
any regulations made under Part 4 of that Act; or
(ii)
any approval given jointly by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance; or
(iii)
this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 28
155 Restrictions on borrowing
(1)
Sections 160 and 162 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply.
(2)
Under sections 160 and 162 of that Act, a board may not borrow from any person, or amend the terms of any borrowing, otherwise than as provided in—
(a)
any regulations made under Part 4 of that Act; or
(b)
any approval given jointly by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance; or
(c)
this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 29
156 No delegation of power to borrow
A board may not delegate any power to borrow money that it may have under section 160 or 162 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 30
157 Restrictions on giving of guarantees and indemnities
(1)
Sections 160 and 163 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply.
(2)
Under sections 160 and 163 of that Act, a board may not, with or without security, give a guarantee to, or indemnify, another person otherwise than as provided in—
(a)
any regulations made under Part 4 of that Act; or
(b)
any approval given jointly by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance; or
(c)
this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 31
158 Restrictions on use of derivatives
(1)
Sections 160 and 164 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply.
(2)
Under sections 160 and 164 of that Act, a board may not enter into an agreement constituting a derivative, or amend the terms of that agreement, otherwise than as provided in—
(a)
any regulations made under Part 4 of that Act; or
(b)
any approval given jointly by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance; or
(c)
this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 32
159 Gifts
(1)
Any money or property that is gifted to a school may be accepted or disclaimed by the board in accordance with section 167 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
A limitation that is provided in this Act or that applies under the Crown Entities Act 2004 (for example, a limitation on the form in which property may be held) does not apply during a period that is reasonable in the circumstances.
(3)
Subsections (1) and (2) apply to any gift that is received by the board for funding scholarships or bursaries, or for other educational purposes in connection with a school.
(4)
A board must hold the gift for the specific purpose declared by the giver.
(5)
Unless the giver has created a special trust, scholarships and bursaries from a gift must be open to every student at the school.
(6)
If the school for which a gift was given closes, the Minister must direct that the gift should apply to another school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 33
160 Real property
Except as provided in section 159, a board may not acquire an interest in land, or any licence to occupy any land or premises, without the consent of the Minister.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 34
161 Occupancy of property and buildings
(1)
The Secretary may—
(a)
specify terms and conditions applying generally to land and buildings occupied by boards:
(b)
by written notice to a particular board, specify terms and conditions applying to land and buildings occupied by the board.
(2)
Terms and conditions under subsection (1)—
(a)
may apply to any land and buildings occupied by a board (regardless of who owns the property); but
(b)
to the extent that it applies to the board of a State integrated school, is subject to Schedule 6 and to the integration agreement for the time being in force between the Minister and the proprietor of the school.
(3)
Terms and conditions under subsection (1) may include standards of maintenance, standards of capital works, and minimum safety and health requirements.
(4)
Subsection (3) does not limit the generality of subsection (1).
(5)
Terms and conditions may be specified under subsection (1) for—
(a)
a particular school or institution or particular schools or institutions; or
(b)
schools or institutions of particular classes or descriptions; or
(c)
all schools and institutions.
(6)
Terms and conditions under subsection (1)(a) are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(7)
Terms and conditions specified under subsection (1) apply to boards or a board as if—
(a)
the land and buildings were owned by the Crown and the Crown has leased them to the board; and
(b)
the terms and conditions were part of the lease; and
(c)
the Crown had empowered the Secretary to exercise the Crown’s powers concerning the lease.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 35
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving a general description of it and indicating where the full text can be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 161(1): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 161(2): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 161(6): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
162 Leases and licences granted by boards
(1)
A board may, with the written consent of the Secretary, grant a lease or a licence to occupy to any person in respect of any land, buildings, or facilities occupied by the board.
(2)
The Secretary may agree to the grant of a lease or a licence by the board only if satisfied that—
(a)
the land, building, or facilities are not needed or used for the purposes of the school during the time covered by the lease or licence; and
(b)
the lease or licence is in the public interest; and
(c)
the lease or licence—
(i)
is for a purpose associated with educational outcomes and is to bring educational benefit to the school or its community, or to any other school; or
(ii)
is for a community purpose, and has no educational disadvantage for the school.
(3)
The Secretary must determine the terms and conditions of any lease or licence granted by a board by doing either or both of the following:
(a)
specifying the general terms and conditions that apply to all, or specified classes of, leases or licences:
(b)
giving written notice to the board.
(4)
Terms and conditions specified under subsection (3)(a) are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(5)
In relation to a State integrated school, this section applies subject to Schedule 6 and to any integration agreement in force between the Minister and the proprietor of the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 36
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving a general description of it and indicating where the full text can be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
163 Other agreements to occupy school land or buildings
(1)
A board may not enter into an agreement unless the agreement—
(a)
is of a type permitted by notice under subsection (4); and
(b)
is consistent with this section and any conditions specified by notice under subsection (4).
(2)
It is a condition of every agreement that the board has the right to enter, at any time, the land, buildings, or facilities that are the subject of the agreement.
(3)
No person has the right under an agreement to use or occupy any land, buildings, or facilities in such a way as to unduly interfere with the use, by the board for school purposes, of that land or those buildings or facilities, or any other land, buildings, or facilities of the school.
(4)
The Secretary may, by notice,—
(a)
identify the kinds of agreements (for example, agreements for the use of playing fields) that boards may enter into; and
(b)
specify conditions to which agreements, or specified types of agreements, are subject.
(5)
A notice under subsection (4) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(6)
In relation to a State integrated school, this section applies subject to Schedule 6 and to any integration agreement in force between the Minister and the proprietor of the school.
(7)
In this section, agreement means an agreement, other than a lease or a licence to occupy under section 162, between a board and any other person for the use of land, buildings, or facilities occupied by the board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 6 cl 37
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving a general description of it and indicating where the full text can be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 163(1)(a): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 163(1)(b): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 163(4): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 163(5): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Programmes and monitoring
164 Teaching and learning programmes
The board of a school must ensure that the school’s principal and staff develop and implement teaching and learning programmes that—
(a)
give effect to any foundation curriculum policy statements and national curriculum statements made under section 90; and
(b)
give the school’s students access to a nationally and internationally recognised qualifications system.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 43
Section 164(a): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
165 Monitoring of and reporting on student performance
(1)
The board of a school must ensure that the school’s principal and staff monitor and evaluate the performance of the school’s students.
(2)
Monitoring and evaluating must include, but is not limited to, monitoring and evaluating the performance of the students in relation to—
(a)
any foundation curriculum policy statements and national curriculum statements made under section 90; and
(b)
any qualifications system referred to in section 164(b) that is offered at the school.
(3)
The board must ensure that information about a student’s performance is given to a parent of the student in a timely manner and in a form that is readily understandable.
(4)
The board must report to the Secretary, to its school community, and to parents on the performance of the school’s students in accordance with any regulations made under section 639.
Compare: 2017 No 20 s 43
Section 165(2)(a): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Code of conduct
166 Code of conduct for board members
(1)
The Minister may issue a code of conduct for the members of State school boards that—
(a)
sets out the minimum standards of conduct that each member is required to meet; and
(b)
is consistent with any code issued under section 598.
(2)
Before issuing a code of conduct for the members of State school boards, the Minister—
(a)
must consult the national bodies representing the interests of boards; and
(b)
may consult any other persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit.
(3)
A code of conduct under this section—
(a)
is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
comes into force on a date specified in it, being not less than 28 days after it is published under that Act.
(4)
[Repealed]| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving enough information to identify it and state where copies of it may be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 166(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 166(3): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 166(4): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
167 Boards may augment code of conduct for board members
A board, by resolution, may specify additional standards of conduct for its members provided they are consistent with any code issued under section 166 and the requirements under this Act and any other enactment.
168 Board members must comply with code of conduct
(1)
Every board member must comply with any code issued under section 166.
(2)
However, if a conflict between a standard in a code issued under section 166 (or in a code augmented under section 167) and a standard in a code issued under section 485 arises, the standard in the code issued under section 485 prevails.
169 Sanctions for failures to comply with code of conduct
(1)
A board may, by resolution, censure a board member (other than a principal) for any significant or persistent breach of a code issued under section 166 (or a code augmented under section 167).
(2)
The Minister may remove a board member (other than a principal) if—
(a)
the board member has significantly or persistently breached a code issued under section 166 (or a code augmented under section 167); and
(b)
the board—
(i)
considers the board member’s failure to comply with the code warrants the removal of the board member; and
(ii)
has presented the Minister with a written report about the board member’s failure that recommends the removal of the board member; and
(c)
the Minister is satisfied that there is just cause to remove the board member.
(3)
The removal must be made by written notice to the board member (with a copy to the board).
(4)
The notice must state—
(a)
the day on which the removal takes effect, which must be no earlier than the day on which the notice is received; and
(b)
the reasons for the removal.
(5)
The Minister must notify the removal in the Gazette as soon as practicable after giving the notice.
(6)
The Minister may remove a board member with as little formality and technicality, and as much expedition, as is permitted by—
(a)
the principles of natural justice; and
(b)
a proper consideration of the matter; and
(c)
the requirements of this section.
(7)
In this section, just cause includes misconduct, inability to perform the functions of office, neglect of duty, and breach of any of the collective duties of board members or the individual duties of members (depending on the seriousness of the breach).
Validation
170 Validation and invalidation of board elections
(1)
Subsection (2) applies if—
(a)
anything required to be done in connection with an election under this Act—
(i)
has been done after the time it is required to be done; or
(ii)
has not been done at all; or
(iii)
has been done irregularly; and
(b)
the Minister thinks the lateness, omission, or irregularity could not materially have affected the result of the election.
(2)
If this subsection applies, the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, validate the lateness, omission, or irregularity.
(3)
Where anything required to be done in connection with an election under this Act cannot be done at or by the time at or by which it is required to be done, the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, extend the time for doing it.
(4)
Subsection (5) applies if the following occurs in connection with an election under this Act:
(a)
any lateness, omission, or irregularity that is capable of being validated under this section, but that the Minister thinks it would be improper or undesirable to validate; or
(b)
any other irregularity that the Minister thinks could materially have affected the result of the election.
(5)
If this subsection applies, the Minister may within 60 days of the election, by notice in the Gazette,—
(a)
declare the election invalid; and
(b)
require a new election to be held on a day specified in the notice; and
(c)
either—
(i)
declare that the board members holding office on the date of the invalid election remain in office until the close of the day before the day on which the new board members take office; or
(ii)
direct the Secretary to appoint a commissioner to act in place of the board until the close of the day before the day on which the new board members take office.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 101D
Interventions in State schools
171 Interventions in State schools by Secretary or Minister
(1)
The following interventions may be used in relation to a State school:
(a)
a requirement by the Secretary for information:
(b)
a requirement by the Secretary for a board to engage specialist help:
(c)
a requirement by the Secretary for a board to prepare and carry out an action plan:
(d)
a requirement by the Secretary that the board attend a case conference to enable a particular issue or particular issues to be discussed and actions to be agreed:
(e)
a requirement by the Secretary that the board engage an appropriately qualified person to undertake a specialist audit of any aspect of the school’s affairs:
(f)
the issuing by the Secretary to the board of a performance notice requiring the board to carry out a specified action by a specified date:
(g)
the appointment by the Minister of a board member (who may be the presiding board member) to the board for a specified period of time:
(h)
the appointment by the Secretary, at the direction of the Minister, of a limited statutory manager:
(i)
the dissolution of a board by the Minister and the appointment of a commissioner:
(j)
the dissolution of a board by the Secretary and the appointment of a commissioner in accordance with section 181(3).
(2)
The Secretary may use an intervention described in subsection (1)(a) to (f) only if the Secretary has reasonable grounds for concern about the operation of the school or the welfare or educational performance of its students.
(3)
The Secretary or the Minister may use an intervention described in subsection (1)(g) to (i) in relation to a school only if the Secretary or the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that there is a risk to the operation of the school or to the welfare or educational performance of its students.
(4)
The Secretary or the Minister may use an intervention described in subsection (1) in relation to a school if either of the following requests the intervention:
(a)
the board:
(b)
for a State integrated school, the school’s proprietors.
(5)
When applying an intervention, the Secretary or the Minister must apply whichever intervention they consider is reasonable to deal with the risk without intervening more than necessary in the affairs of the school.
(6)
The application of any one intervention does not preclude applying any other intervention, either concurrently or at any other time.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78I
Section 171(1)(i): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 171(1)(j): replaced, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 171(2): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 8 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
172 Requirement to provide information
(1)
The Secretary may, by written notice to a board, require the board to provide specified information—
(a)
as at a given time or times; or
(b)
at specified intervals; or
(c)
both.
(2)
The Secretary may also require, in the notice, that an analysis of the specified information be provided.
(3)
A board that receives a notice under subsection (1) must provide the Secretary with the information required and an analysis of the information (if that has been sought)—
(a)
by the time or times, or at the intervals, or both, as specified in the notice; and
(b)
in the form (if any) required by the Secretary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78J
173 Specialist help
(1)
The Secretary may, by written notice to a board, require the board to engage specified specialist help.
(2)
A notice given under subsection (1) must identify particular persons or organisations, or types of persons or organisations, whom the board must engage.
(3)
The Secretary may also require, in the notice, that the board provide to the Secretary a report or reports (for example, a progress report and a final report) on the specialist help—
(a)
by the specified time or times; or
(b)
at the specified intervals; or
(c)
both.
(4)
A board that receives a notice under subsection (1) must—
(a)
engage the specialist help as soon as practicable; and
(b)
pay the fees and reasonable expenses of any person or organisation engaged to provide specialist help, unless the Secretary determines otherwise; and
(c)
provide a report or reports to the Secretary at the time or times, or intervals, specified in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78K
174 Action plans
(1)
The Secretary may, by written notice to a board, require the board to prepare and carry out an action plan, and any notice must specify—
(a)
the matters that the action plan must address; and
(b)
the outcomes sought; and
(c)
the time within which a draft action plan must be prepared.
(2)
A board that receives a notice under subsection (1) must comply with it by preparing a draft action plan within the time specified in the notice and presenting it to the Secretary for approval.
(3)
The Secretary may negotiate with the board over the draft action plan in order to reach an agreed plan, but if, after a reasonable period, the board and the Secretary have not reached agreement over the content of the action plan, the Secretary may give notice to the board that the Secretary is to approve a particular version of the plan.
(4)
When the Secretary has approved an action plan, the board must—
(a)
implement it in accordance with its terms, unless or until the Secretary directs otherwise; and
(b)
make the plan available as if it were part of the strategic plan required under section 138.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78L
175 Case conference
(1)
The Secretary may, by written notice to a board, require the board to attend a case conference on a specified date.
(2)
The notice must specify the issue or issues to be discussed.
(3)
A board that receives a notice under subsection (1) must attend the case conference.
(4)
The Secretary may invite any person to attend the case conference if the Secretary considers that the person’s presence at the conference is desirable.
(5)
If the case conference results in the parties reaching agreement on any action or actions to address any issue or issues, the agreement—
(a)
must be recorded in writing; and
(b)
is binding on the parties.
(6)
If the Secretary and the board are not able to agree on an action or actions to address any issue or issues, the Secretary may, by written notice to the board, require it—
(a)
to take a particular action or particular actions; and
(b)
to provide the Secretary with a report or reports (for example, a progress report and a final report) on the action or actions taken—
(i)
as at a given time or given times; or
(ii)
at specified intervals; or
(iii)
both.
(7)
A board that receives a notice under subsection (6) must,—
(a)
in relation to a requirement to take a particular action or particular actions, take the action or actions as soon as practicable; and
(b)
if the notice includes a requirement to report to the Secretary, provide a report or reports at the time or times, or intervals, specified in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78LA
176 Specialist audit
(1)
The Secretary may, by written notice to the board, require a board to engage an appropriately qualified person to undertake a specialist audit of any aspect of the school’s affairs.
(2)
A notice given under subsection (1) must identify particular persons or organisations, or types of persons or organisations, whom the board must engage.
(3)
The Secretary may also require, in the notice, that the board provide the Secretary with a report or reports (for example, a progress report and a final report) on the audit—
(a)
as at a given time or times; or
(b)
at specified intervals; or
(c)
both.
(4)
A board that receives a notice under subsection (1) must—
(a)
undertake the audit as soon as practicable; and
(b)
pay the fees and reasonable expenses of any person or organisation engaged to undertake the audit, unless the Secretary determines otherwise; and
(c)
provide a report or reports to the Secretary at the time or times, or intervals, specified in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78LB
177 Performance notice
(1)
The Secretary may, by written notice to a board, issue a performance notice requiring the board to carry out a specified action by a specified date.
(2)
The Secretary may also require, in the notice, that the board provide the Secretary with a report or reports (for example, a progress report and a final report) on the action taken—
(a)
as at a given time or given times; or
(b)
at specified intervals; or
(c)
both.
(3)
A board that receives a notice under subsection (1) must—
(a)
take the action by the date specified in the notice; and
(b)
provide a report or reports to the Secretary at the time or times, or intervals, specified in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78LC
178 Appointment of additional board member by Minister
(1)
The Minister may, by written notice to a board, appoint an additional board member, and the Minister may also appoint that board member as the presiding board member.
(2)
The notice must specify a period of time for which the appointment is made.
(3)
A person who is ineligible to be a board member under this Act or any regulations made under this Act may not be appointed under this section.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78LD
179 Amendment and revocation of notices
(1)
The Secretary may, by giving written notice to a board, amend or revoke a notice given by the Secretary under any of sections 172 to 177, 180, and 181.
(2)
The amendment or revocation takes effect on the date specified in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78LE
180 Limited statutory manager
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, direct the Secretary to appoint a limited statutory manager for a board.
(2)
A notice under subsection (1) must specify—
(a)
any functions, powers, and duties of the board (whether statutory or otherwise) that are to be vested in the limited statutory manager; and
(b)
any matters on which the limited statutory manager may or must advise the board; and
(c)
any conditions attaching to the exercise of the powers by the board or by the limited statutory manager.
(3)
On publication of the Gazette notice, the Secretary must, by notice to the board,—
(a)
appoint a person to be the limited statutory manager for the board; and
(b)
state the date on which the appointment takes effect.
(4)
A notice under subsection (3) appointing a person to be the limited statutory manager for the board may refer to the person appointed—
(a)
by the limited statutory manager’s own name; and
(b)
as being of a named body corporate.
(5)
On and from the date on which the limited statutory manager’s appointment takes effect,—
(a)
any functions, powers, or duties of the board specified in a notice under subsection (1) vest in the limited statutory manager; and
(b)
the board must take into consideration advice given by the limited statutory manager on any matter on which the manager is obliged to give advice; and
(c)
any conditions specified in the notice apply.
(6)
The board must pay the fees and expenses of a limited statutory manager appointed for it, unless the Secretary determines otherwise.
(7)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, amend a notice under subsection (1), and the amendment takes effect on and from the date given in the notice.
(8)
If the Minister is satisfied that the appointment of the limited statutory manager is no longer required, the Minister must revoke the notice under subsection (1), in which case the appointment terminates from the date of the revocation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78M
181 Dissolution of board and appointment of commissioner
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, dissolve a board and direct the Secretary to appoint a commissioner to replace that board.
(2)
On publication of a notice under subsection (1), the Secretary must, by notice in the Gazette, appoint a commissioner for the school and state the date on which the appointment takes effect.
(3)
The Secretary may, by notice in the Gazette, dissolve the board and appoint a commissioner in its place, as from a specified date, if any of the following applies:
(a)
the board has not held a meeting during the previous 3 months:
(b)
so many casual vacancies have arisen that there is no longer any board member who is eligible to preside at meetings of the board:
(c)
the result of an election of board members is that the board has fewer than 3 board members elected by parents:
(d)
an election of board members has not been held as required by this Act:
(e)
it is impossible or impracticable to discover the results of an election of board members:
(f)
the Minister has directed the Secretary to appoint a commissioner under subsection (1).
(4)
A notice under subsection (2) or (3) appointing a commissioner for a school may refer to the person appointed—
(a)
by the commissioner’s own name; and
(b)
as being of a named body corporate.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78N
182 No compensation for loss of office
(1)
A board member is not entitled to any compensation or other payment or benefit relating to the board member ceasing for any reason to hold office as a board member.
(2)
A board must ensure, to the extent that it is reasonably able to do so, that each of its Crown entity subsidiaries does not pay directors of the subsidiary any compensation or other payment or benefit, on any basis, for ceasing for any reason to hold office.
(3)
However, subsections (4) and (5) apply to a person who is entitled, at the commencement of this section under any contract or arrangement, to any compensation or other payment or benefit relating to their ceasing for any reason to hold office.
(4)
The entitlement is not affected by the enactment of this section.
(5)
The entitlement is cancelled on the date of reappointment of the board member or director or of the member to the committee (if any).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78NA
183 Commissioners
(1)
A commissioner appointed under section 170(5)(c)(ii) or 181 has all the functions, duties, and powers of the board that the commissioner is appointed to replace.
(2)
Anything that, if done by or on behalf of the board, must be done by affixing the board’s seal, or by the signature of 2 or more board members, or both, may be done by the signature of the commissioner.
(3)
The remuneration of the commissioner must be determined by the Secretary and paid for out of funds of the board, unless the Secretary determines otherwise.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78O
184 Commissioner sets date for election of board members
(1)
In the case of a commissioner appointed under section 181(2), when the Secretary is satisfied that a commissioner is no longer required for the school, the commissioner must appoint a date for the election of board members.
(2)
In the case of a commissioner appointed under section 181(3), when the Secretary is satisfied that an election of board members is likely to produce a functioning board, the commissioner must appoint a date for the election of board members.
(3)
A commissioner’s appointment ends 7 days after the date that the commissioner has set for the election of board members.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78P
185 Personal liability of limited statutory managers and commissioners
A limited statutory manager or commissioner is not personally liable for any act done or omitted by the manager or commissioner, or for any loss arising out of any act done or omitted by them, if the act or omission was in good faith and occurred in the course of performing their functions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78Q
186 Annual review of interventions
Within 1 year of the date of a notice under any of sections 172 to 178, 180, and 181, the Secretary must review the operation of the intervention commenced by each notice, and after that must review the operation of the intervention annually.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78R
187 Application of interventions to State integrated schools
(1)
The Secretary must, if practicable, consult with the proprietors of a State integrated school before appointing a limited statutory manager or commissioner for the school, and must have regard to any recommendations made by the proprietors.
(2)
If the Secretary considers that it is not practicable to consult with the proprietors before making an appointment, the Secretary must consult with the proprietors after making the appointment and must consider whether, in light of any recommendations made by the proprietors, a different person should be appointed in place of the original appointee.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78S
188 Application of interventions to Kura Kaupapa Māori
(1)
Before applying any of the interventions in this subpart to a Kura Kaupapa Māori, the Secretary must consult with te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua.
(2)
Subsection (1) applies only to Kura Kaupapa Māori that are required by their school charters to operate in accordance with Te Aho Matua.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78T
Subpart 6—Establishment and designation of State schools
189 Overview: classifications and types of State schools
This subpart concerns—
(a)
the following classifications of State schools:
(i)
primary school:
(ii)
intermediate school:
(iii)
secondary school:
(iv)
composite school:
(b)
the following types of State schools:
(i)
ordinary State school:
(ii)
designated character school:
(iia)
Kura Kaupapa Māori:
(iii)
State integrated school:
(iv)
specialist school:
(v)
distance school.
Section 189(b)(ii): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 22 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 189(b)(iia): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 22 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
190 Minister may establish State schools
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, establish a State school by—
(a)
describing the place where the school is to be located; and
(b)
for a secondary school, specifying whether it is a boys’ school, a girls’ school, or a co-educational school; and
(c)
specifying a name for the school.
(2)
A decision to establish a school under subsection (1) is in the Minister’s absolute discretion.
(3)
A school established under this section must be established as a primary, an intermediate, a secondary, or a composite school, and the notice establishing it must specify what classification of school it is.
(4)
A notice under subsection (1) establishing a school may specify the year levels for which education may be given at the school and may provide for different year levels to be phased in over a specified period or periods.
(5)
A notice under subsection (1) establishing a primary school may designate the school as a contributing school.
(6)
(7)
This section is subject to section 209 (which sets out consultation requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 146
191 Single-sex schools
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare a State school to be a single-sex school or a co-educational school.
(2)
A declaration under subsection (1) takes effect on the day that is 5 months after the first day of August after the notice is published.
(3)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, limit, in relation to a specified single-sex school,—
(a)
in the case of a boys’ school, the number of girls who may enrol at it, or the proportion of the total roll of the school that may be girls:
(b)
in the case of a girls’ school, the number of boys who may enrol at it, or the proportion of the total roll of the school that may be boys.
(4)
In setting limits under subsection (3), the Minister must have regard to the necessity of maintaining the single-sex nature of the school.
(5)
Subsection (1) is subject to section 209 (which sets out consultation requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 146A
192 Names of State schools
(1)
The name of a State school established after 31 December 1989 must be the name specified in the notice establishing it.
(2)
The name of a State school whose classification has been changed under section 198 must be the name specified in the last notice changing its classification.
(3)
The name of a State school established before 1 January 1990 must be the name it had on 1 December 1989.
(4)
However, the board of the State school may, by resolution and with the Secretary’s written consent, change the school’s name.
(5)
The Secretary may not withhold consent under subsection (4) unless satisfied that the proposed new or amended name is inappropriate.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 147
193 Normal schools, etc
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette,—
(a)
designate 1 or more specified primary schools as normal or model schools for providers of pre-service teacher education:
(b)
designate within a specified primary school a normal or model school, or model class, for providers of pre-service teacher education:
(c)
revoke any designation under this section.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a State integrated school.
(3)
Every school that was on 31 December 1989 designated a normal or model school under section 72 of the Education Act 1964 must be treated as having been designated a normal school under this section.
(4)
Every normal or model school, or model class, that was on 31 December 1989 designated within a primary school under section 72 of the Education Act 1964 must be treated as having been designated under this Act.
(5)
Subsection (1) is subject to section 209 (which sets out consultation requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 148
194 Contributing schools
(1)
The Minister must determine which primary schools are to be or cease to be contributing schools.
(2)
If the Minister determines that a primary school is to be or cease to be a contributing school, the Minister must give the school’s board written notice of the determination.
(3)
While a primary school is a contributing school, its board must limit the education given at the school to students enrolled in year levels—
(a)
not higher than year 6; and
(b)
if the Minister allows in a notice given under subsection (2), not higher than year 7.
(4)
However, if satisfied that there are enrolled at a contributing school students whose education at the school is wholly or in part bilingual, the Minister may, by written notice to the board specifying the languages concerned, permit the board to give education to those students in accordance with conditions specified in the notice.
(5)
Every school that was on 31 December 1989 a contributing school of any other school under section 74 of the Education Act 1964 must be treated as having been designated under subsection (1).
(6)
This section applies to a school designated as a contributing school under section 190(5) as if the school had become a contributing school under subsection (1) and the Minister had given the school’s board the appropriate notice under subsection (2).
(7)
In determining that a school should be or should cease to be a contributing school, the Minister may provide for education at specified year levels to be phased in or phased out over a specified period or specified periods.
(8)
Subsection (1) is subject to section 209 (which sets out consultation requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 150
195 Provision of education at composite schools
(1)
The Minister may, by written notice to the board of a composite school, require the board to provide education for the year levels specified in the notice, and if the Minister does so, the board must provide the education at the school accordingly.
(2)
Subsection (1) is subject to section 209 (which sets out consultation requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 151
196 Distance schools
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette,—
(a)
when establishing the school, or at any other time, designate a State school that is not a State integrated school as a distance school; or
(b)
at any time, remove a designation under paragraph (a).
(2)
However, the Minister may not designate a school as a distance school, or cancel a designation as a distance school, without having regard to the education of people unable conveniently to receive tuition from a suitable State school that is not a distance school.
(3)
Subject to clauses 8(7) and 12 of Schedule 23 and any regulations made under this Act specifying when a board member’s office becomes vacant, if an existing State school is designated as a distance school, its board must continue in office as constituted until a day specified by the Minister in the notice in the Gazette under section 122(1) determining the composition of its board, but must go out of office on that day.
(4)
With the consent of the Minister, a distance school may provide early childhood education.
(5)
A distance school may deliver education through any medium, including digital technology.
(6)
The school that was, immediately before the commencement of the Education Amendment Act 1989, a correspondence school is to be treated as having been—
(a)
established under section 190 as a composite school; and
(b)
designated under subsection (1) as a distance school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 152
197 Specialist schools and special services
(1)
The Minister may, having regard to the provision of special education in any locality or localities,—
(a)
establish a specialist school:
(b)
establish, or authorise the establishment of, any special service.
(2)
The Minister may disestablish a specialist school or special service established under subsection (1) if the Minister—
(a)
is dissatisfied with the manner in which the school or service is being conducted; or
(b)
considers that sufficient provision is made by another similarly established school or service, or by any other school or class in or reasonably near to the same locality.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 98
198 Minister may change classification of school
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, do any of the following:
(a)
declare a composite school to be a primary, an intermediate, or a secondary school:
(b)
declare a primary, an intermediate, or a secondary school to be a composite school:
(c)
declare an intermediate school to be a primary or secondary school:
(d)
declare a primary or secondary school to be an intermediate school.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a State integrated school.
(3)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, specify the year levels for which education must be given at a school (whether it is an existing school or a school whose classification has been changed under subsection (1)) and provide for year levels to be phased in over a specified period or periods.
(4)
A decision to change the classification of a school under subsection (1) or to specify year levels (and, if relevant, to provide for the phasing in of these) under subsection (3) is in the Minister’s absolute discretion.
(5)
A notice under subsection (1) must specify a day (no earlier than the end of the term after the term during which the notice is published) on which it is to take effect, and the school becomes a school of the classification concerned, and ceases to be a school of the classification it was, on the day specified.
(6)
Subject to clauses 8(7) and 12 of Schedule 23 and any regulations made under this Act specifying when a board member’s office ends or becomes vacant, if an existing State school becomes a school of a different classification, its board continues in office as constituted until the close of the seventh day after the first election following its change of classification.
(7)
Subsections (1) and (3) are subject to section 209 (which sets out consultation requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 153
199 Minister may close State school
(1)
This section applies if, after consulting the board of a State school, the Minister is satisfied that the school should be closed.
(2)
Before making a decision under subsection (1), the Minister may, by written notice to the board, ask the board if it has any arguments in favour of the school staying open.
(3)
The Minister may, after considering all arguments (if any) received from the board within 28 days after it received notice under subsection (2), by notice in the Gazette specifying a day on which the school is to close, close the school, and the school ceases to be established on the day specified.
(4)
If the board of a State school advises or indicates to the Minister in writing that it agrees to or does not oppose the proposed closure of the school, the Minister may (despite anything in subsection (2) or (3) and regardless of whether the Minister has formally begun or completed the necessary consultation under subsection (1)) close the school by notice under subsection (3) on or after receiving the board’s written advice.
(5)
A decision to close a school under subsection (3) is in the Minister’s absolute discretion.
(6)
If a school is closed under this section,—
(a)
its board must be treated as having been dissolved; and
(b)
all assets, liabilities, and debts that the board had immediately before dissolution must be treated as assets, liabilities, and debts of the Minister.
(7)
Without limiting subsection (6)(b), the following provisions apply to property that was, immediately before dissolution, held by the board in trust for the benefit of the school:
(a)
the Minister may apply to Public Trust to devise a scheme to modify the trust for the benefit of another school:
(b)
if the Minister applies under paragraph (a), section 208(2) to (8) applies with any necessary modifications (as if the property were property to which that section applies).
(8)
A school that has been closed may not be reopened, except by being established again under this Act.
(9)
This section is subject to section 209 (which sets out consultation requirements) and clause 22 of Schedule 6.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 154
200 Minister may designate and redesignate schools
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, after consultation with the board of the affected school, do any of the following:
(a)
designate a State school that is not a Kura Kaupapa Māori or a designated character school as a Kura Kaupapa Māori or a designated character school:
(b)
remove the designation of a Kura Kaupapa Māori and redesignate it as a designated character school:
(c)
remove the designation of a designated character school and redesignate it as a Kura Kaupapa Māori:
(d)
remove the designation of a Kura Kaupapa Māori or a designated character school while keeping the school established as a State school.
(2)
The designation or removal of a designation of a school takes effect on the date specified in the notice under subsection (1) and, on and from that date, section 204—
(a)
applies to a school that is designated as a Kura Kaupapa Māori or as a designated character school; and
(b)
ceases to apply to a school that has had its designation as a Kura Kaupapa Māori or a designated character school removed.
(3)
A notice under subsection (1) may prescribe a new name for the redesignated school.
(4)
Section 204 applies in respect of a school that is, or is to be, redesignated as a Kura Kaupapa Māori in the same way as it would apply if the school were being established as a Kura Kaupapa Māori.
(5)
No school may have its designation as a Kura Kaupapa Māori removed unless the Minister has first consulted with te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua.
(6)
No State school may be designated as a Kura Kaupapa Māori unless the Minister has first consulted with te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua on the ability of the school to operate in accordance with Te Aho Matua.
(7)
Section 204 applies in respect of a school that is, or is to be, redesignated as a designated character school in the same way as it would apply if the school were being established as a designated character school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 154A
201 Kura Kaupapa Māori
(1)
When establishing a State school, the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, designate the school as a Kura Kaupapa Māori.
(2)
The Minister may, in the Minister’s absolute discretion, refuse to establish a school as Kura Kaupapa Māori.
(3)
The Minister may not establish a school under this section unless satisfied that—
(a)
te reo Māori is to be the main language of instruction at the school:
(b)
the school is to operate in accordance with Te Aho Matua:
(c)
it is desirable for students whose parents want them to do so to get such an education:
(d)
students at the school are to receive an education of a kind that differs significantly from the education they would receive at an ordinary State school.
(4)
A Kura Kaupapa Māori may have other special characteristics that give it a particular character (its special characteristics).
(5)
The Minister may not establish a State school as a Kura Kaupapa Māori unless the Minister has first consulted te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua on the ability of the school to operate in accordance with Te Aho Matua.
(6)
A notice under subsection (1) must—
(a)
specify the name of the school, which must at all times begin with the words “Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o”; and
(b)
state that the school will operate in accordance with Te Aho Matua; and
(c)
summarise any special characteristics of the school; and
(d)
specify the constitution of the board of the school.
(7)
After consultation with the board, the Minister may from time to time, by notice in the Gazette, amend the name of the school (but not so as to omit the words “Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o”), its special characteristics, or the constitution of the board.
(8)
The board of a school established under this section must ensure that—
(a)
te reo Māori is the principal language of instruction at the school; and
(b)
the school operates in accordance with Te Aho Matua.
(9)
The board may refuse to enrol any person whose parents do not accept that the school operates in accordance with Te Aho Matua.
(10)
The Secretary must, by written notice to a Kura Kaupapa Māori, fix a maximum roll of the school, and the board must ensure that the number of students enrolled at the school is not more than the maximum roll.
(11)
Except as provided in this section, clause 16 of Schedule 20, and any regulations made under this Act regarding enrolment schemes for Kura Kaupapa Māori, this Act applies to every Kura Kaupapa Māori as if it were not a Kura Kaupapa Māori.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 155
Section 201: replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 23 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
202 Te Aho Matua
(1)
The official version of Te Aho Matua is the statement (including any gazetted amendments) in te reo Māori that is—
(a)
prepared by te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua; and
(b)
published in the Gazette under the authority of the Minister.
(2)
The Minister may authorise the reprinting of all, or the amendment of any part, of Te Aho Matua in the Gazette, but only if asked to do so by te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua.
(3)
When all, or an amendment to any part, of Te Aho Matua is published in the Gazette, the Minister must ensure that an explanation in English of Te Aho Matua or of the amendment is published in the same Gazette.
(4)
The explanation must be one that te kaitiaki o Te Aho Matua has approved as being an accurate interpretation of the meaning of the Māori text.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 155A
203 Protection of term Kura Kaupapa Māori
(1)
A registered school may not use the term Kura Kaupapa Māori in its name unless the school is established under section 201.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a registered school that, immediately before the commencement of this section, is not established under section 201 but uses the term Kura Kaupapa Māori in its name.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 155F
Section 203(1): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 24 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
204 Designated character schools
(1)
When establishing a State school, the Minister may designate the school as a designated character school in accordance with this section and section 205.
(2)
The Minister may, in the Minister’s absolute discretion, refuse to establish a designated character school.
(3)
The Minister may not establish a school as a designated character school unless satisfied that, if the school is established,—
(a)
the school is to have a character that is in some specific way or ways different from the character of ordinary State schools (its different character):
(b)
it is desirable for students whose parents want them to do so to get such an education:
(c)
students at the school are to receive an education of a kind that differs significantly from the education they would receive at an ordinary State school.
(4)
The board of a designated character school must ensure that—
(a)
the aims, purposes, and objectives of the school’s different character are set out in the school’s strategic plan; and
(b)
the school operates consistently with its different character.
(5)
A board of a designated character school may refuse to enrol students whose parents do not accept that the school operates consistently with its different character.
(6)
The Secretary must, by written notice to a designated character school, fix a maximum roll of the school, and the board must ensure that the number of students enrolled at the school is not more than the maximum roll.
(7)
Except as provided in this section, clause 16 of Schedule 20, and any regulations made under this Act regarding enrolment schemes for designated character schools, this Act applies to every designated character school as if it were not a designated character school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 156
Section 204: replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 25 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
205 Process for establishing designated character schools
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, when establishing a State school, designate the school as a designated character school.
(2)
Before doing so, the Minister must be satisfied of the matters in section 204(3).
(3)
The notice establishing a designated character school must—
(a)
describe the different character of the school (as defined in section 204(3)(a)):
(b)
state the constitution of the school’s board.
(4)
The notice establishing a designated character school may also name a body that has a special affiliation with the school or has responsibility for the different character of the school.
(5)
The Minister may, after consultation with the board of a designated character school, by notice in the Gazette,—
(a)
amend the description of the different character of the school:
(b)
name a body that has a special affiliation with the school or has responsibility for the different character of the school:
(c)
amend the statement of the constitution of the board.
(6)
The Minister must consult any body named under subsection (4) or (5)(b) before amending the description of the school’s different character.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 156AA
Section 205: replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 25 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
206 Minister may merge schools
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, merge 1 or more State schools that are not State integrated schools with another State school that is not a State integrated school, if the Minister is satisfied that—
(a)
each board of a school concerned has made reasonable efforts to consult the parents of students (other than adult students) enrolled full-time at the school about the proposed merger; and
(b)
the consultation that has taken place has been adequate in all the circumstances; and
(c)
the creation of a single school by the merger is appropriate in the circumstances.
(2)
A decision to merge a school under subsection (1) is in the Minister’s absolute discretion.
(3)
A notice under subsection (1) takes effect on a day (no earlier than the end of the term after the term during which the notice is published) specified in the notice and has effect as follows:
(a)
the merging schools are part of the continuing school:
(b)
if the continuing school and each merging school are not already administered by a single board,—
(i)
the board of each merging school is dissolved; and
(ii)
all rights, assets, liabilities, and debts of each merging school are vested in the board of the continuing school:
(c)
the continuing school is a school of the classification specified in the notice and provides education for the student year levels specified in the notice.
(4)
A notice under subsection (1) does not affect the name of the continuing school.
(5)
Before a notice under subsection (1) takes effect, the Minister must give notice in the Gazette of whether,—
(a)
during the period between a date specified in the notice and the date on which new board members take office following an election, the board of the continuing school is to be—
(i)
the board of the continuing school plus co-opted board members representing each merging school; or
(ii)
a board appointed by the Minister; or
(b)
the board of the continuing school is to have an alternative constitution approved under clause 4 of Schedule 22.
(6)
This section is subject to sections 207 and 209.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 156A
207 Restrictions on mergers in certain cases
(1)
A Kura Kaupapa Māori established after the commencement of the Education (Te Aho Matua) Amendment Act 1999 may not merge or be merged with another Kura Kaupapa Māori or other school unless the schools involved in the merger—
(a)
operate in accordance with Te Aho Matua; and
(b)
use te reo Māori as the principal language of instruction.
(2)
Any other Kura Kaupapa Māori may merge with another school only if both schools use te reo Māori as the principal language of instruction and have the same aims, purposes, and objectives.
(3)
A designated character school may not merge or be merged with another designated character or other school unless the schools involved in the merger have the same aims, purposes, and objectives, being the aims, purposes, and objectives that constitute the way in which the character of each school is different from the character of ordinary State schools.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 156B
208 Property held in trust
(1)
This section applies to any property that, immediately before 2 or more schools merged under section 206, was held in trust—
(a)
by the board of 1 (or more) of those schools; or
(b)
by any other person or body for the benefit of—
(i)
1 (or more) of those schools; or
(ii)
the students or former students of 1 (or more) of those schools.
(2)
The property continues to be subject to the trust concerned, but the person or body in whom it is vested may apply to Public Trust to devise a scheme to modify the trust in light of the merger of the schools concerned.
(3)
If satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made to meet the costs of doing so, Public Trust must, in consultation with the board concerned, devise a scheme to modify any trust in respect of which Public Trust has received an application under this section and notify the Solicitor-General of the scheme.
(4)
If Public Trust notifies the Solicitor-General of a scheme, the Solicitor-General may, by written notice to Public Trust,—
(a)
approve the scheme (as originally notified or with any amendments agreed by Public Trust after consultation with the board concerned); or
(b)
suggest amendments to it; or
(c)
direct that it should not proceed.
(5)
If the Solicitor-General directs that it should not proceed, the matter may be dealt with under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957.
(6)
If, within 90 days of being notified of a scheme, the Solicitor-General does not suggest amendments to it or direct that it should not proceed, the Solicitor-General is to be treated as having approved the scheme.
(7)
If the Solicitor-General approves a scheme notified under this section, the trust concerned has effect accordingly.
(8)
The Solicitor-General may not approve a scheme under this section unless satisfied that—
(a)
it modifies the trust concerned so as best to give effect to the intentions of the testator, settlor, or other person or body by whom or which the trust was established; and
(b)
subject to paragraph (a), it effects the minimum change necessary to enable the trust to operate successfully in light of the merger of the schools concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 156C
209 Consultation
(1)
The Minister must consult the board of the State school concerned before—
(a)
declaring a school to be a single-sex school or a co-educational school under section 191(1):
(b)
setting limits by notice under section 191(3) on the number of girls who may attend a boys’ school or boys who may attend a girls’ school:
(c)
designating a primary school as a normal or model school under section 193(1)(a):
(d)
designating a normal or model school or a model class within a primary school under section 193(1)(b):
(e)
revoking a designation under section 193(1)(c):
(f)
determining under section 194(1) that a particular school is to be a contributing school:
(g)
limiting the education given at a composite school under section 195:
(h)
changing the classification of a school under section 198(1).
(2)
The Minister must consult the boards of all the State schools whose rolls might, in the Minister’s opinion, be affected before—
(a)
establishing a school under section 190(1):
(b)
declaring a school to be a single-sex school or a co-educational school under section 191(1):
(c)
determining under section 194(1) that a primary school is to be or cease to be a contributing school:
(d)
limiting the education given at a composite school under section 195:
(e)
changing the classification of a school under section 198(1):
(f)
closing a school under section 199:
(g)
redesignating, or removing a designation from, a school under section 200:
(h)
merging a school or schools with another under section 206.
(3)
Subsection (2)(f) and (h) does not apply if the relevant boards have already been consulted on a closure or merger option as part of a review of the provision of schooling in a particular area.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 157
210 Community education forums
(1)
The Minister may appoint a person to—
(a)
convene within a specified area public meetings relating to any action the Minister is considering in respect of State schools; and
(b)
advise the Minister on the views expressed at the meetings.
(2)
The Minister may take, or refuse to take, the action without—
(a)
giving the person reasonable time to convene the meetings and advise the Minister; and
(b)
considering any advice the person gives the Minister in that time.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 157A
211 State integrated schools part of State system
(1)
Subject to subsection (2),—
(a)
on integration, a State integrated school becomes part of the State system of education in New Zealand; and
(b)
this Act and regulations made under this Act apply to a State integrated school.
(2)
The enactments applied to State integrated schools by subsection (1)(b) are subject to Schedule 6.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 417
212 Application to negotiate integration
The proprietor of a private school, and any person who proposes to establish a school with the intention that it become a State integrated school, may apply to the Minister to enter into negotiations for integration under Schedule 6.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 418
Subpart 6A—Charter schools/kura hourua
Subpart 6A: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Authorisation Board
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212A Authorisation Board established
(1)
This section establishes the Charter Schools Authorisation Board.
(2)
The Authorisation Board is a body corporate with perpetual succession and is capable of—
(a)
holding real and personal property; and
(b)
suing and being sued; and
(c)
otherwise doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may do and suffer.
Section 212A: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212B Membership of Authorisation Board
(1)
The Authorisation Board consists of at least 5, but not more than 9, members appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.
(2)
In appointing members, the Minister must have regard to the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to carry out the Authorisation Board’s functions, including in the following areas:
(a)
education:
(b)
governance:
(c)
leadership:
(d)
financial management:
(e)
audit and performance management:
(f)
legal and property management:
(g)
procurement and contracting:
(h)
engagement with Māori, Pacific people, and other stakeholders.
Section 212B: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212C Functions and powers of Authorisation Board
(1)
The functions of the Authorisation Board are to—
(a)
decide on applications by proposed sponsors to operate charter schools:
(b)
oversee the performance of charter schools:
(c)
provide advice to the Minister on the operation of the charter school model:
(d)
provide any other advice or oversight that the Minister requests in writing:
(e)
decide whether to apply an intervention referred to in section 212ZF to a sponsor:
(f)
perform any other functions conferred on it by this Act or any other legislation.
(2)
The Authorisation Board may exercise its powers only for the purpose of performing its functions.
(3)
Schedule 6A sets out further provisions relating to the Authorisation Board.
Section 212C: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212D Application of Public Service Act 2020 to Authorisation Board
Sections 12 and 17 to 20 of the Public Service Act 2020 apply, with any necessary modifications, to the Authorisation Board as if it were a Crown agent.
Section 212D: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212E Application of Crown Entities Act 2004 to Authorisation Board
The provisions of the Crown Entities Act 2004 set out in Schedule 6B apply, with any necessary modifications, to the Authorisation Board as if it were a Crown agent.
Section 212E: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Application to operate charter school
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212F Application for approval to operate charter schools
(1)
The following may apply to the Authorisation Board for approval to operate a charter school:
(a)
a body corporate, corporation sole, limited partnership, institution, or related entity (a proposed sponsor); or
(b)
in the case of a converting school,—
(i)
the school’s board with the support of the proposed sponsor; or
(ii)
1 or more members of the school community with the support of the proposed sponsor.
(2)
The application must—
(a)
be in the approved form (if any); and
(b)
be accompanied by—
(i)
evidence or information specified in the approved form; and
(ii)
the prescribed fee (if any).
(3)
The Authorisation Board may require the applicant to provide further information to support the application.
(4)
The chief executive of the Agency may approve forms for the purposes of this section.
Section 212F: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212G Minister may direct board to apply to convert State school to charter school
(1)
The Minister may, in the Minister’s absolute discretion and after considering whether it is appropriate in all the circumstances, direct the board of a State school to make an application to the Authorisation Board to convert the State school to a charter school.
(2)
Before issuing a direction under subsection (1), the Minister must first seek the views of the Authorisation Board about whether the State school would be appropriate to convert to a charter school.
(3)
A direction issued by the Minister must specify the proposed sponsor of the charter school.
(4)
The board must make an application to the Authorisation Board with the support of the proposed sponsor named in the direction as soon as practicable after receiving the direction.
(5)
Sections 212F, 212I, 212J, and 212K apply, with any necessary modifications, to an application made under this section.
Section 212G: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212H Restriction on applications and directions
(1)
A specialist school may not apply under section 212F for approval to operate a charter school.
(2)
The Minister may not issue a direction under section 212G to the board of any of the following State schools:
(a)
a specialist school:
(b)
a State integrated school:
(c)
a distance school:
(d)
a Kura Kaupapa Māori:
(e)
a designated character school.
Section 212H: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Approval of sponsor
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212I Authorisation Board may approve sponsor
General criteria
(1)
The Authorisation Board may approve a sponsor to operate a charter school if satisfied that the proposed sponsor and every governing member of the proposed sponsor are fit and proper persons (after considering the criteria set out in section 212J).
(2)
When deciding whether to approve a proposed sponsor, the Authorisation Board must take into account the following matters:
(a)
the focus of the proposed charter school:
(b)
the capability of the proposed sponsor, including—
(i)
its experience and knowledge of the New Zealand schooling system; and
(ii)
its financial and governance capability:
(c)
the standard of tuition to be provided by the proposed charter school, including—
(i)
the mode of curriculum delivery; and
(ii)
the regularity of instruction:
(d)
the financial implications for the Crown if the proposed charter school is established:
(e)
whether the purpose in section 32(e) would be achieved if the proposed charter school is established:
(f)
the level of support for the proposed charter school from the community in which it is proposed to be established:
(g)
any other matters that the Authorisation Board considers relevant.
(3)
The Authorisation Board must seek the views of the Secretary and the Chief Review Officer on the matters set out in subsections (1) and (2).
Additional criteria for converting schools
(4)
In the case of a converting school, the Authorisation Board must also take into account the following matters:
(a)
the performance of the State school:
(b)
the level of support from the school community, school staff, and students for the proposed sponsor:
(c)
the level of support from the school community, school staff, and students for the proposed conversion of the school to a charter school.
(5)
For the purpose of ascertaining the matters in subsection (4), the Authorisation Board—
(a)
must consult the school board, school community, school staff, and students; and
(b)
may consult any other person it thinks fit.
Section 212I: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212J Criteria for assessing whether proposed sponsor and governing members are fit and proper persons
Assessment of proposed sponsor
(1)
In assessing whether a proposed sponsor is a fit and proper person to operate a charter school, the Authorisation Board must take into account the following matters:
(a)
whether the proposed sponsor has been convicted of any offence involving fraud or any crime involving dishonesty:
(b)
whether the proposed sponsor owes or has owed money to the Crown, including in respect of bodies the proposed sponsor has been involved in managing:
(c)
whether an intervention has been applied in relation to another charter school which the proposed sponsor is or was operating:
(d)
whether the proposed sponsor committed a serious or repeated breach of the sponsor’s statutory duties in relation to another charter school:
(e)
any other matters that the Authorisation Board considers relevant.
Assessment of governing members
(2)
In assessing whether a governing member of a proposed sponsor is a fit and proper person to operate a charter school, the Authorisation Board must take into account the following matters:
(a)
whether the person has been convicted of serious criminal activity (as defined in section 10(1)):
(b)
whether the person has been—
(i)
adjudicated bankrupt under the Insolvency Act 2006:
(ii)
prohibited from being a director or promoter of, or being concerned or taking part in the management of,—
(A)
a company under the Companies Act 1993; or
(B)
any other body corporate:
(c)
whether an intervention has been applied in relation to another charter school of which the person is or was a governing member of the sponsor:
(d)
whether the person committed a serious or repeated breach of the person’s statutory duties as a governing member of the sponsor:
(e)
any other matters that the Authorisation Board considers relevant.
(3)
For the purposes of subsection (2), if the proposed sponsor is—
(a)
a company, the assessment applies to its directors:
(b)
an incorporated society or an incorporated trust board, the assessment applies to its governing members:
(c)
another body corporate, corporation sole, institution, or its related entity, the assessment applies to its governing members:
(d)
a limited partnership, the assessment applies to its partners as defined in the Limited Partnerships Act 2008.
Section 212J: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212K Conditions on approval
(1)
If the school to which an approval relates is a converting school, the following conditions apply to the approval:
(a)
all students currently enrolled at the State school who wish to attend the charter school must be allowed to do so:
(b)
if the State school is a designated character school, a Kura Kaupapa Māori, or a State integrated school, the character of the school must be maintained:
(c)
if the State school is an ordinary State school, it must not provide education with a special character or that is different from the character of ordinary State schools.
(2)
When granting an approval of a sponsor, the Authorisation Board may impose any other conditions on the approval as it thinks fit, including conditions relating to the maximum number of international students that may be enrolled at the charter school.
(3)
The Authorisation Board may—
(a)
impose new conditions on the approval; or
(b)
amend or revoke any existing conditions.
(4)
However, the Authorisation Board may not amend or remove the conditions specified in subsection (1).
Section 212K: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Charter school contracts
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212L Charter school contracts
(1)
The Agency may, in the name and on behalf of the Crown, enter into a contract with a sponsor that allows the sponsor to operate a charter school.
(2)
If the Agency is unable to conclude a contract with the sponsor within a reasonable time, it must refer the matter back to the Authorisation Board for further consideration.
(3)
When negotiating a charter school contract, the Agency must have regard to the available budget for charter schools.
(4)
The charter school contract must be for a fixed term.
(5)
The charter school contract must set out, or provide for, the following matters:
(a)
the physical capacity of the school premises:
(b)
the conditions that apply to the approval of the sponsor under section 212K:
(c)
whether the sponsor intends to operate the charter school for profit or not-for-profit:
(d)
the performance targets and outcomes that the sponsor must meet in relation to the operation of the school:
(e)
the specific measures to be used to determine if the performance targets and outcomes referred to in paragraph (d) have been met or achieved:
(f)
the time period to which annual financial statements referred to in section 212S must relate:
(g)
an annual self-audit report to be provided by the sponsor to the chief executive of the Agency by a specified date that includes—
(i)
a report on the performance targets and outcomes of the sponsor under the contract:
(ii)
a report on the sponsor’s compliance with contractual and legislative obligations in relation to the charter school:
(iii)
the annual financial statements referred to in section 212S:
(h)
the number or percentage of teaching positions at the charter school that—
(i)
must be filled by persons holding a practising certificate; and
(ii)
may be filled by persons holding a limited authority to teach:
(i)
the curriculum to be taught at the charter school and its mode of delivery:
(j)
the qualifications to be offered by the charter school (if it is a secondary or composite school):
(k)
the renewal and termination of the contract:
(l)
the obligations of the sponsor to comply with any instructions issued by the Agency if the contract expires or is terminated to ensure the orderly and efficient transfer of the operation of the school:
(m)
the charter school to have a complaints policy, including a procedure for the independent review of complaints:
(n)
the grounds for the Authorisation Board to apply an intervention under section 212ZF(1)(a), (b), or (c):
(o)
the process that the Authorisation Board must follow in applying an intervention under section 212ZF:
(p)
in the case of a converting school, the conversion date for the school.
Additional requirements for charter schools that offer or provide distance learning
(6)
The charter school contract for a charter school that offers or provides distance learning must also set out, or provide for, the following matters:
(a)
how student engagement and attendance will be measured and ensured:
(b)
pastoral care, including the online safety of students and adequate supervision arrangements for students aged under 16 years.
(7)
The charter school contract may contain other provisions as agreed between the Agency and the sponsor that are not inconsistent with this Act, any other legislation, or the general law of New Zealand.
Section 212L: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Notification of charter school
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212M Notification of charter school
(1)
The Minister must, by notice in the Gazette, notify the establishment of a charter school as soon as practicable after the date on which the Agency and the sponsor enter into a charter school contract for the school.
(2)
A notice under subsection (1) must specify—
(a)
the name and location of the charter school to which the contract relates; and
(b)
the name of the sponsor; and
(c)
whether the charter school is to be a primary, secondary, or composite school; and
(d)
if the charter school will offer or provide distance learning and, if so, whether the school’s main mode of curriculum delivery will be distance learning; and
(e)
the year levels for which education may be given at the school; and
(f)
any religious, philosophical, or other distinguishing characteristics of the school; and
(g)
whether all or any (and if so, which) year levels are to be single-sex.
(3)
A notice under subsection (1) may provide for different year levels to be phased in over a specified period.
Section 212M: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212N Prohibition on operating charter school without approval
(1)
A person that has not been approved as a sponsor under section 212I may not operate, or purport to operate, a charter school.
(2)
A sponsor may not operate a charter school unless the sponsor has entered into a charter school contract with the Agency to operate the school.
Section 212N: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Duties and powers of sponsors
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212O Duties of sponsors
A sponsor must—
(a)
govern the school so as to ensure that every student is able to attain the highest possible standard of educational achievement; and
(b)
ensure that every governing member of the sponsor remains a fit and proper person to operate the school; and
(c)
ensure that a safe physical and emotional environment is provided for students and staff; and
(d)
appoint—
(i)
a chief executive to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the school:
(ii)
a person to be the person responsible overall for teaching and learning at the school who is appropriately qualified and holds a current practising certificate; and
(e)
ensure that teachers employed in the school have the necessary qualifications and skills to teach; and
(f)
ensure that the school’s chief executive and staff develop and deliver a curriculum for teaching, learning, and assessment that meets tuition standards at least equivalent to those at State schools of the same year levels; and
(g)
[Repealed](h)
ensure that students have access to a nationally and internationally recognised qualification system; and
(i)
inform parents of the progress of their children at school, and any barriers to progress, at intervals specified in the charter school contract; and
(j)
make details of the curriculum and its mode of delivery available to parents; and
(k)
have policies relating to the following matters:
(i)
internal disputes management:
(ii)
engagement with the school community; and
(l)
ensure that any complaints against the school are responded to promptly.
Section 212O: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 212O(f): replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 11(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 212O(g): repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
212P Sponsor to control management of charter school
(1)
A sponsor has complete discretion to control the management of the school as the sponsor thinks fit.
(2)
A sponsor may make any bylaws that the sponsor thinks necessary or desirable for the control and management of the school.
(3)
Subsections (1) and (2) are subject to this Act, any other legislation, the general law of New Zealand, and the charter school contract.
(4)
Before making a bylaw, the sponsor must consult its staff, its students (to the extent that the sponsor considers appropriate), and the school community regarding the proposed bylaw.
Section 212P: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212Q Sponsor’s power to delegate
(1)
A sponsor may, either generally or specifically, delegate any of its functions, duties, or powers under this Act to any person.
(2)
A delegation—
(a)
must be in writing; and
(b)
may be revoked at will in writing; and
(c)
may be subject to instructions or conditions.
(3)
Despite subsection (1), a sponsor must not delegate—
(a)
the general power of delegation:
(b)
its power to make bylaws set out in section 212P:
(c)
its functions, duties, or powers relating to the standing-down, suspension, exclusion, or expulsion of students set out in rules made under this Act.
(4)
The person to whom any functions, duties, or powers are delegated under this section may perform those functions or exercise those powers in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred on that person directly by this Act (subject to any general or special instructions given or conditions imposed by the sponsor).
(5)
A person purporting to act under a delegation is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of that delegation.
Subdelegation
(6)
If the sponsor has delegated any functions, duties, or powers to a person, that person may, with the written approval of the sponsor, subdelegate those functions, duties, or powers to another person.
(7)
Subsection (2) applies to a subdelegation under subsection (6).
Section 212Q: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212R Charter schools situated on land owned by, or leased to, the Crown
(1)
The operation of a charter school on land owned by, or leased to, the Crown, and the occupation by a charter school of any building on that land, may be governed by—
(a)
a lease, tenancy, or licence between the Crown and the sponsor; or
(b)
a lease between a third party (to whom a lease has been granted by the Crown) and the sponsor.
(2)
In this section, lease includes a sublease.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319J(1), (4)
Section 212R: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212S Annual financial statements
(1)
A sponsor must ensure the preparation of annual financial statements relating to the charter school for a year ending on a date specified in the charter school contract.
(2)
The financial statements must be audited by a qualified auditor (within the meaning of section 35 of the Financial Reporting Act 2013).
Section 212S: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212T Charter school may participate in school risk management scheme
(1)
A sponsor may, with the consent of the Secretary, participate in a school risk management scheme established under section 576.
(2)
Sections 576 and 577, any regulations made under section 642, and any legal instrument by which a school risk management scheme is established apply to a sponsor that participates in the scheme as if it were a participating school board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 158L
Section 212T: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Enrolment, conditions of enrolment, and instruction of students
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212U Enrolment in charter schools
(1)
A charter school must enrol all domestic students entitled to free enrolment and free education under section 33 who apply to the school (up to the physical capacity of the school premises as stated in the charter school contract).
(2)
However, a charter school may refuse to enrol a student if a parent, or other person who has accepted responsibility for the education of the student, refuses to accept that the school operates in accordance with any religious, philosophical, or other distinguishing characteristics approved by the Authorisation Board and notified in the Gazette under section 212M(2)(f).
(3)
Subsections (4) and (5) apply if a charter school receives more applications than there are places at the school.
(4)
If the charter school was previously a State school that had an enrolment scheme in place before its conversion to a charter school, the order of priority is as follows:
(a)
first priority must be given to any applicant who lives in the area of the converting school’s previous home zone:
(b)
second priority must be given to any student accepted for enrolment in a special programme run by the school, if applicable:
(c)
third priority must be given to any applicant who is the sibling of a current student of the school:
(d)
fourth priority must be given to any applicant who is the sibling of a former student of the school:
(e)
fifth priority must be given to any applicant who is a child of a former student of the school:
(f)
sixth priority must be given to any applicant who is a child of an employee of the sponsor or a child of a member of the sponsor:
(g)
seventh priority must be given to all other applicants.
(5)
For all other charter schools, the order of priority is as follows:
(a)
first priority must be given to any applicant who is the sibling of a current student of the school:
(b)
second priority must be given to any applicant who is the sibling of a former student of the school:
(c)
third priority must be given to all other applicants.
(6)
For the purposes of subsections (4) and (5),—
(a)
if there are more applicants within a priority group than there are places available, applicants must be selected by ballot; and
(b)
if 2 or more siblings apply at the same time, their applications must be treated as a single application for the purpose of the ballot.
(7)
In this section, sibling has the same meaning as in section 75(3).
Section 212U: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212V Students at charter school may be given tuition by State school or another charter school
(1)
Students enrolled at a charter school may, by agreement between the sponsor of a charter school and the board of a State school, receive tuition at or from a State school.
(2)
Students enrolled at a charter school may, by agreement between the sponsors concerned, receive tuition at or from another charter school.
(3)
The sponsor of a charter school at which the students are enrolled may pay the board of the State school or the sponsor of the other charter school giving the tuition.
(4)
Tuition provided under this section may be delivered through any medium, including digital technology.
Section 212V: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212W Property maintenance fee
(1)
This section applies if an integration agreement that was in force immediately before a State integrated school became a charter school allowed the proprietor to charge attendance dues.
(2)
The sponsor may, if the charter school contract for the school provides, require a parent or other person who has accepted the responsibility for the education of a student at the charter school to pay a property maintenance fee as a condition of the student’s enrolment at the school.
(3)
The fee must be paid at the rate, and subject to any conditions, specified in the charter school contract.
(4)
Revenue that the sponsor receives from the property maintenance fee must be used solely for the following:
(a)
paying for improvements to the charter school’s buildings and associated facilities as specified or provided for in the charter school contract:
(b)
any capital works as specified or provided for in the charter school contract:
(c)
meeting debts, mortgages, liens, or other charges associated with the land and the buildings that constitute the premises of the charter school.
(5)
No revenue that the sponsor receives from property maintenance fees may be used to provide or improve the charter school’s buildings and associated facilities to a standard higher than that appropriate for a comparable State school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 447
Section 212W: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212X Failure to pay property maintenance fee
(1)
If a parent, or other person who has accepted the responsibility for the education of a student at a charter school, has entered into an agreement to pay a property maintenance fee and fails to make a payment, the payment is recoverable from the parent or other person in any court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the sponsor.
(2)
In addition, any failure to make payment constitutes grounds for the sponsor of the charter school to suspend the student’s attendance at that school and to remove the student’s name from the school register.
(3)
However, no student may be suspended and have the student’s name removed from the school register until arrangements have been made to the satisfaction of the Secretary for the student to be enrolled at another registered school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 449
Section 212X: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212Y Accounts for property maintenance fees
(1)
A sponsor who is permitted to charge property maintenance fees must keep accounts in a manner approved by the chief executive of the Agency, showing—
(a)
the total amount of fees received; and
(b)
how the fees have been spent.
(2)
The accounts must be—
(a)
balanced at a date each year approved by the chief executive; and
(b)
audited by a qualified auditor (within the meaning of section 35 of the Financial Reporting Act 2013).
(3)
The sponsor must send a copy of the accounts, together with the auditor’s report on them, to the chief executive by a date to be approved by the chief executive.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 450
Section 212Y: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212Z Religious instruction and observances
(1)
A charter school may provide religious instruction and observances only if permitted under its charter school contract.
(2)
If religious instruction and observances form part of the education with a special character provided by a charter school, these may continue to form part of the general school programme in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the charter school contract relating to that school.
(3)
If religious instruction and observances form part of the education with a special character provided by a charter school, that school—
(a)
must be responsive to the sensitivities of students and parents of different religious or philosophical affiliations; and
(b)
may not require a student of a different religious or philosophical affiliation to participate in religious observances and religious instruction concerned with particular observances if a parent of the student states that they do not wish that student to participate.
Section 212Z: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Multiple timetable arrangements
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZA Multiple timetable arrangements at charter schools
(1)
A sponsor may run a multiple timetable arrangement at a charter school for a specified period if the sponsor is satisfied that the arrangement is appropriate in the circumstances.
(2)
A sponsor must take all reasonable steps to notify every affected student and the student’s parents in writing of—
(a)
the multiple timetable arrangement; and
(b)
the time periods for each day during which the affected student’s timetable will run.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 158Q
Section 212ZA: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Employment and appointment of teachers
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZB Religious instruction: appointments to special positions relating to character of charter school
If religious instruction forms part of the special character of a charter school, advertisements for the position of the chief executive and the person responsible for teaching and learning at the school may state that a willingness and an ability to take part in religious instruction appropriate to that school are conditions of appointment.
Section 212ZB: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZC Effect of religious instruction requirements in advertisements
If, in accordance with section 212ZB, an advertisement for a position states a requirement that a willingness and an ability to take part in religious instruction are conditions of appointment, any person appointed to that position must accept that requirement as a condition of appointment.
Section 212ZC: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZD Restrictions on requirement for teacher to take part in religious instruction
(1)
The appointment of a teacher to a position in a charter school may not be conditional on the willingness and ability of that teacher to take part in religious instruction, and no appointed teacher may be required to take part.
(2)
Subsection (1) is subject to section 212ZB.
Section 212ZD: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Multi-employer collective agreements
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZE Restriction on initiating bargaining for multi-employer collective agreement involving sponsor
(1)
This section applies to a union whose members include employees of a sponsor.
(2)
The union may not initiate bargaining under the Employment Relations Act 2000 for a multi-employer collective agreement (as defined in section 33(5) of that Act) with—
(a)
2 or more sponsors; or
(b)
1 or more sponsors and any 1 or more other employers.
Section 212ZE: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Interventions
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZF Interventions in charter schools by Authorisation Board
Types of interventions
(1)
The Authorisation Board may apply 1 or more of the following interventions in relation to a sponsor:
(a)
require the Chief Review Officer to review the governance and management of the charter school by the sponsor:
(b)
require a sponsor to provide the Authorisation Board (or any other person authorised by the Authorisation Board) with the following at a given time, at specified intervals, or both:
(i)
specified information:
(ii)
an analysis of the specified information to be provided:
(c)
require a sponsor to do the following at a given time, at specified intervals, or both:
(i)
carry out a specified action:
(ii)
provide the chief executive of the Agency with a report (for example, a progress report and a final report) on the action taken:
(d)
terminate the charter school contract with a sponsor:
(e)
terminate the charter school contract with a sponsor and replace the sponsor with another sponsor.
Grounds for intervention
(2)
The Authorisation Board may apply an intervention described in subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c) if permitted under the relevant charter school contract.
(3)
The Authorisation Board may apply an intervention described in subsection (1)(d) or (e) only if it considers that a less serious intervention is not sufficient to deal with the matter, and either of the following circumstances applies:
(a)
the Authorisation Board has reasonable grounds to believe that the sponsor—
(i)
has failed to comply with any of its contractual or legislative obligations in respect of the charter school; and
(ii)
has not remedied the failure within a reasonable time or the failure cannot be remedied:
(b)
the Authorisation Board has reasonable grounds to believe that—
(i)
a significant risk exists that the sponsor will fail to comply with any of its contractual or legislative obligations in respect of the charter school; and
(ii)
the sponsor is unlikely to mitigate that risk within a reasonable time.
General process for applying interventions
(4)
The Authorisation Board must ensure that any interventions in subsection (1) are applied in accordance with relevant provisions of the charter school contract.
Process for applying specified interventions
(5)
The Authorisation Board’s written notice to the sponsor terminating the charter school contract must contain the following information:
(a)
details of the contractual or legislative obligation the sponsor has failed to comply with; and
(b)
the grounds for the Authorisation Board’s belief that the sponsor is at risk of failing to comply with specified contractual or legislative obligations; and
(c)
whether the sponsor will be replaced by another sponsor; and if so, the reasons for the replacement.
(6)
If the Authorisation Board proposes to replace a sponsor, it—
(a)
must consult the sponsor, school community, school staff, and students; and
(b)
may consult any other person it thinks fit.
Section 212ZF: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZG Obligations of sponsor subject to intervention
(1)
A sponsor subject to an intervention under section 212ZF must give the Authorisation Board or any person acting on its behalf—
(a)
reasonable access to the school on request; and
(b)
any reasonable assistance on request.
(2)
If a sponsor is required to provide information under section 212ZF(1)(b), it must do so—
(a)
within the time, or at the intervals, or both, specified by the Authorisation Board; and
(b)
in the form (if any) required by the Authorisation Board.
(3)
If a sponsor is required to carry out a specified action or provide a report to the Authorisation Board under section 212ZF(1)(c), it must do so—
(a)
within the time, or at the intervals, or both, specified by the Authorisation Board; and
(b)
in the form (if any) required by the Authorisation Board.
Section 212ZG: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZH Process relating to replacement of sponsor
(1)
The Authorisation Board may, without receiving an application under section 212F, approve—
(a)
a replacement sponsor to operate the charter school; or
(b)
a temporary sponsor to operate the charter school before replacing the sponsor under subsection (1)(a).
(2)
A replacement sponsor or temporary replacement sponsor must be a body corporate, corporation sole, limited partnership, institution, or related entity.
(3)
Sections 212I, 212J, and 212K apply, with any necessary modifications, to the approval of a replacement sponsor or temporary replacement sponsor under this section.
(4)
Section 212L applies, with any necessary modifications, to a replacement sponsor or temporary replacement sponsor.
Section 212ZH: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Application of other legislation to charter schools
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZI Application of New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
Section 3(b) of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 applies to the following persons when performing functions under this Act or in relation to a charter school contract:
(a)
a sponsor:
(b)
a person employed or engaged to work in the school by a sponsor.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 158W
Section 212ZI: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZJ Application of Official Information Act 1982 to sponsor
(1)
The Official Information Act 1982 does not apply to a sponsor if the sponsor is performing or exercising its functions, duties, or powers under this Act or the relevant charter school contract.
(2)
However, if the sponsor is an institution, the Official Information Act 1982 applies unless the institution is performing its functions as a sponsor under this Act or a charter school contract.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 158Y
Section 212ZJ: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
212ZK Application of Public Service Act 2020 to sponsor that is institution
The Public Service Act 2020 does not apply to an institution that is a sponsor if the institution is performing or exercising its functions, duties, or powers as a sponsor under this Act or the relevant charter school contract.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 158Z
Section 212ZK: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Subpart 7—Private schools
213 Secretary may require application for registration of school
The Secretary may require the managers of a private entity that is not registered under section 214 to apply for its registration as a private school under that section if the Secretary considers that the entity is operating as a school, whether or not any exemption certificates issued under section 38 are held in respect of any or all of the students being taught there.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 35B
214 Registration of private schools
(1)
This section applies if the managers of an existing school or proposed school wish the school to be registered as a private school under this section.
(2)
The managers must apply to the Secretary, on a form provided by the Secretary for the purpose, for its provisional registration as a primary, secondary, or special private school, or as a school of 2 or all of those descriptions.
(3)
The provisional and full registration of private schools, and the operation of private schools, must be done in accordance with Schedule 7.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 35A(1)
Subpart 8—Secondary–tertiary programmes
215 Recognition of secondary–tertiary programmes
The Minister may recognise, and the Secretary may enter into an agreement with, a provider group of secondary–tertiary programmes in accordance with Schedule 8.
Subpart 9—Resolving serious disputes
216 Purpose
The purpose of this subpart is to establish a dispute resolution scheme to facilitate and promote the resolution of serious disputes between students and State schools in an effective, flexible, and timely manner.
217 Meaning of serious dispute
In this subpart, serious dispute means a dispute between a student and the board of the student’s school about—
(a)
the student’s right to enrol at or attend the school:
(b)
the student’s rights to education under this Act generally:
(c)
the learning support the student receives at the school:
(d)
the standing-down, suspension, exclusion, or expulsion of the student by the school:
(e)
any racism or other form of discrimination that is a prohibited ground of discrimination specified in section 21(1) of the Human Rights Act 1993 experienced by the student while at the school:
(f)
the student’s physical or emotional safety while at the school:
(g)
any physical restraint used on the student by a teacher or an authorised staff member employed or engaged by the school.
218 Dispute resolution panels
(1)
One or more dispute resolution panels may be established by regulations made under section 644 to resolve serious disputes under this subpart.
(2)
Each dispute resolution panel must consist of the combination of local community members and expert members specified in the regulations.
219 Chief Referee and deputy chief referees
(1)
The Minister may appoint a Chief Referee and, if required, may appoint 1 or more deputy chief referees for the purposes of this subpart and in accordance with any regulations made under section 644.
(2)
No person may be appointed as Chief Referee unless the person—
(a)
holds a Bachelor of Laws from a university in New Zealand or a qualification that the Minister considers is equivalent to that qualification; and
(b)
is capable, because of the person’s personal attributes, knowledge, and experience, of performing the functions of the Chief Referee set out in section 220.
(3)
A deputy chief referee must be appointed in the same manner, and must meet the same criteria, as the Chief Referee.
(4)
Subject to the control of the Chief Referee, a deputy chief referee may perform all the functions of the Chief Referee.
220 Functions of Chief Referee
(1)
The functions of the Chief Referee are—
(a)
to receive and consider applications for resolution of serious disputes; and
(b)
to appoint the members and chairperson of dispute resolution panels; and
(c)
to maintain a list of persons suitable to serve as expert members and local community members of dispute resolution panels; and
(d)
to carry out any other functions as necessary to support the conduct and administration of dispute resolution panels established for the purposes of this subpart.
(2)
The Chief Referee may delegate in writing any of the Chief Referee’s functions or powers to any person or office holder, or class of person or office holder, specified in regulations made under section 644.
(3)
The Chief Referee and a deputy chief referee may be an expert member of a dispute resolution panel.
Application for dispute resolution
221 Application for dispute resolution
(1)
The following persons may apply to the Chief Referee for a serious dispute to be resolved by a dispute resolution panel:
(a)
a student aged 16 years or over:
(b)
in the case of a student aged under 16 years, the student and a parent, guardian, or full-time caregiver of the student:
(c)
in the case of a student aged under 16 years and who is in care—
(i)
the student and a guardian of the student; or
(ii)
the student and the chief executive, person, body, or organisation referred to in section 7(4) of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 (or their nominated representative) who has the custody or care of the student.
(2)
However, an application may be made only if, before making the application, the applicant has given the board an opportunity to resolve the dispute by agreement and—
(a)
the applicant is dissatisfied with that process or the outcome (or both); or
(b)
the board has refused to do so.
(3)
For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), in care has the same meaning as in section 7(4) of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.
222 Form of application
(1)
An application may be made orally or in writing.
(2)
However, an application made orally must be put in writing as soon as practicable.
(3)
An application must include a statement setting out—
(a)
the nature of the serious dispute; and
(b)
what steps the applicant has taken to resolve the serious dispute with the board before seeking to refer the matter to a dispute resolution panel.
223 Procedure on receipt of application
(1)
As soon as practicable after receiving an application, the Chief Referee must consider the application and—
(a)
decide to accept the application and refer the matter to a dispute resolution panel; or
(b)
decide, in accordance with section 224, to decline the application.
(2)
As soon as practicable after making a decision, the Chief Referee must give written notice to the applicant of that decision.
224 Grounds for declining application
The Chief Referee may decline an application if satisfied that—
(a)
the applicant has not made reasonable efforts to resolve the serious dispute with the board before making the application; or
(b)
the subject matter of the application is trivial; or
(c)
the application is frivolous or vexatious; or
(d)
the application involves a dispute or complaint that would be more appropriately dealt with by another body.
Dispute resolution process
225 Appointment of mediator
(1)
If a serious dispute is referred to a dispute resolution panel under section 223(1)(a), the panel must appoint a mediator to assist the parties to resolve the serious dispute by agreement unless, in the particular circumstances, the panel considers it is inappropriate to do so.
(2)
The mediator may be a panel member.
(3)
However, if the mediator is a panel member, the person must not continue to serve on the panel if the panel decides to make a recommendation under section 227 or a determination under section 228.
226 Panel may make recommendation or determination
(1)
This section applies if a dispute resolution panel considers that it is inappropriate to appoint a mediator under section 225 or not all of the issues between the parties are resolved through mediation provided under that section.
(2)
The dispute resolution panel may do either or both of the following:
(a)
make 1 or more of the recommendations set out in section 227; or
(b)
make a determination in relation to the serious dispute and take 1 or more of the actions set out in section 228.
(3)
A recommendation under subsection (2)(a) is not binding on the parties.
(4)
A determination under subsection (2)(b) is not binding on the parties unless, before the determination is made, the parties have agreed to be bound by the determination.
227 Recommendations
For the purposes of section 226(2)(a), the dispute resolution panel may make the following recommendations:
(a)
that the board reverse or modify its original decision in relation to the student:
(b)
that the board apologise to the student:
(c)
that the board refrain from continuing or repeating the conduct that gave rise to the serious dispute:
(d)
that the board—
(i)
review any of its rules, bylaws, or policies relating to the conduct that gave rise to the serious dispute:
(ii)
establish any rule, bylaw, or policy relating to the conduct that gave rise to the serious dispute:
(e)
that the board take any other relevant action to resolve the serious dispute.
228 Determinations
(1)
If the panel decides to determine the serious dispute under section 226(2)(b), the panel may—
(a)
confirm, reverse, or modify the board’s original decision in relation to the student:
(b)
make a declaration that the board has committed a breach of the student’s rights:
(c)
make a recommendation that the board—
(i)
review any of its rules, bylaws, or policies relating to the conduct that gave rise to the serious dispute:
(ii)
establish any rule, bylaw, or policy relating to the conduct that gave rise to the serious dispute:
(iii)
take any other relevant action to resolve the serious dispute:
(d)
make 1 or more of the following orders:
(i)
an order that the board apologise to the student:
(ii)
an order that the board refrain from continuing or repeating the breach, or from engaging in conduct of any similar kind specified in the order in relation to the student:
(iii)
an order setting out the detail of what the parties must do to comply with a determination confirming, reversing, or modifying the board’s original decision in relation to the student:
(iv)
an order setting out the particulars of any other relevant action that the panel directs the board to take.
(2)
If the parties have agreed to be bound by an order made under subsection (1)(d), either party may enforce 1 or more of the orders through the courts by means specified in regulations made under section 644.
229 Participation in dispute resolution process
(1)
If a serious dispute is referred to a dispute resolution panel under this subpart, the board must participate in the dispute resolution process undertaken by the panel, including any meetings convened by a mediator or by the panel.
(2)
Either party may have 1 or more persons present to provide support at any meeting referred to in subsection (1) by notifying the panel in advance of the meeting.
(3)
However, if the Chief Referee considers it impracticable or inappropriate for the person providing support to be present at any meeting, that person may not be present.
(4)
A party may not be represented by a lawyer during any meeting, and a support person may not provide any legal advice or representation to the party during the meeting.
Settlements
230 Settlements
(1)
If a serious dispute is resolved through mediation under section 225(1), the mediator may, at the request of the parties, prepare a record of the agreed terms of settlement to be signed by the parties and the mediator.
(2)
Before signing the agreed terms of settlement, the mediator must—
(a)
explain to the parties the effect of subsection (3); and
(b)
be satisfied that, knowing the effect of that subsection, the parties affirm their request.
(3)
If, following the affirmation referred to in subsection (2)(b), the agreed terms of settlement to which the request relates are signed by the parties and the mediator,—
(a)
those terms are final and binding on, and enforceable by, the parties; and
(b)
except for enforcement purposes, no party may seek to bring those terms before the court, whether by action, appeal, application for review, or otherwise.
(4)
For the purposes of this section, a minor aged 16 years or over may be a party to agreed terms of settlement, and be bound by that settlement, as if the minor were a person of full age and capacity.
General provisions
231 Duty to comply with prescribed processes or procedures
A dispute resolution panel must comply with the processes or procedures (if any) prescribed in regulations made under section 644 when performing its functions.
232 Duty to act independently
(1)
The Chief Referee and every deputy chief referee must act independently in performing their functions.
(2)
Each member of a dispute resolution panel must act independently in performing the functions of a dispute resolution panel.
233 Conflicts of interest
(1)
If the Chief Referee, a deputy chief referee, or a member of a dispute resolution panel has a conflict of interest relating to a serious dispute referred to a dispute resolution panel, the person must—
(a)
disclose the nature of the interest to the panel and the parties concerned as soon as practicable after the person knows about the relevant facts; and
(b)
if the conflict is material, withdraw from the panel, unless both parties to the serious dispute agree otherwise.
(2)
In this section, interest includes (without limitation) that the person is a parent, child, spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner of any person who is a party to the dispute.
234 Personal liability of Chief Referee and deputy chief referees
The Chief Referee appointed under section 219 and any deputy chief referee appointed under that section are not personally liable for any act done or omitted if the act or omission was—
(a)
in good faith; and
(b)
in performance or intended performance of the Chief Referee’s or deputy chief referee’s functions.
235 Personal liability of panel members and mediators
A member of a dispute resolution panel and any mediator appointed by the panel is not personally liable for any act done or omitted by the dispute resolution panel or mediator if the act or omission was (as far as the panel member’s or mediator’s involvement is concerned)—
(a)
in good faith; and
(b)
in performance or intended performance of the dispute resolution panel’s functions.
236 Confidentiality
(1)
This section applies to the following persons:
(a)
the Chief Referee and any deputy chief referee:
(b)
a person who is a party to a serious dispute referred to a dispute resolution panel under section 223(1)(a) or is a support person of that party:
(c)
a person who is a member of a dispute resolution panel:
(d)
a mediator appointed under section 225(1).
(2)
The person must, unless authorised by the parties or by or under any enactment, keep confidential—
(a)
any statement, admission, or document created or made for the purposes of resolving the serious dispute under this subpart (including any agreed terms of settlement under section 230); and
(b)
any information that, for the purposes of resolving the serious dispute, is disclosed orally in the course of the dispute resolution process.
(3)
Despite subsection (2), the Chief Referee may publish anonymised reports relating to serious disputes referred to dispute resolution panels under this subpart.
Subpart 10—Miscellaneous provisions
237 Enrolment records
(1)
The following persons must ensure that an enrolment record in the form and containing the information that may be specified in rules made under subsection (3) is kept for each student who is enrolled at the school:
(a)
the principal of a State school:
(b)
the person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school:
(c)
a manager of a private school.
(2)
When a student moves from one registered school to another registered school, the principal, or person responsible for teaching and learning, or manager of the first school must take reasonable steps to send the student’s enrolment record to the principal, or person responsible for teaching and learning, or manager of the second school.
(3)
The Secretary may make rules setting out administrative and procedural requirements relating to enrolment records, including (without limitation) rules—
(a)
setting out the duties of principals, persons responsible for teaching and learning, and managers concerning enrolment records and the information contained in enrolment records:
(b)
requiring principals, persons responsible for teaching and learning, and managers to inform students and parents about enrolment records and the use and distribution of enrolment records, and specifying the particulars about which students and parents are to be informed:
(c)
specifying the form and content of enrolment records:
(d)
specifying exceptions to particular requirements of the rules.
(4)
The persons referred to in subsection (1) must comply with rules made under subsection (3).
(5)
Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 77A
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 237(1): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 42(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 237(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 42(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 237(3): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 237(3)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 42(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 237(3)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 42(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 237(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 42(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 237(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
237A Attendance records
(1)
The principal of a State school must ensure that an attendance record is kept for each student who is enrolled at the school.
(2)
The attendance record must be in the form and contain the information specified in rules made under subsection (3).
(3)
The Secretary may make rules setting out administrative and procedural requirements relating to attendance records, including (without limitation) rules—
(a)
specifying the form and content of attendance records:
(b)
relating to the collection, storage, and disclosure of information contained in attendance records:
(c)
specifying the circumstances in which any exceptions to any general requirements for specific school types may be made.
(4)
A principal of a State school must comply with rules made under subsection (3).
(5)
Rules made under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in accordance with the Legislation (Publication) Regulations 2021 | LA19 s 74(1)(aa) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 237A: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 43 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
238 Building Act 2004
(1)
A person inspecting sitework or a building under this Act must provide written notice of any non-compliance with the Building Act 2004 to the relevant territorial authority.
(2)
In this section, building, sitework, and territorial authority have the same meanings as in section 7 of the Building Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139B
Subpart 11—Offences
239 Offence relating to failure to comply with notice given under section 46
A parent who fails to comply with a notice given under section 46(1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 28
240 Offence relating to employing school-age children
A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 if the person,—
(a)
being a parent of any other person, permits the other person to be employed in contravention of section 54(1); or
(b)
employs any other person in contravention of section 54(1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 30
241 Offence relating to insulting, abusing, or intimidating teachers or staff members of registered schools
(1)
A person commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 if the person intentionally insults, abuses, or intimidates a teacher or staff member of a registered school—
(a)
within the presence or hearing of any student of the school; and
(b)
while on school premises, or in any other place where students of the school are assembled for school purposes.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a student of the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139C
242 Offence relating to interference with attendance officers
A person who intentionally obstructs or interferes with an attendance officer exercising their powers under section 49 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 31(6)
243 Offence relating to failure to enrol
(1)
If a parent of a person required to be enrolled at a registered school fails or refuses to ensure that the person is enrolled at the school, the parent commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000.
(2)
The payment of a fine in respect of a conviction for an offence against this section is not a bar to proceedings for any further offence.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 24
244 Offence relating to irregular attendance
(1)
A parent of a student commits an offence if the student,—
(a)
while enrolled at a registered school, does not attend the school as required by sections 36 and 42; or
(b)
while enrolled at a distance school, does not do the work of the course in which the student is enrolled.
(2)
A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $30 for every school day on which the offence occurs.
(3)
However, a fine imposed for an offence against subsection (1) may not exceed $300 for a first offence or $3,000 for a second or subsequent offence.
(4)
The imposition of a penalty under this section does not limit or affect any provision of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 29
245 Hearings of proceedings may be private
If a District Court Judge orders, proceedings for an offence against section 243 or 244 must be held in private.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 32
246 Evidence of school roll, etc
(1)
In any proceedings for an offence against section 243 or 244, a certificate from a school’s principal regarding any of the following matters is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, sufficient evidence of the matter stated:
(a)
the enrolment of the student at a school:
(b)
the days on which the school was open during any period:
(c)
the student’s attendance at the school during any period:
(d)
the student’s age:
(e)
the name and address of a parent of the student.
(2)
Judicial notice must be taken of the principal’s appointment and signature on a certificate given under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 33
247 Burden of proof on parents
In proceedings under section 243 or 244, the burden of proving any of the following matters in relation to a student is on a parent of the student:
(a)
the enrolment of the student at a school:
(b)
the student’s attendance at a school:
(c)
the student’s exemption from enrolment or attendance at a school.
248 Fines to be paid to board or sponsor
A fine recovered under section 243 or 244 must be paid to the board or sponsor on whose behalf the proceedings concerned were commenced.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 35
Section 248 heading: replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 44(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 248: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 44(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
249 Offences relating to operation of private schools
(1)
A manager of a private entity that is not registered as a private school under section 214 commits an offence if the entity operates as a school.
(2)
A manager of a private school that is registered as a school of a particular description or particular descriptions commits an offence if the school operates as a school of another description or of other descriptions.
(3)
A manager of a private school commits an offence if the school ceases to operate before the managers tell the Secretary that it is to cease to operate.
(4)
A person who commits an offence against any of subsections (1) to (3) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200 for every day or part of a day on which the offence took place.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 35R
Part 4 Tertiary education and vocational education and training
250 Outline of Part 4
(1)
This Part, which concerns tertiary education and vocational education and training, is divided into 7 subparts.
(2)
Subpart 1 deals with various preliminary matters.
(3)
Subpart 2 concerns teaching, learning, and well-being.
(4)
Subpart 3 concerns the administration of tertiary institutions.
(5)
Subpart 4 concerns polytechnics.
(6)
Subpart 5 concerns private training establishments.
(7)
Subpart 6 concerns work-based training.
(8)
Subpart 7 sets out several offence provisions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 308
Section 250(5): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 6 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
251 Purpose of Part 4
The purpose of this Part is to establish and support a tertiary education and vocational education and training system that meets the objectives set out in section 252 by—
(a)
providing the framework for the Government to set out its strategic direction for tertiary education; and
(b)
establishing tertiary education organisations, and providing for their operation, duties, powers, compliance, and disestablishment; and
(c)
providing for the admission of domestic and international students and setting out student rights, responsibilities, and protections; and
(d)
supporting the health, safety, and well-being of students; and
(e)
regulating learning and providing quality assurance for learning, including qualifications, credentials, micro-credentials, programmes, assessment and skill standards, national curricula, and apprenticeship training arrangements; and
(f)
providing for funding of tertiary education; and
(g)
providing for the roles and functions of other regulators and education agencies.
Section 251(e): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Subpart 1—Preliminary matters
252 Objectives of Part 4
(1)
The objectives of this Part are to foster and develop a tertiary education and vocational education and training system that—
(a)
fosters, in ways that are consistent with the efficient use of national resources, high-quality learning and research outcomes, equity of access, and innovation; and
(b)
contributes to the development of cultural and intellectual life in New Zealand; and
(c)
responds to the needs of learners, interested persons or bodies, and the nation, in order to foster a skilled and knowledgeable population over time; and
(d)
contributes to the sustainable economic and social development of the nation; and
(e)
strengthens New Zealand’s knowledge base and enhances the contribution of New Zealand’s research capabilities to national economic development, innovation, international competitiveness, and the attainment of social and environmental goals; and
(f)
provides for a diversity of teaching and research that fosters, throughout the system, the achievement of international standards of learning and, as relevant, scholarship.
(2)
The Minister, TEC, and NZQA must take these objectives into account when making decisions under this Part or any decisions under Part 5 relating to tertiary education or vocational education and training.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159AAA
253 Roles within tertiary education and vocational education and training sectors
To avoid doubt,—
(a)
the Ministry is the Minister’s principal policy adviser on matters relating to tertiary education and vocational education and training:
(b)
NZQA is the body primarily responsible for quality assurance matters in the tertiary education and vocational education and training sectors, apart from universities:
(c)
the Vice-Chancellors Committee is the body primarily responsible for quality assurance matters in respect of universities.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159AD
254 Ministry may hold and disseminate information
Any information collected by TEC or NZQA—
(a)
may be held by the Ministry on behalf of TEC or NZQA; and
(b)
may be disclosed by the Ministry to TEC or NZQA or to any other person or agency that is entitled to receive it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159AE
255 Enrolment of students
(1)
A person is eligible to be enrolled as a student in a programme or micro-credential provided by an institution if—
(a)
the person is a domestic student or the institution’s council complies with section 525 and consents; and
(b)
the person holds the minimum entry requirements for the programme or micro-credential as determined by the institution’s council; and
(c)
the person has attained,—
(i)
if the institution has fixed a minimum age for enrolment at the institution, the fixed age; and
(ii)
if the institution has fixed a minimum age for enrolment in the programme or micro-credential, the fixed age.
(2)
Subsection (1)(b) and (c) does not apply to a person if—
(a)
the person has turned 20 years; or
(b)
the council of the institution is satisfied that the person is capable of undertaking the programme or micro-credential concerned.
(3)
An eligible student who applies for enrolment in a programme or micro-credential at an institution is entitled to be enrolled in that programme or micro-credential.
(4)
However, the council of the institution—
(a)
may determine the maximum number of students that may be enrolled in a particular programme or micro-credential at the institution in a particular year if the council is satisfied that it is necessary to do so because of insufficiency of staff, accommodation, or equipment:
(b)
may, in the selection of the students to be enrolled, give preference to eligible persons who are included in a class of persons that is under-represented among the students undertaking the programme or micro-credential if—
(i)
the maximum number of students who may be enrolled at an institution in a particular programme or micro-credential in a particular year is determined by the council under paragraph (a); and
(ii)
the number of eligible students who apply for enrolment in that programme or micro-credential in that year exceeds the maximum number so determined.
(5)
Nothing in this section prevents an institution’s council from refusing to permit, or from cancelling, the enrolment of a person as a student at the institution, or in a particular programme or micro-credential at the institution, on the ground that—
(a)
the person is not of good character; or
(b)
the person has been guilty of misconduct or a breach of discipline; or
(c)
the person is enrolled for full-time instruction at another institution or at a school; or
(d)
the person has made insufficient progress in the person’s study or training after a reasonable trial at the institution or at another institution.
(6)
The chief executive of an institution that provides approved programmes of pre-service teacher training must ensure that the appropriate authorities of the institution liaise with the appropriate authorities of other institutions that provide the programmes to establish common requirements to govern the selection and enrolment of people in those programmes.
(7)
In this section,—
eligible student, in relation to a programme or micro-credential at an institution, means a person who is eligible to be enrolled as a student in that programme or micro-credential
year means a period of 12 months commencing on 1 January.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 224
Section 255(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(1)(c)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(2)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(3): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(4)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(4)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(4)(b)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(4)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(5): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 255(7) eligible student: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Fees
256 Fees for domestic students and employers
(1)
An institution’s council may fix, or specify a means to determine,—
(a)
a tuition fee for any programme of study or training at the institution:
(b)
a fee for the provision of student services that are provided by the institution or by another person or body on behalf of the institution.
(2)
An institution’s council that receives funding under section 425 or 428 may not fix, in relation to domestic students or employers, a fee (or a fee of a particular kind) that does not comply with any limit or requirement specified in a condition imposed under section 426 or 429(2) (whichever is applicable).
(3)
[Repealed](4)
[Repealed](5)
A domestic student may not be or continue to be enrolled in a programme of study or training at an institution unless the following fees have been paid to the institution’s council in respect of the student:
(a)
the tuition fee (if any) fixed, or determined, under subsection (1)(a); and
(b)
the fee for the provision of student services (if any) determined under subsection (1)(b); and
(c)
all other fees (if any) prescribed by the council.
(6)
Subsection (5) does not prevent a council from accepting any fee required to be paid by instalments.
(7)
An institution’s council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that, before the procedures for enrolling a student at the institution for the first time in any year are complete, the student is given written notice of any circumstances in which the student is or may be entitled to a refund of all or any part of fees paid or to be paid to the council.
(8)
The power of an institution’s council to refund to a student all or any part of any fees paid to it is not limited or affected by—
(a)
any failure to comply with subsection (7); or
(b)
the fact that the circumstances fall outside those notified; or
(c)
the fact that the refund is larger than specified in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 227
Section 256 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 14(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 256(2): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 14(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 256(3): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 14(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 256(4): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 14(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
257 Ministerial direction to institutions relating to compulsory student services fees
[Repealed]Section 257: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 15 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
258 Institutions to give prospective students information about fees
An institution must ensure that prospective students receive, before enrolment is completed, full written details of—
(a)
all fees associated with their programmes; and
(b)
the class or lecture materials, books, special clothing, safety equipment, tools, and other items that are or may be required by the institution to be bought or provided by students enrolled in each programme of study or training; and
(c)
any fee fixed under section 256(1)(b) that must be paid to the institution for the provision of student services.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 228A
Student loans and allowances
259 Provisions about student loans and allowances and Student Allowance Appeal Authorities
(1)
Schedule 9 contains provisions relating to student allowances and the administration of student loans.
(2)
Sections 386, 387, and 396 are offence provisions relating to Schedule 9.
(3)
Section 645 authorises the making of regulations relating to student allowances.
(4)
Schedule 10 contains provisions relating to the composition and operation of Student Allowance Appeal Authorities.
(5)
Section 666 sets out an offence provision relating to Schedule 10.
(6)
Section 646 authorises the making of regulations relating to Student Allowance Appeal Authorities.
Subpart 2—Teaching, learning, and well-being
260 Programmes
(1)
Subject to subpart 2 of Part 5, an institution’s council may determine the programmes of study and training to be provided at the institution.
(2)
However, the Minister may direct the institution’s council not to provide or continue to provide a particular programme of study or training if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds, after consulting the council and any other persons that the Minister thinks fit, that the provision or continued provision of the programme of study or training—
(a)
would have significant implications for the allocation of the national resources available for tertiary education or vocational training; and
(b)
would be contrary to the efficient use of those resources.
(3)
A direction under subsection (2)—
(a)
must be in writing and set out the reasons for giving the direction:
(b)
may be exercised only in relation to a programme of study or training as a whole and may not be exercised in relation to any particular subjects or other constituent elements of a programme of study or training.
(4)
An institution’s council must comply with a direction given to it.
(5)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 223
Section 260(5): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Students association
261 Membership of students association voluntary
A student or prospective student at an institution is not required to be a member of a students association.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 229A
262 Prohibition on undue influence
A person may not exert undue influence on any student or prospective student with the intention of making that student or prospective student—
(a)
become or remain a member of a students association; or
(b)
cease to be a member of a students association; or
(c)
not become a member of a students association.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 229B
263 Complaints regarding undue influence
(1)
A student or prospective student who believes on reasonable grounds that a person has exerted undue influence in breach of section 262 may lodge a complaint with the relevant institution’s council.
(2)
A complaint must be in writing and specify the grounds on which the person believes that undue influence has been exerted.
(3)
A student or prospective student who lodges a complaint—
(a)
is entitled to be heard on the matter by the council; and
(b)
may be self-represented, or be represented by an advocate.
(4)
A students association in respect of which a complaint has been lodged—
(a)
is entitled to be heard on the matter by the council; and
(b)
may be represented by a member of the association or by an advocate.
(5)
The council may refuse to hear a complaint if it believes that no reasonable grounds exist for it to be made.
(6)
If the council hears a complaint, it must deal with that complaint in accordance with the principles of natural justice and the procedures (if any) prescribed by the council in statutes made under section 284.
(7)
The council may uphold, reject, or otherwise decide on the complaint as it thinks fit in the circumstances, and its decision is final.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 229C
264 Students association membership fees
(1)
A person may not be required to pay a membership fee to a students association, or to pay money to another person as an alternative to paying a membership fee to a students association, unless the person chooses to become or remain a member of the association.
(2)
A person who is not a member of a students association may not be required to pay a representation fee to the association for any services that the association provides generally to the institution’s student body.
(3)
Subsections (1) and (2) do not prevent a students association from—
(a)
charging a person who is not a member of the association for the provision of a specific service to the person, at the person’s request; or
(b)
being contracted by an institution or any other person to provide services to students of an institution.
(4)
An institution’s council must, if asked by a students association of the institution, collect the membership fees of that association, but only if the association provides the council with—
(a)
a copy of its current constitution; and
(b)
an independently audited set of financial accounts of the association for the last financial year.
(5)
The council must pay all membership fees collected on behalf of the students association to the association in a timely manner.
(6)
Despite subsections (4) and (5), the council may decline a request to collect membership fees on behalf of a students association, or may withhold all or part of any membership fees collected, if the council believes that—
(a)
the terms of the constitution of the students association are being breached; or
(b)
the accounts disclose financial irregularities.
(7)
The council may retain any membership fees that have been withheld under subsection (6) until the council is satisfied that all breaches of the terms of the students association’s constitution, and all financial irregularities, have been appropriately addressed by the association.
(8)
The council may charge a students association for the actual and reasonable costs incurred by the council in collecting membership fees on behalf of the association.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 229CA
265 Application of sections 261 to 264 to private training establishments
Sections 261 to 264 apply to private training establishments as if—
(a)
every reference to an institution includes a reference to a private training establishment; and
(b)
every reference to a council includes a reference to the governing body of the private training establishment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 229D
Subpart 3—Administration of institutions
266 Object
The object of the provisions of this Act relating to institutions, including those established under Part 4A, is to give them as much independence and freedom to make academic, operational, and management decisions as is consistent with the nature of the services they provide, the efficient use of national resources, the national interest, and the demands of accountability.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 160
Section 266: amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 6 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
267 Academic freedom and institutional autonomy of institutions
(1)
It is the intention of Parliament in enacting the provisions of this Act relating to universities, polytechnics, and wānanga that academic freedom and the autonomy of those institutions are preserved and enhanced.
(2)
In exercising their academic freedom and autonomy, institutions must act in a manner that is consistent with—
(a)
the need for institutions to maintain the highest ethical standards and the need to permit public scrutiny to ensure the maintenance of those standards; and
(b)
the need for institutions to be accountable and make proper use of resources allocated to them.
(3)
In performing their functions, the councils and chief executives of institutions, Ministers, and authorities and agencies of the Crown must act in all respects so as to give effect to the intention of Parliament as expressed in this section.
(4)
In this section, academic freedom, in relation to an institution, means—
(a)
the freedom of academic staff and students, within the law, to question and test received wisdom, to put forward new ideas, and to state controversial or unpopular opinions:
(b)
the freedom of academic staff and students to engage in research:
(c)
the freedom of the institution and its staff to regulate the subject matter of courses taught at the institution:
(d)
the freedom of the institution and its staff to teach and assess students in the manner that they consider best promotes learning:
(e)
the freedom of the institution through its chief executive to appoint its own staff.
(5)
To avoid doubt,—
(a)
nothing in subsection (4) limits or affects an industry skills board performing its functions of developing and maintaining standards, qualifications, micro-credentials, and capstone assessments for vocational education and training; and
(b)
the performance of those functions by the industry skills board does not limit or affect the academic freedom of an institution as set out in subsection (4)(a), (b), or (e).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 161
Section 267 heading: amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 267(1): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 7(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 267(5): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 7(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
268 Establishment of institutions
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, establish an institution.
(2)
Before making a recommendation, the Minister must—
(a)
give NZQA a reasonable period to give advice to the Minister on the matter and consider any advice given; and
(b)
be satisfied that the establishment of the institution is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole; and
(c)
consult the institutions, organisations representing institutions, and other relevant bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(d)
take into account—
(i)
that universities have all the following characteristics and other institutions have 1 or more of them:
(A)
they are primarily concerned with more advanced learning, the principal aim being to develop intellectual independence:
(B)
their research and teaching are closely interdependent and most of their teaching is done by people who are active in advancing knowledge:
(C)
they meet international standards of research and teaching:
(D)
they are a repository of knowledge and expertise:
(E)
they accept a role as critic and conscience of society; and
(ii)
that—
(A)
a university is characterised by a wide diversity of teaching and research, especially at a higher level, that maintains, advances, disseminates, and assists the application of knowledge, develops intellectual independence, and promotes community learning.
(B)
[Repealed](3)
An order under subsection (1) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(3)
[Repealed](4)
In the case of a university, its name may be changed if the procedure set out in subsections (5) to (7) is followed.
(5)
The university must give written notice to the Minister of the proposed name change.
(6)
If notice is given, the Minister must present the proposal to the House of Representatives.
(7)
If the House of Representatives, by resolution, accepts the proposed name change, the Minister must change the name of the university by notice published in the Gazette.
(8)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 315 provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 162
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 268(2)(d)(ii)(B): repealed, on 23 August 2023, by section 7(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 268(3): inserted, as section 268(2A), on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 268(3) subsection number: replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 7(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 268(3): repealed, on 23 August 2023, by section 7(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 268(8): inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 8 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
269 Constitution of institutions
(1)
An Order in Council establishing an institution must make provision for determining the people who are to constitute the institution.
(2)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 163(2)
Section 269(2): inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 9 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
270 Disestablishment of institutions
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on recommendation of the Minister, disestablish an institution.
(2)
However, the Governor-General may not disestablish a university unless the House of Representatives has passed a resolution approving the disestablishment of the university.
(3)
The Minister may not recommend the disestablishment of an institution unless the Minister—
(a)
is satisfied on reasonable grounds that there are good reasons to do so; and
(b)
is satisfied that the disestablishment is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole; and
(c)
specifies the reasons in the recommendation.
(4)
When an institution is, or 2 or more institutions are, disestablished, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, incorporate the disestablished institution or any 1 or more of the disestablished institutions in another institution, whether the other institution is—
(a)
an existing institution or a new institution established for the purpose:
(b)
an institution of the same class as the disestablished institution or institutions or an institution of a different class from it or them.
(5)
Before making a recommendation under this section, the Minister must—
(a)
give to the institution’s council or the councils of the institutions concerned, and to every other council of an institution that the Minister considers is likely to be directly affected, written notice—
(i)
setting out the action that the Minister is considering whether to take and the reasons for that action; and
(ii)
inviting each council to make a written submission to the Minister in relation to the matter; and
(b)
publish, in the Gazette, the notices that the Minister thinks fit inviting members of the public to make written submissions in relation to the matter; and
(c)
consider any submissions made within a reasonable period in response to the notices.
(6)
An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(6A)
When the order is presented to the House of Representatives (as required by the Legislation Act 2019) it must be accompanied by a statement of the reasons for the making of the order.
(7)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 164
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives and comply with subsection (6A) | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 270(6): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 270(6A): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 270(7): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Councils
271 Institutions to be governed by councils
(1)
[Repealed]Wānanga
(2)
The governing body of a wānanga that is a Crown entity is its council constituted in accordance with—
(a)
this Part; or
(b)
the order establishing the wānanga under Part 4A; or
(c)
the order made under clause 90(1) of Schedule 1 reconstituting the council of the wānanga.
(3)
The governing body of a wānanga that is not a Crown entity is its council constituted in accordance with—
(a)
the order establishing the wānanga under Part 4A; or
(b)
the order made under clause 94(2) of Schedule 1 converting a wānanga that is a Crown entity to a wānanga that is not a Crown entity.
Other institutions
(4)
The governing body of every other institution is its council constituted in accordance with this Part.
References to, and actions of, councils
(5)
A reference in any enactment to the council or other governing body of an institution referred to in subsections (2) to (4) must be construed as a reference to the council of the institution.
(6)
Subject to section 283(2), all acts or things done in the name of, or on behalf of, an institution with the authority of, or of a delegate of, the council or the chief executive are to be treated as being done by the institution.
Further provisions relating to councils
(7)
Part 4A provides for the constitution, appointment, and operation of councils of certain wānanga, and for related matters.
(8)
Schedule 11 provides for the constitution, appointment, and operation of councils of institutions and related matters.
Section 271: replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 8 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 271(1) heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 10(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 271(1): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 10(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 271(8): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 10(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
272 Incorporation
(1)
Each university or wānanga established under section 268, each polytechnic established under section 315, and each wānanga established under Part 4A is a body corporate with perpetual succession and is capable of—
(a)
holding real and personal property; and
(b)
suing and being sued; and
(c)
otherwise doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may do and suffer.
(2)
This section does not limit section 282(1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 166
Section 272(1): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 11(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 272(1): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 11(b) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 272(1): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 9 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
273 Common seal
(1)
An institution may have a common seal if its council adopts one by statute.
(2)
A council may, by statute,—
(a)
specify the type or class of documents that may be executed by affixing the common seal to them; and
(b)
specify the type or class of documents that may be executed only by affixing the common seal to them; and
(c)
specify any member or members of the council, and any member or members of the staff of the institution, who may countersign documents (or a specified type or class of documents) to which the common seal is affixed.
(3)
All courts and persons acting judicially must take judicial notice of an institution’s common seal.
(4)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 167
Section 273(4): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
274 Method of contracting
(1)
An institution may enter into a contract or other enforceable obligation as provided in this section.
(2)
An obligation that, if entered into by an individual, is required to be entered into by deed may be entered into by the institution’s council in writing, signed under the name of the institution by 2 or more council members.
(3)
An obligation that, if entered into by an individual, is required to be entered into in writing may be entered into by the institution’s council in writing, signed by 1 person or more than 1 person acting under the institution’s express or implied authority.
(4)
An obligation that, if entered into by an individual, is not required to be entered into in writing may be entered into by the institution’s council in writing or orally by a person acting under the institution’s express or implied authority.
(5)
This section applies to a contract or other enforceable obligation,—
(a)
whether or not that obligation was entered into in New Zealand; and
(b)
whether or not the law governing that obligation is the law of New Zealand.
(6)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 167A
Section 274(6): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
275 Constitution to provide for membership of council
(1)
The constitution of a council must provide that it has 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 members.
(2)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 316 provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 170A
Section 275(2): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 12 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
276 Membership of council
(1)
An institution’s council must have a total of 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 council members, as provided in its constitution, comprising—
(a)
the following number of members appointed by the Minister by written notice to the council:
(i)
4 members (for a council comprising 10, 11, or 12 members):
(ii)
3 members (for a council comprising 8 or 9 members); and
(b)
enough members appointed by the council by resolution, in accordance with its statutes, to bring the membership up to that total number.
(2)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 317 provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 171
Section 276(2): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 13 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
277 Certain people disqualified from appointment
(1)
A person may not be appointed as a council member if the person—
(a)
has been removed as a council member of an institution of any kind; or
(b)
is subject to a property order under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988; or
(c)
is a person in respect of whom a personal order has been made under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 that reflects adversely on their —
(i)
competence to manage their own affairs in relation to their property; or
(ii)
capacity to make or to communicate decisions relating to any particular aspect or aspects of their personal care and welfare; or
(d)
is a bankrupt—
(i)
who has not obtained an order of discharge; or
(ii)
whose order of discharge has been suspended for a term not yet expired or is subject to conditions not yet fulfilled.
(2)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 171A
Section 277(2): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
278 Matters to be considered when appointing council members
(1)
An institution’s council should, as far as is reasonably practicable, reflect—
(a)
the ethnic and socio-economic diversity of the communities served by the institution; and
(b)
the fact that approximately half the population of New Zealand is male and half the population is female.
(2)
When appointing council members, the Minister or council must have regard to subsection (1), but—
(a)
must ensure that at least 1 council member is Māori; and
(b)
must appoint people who (in the Minister’s or council’s opinion)—
(i)
have relevant knowledge, skills, or experience; and
(ii)
are likely to be able to fulfil their individual duties to the council; and
(iii)
together with the other members of the council, are capable of undertaking its responsibilities, duties, and functions.
(3)
When appointing council members, the council must ensure that—
(a)
at least—
(i)
1 member is a permanent member of the teaching or general staff of the institution that the permanent members of the teaching and general staff of the institution have elected to represent them; or
(ii)
1 member is a permanent member of the teaching staff of the institution that the permanent members of the teaching staff of the institution have elected to represent them and 1 member is a permanent member of the general staff of the institution that the permanent members of the general staff of the institution have elected to represent them; and
(b)
at least 1 member is a student—
(i)
who is enrolled at the institution; and
(ii)
whom the students of the institution have elected to represent them.
(4)
Subsection (3) does not apply to the membership of the council of a wānanga.
(5)
An elected person specified in subsection (3)—
(a)
is to be treated as meeting any relevant knowledge, skills, or experience requirements; and
(b)
must be appointed unless the person is ineligible for appointment under section 277(1).
(6)
An institution or its council may not specify who is eligible to stand for election as a representative of—
(a)
the permanent members of the teaching or general staff of the institution; or
(b)
the students of the institution.
(7)
Before making an appointment under this section, the Minister must seek, and consider, nominations from the relevant council.
(8)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 318 provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 171B
Section 278(8): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 14 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
279 Statutes relating to appointment of members by councils of institutions
(1)
An institution’s council may make statutes relating to the appointment of members under section 276(1)(b).
(2)
The statutes may—
(a)
provide for direct appointment by the council of a member chosen by the council; or
(b)
require the council to appoint a member—
(i)
of a stated description; or
(ii)
holding a stated office; or
(iii)
nominated by a stated institution or institutions, or an institution or institutions of a stated description; or
(iv)
elected by people of a stated description.
(3)
To the extent that the statutes require the council to appoint—
(a)
a member elected by people of a stated description, they must also provide for the processes by which elections must be held and their results must be determined:
(b)
a member nominated by a stated institution or institutions, or an institution or institutions of a stated description, they must also provide for the process by which nominations may be called for and must be considered.
(4)
For an appointment under a statute providing for any of the matters stated in subsection (2)(b), section 278(2)(b) is complied with if, when making the statute concerned, the council—
(a)
has regard to section 278(1); and
(b)
is satisfied that compliance with the statute is likely to result in the appointment of a person who—
(i)
has relevant knowledge, skills, or experience; and
(ii)
is likely to be able to fulfil the person’s individual duties to the council; and
(iii)
together with the other members of the council, is capable of undertaking its responsibilities, functions, and duties.
(5)
Subsections (2) to (4) do not limit section 284.
(6)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 320 provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 171C
Section 279(6): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 15 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Functions and duties of councils
280 Functions of councils
The functions of an institution’s council are—
(a)
to appoint a chief executive in accordance with the Public Service Act 2020, and to monitor and evaluate the chief executive’s performance:
(b)
to prepare and submit a proposed plan if the institution is seeking funding under a funding mechanism that provides for funding via plans:
(c)
if the institution has a plan,—
(i)
to ensure that the institution is managed in accordance with that plan; and
(ii)
to determine policies to implement that plan:
(d)
to determine, subject to the Public Service Act 2020, the policies of the institution in relation to the management of its affairs:
(e)
to undertake planning relating to the institution’s long-term strategic direction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 180
Section 280(a): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 280(d): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
281 Duties of councils
(1)
It is the duty of an institution’s council, in performing its functions and exercising its powers,—
(a)
to strive to ensure that the institution attains the highest standards of excellence in education, training, and research:
(b)
to acknowledge the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi:
(c)
to encourage the greatest possible participation by the communities served by the institution so as to maximise the educational potential of all members of those communities, with particular emphasis on groups in those communities that are under-represented among the students of the institution:
(d)
to ensure that the institution does not discriminate unfairly against any person:
(e)
to ensure that the institution operates in a financially responsible manner that ensures the efficient use of resources and maintains the institution’s long-term viability:
(f)
to ensure that proper standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for the public interest and the well-being of students attending the institution are maintained:
(g)
if the institution is a university, to protect and promote—
(i)
academic freedom, in accordance with section 267; and
(ii)
freedom of expression, in accordance with the university’s statement adopted under section 281A.
(2)
In addition, a polytechnic’s council must comply with the additional duties set out in section 321.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 181
Section 281(1)(g): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 12 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 281(2): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 16 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
281A Requirement for university council to adopt statement on freedom of expression
(1)
The council of a university must develop and adopt a statement that sets out the university’s approach to freedom of expression.
(2)
The statement must be consistent with the following:
(a)
universities should recognise that freedom of expression is critical to maintaining academic freedom:
(b)
universities should actively foster an environment where ideas can be challenged, controversial issues can be discussed, and diverse opinions can be expressed:
(c)
universities’ policies and procedures relating to freedom of expression should be clear, consistently applied, and focused on fostering genuine debate rather than restricting it:
(d)
universities, as institutions, should not take public positions on matters that do not directly concern their role or functions:
(e)
universities should not limit the freedom of expression of staff or students, except where the exercise of free expression is likely to be unlawful or to disrupt the ordinary activities of the university:
(f)
universities should provide a platform for invited speakers of diverse viewpoints, and should not deny the use of university premises by an invited speaker because of that speaker’s ideas or opinions.
(3)
In subsection (2)(f), invited speaker means a speaker invited by staff or any student association or student club of the university.
Section 281A: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 13 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
281B Requirement for university council to establish complaints procedure relating to academic freedom and freedom of expression
(1)
The council of a university must establish and maintain a complaints procedure relating to academic freedom and freedom of expression.
(2)
See also section 306(4)(h), which requires the nature and number of complaints relating to academic freedom and freedom of expression to be included in the council’s annual report.
Section 281B: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 13 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Powers of institutions and councils
282 Powers of institutions
(1)
An institution has—
(a)
the rights, powers, and privileges of a natural person; and
(b)
the power to issue debentures; and
(c)
the power to grant floating charges on the institution’s undertaking or property, or any of it; and
(d)
the power to invest in the financial products of a related entity; and
(e)
the power to do any other thing it is authorised to do by this Act, by any other enactment, or by any rule of law.
(2)
However, none of the rights, powers, or privileges of an institution may be exercised except for the purpose of performing—
(a)
functions characteristic of institutions of the class to which the institution belongs; or
(b)
in the case of an institution that incorporates another institution or other institutions under section 270(4), functions characteristic of institutions of the class to which the incorporating institution belongs and functions characteristic of institutions of the class or classes to which the incorporated institution or institutions belong; or
(c)
functions of a kind that, in the opinion of the institution’s council,—
(i)
may conveniently, and without disadvantage to the performance of those characteristic functions, be performed in association with those functions; and
(ii)
are appropriate for institutions of the class to which the institution belongs or, in the case of an institution that incorporates another institution or other institutions under section 270(4), are appropriate for institutions of the classes represented in the institution.
(3)
Subsection (1)(b) to (e) does not limit subsection (1)(a).
(4)
An institution may not exercise any of the following powers without the written consent of the Secretary:
(a)
the power to sell or otherwise dispose of assets or interests in assets:
(b)
the power to mortgage or otherwise charge assets or interests in assets:
(c)
the power to grant leases of land or buildings or parts of buildings:
(d)
the power to borrow, issue debentures, or otherwise raise money.
(5)
Despite subsection (4), an institution may, without the consent of the Secretary,—
(a)
sell or otherwise dispose of, or mortgage or otherwise charge, an asset or an interest in an asset, where the value of the asset or interest does not exceed an amount determined by the Minister or an amount ascertained in accordance with a formula determined by the Minister:
(b)
grant a lease for a term that does not exceed, and when added to any term for which the lease may be renewed does not exceed, 15 years:
(c)
borrow, issue debentures, or otherwise raise money, where the amount to be borrowed, the amount of the debentures, or the amount to be raised, does not exceed an amount determined by the Minister or ascertained in accordance with a formula determined by the Minister.
(6)
A determination by the Minister under this section may relate to all institutions, institutions of a specified class or description, or a specified institution or institutions, and must be made after the Minister has consulted the institution or institutions concerned.
(7)
If the Secretary consents under subsection (4) to the exercise of a power by an institution, the council must—
(a)
comply with any conditions imposed by the Secretary; and
(b)
advise the Secretary when the transaction has been completed and how the proceeds, if any, of the transaction have been dealt with.
(8)
The powers to grant awards conferred on an institution by this Act or any other enactment,—
(a)
in the case of nationally recognised awards, are subject to any reasonable requirements made by NZQA in the performance of its functions under this Act; and
(b)
in any case, do not extend, without the consent of NZQA, to granting an award that is described as a degree or the description of which includes the word bachelor, master, or doctor.
(9)
Subsection (8)(b) does not apply in relation to the granting of an award by a university.
(10)
Any consent by NZQA under subsection (8)(b) may be withdrawn, after consultation with the council of the institution concerned, with effect from a date no earlier than 1 January next following the giving of notice of the withdrawal to that institution.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 192
283 Powers of councils
(1)
An institution’s council has all powers reasonably necessary to enable it to perform its functions efficiently and effectively.
(2)
Except where they are exercised by delegation under this Act, the following powers of an institution may be exercised only by its council:
(a)
to provide courses of study or training, admit students (including by discretion and ad eundem statum) and grant awards:
(b)
to grant fellowships, scholarships, bursaries, or prizes:
(c)
to authorise the making of grants or loans out of the money of the institution to the chief executive, to members of the staff or students of the institution, or to any association of staff or students, on the terms and conditions that the council thinks fit and guarantee loans made by other persons to the chief executive or members of the staff of the institution for housing purposes:
(d)
to accept gifts, devises, and bequests made to the institution, whether on trust or otherwise:
(e)
to agree to the disestablishment of the institution and its incorporation in another institution of the same class or a different class:
(f)
to agree to the incorporation in the institution of another institution or other institutions, whether of the same class as itself or a different class from itself:
(g)
to arrange for the manufacture of, and distribution of (whether by way of sale or otherwise), any article or thing bearing a mark, symbol, or writing that is associated with the institution:
(h)
to arrange for the provision of (whether by sale or otherwise) goods and services to staff or students of the institution or other persons using, or otherwise attending at, facilities of the institution:
(i)
to prescribe fees payable by students of the institution or any of them:
(j)
to establish bodies within the institution to give advice to the council:
(k)
to do anything incidental to the exercise of any of the preceding powers.
(3)
[Repealed](4)
An institution’s council has the power to appoint committees consisting of the persons, whether or not members of the council, that the council determines to exercise the powers that are delegated to them under section 285 and the powers that are conferred on them by statutes made by the council, and to alter, discharge, and reconstitute committees so appointed.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 193
Section 283(3): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
284 Statutes
(1)
An institution’s council may make statutes, not inconsistent with this Act or the Public Service Act 2020, in relation to any of the following matters:
(a)
the good government and discipline of the institution:
(b)
the imposition, by or on behalf of the council, of penalties upon staff or students of the institution for a contravention of or a failure to comply with a statute with respect to a matter referred to in paragraph (a):
(c)
(d)
(e)
subject to section 282(8), the awards that may be granted by the council and the requirements for those awards:
(f)
the granting by the council of fellowships, scholarships, bursaries, and prizes:
(g)
the provision of superannuation or retirement benefits for, or in respect of, the chief executive or members of the staff of the institution:
(h)
any of the matters stated in section 279:
(i)
any other matter required or permitted by this Act to be provided for by statutes.
(2)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 320 provides).
(3)
If an institution’s council makes a statute under subsection (1)(b) providing for the imposition of penalties upon staff or students of the institution, the statute must provide for the council, if so requested by a member of the staff or a student upon whom a penalty is imposed, to review, or arrange for the review of, the amount of the penalty, the imposition of the penalty, or both.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 194
Section 284(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 284(1)(a): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 284(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 284(1)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 284(2): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 17 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
285 Delegation of council’s functions and powers
(1)
An institution’s council may, either generally or specifically, delegate any of its functions or powers under this Act (except the power to appoint a chief executive) or under any other Act to—
(a)
the chief executive of the institution; or
(b)
a committee appointed under section 283(4).
(2)
The power of the council to delegate—
(a)
is subject to any prohibitions, restrictions, or conditions contained in any other Act in relation to the delegation of the council’s functions or powers; but
(b)
does not limit any power of delegation conferred on the council by any other Act.
(3)
The person to whom any functions or powers are delegated under this section may perform those functions or exercise those powers in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred on that person directly by this Act (subject to any general or special directions given or conditions imposed by the council).
(4)
A delegation to a committee under subsection (1)(b) must be treated as a delegation to the persons constituting the committee.
(5)
This section applies to the academic committee of an institution (established under clause 18(2) of Schedule 11) as if—
(a)
it were a committee of the institution’s council; and
(b)
all its powers were powers of the council, conferred on the committee by the council by delegation.
(6)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222
Section 285(6): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
286 Further provisions relating to delegation
(1)
A delegation under section 285—
(a)
must be in writing signed by at least 2 members of the council:
(b)
is revocable at will in writing signed by at least 2 members of the council.
(2)
A person purporting to act under a delegation is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.
(3)
A delegation does not prevent the council from performing any function or exercising any power, or affect the council’s responsibility for the actions of any person acting under the delegation.
(4)
If the chief executive to whom a delegation is made ceases to hold office, the delegation continues to have effect as if it were made to the chief executive’s successor in office.
Subdelegation
(5)
If the council has delegated any functions or powers to the chief executive or an academic committee, the chief executive or that committee may, with the written approval of the council, subdelegate those functions or powers (or any of them) to a member of the staff of the institution.
(6)
A subdelegation under subsection (5)—
(a)
must be in writing signed by the chief executive or by at least 2 of the members of the committee; and
(b)
is revocable at will in writing signed by the chief executive or by at least 2 of the members of the committee; and
(c)
may be made to—
(i)
a specified person or persons of a specified class; or
(ii)
the holder or holders of a specified office or specified class of offices.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222(2), (5), (6), (9)
Institutions at risk
287 Criteria for risk assessment of institutions
(1)
The Secretary must, after consulting institution councils, determine criteria for assessing the level of risk to the operation and long-term viability of institutions.
(2)
The Secretary must publish criteria determined under subsection (1) in the Gazette.
(3)
Criteria determined under this section must be reviewed at least once in every 2 years following the date of their publication.
(4)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 341H provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 195A
Section 287 heading: amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 18(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 287(4): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 18(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
288 Institutions to provide information to TEC if required
(1)
The chief executive of TEC may, if the chief executive has reasonable grounds to believe that an institution may be at risk, by written notice to the institution’s council, require the council to provide either or both of the following:
(a)
specified information about the operation, management, or financial position of the institution at a given time:
(b)
reports at specified intervals on specific aspects of the operation, management, or financial position of the institution.
(2)
If the chief executive of TEC requires information under subsection (1), the information required must relate to the risks to the institution that the chief executive is concerned about.
(3)
A council that receives a notice under subsection (1) must provide the chief executive of TEC with the required information within or at the time or times specified in the notice.
(4)
The chief executive of TEC may revoke or amend any notice given under subsection (1).
(5)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 341I provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 195B
Section 288(5): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 19 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Interventions
289 Minister may appoint Crown observers for institutions
(1)
If the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that the operation or long-term viability of an institution is at risk, the Minister may appoint a Crown observer to the council of the institution.
(2)
A Crown observer may not be appointed to an institution’s council unless the Minister has first—
(a)
consulted the council; and
(b)
advised the council that the Minister is considering appointing a Crown observer; and
(c)
given the council an opportunity to comment on the proposal.
(3)
An appointment under this section must be in writing and state the date on which it takes effect.
(4)
A Crown observer may—
(a)
attend any meeting of the council to which the Crown observer is appointed or any committee of that council; and
(b)
offer advice to that council or to any member or committee of that council; and
(c)
report to the Minister on any matter raised or discussed at any meeting that the Crown observer attends as a Crown observer.
(5)
A Crown observer must at all times maintain confidentiality with respect to council affairs, except as authorised by subsection (4)(c).
(6)
A Crown observer is not a member of the council or any council committee and may not—
(a)
vote on any matter; or
(b)
exercise any of the powers, or perform any of the functions or duties, of a council member.
(7)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 341J provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 195C
Section 289(7): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 20 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
290 Minister may dissolve council and appoint commissioner
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, dissolve an institution’s council and appoint a commissioner to act in place of the council if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that—
(a)
there is a serious risk to the operation or long-term viability of the institution; and
(b)
other methods of reducing the risk either have failed or appear likely to fail.
(2)
For the purpose of subsection (1), there is a serious risk to the operation or long-term viability of an institution if—
(a)
the institution is, or is at risk of being, unable to pay its debts as they become due in the normal course of business; and
(b)
according to the criteria published under section 287(2), there is a serious level of risk to the operation or long-term viability of the institution.
(3)
A notice under subsection (1) must specify—
(a)
the date on which the dissolution and appointment take effect; and
(b)
the name of the person appointed as commissioner.
(4)
The Minister may not exercise the power under subsection (1) in relation to an institution unless the Minister has first—
(a)
consulted the council of the institution and any other interested parties over the possible need to dissolve the council and appoint a commissioner; and
(b)
following that consultation, given the council written notice of the Minister’s preliminary decision that the council should be dissolved and a commissioner appointed in its place; and
(c)
allowed the council at least 21 days in which to respond to the preliminary decision; and
(d)
considered any submissions made by the council about why the preliminary decision should not be confirmed.
(5)
As soon as practicable after giving a notice under subsection (1), the Minister must present a copy of it to the House of Representatives.
(6)
When a commissioner is appointed under this section, the Minister must review the appointment at least once in every 12 months following the appointment.
(7)
As soon as the Minister is satisfied (following an annual review or at any other time) that the risk that gave rise to the appointment of the commissioner has reduced enough so that it is appropriate that the institution be administered by a council, a new council must be appointed in accordance with the constitution of the council most recently notified in the Gazette.
(8)
A commissioner’s appointment ends on the close of the day before a new council takes office.
(9)
This section does not apply to a polytechnic (for which section 341P provides).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 195D
Section 290(9): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 21 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
291 Personal liability of commissioners
A commissioner appointed under section 290 is not personally liable for an act the commissioner has done or omitted to do, or for any loss arising from that act or omission, if the commissioner was acting—
(a)
in good faith; and
(b)
in the course of performing or exercising their functions, duties, or powers.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 195DA
292 Functions, duties, and powers of commissioner
(1)
A commissioner appointed under section 290 has all the functions, duties, and powers of the council that the commissioner is appointed to replace, and must perform or exercise those functions, duties, and powers in accordance with this Act (having particular regard to sections 266 and 267) and, in the case of an institution that has a plan, that plan.
(2)
A commissioner replaces all council members who serve on any council committee that the commissioner is appointed to replace.
(3)
Anything that, if done by or on behalf of a council, is required to be signed by 2 or more council members, may be done by the commissioner’s signature alone.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 195E
293 Minister to appoint advisory committee
(1)
If the Minister appoints a commissioner under section 290, the Minister must also appoint an advisory committee for the purpose of advising and supporting the commissioner in the performance or exercise of the commissioner’s functions, duties, and powers.
(2)
The Minister may appoint up to 5 persons to be members of an advisory committee and must ensure that the composition of the committee reasonably reflects the community of the institution as represented by its council at the time of the council’s dissolution.
(3)
Members of an advisory committee may be paid fees at the same rates as were paid to members of the council at the time of its dissolution.
(4)
The commissioner must have regard to any advice given by an advisory committee.
(5)
For the purposes of section 285(1) (which relates to delegations by the council to committees), an advisory committee is to be treated as a committee appointed under section 283(4).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 195F
Chief executives of institutions
294 Duties of chief executive
(1)
The academic and administrative affairs of an institution must be managed by its chief executive.
(2)
The chief executive of—
(a)
a university may be referred to as the Vice-Chancellor or by any other title that the council of the university determines:
(b)
an institution other than a university may be referred to by any title (except Vice-Chancellor or another title that includes the word “Chancellor”
) that the council of the institution determines.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 196
295 Delegation of chief executive’s functions and powers
(1)
The chief executive of an institution may, either generally or specifically, delegate any of the chief executive’s functions or powers under this Act or any other Act (including any functions or powers delegated to the chief executive under another Act) to—
(a)
the academic committee; or
(b)
any member of the staff of the institution.
(2)
The power of a chief executive to delegate—
(a)
is subject to any prohibitions, restrictions, or conditions contained in any other Act in relation to the delegation of the chief executive’s functions or powers; but
(b)
does not limit any power of delegation conferred on the chief executive by any other Act.
(3)
A person to whom any functions or powers are delegated may perform those functions or exercise those powers in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred on that person directly by this Act and not by delegation (subject to any general or special directions given or conditions imposed by the chief executive).
(4)
A delegation under subsection (1)(a) must be treated as being a delegation to the persons constituting the academic committee.
(5)
Section 296 applies to a delegation made under this section.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 197(1), (3), (4)
296 Further provisions applying to delegation
(1)
A delegation under section 295—
(a)
must be in writing signed by the chief executive; and
(b)
is revocable at will in writing signed by the chief executive.
(2)
A person purporting to act under a delegation is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.
(3)
A delegation does not prevent the chief executive from performing any function or exercising any power or affect the chief executive’s responsibility for the actions of any person acting under the delegation.
(4)
If the chief executive ceases to hold office, the delegation continues to have effect as if it were made by the chief executive’s successor in office.
Subdelegation
(5)
If the chief executive has delegated any functions or powers to an academic committee or a member of the staff of the institution, that committee or member may, with the written approval of the chief executive, subdelegate those functions or powers (or any of them) to another member of the staff of the institution.
(6)
A subdelegation under subsection (5)—
(a)
must be in writing signed by at least 2 members of that committee or by the member; and
(b)
is revocable at will in writing; and
(c)
may be made to—
(i)
a specified person or persons of a specified class; or
(ii)
the holder or holders of a specified office or specified class of offices.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 197(2), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9)
Financial matters and application of Crown Entities Act 2004
297 Bank accounts
(1)
An institution’s council may establish, maintain, and operate bank accounts in the name of the institution at any registered bank or any registered building society with which a Crown entity may establish, maintain, or operate a bank account under section 158 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
As soon as practicable after receiving any money, the council must pay it into one of the institution’s bank accounts.
(3)
The council must properly authorise every withdrawal and payment of money from any of the institution’s bank accounts.
(4)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 200
Section 297(4): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
298 Proper accounts to be kept
Section 168(1) and (2) of the Crown Entities Act 2004 applies to an institution’s council.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 201
299 How institutions may use income and capital
(1)
An institution may, subject to any enactment and the terms of any trust or endowment,—
(a)
apply its income and capital in doing whatever the council thinks likely to enable the institution—
(i)
to carry out the functions characteristic of an institution of the class to which the institution belongs; and
(ii)
to achieve, in the case of an institution that has a plan, the outcomes set out in that plan; and
(b)
create, maintain, or add to, out of income, a fund or funds for any 1 or more of the purposes for which the income may be applied.
(2)
Subsection (1)(b) does not limit subsection (1)(a).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 201A
300 Gifts
(1)
Any money or property that is gifted to an institution may be accepted or disclaimed by the council of the institution in accordance with section 167 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
A limitation in this Act or the Crown Entities Act 2004 does not apply during a period that is reasonable in the circumstances (including, without limitation, a limitation on the form in which property may be held).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 201B
301 Council may establish common fund
(1)
An institution’s council may—
(a)
establish a common fund; and
(b)
invest any trust funds in its possession, in whole or in part, in the common fund.
(2)
However, the council—
(a)
may, if in possession of trust funds of a trust of which the council is a co-trustee, only invest those trust funds in the common fund with the consent of all the other co-trustees:
(b)
may not invest trust funds in the common fund if that would be inconsistent with the terms of any trust instrument governing the investment of the trust funds.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 201C
302 Investment of funds held in common fund
(1)
The council may invest funds that are held in a common fund only in accordance with the Trusts Act 2019.
(2)
Investments of funds held in a common fund may not be made on account of, and do not belong to, any particular trust, but the council must, at all times, maintain an account showing the entitlement of each trust in the common fund.
(3)
If trust funds are invested in a type or class of investment in which the common fund may be invested, the council may transfer that investment to the common fund and, if it does so,—
(a)
the investment ceases, at the time of transfer, to belong to the trust that held the investment; and
(b)
the council must give credit in the common fund to the trust for the fair market value of the investment at the time of transfer.
(4)
Any profit or loss upon the realisation of any investment in a common fund is to be credited or debited to the common fund.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 201D
303 Income and capital of common fund
(1)
Each financial year, the council must—
(a)
pay or allocate the income from the common fund to the trusts entitled to the amounts invested in the common fund—
(i)
in proportion to the value of their respective interests in the common fund; and
(ii)
at a uniform rate determined by the council; and
(b)
hold the capital of the common fund on behalf of the trusts entitled to the amounts invested in proportion to the value of their respective interests; and
(c)
hold any income that is not paid or allocated to trusts, and any capital that is not held on behalf of trusts, in a reserve fund separate from other trust funds.
(2)
The council may apply funds held in the reserve fund, including any income derived from investments of the reserve fund, for any of the following purposes:
(a)
augmenting the capital of the common fund:
(b)
reinstating any losses of capital in the common fund:
(c)
increasing or supplementing the income paid or allocated to trusts that have interests in the common fund.
(3)
The council may withdraw any amount from the common fund to the credit of a trust that has an interest in the common fund—
(a)
for the purpose of investing the amount in a separate account for the trust; or
(b)
for any other purpose relating to the exercise and performance of its duties, powers, authorities, and functions.
(4)
If any amount is withdrawn from the common fund to the credit of a trust that has an interest in the common fund,—
(a)
that amount may, at the discretion of the council, be paid or provided in cash or rateably in investments, or partly in cash and partly rateably in investments; and
(b)
as from the date of its withdrawal, the trust has no claim on the fund in respect of the amount, whether for interest or otherwise.
(5)
The council—
(a)
may charge a reasonable fee, payable out of the income received by the common fund, for services provided by the council in relation to the administration or management of the common fund; and
(b)
must publish the amount of the fee, and the method by which the fee is calculated or applied (and any change to that method), in the annual report.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 201E
304 Application of money
The money of an institution may be applied only—
(a)
in payment or discharge of the expenses, charges, obligations, or liabilities incurred or undertaken by or on behalf of the institution; or
(b)
in payment of any remuneration or allowances payable to council members or council committees or to the chief executive or members of the staff of the institution; or
(c)
in making any other payments that are required or permitted by this Act or any other enactment to be made out of the money of the institution.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 202
305 Institutions are Crown entities
(1)
Every institution is a Crown entity for the purposes of section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
However, that Act applies to institutions and their Crown entity subsidiaries (within the meaning of that Act) only to the extent that this section provides.
(3)
Part 1 of Schedule 4 of that Act applies to all institutions and their Crown entity subsidiaries (within the meaning of that Act).
(4)
Section 65I(1) and (2) of the Public Finance Act 1989—
(a)
applies, with all necessary modifications, to institutions and, accordingly, every institution must invest in the same manner as the Treasury invests money under that section; but
(b)
does not apply in respect of any investment made by an institution in the financial products of a related entity.
(5)
An instruction issued by the Minister of Finance under section 80A of the Public Finance Act 1989 does not apply to an institution.
(6)
The financial year of an institution is an academic year.
(7)
The council members of an institution are the board for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 203
306 Annual report
(1)
As soon as practicable after the end of each academic year, the council of the institution must give to the Minister a report (an annual report) on the operations of the institution during that year.
(2)
A council must comply with sections 154 to 156B and 157A of the Crown Entities Act 2004 in respect of the report.
(3)
However,—
(a)
the statement of responsibility referred to in section 155 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 is not required to be signed in accordance with that section, but must instead be signed by—
(i)
the chairperson of the council and the chief executive of the institution; or
(ii)
if there is no chairperson, the chief executive of the institution and the chief financial officer:
(b)
an institution’s council that is a parent Crown entity must comply with section 154 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 (even though the institution is a member of a Crown entity group to which section 156A(1) of that Act would otherwise apply).
(4)
A council must include in its annual report—
(a)
a summary of its equal employment opportunities programme for the year to which the report relates; and
(b)
an account of the extent to which the council was able, during the year to which the report relates, to meet the equal employment opportunities programme for that year; and
(c)
an account of the extent to which the council has eliminated unnecessary barriers to the progress of students; and
(d)
an account of the extent to which the council has avoided the creation of unnecessary barriers to the progress of students; and
(e)
an account of the extent to which the council has developed programmes to attract students from groups in the community that are—
(i)
under-represented in the institution’s student body; or
(ii)
disadvantaged in terms of their ability to attend the institution; and
(f)
in the case of an institution that has a plan, a statement of service performance for that financial year reporting on the performance of the institution as compared with the proposed outcomes described in that plan; and
(g)
in the case of an institution that is a university or a wānanga, a statement of the number of employees or former employees of the university or wānanga who, in their capacity as employees, received remuneration of $100,000 or more (including compensation or other benefits) in the year to which the report relates and the number of those employees or former employees in each bracket of remuneration in $10,000 increments; and
(h)
in the case of an institution that is a university,—
(i)
a report on how the council of the university has complied with its duties to protect and promote academic freedom and freedom of expression set out in section 281(1)(g); and
(ii)
a report on the number and nature of complaints made under the complaints procedure established under section 281B for the year to which the annual report relates; and
(iii)
a report on any other matters prescribed by regulations made under section 651B.
(5)
Section 156 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 applies to institutions and, for that purpose, is to be read as referring to a statement of service performance under subsection (4)(f).
(6)
A statement of service performance under subsection (4)(f) must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice, within the meaning of section 8 of the Financial Reporting Act 2013.
(7)
The Minister must present the report to the House of Representatives within 5 working days after receiving the report or, if Parliament is not in session, as soon as practicable after the commencement of the next session of Parliament.
(8)
The first report by an institution’s council must extend to operations during the part of the academic year before the council became the governing body of the institution.
(9)
In this section, parent Crown entity has the same meaning as in section 8 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(10)
For the purposes of subsection (4)(g), employees includes the chief executive appointed by the council of the university or wānanga.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 220
Section 306(4)(g): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 26(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 306(4)(h): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 306(10): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 26(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
307 Minister may require related entities to prepare statements or reports
(1)
If the Minister has reasonable grounds to believe that an institution may be at risk due to the institution’s investment in a related entity, the Minister may, by notice in writing, require the entity to prepare 1 or more statements or reports.
(2)
In considering whether an institution may be at risk, the Minister must apply the criteria (determined by the Secretary under section 287) for assessing the level of risk to the operation and long-term viability of institutions.
(3)
Before issuing a notice, the Minister must consult the institution, or institutions, to which the entity is related.
(4)
The notice must specify—
(a)
which statements and reports are required; and
(b)
the financial years or other period (which may be until further notice) for which each statement or report is required.
(5)
In this section, statement or report has the meaning given by section 156A(4) of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 220A
308 Annual report to be available for inspection
An institution’s council must ensure that copies of its annual report are available at the office of the council for inspection during ordinary office hours by any person without charge.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 221
Miscellaneous provisions
309 Records relating to students
(1)
Each institution must keep records that show—
(a)
the progress of each student at the institution (including the main results achieved by the student) in the student’s programme of study or training; and
(b)
particulars of any allowances, grants, or other payments received by each student at the institution in respect of the student’s programme of study or training out of money appropriated by Parliament.
(2)
The records to be kept by an institution include (without limitation) records that enable the institution to comply with any requirement that may be made by the Secretary under section 310.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 225
310 Secretary may require information
The Registrar or other appropriate officer of an institution must, if required by the Secretary, provide to the Secretary, in the form that the Secretary specifies, any statistical information in the possession of the institution that the Secretary specifies in relation to students generally or a particular class of students.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 226
Vice-Chancellors committee
311 Vice-Chancellors Committee continued
(1)
The committee known as the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors Committee established under section 240 of the Education Act 1989 is continued.
(2)
The Vice-Chancellors Committee consists of the Vice-Chancellors of the institutions that are universities.
(3)
If an office of Vice-Chancellor of a university is vacant, the person for the time being acting in that office must be treated as the Vice-Chancellor of that university for the purposes of this Act.
(4)
The Vice-Chancellors Committee is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and is capable of—
(a)
holding real and personal property; and
(b)
suing and being sued; and
(c)
otherwise doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer.
(5)
Sections 153 to 156 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 apply to the Vice-Chancellors Committee as if it were a Crown entity within the meaning of that Act.
(6)
Schedule 12 provides for the administration of the Vice-Chancellors Committee.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 240
312 Functions of Vice-Chancellors Committee
The functions of the Vice-Chancellors Committee are—
(a)
to set up inter-university course approval and moderation procedures:
(b)
to exercise, in accordance with section 453, the powers of NZQA under this Act in relation to universities:
(c)
to list qualifications offered by universities on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework:
(d)
to grant scholarships to students enrolled or proposing to enrol at universities out of money under its control on the terms that the Committee thinks fit:
(e)
where another body has power to grant those scholarships,—
(i)
to make recommendations to the person or authority having power to make appointments to that body as to the persons who should be appointed:
(ii)
if authorised to do so, to make appointments to that body:
(iii)
if requested by that body to do so, to advise that body on the grant of those scholarships:
(f)
to make recommendations to NZQA on criteria for entrance to universities for the purposes of the performance by NZQA of its functions under section 434:
(g)
if requested by the councils of the universities to do so, to consider applications by international students for enrolment at any of those universities and make recommendations to the councils in respect of those applications:
(h)
to liaise with the councils of institutions other than universities in respect of procedures for enrolling international students:
(i)
to issue certificates relating to degrees and other academic qualifications and courses of, or examinations conducted by, the University of New Zealand as if that university had continued in existence and to charge the reasonable fees for the certificates that the Committee determines:
(j)
to perform any other functions conferred on it by this Act or any other enactment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 241
Section 312(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
313 Powers of Vice-Chancellors Committee
The Vice-Chancellors Committee has—
(a)
the powers given to it under this Act or any other enactment; and
(b)
all other powers reasonably necessary to enable it to perform its functions efficiently and effectively.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 242
Subpart 4—Polytechnics
Subpart 4: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Establishment and administration of polytechnics
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
314 Characteristics of polytechnics
Polytechnics are institutions that have the following characteristics:
(a)
they offer a wide diversity of continuing education that contributes to the maintenance, advancement, and dissemination of knowledge and expertise and promotes community learning; and
(b)
they are predominantly involved in providing continuing education that responds to the education and training needs of local communities and industries in their regions; and
(c)
they undertake research, particularly applied and technological research; and
(d)
they improve outcomes for Māori students and trainees and Māori communities in collaboration with Māori and iwi and other interested persons or bodies.
Section 314: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
315 Establishment of polytechnics
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, establish a polytechnic.
(2)
Before making a recommendation, the Minister must—
(a)
seek advice from NZQA on quality assurance matters and consider any advice given; and
(b)
consult other persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(c)
take into account the characteristics of a polytechnic; and
(d)
be satisfied that the establishment of the polytechnic is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole.
(3)
An order may specify whether the polytechnic is an anchor polytechnic.
(4)
Before recommending that a polytechnic be specified as an anchor polytechnic, the Minister must be satisfied that the polytechnic is able to perform the role of an anchor polytechnic specified in section 337.
(5)
A polytechnic established under this section must comply with the provisions of the order that establishes it.
(6)
An order made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 315: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
316 Constitutions of councils of polytechnics must specify number of council members
The constitution of the council of a polytechnic must specify that it has a council with 6, 7, or 8 members.
Section 316: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
317 Membership of polytechnic’s council
The membership of a polytechnic’s council must have—
(a)
the following number of members appointed by the Minister by written notice to the council:
(i)
4 members in the case of a council comprising 7 or 8 members:
(ii)
3 members in the case of a council comprising 6 members; and
(b)
enough members appointed directly by the council by resolution to bring the membership up to the total number specified in its constitution.
Section 317: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
318 Matters to be considered when appointing members of polytechnic’s council
(1)
The council of a polytechnic should, as far as is reasonably practicable, reflect the communities in the region that the polytechnic serves.
(2)
When appointing council members, the Minister or council must—
(a)
have regard to subsection (1); and
(b)
appoint people who (in the Minister’s or council’s opinion)—
(i)
have relevant knowledge, skills, and experience in relation to governance; and
(ii)
are likely to be able to fulfil their individual duties to the council; and
(iii)
are, together with the other members of the council, capable of undertaking the council’s responsibilities, duties, and functions.
Section 318: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
319 Chairperson and deputy chairperson
(1)
The Minister may appoint a chairperson and deputy chairperson of the council of a polytechnic from among its members by giving written notice to the member concerned stating the term for which the member is appointed as chairperson or deputy chairperson.
(2)
The Minister may, by written notice to the member concerned, dismiss the chairperson or deputy chairperson from office as chairperson or deputy chairperson.
(3)
However, the Minister may not dismiss the chairperson or deputy chairperson without first consulting them about the proposed dismissal.
(4)
The chairperson or deputy chairperson—
(a)
may resign as chairperson or deputy chairperson by giving written notice to the Minister; and
(b)
ceases to hold office if they—
(i)
cease to be a member of the council; or
(ii)
become the chief executive of the polytechnic or a member of the staff of the polytechnic or a subsidiary of the polytechnic; or
(iii)
become a student enrolled at the polytechnic.
(5)
A chairperson or deputy chairperson who resigns must give a copy of the notice of resignation to the council.
(6)
The chairperson or deputy chairperson of the council holds office as chairperson or deputy chairperson for the term for which they were appointed (but may be reappointed), unless the person earlier dies, is dismissed, resigns, or ceases to hold office under subsection (4)(b).
(7)
If the term of office of the chairperson or deputy chairperson expires before a successor is appointed, the chairperson or deputy chairperson continues in office until their successor is appointed.
Section 319: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
320 Council statutes for appointing members of polytechnic’s council
(1)
The council of a polytechnic may make statutes relating to the appointment of members under section 317(b).
(2)
The statutes may only provide for how the council appoints members directly.
Section 320: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
321 Additional duties of council of polytechnic
When performing its functions or exercising its powers, the council of a polytechnic must—
(a)
consider the need to collaborate with other polytechnics to use resources effectively, to avoid duplicating effort, and to identify opportunities for sharing services; and
(b)
be responsive to industry and community needs, including skills shortages; and
(c)
ensure that the polytechnic operates in a way that allows the polytechnic to develop meaningful relationships and to engage with communities at a local level, including industries, Māori employers, hapū and iwi, and Pacific communities.
Section 321: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
322 Additional requirement for councils of polytechnics to provide information
(1)
The chief executive of TEC may, by written notice to a council of a polytechnic, require the council to provide any information that the chief executive considers is reasonably required in relation to the operation of the polytechnic or any related entity of the polytechnic for the purpose of determining whether there is a risk to, or arising from,—
(a)
the governance, management, or financial position of the polytechnic or any related entity of the polytechnic; or
(b)
the education and training performance of students enrolled at the polytechnic or any related entity of the polytechnic.
(2)
If the council of a polytechnic receives a notice under subsection (1), it must provide the chief executive of TEC with the required information within the period specified in the notice.
(3)
The chief executive of TEC may revoke or amend a notice given under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159KBB
Section 322: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Federation of polytechnics
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
323 Requirement to work in federation
(1)
This section applies to—
(a)
each polytechnic specified under section 315(3) as an anchor polytechnic; and
(b)
each polytechnic designated under section 339 as a federation polytechnic.
(2)
Each polytechnic to which this section applies must work together in a federation with the Federation Committee for the purposes set out in section 324.
Section 323: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Additional provisions applying to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council and subsidiaries[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
324 Purposes of federation
The purposes of the federation of polytechnics are to—
(a)
support and contribute to the long-term viability of the polytechnics in the federation:
(b)
enable federated polytechnics to—
(i)
develop, design, and deliver cost-effective education and training programmes that are consistent with the polytechnics’ characteristics:
(ii)
access relevant services and other shared services that may be required for their effective and efficient operation or management.
Section 324: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
325 Federation of Polytechnics Committee established
(1)
This section establishes the Federation of Polytechnics Committee as the administrative body of federated polytechnics.
(2)
The Federation Committee is a body corporate with perpetual succession and is capable of—
(a)
holding real and personal property; and
(b)
suing and being sued; and
(c)
otherwise doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may do and suffer.
(3)
Despite subsection (2)(c), the Federation Committee may not establish subsidiaries.
Section 325: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
326 Membership of Federation Committee
(1)
The Federation Committee consists of—
(a)
the chief executive of each federation polytechnic and each anchor polytechnic (or a staff member of the polytechnic that the chief executive has nominated); and
(b)
the chairperson of the council of each federation polytechnic and each anchor polytechnic (or a member of the council that the chairperson has nominated); and
(c)
1 person whom the Minister has appointed to be the independent chairperson of the Federation Committee on terms the Minister has specified.
(2)
If the office of chief executive or chairperson of a federation polytechnic or an anchor polytechnic is vacant, the person acting in that office must be treated as the chief executive or chairperson of the polytechnic for the purposes of any meetings of the Federation Committee.
(3)
The Minister may—
(a)
appoint the chairperson for a term not exceeding 4 years:
(b)
reappoint the chairperson for 1 or more terms.
Section 326: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
327 Functions of Federation Committee
The functions of the Federation Committee are to—
(a)
give effect to the purposes of the federation:
(b)
identify, in consultation with federation polytechnics, the services, programmes, and courses that provide practical, affordable, and sustainable ways for those polytechnics to meet the education and training needs of the industries and communities that they serve:
(c)
procure from an anchor polytechnic or another provider the relevant services and other shared services that the council of a federation polytechnic may require for the efficient administration and prudent financial management of its polytechnic:
(d)
commission an anchor polytechnic or another provider to develop or deliver programmes of education or training that are cost-effective, sustainable, and relevant to the educational and training needs of the communities in the regions that federation polytechnics serve:
(e)
engage with councils of polytechnics outside the federation to identify strategies, policies, and practices that would be likely to promote the success and long-term viability of federation polytechnics:
(f)
encourage and lead collaboration between polytechnics in the federation to identify matters of common interest or concern and develop solutions for advancing those interests or addressing those concerns.
Section 327: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
328 Duties of Federation Committee
(1)
The Federation Committee must—
(a)
perform its functions and exercise its powers in a manner consistent with the purposes of the federation; and
(b)
act in the interests of federation polytechnics provided that action is not detrimental to the interests of an anchor polytechnic; and
(c)
ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that each federation polytechnic has access to the relevant services and other shared services that it may require.
(2)
In performing its functions and exercising its powers, the Federation Committee—
(a)
may provide different levels of support to federation polytechnics, based on the needs of each polytechnic in the federation; and
(b)
may treat the interests of a federation polytechnic differently from the interests of another federation polytechnic if reasonable to do so; and
(c)
may not do anything that—
(i)
limits the academic freedom of a federation polytechnic, including the subject matter or method of delivery of a programme of study or training; or
(ii)
unduly restricts the range of programmes or micro-credentials available at a federation polytechnic.
(3)
The duties specified in this section are owed to the federation polytechnics.
Section 328: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Interventions relating to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
329 Federation Committee may charge certain fees
(1)
The Federation Committee may charge a federation polytechnic fees for the relevant services or other shared services that the Federation Committee procures or commissions.
(2)
Fees payable to the Federation Committee—
(a)
are recoverable as a debt due to the Federation Committee; and
(b)
may not exceed the actual and reasonable costs that the Federation Committee has incurred; and
(c)
must be paid in the manner that the Federation Committee specifies; and
(d)
may be refunded or waived by the Federation Committee.
Section 329: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
330 Dispute resolution
(1)
The Federation Committee must implement a procedure for resolving disputes between the Federation Committee and a federation polytechnic arising from—
(a)
decisions about the availability or access to relevant services or other shared services; or
(b)
fees that the Federation Committee or an anchor polytechnic charge; or
(c)
the type or suitability of a relevant service or other shared service that an anchor polytechnic provides; or
(d)
any other matters relating to the manner in which the Federation Committee or a federation polytechnic is performing its duties and functions under this subpart.
(2)
The disputes procedure must be based on the principle that disputes are to be resolved by agreement in an impartial, cost-effective, flexible, and timely manner.
(3)
A federation polytechnic must comply with the disputes procedure.
Section 330: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
331 Federation Committee to be good employer
Section 597 applies to the Federation Committee as if it were an employer in the education service (as defined in section 10(7)).
Section 331: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
332 Application of Public Audit Act 2001 to Federation Committee
(1)
The Federation Committee is a public entity as defined in section 5 of the Public Audit Act 2001 and, in accordance with that Act, the Auditor-General is its auditor.
(2)
The Federation Committee must forward to the Auditor-General,—
(a)
within 3 months after the end of each academic year,—
(i)
the annual financial statements of the Federation Committee; and
(ii)
any other information that the Auditor-General has agreed, or is required, to audit; and
(b)
the annual report of the Federation Committee in a timely manner to enable the Auditor-General to review that report before providing the audit report required under subsection (3)(b).
(3)
The Auditor-General must—
(a)
audit the statements and information referred to in subsection (2)(a); and
(b)
provide an audit report to the Federation Committee within 4 months after the end of each academic year.
Section 332: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
333 Certain acts of Federation Committee invalid
(1)
An act of the Federation Committee is invalid, unless section 334 applies, if—
(a)
the act is contrary to, or outside the authority of, an Act; or
(b)
the act is not done for the purpose of performing the Federation Committee’s functions.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not limit any discretion of a court to grant relief in respect of a minor or technical breach.
Section 333: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
334 Some natural person acts protected
(1)
Section 333, or any rule of law to similar effect, does not prevent a person dealing with the Federation Committee from enforcing a transaction that is a natural person act unless the person dealing with the Committee knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that—
(a)
an express restriction in an Act makes the act contrary to, or outside the authority of, the Act; or
(b)
the act was done otherwise than for the purpose of performing the Federation Committee’s functions.
(2)
A person who relies on subsection (1) has the onus of proving that the person did not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have had, the knowledge referred to in that subsection.
(3)
The Federation Committee must report, in its financial report required by clause 13 of Schedule 18, each transaction that the Federation Committee has performed in the year to which the report relates that was invalid under section 333 but enforced in reliance on subsection (1).
(4)
To avoid doubt, this section does not affect any person’s other remedies under the general law (for example, remedies in contract).
(5)
In this section, natural person act has the same meaning as in section 148(5).
Section 334: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
335 Office holders and employees are officials
(1)
This section applies to—
(a)
office holders and employees of the Federation Committee:
(b)
persons who were formerly office holders or employees in respect of any acts or omissions or decisions made while they were office holders or employees of the Federation Committee:
(c)
individuals carrying out work for the Federation Committee as contractors or on secondment and who are performing or exercising a function, duty, or power of the Federation Committee.
(2)
A person to whom this section applies is an official for the purposes of sections 105 and 105A of the Crimes Act 1961.
(3)
This section does not limit the meaning of official in section 99 of the Crimes Act 1961.
Section 335: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
336 No compensation for loss of office
A member of the Federation Committee is not entitled to any compensation or other payment or benefit relating to their ceasing, for any reason, to hold office as a member.
Section 336: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
337 Role of anchor polytechnic
(1)
An anchor polytechnic must provide the relevant services that the Federation Committee considers necessary to give effect to the purposes of the federation.
(2)
However, an anchor polytechnic may decline to provide (or cease to provide) relevant services if—
(a)
the anchor polytechnic ceases to be an anchor polytechnic; or
(b)
the council of the anchor polytechnic considers that providing the relevant services would—
(i)
unduly limit the capacity of the anchor polytechnic to meet the needs of the communities that it serves; or
(ii)
put at risk its performance, operation, or viability; or
(c)
the anchor polytechnic would have to provide the relevant services at a loss.
Section 337: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
338 Anchor polytechnics may charge certain fees
(1)
An anchor polytechnic may charge fees to the Federation Committee or a polytechnic for the relevant services or other shared services that the Federation Committee or a polytechnic procures or commissions from the anchor polytechnic.
(2)
Before doing so, the council of the anchor polytechnic must consult, and consider the views of, the Federation Committee on the method or methods to be used to determine fees.
(3)
Fees payable to the anchor polytechnic—
(a)
are recoverable as a debt due to the anchor polytechnic; and
(b)
may not exceed the actual and reasonable costs that the polytechnic has incurred; and
(c)
must be paid in the manner that the anchor polytechnic specifies; and
(d)
may be refunded or waived by the anchor polytechnic.
Section 338: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Application of Crown Entities Act 2004 to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
339 Minister may designate or remove designation of federation polytechnics
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, designate a polytechnic as a federation polytechnic.
(2)
Before designating a polytechnic as a federation polytechnic, the Minister must—
(a)
seek and consider advice from—
(i)
TEC on the viability of the polytechnic over the long term; and
(ii)
NZQA on quality assurance matters; and
(b)
consult the polytechnic being considered for designation as a federation polytechnic; and
(c)
consult the Federation Committee; and
(d)
consult other persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(e)
be satisfied that the designation is in the interests of the education and training system as a whole.
(3)
Before designating a polytechnic as a federation polytechnic, the Minister must be satisfied that the designation—
(a)
is necessary or expedient—
(i)
for the polytechnic to deliver the programmes and carry out the activities consistent with the characteristics of the polytechnic; and
(ii)
to support the educational performance, operation, and viability of the polytechnic; and
(b)
meets any additional criteria that the Minister has specified under section 340.
(4)
A notice given under this section may specify the conditions that a polytechnic must satisfy before the designation takes effect.
(5)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, remove the designation of a polytechnic as a federation polytechnic.
(6)
However, before removing a polytechnic’s designation as a federation polytechnic, the Minister must—
(a)
consult the polytechnic whose designation is being considered for removal; and
(b)
consult the Federation Committee; and
(c)
be satisfied that remaining in the federation as a federation polytechnic is no longer necessary or expedient—
(i)
for the polytechnic to deliver the programmes and carry out the activities consistent with the characteristics of the polytechnic; and
(ii)
to support the educational performance, operation, and viability of the polytechnic.
(7)
A notice made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in accordance with the Legislation (Publication) Regulations 2021 | LA19 s 74(1)(aa) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 339: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Further provisions relating to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiaries[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
340 Additional criteria for designating federation polytechnics
(1)
The Minister may specify additional criteria for designating a polytechnic as a federation polytechnic.
(2)
Before specifying the criteria, the Minister must consult the Federation Committee on the proposed criteria.
(3)
The Minister must—
(a)
publish the criteria in the Gazette; and
(b)
review the criteria at least once every 2 years following the date of their publication in the Gazette.
Section 340: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341 Effect of federation membership
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a federation polytechnic has the same autonomy and academic freedom as a polytechnic that is not a member of the federation.
Section 341: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341A Duties of council of federation polytechnic
The council of a federation polytechnic must use the services that the Federation Committee procures or commissions for federation polytechnics to the extent that the council of the federation polytechnic considers necessary to—
(a)
achieve efficiency gains or economies of scale in the operation or management of the polytechnic; or
(b)
improve academic quality and provide a range of education and training options that respond to the needs of the industries and communities that the polytechnic serves, including (without limitation) needs relating to skills shortages; or
(c)
help the polytechnic remain viable.
Section 341A: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341B Polytechnics may seek to join federation
(1)
The council of a polytechnic may apply to the Minister for the polytechnic to be designated as a federation polytechnic.
(2)
The application must specify—
(a)
how the polytechnic meets the criteria specified under section 339(3) and any additional criteria specified under section 340 for designation; and
(b)
the consultation that the council undertook and the feedback it received; and
(c)
the reasons why being a member of the federation—
(i)
would assist in the operation or management of the polytechnic; and
(ii)
would be in the interests of the polytechnic’s students, and the industries and communities in the region that the polytechnic serves.
(3)
On receiving an application, the Minister must—
(a)
consider whether to designate the polytechnic as a federation polytechnic under section 339; and
(b)
grant the application if satisfied that the criteria in sections 339(3) and 340 are met.
(4)
Before determining an application, the Minister may require the council to provide any additional information the Minister considers appropriate.
Section 341B: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341C Chief executive of TEC may direct federation polytechnic to use relevant services
(1)
The chief executive of TEC may direct the council of a federation polytechnic to use 1 or more relevant services if the chief executive considers that it is reasonably necessary to limit or manage a risk, or a potential risk, to the educational performance, operation, or long-term viability of the federation polytechnic.
(2)
The relevant services specified in the direction must be procured or commissioned or made available by the Federation Committee to enable the council of the federation polytechnic to comply with the direction.
(3)
Before giving the direction, the chief executive—
(a)
must consult the Federation Committee and the council of the federation polytechnic; and
(b)
may consult any other persons that the chief executive thinks fit.
(4)
A direction must be in writing and set out the reasons for the direction.
(5)
The council of the federation polytechnic must comply with the direction.
(6)
A direction may be given despite anything in—
(a)
section 267 in relation to the autonomy of institutions; or
(b)
section 260(1) in relation to the power of an institution’s council to determine the programmes of study and training provided by the institution.
Section 341C: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341D Councils of polytechnics not members of federation may request access to relevant services
(1)
The council of a polytechnic that is not a member of the federation may ask the Federation Committee to grant its polytechnic access to 1 or more of the relevant services that are available to federation polytechnics.
(2)
If the Federation Committee agrees to the council’s request, then the council must, if required by the Federation Committee, pay the fees that—
(a)
the Federation Committee charges for those relevant services under section 329(1); or
(b)
an anchor polytechnic charges for those relevant services under section 338(1).
(3)
To avoid doubt, a polytechnic that is not a member of the federation of polytechnics that uses 1 or more relevant services is not a federation polytechnic.
Section 341D: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341E Councils of federation polytechnics and anchor polytechnics may establish or disestablish combined academic committees
(1)
The councils of 2 or more federation polytechnics, or of an anchor polytechnic and 1 or more federation polytechnics, may, by written agreement, establish or disestablish a combined academic committee.
(2)
A combined academic committee—
(a)
consists of the chief executive (or the chief executive’s delegate) of each polytechnic whose council established the committee; and
(b)
may establish subcommittees, consisting of 1 or more of the staff or students of each polytechnic whose council established the committee, to assist the committee in providing advice on academic matters to the councils that established it, including advice on the programmes that are important to the industries and communities in the regions that the polytechnics of those councils serve; and
(c)
takes the place of the academic committee of each of the councils that established the combined academic committee; and
(d)
must, when determining its policies, comply with the requirements of clause 18(1) of Schedule 11.
(3)
The council of a polytechnic that established a combined academic committee may, by written notice to the councils of the other polytechnics that established the committee, withdraw from the committee.
(4)
If the council of a polytechnic withdraws from a combined academic committee, it must establish its own academic committee as soon as practicable.
(5)
If the combined academic committee is disestablished, each of the councils that it served must establish its own academic committees as soon as practicable.
(6)
A reference in this Act to the academic committee of an institution must, in relation to the councils of polytechnics that have a combined academic committee, be read as a reference to the combined academic committee of those councils.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222AR
Section 341E: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341F Minister may direct councils of federation polytechnics and anchor polytechnics to establish or withdraw from combined academic committee
(1)
The Minister may direct—
(a)
2 or more councils of federation polytechnics to establish a combined academic committee; or
(b)
the council of an anchor polytechnic and 1 or more councils of federation polytechnics to establish a combined academic committee.
(2)
Before giving a direction, the Minister must—
(a)
consult the councils of the polytechnics proposed to be directed and the Federation Committee; and
(b)
be satisfied that a combined academic committee is likely to produce decisions (regarding the range and type of programmes that those polytechnics offer) that better—
(i)
reflect the needs of the industries and communities in the regions that the polytechnics serve; or
(ii)
enable those polytechnics to avoid duplication of programmes in the regions the polytechnics serve.
(3)
If a council is directed to establish a combined academic committee, then section 341E(2) applies with any necessary modifications to the committee.
(4)
The Minister may direct the council of a federation polytechnic or an anchor polytechnic to withdraw from a combined academic committee established under this section.
(5)
If a council is directed to withdraw from a combined academic committee, then section 341E(4) to (6) applies with any necessary modifications.
(6)
A council must comply with the direction given under this section.
Section 341F: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341G Administration of Federation Committee
Schedule 11A sets out administrative provisions that apply to the Federation Committee.
Section 341G: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Interventions for polytechnics
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341H Criteria for assessing risks to polytechnics and related entities
(1)
For the purpose of exercising a power under any of sections 341J to 341P, the Secretary must, after consulting all polytechnics, determine the criteria for assessing the risks to—
(a)
the operation and viability of a polytechnic and any related entity of a polytechnic; and
(b)
the education and training performance of students enrolled at a polytechnic.
(2)
The Secretary must publish the criteria in the Gazette.
(3)
The criteria must be reviewed at least once in every 2 years following the date of their publication in the Gazette.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222P
Section 341H: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341I Polytechnics or related entities must provide information if required
(1)
If the chief executive of TEC has reasonable grounds to believe that a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic may be at risk, the chief executive may, by written notice to the council of the polytechnic, require the council to provide either or both of the following:
(a)
specified information about the operation, management, or financial position of the polytechnic or a related entity of the polytechnic at a given time:
(b)
reports at specified intervals on specific aspects of the operation, management, or financial position of the polytechnic or a related entity of the polytechnic.
(2)
If the chief executive of TEC requires information under subsection (1), the information required must relate to the risks to the polytechnic or the related entity of the polytechnic that the chief executive is concerned about.
(3)
If the council of a polytechnic receives a notice under subsection (1), the council must provide the chief executive of TEC with the required information within the period specified in the notice.
(4)
The chief executive of TEC may revoke or amend a notice given under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222Q
Section 341I: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341J Minister may appoint Crown observer for polytechnic
(1)
This section applies if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that—
(a)
a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic may be at risk; or
(b)
the educational and training performance of the students enrolled at a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic may be at risk.
(2)
The Minister may appoint a Crown observer to the council of the polytechnic.
(3)
However, a Crown observer may not be appointed unless the Minister has first—
(a)
consulted the council of the polytechnic; and
(b)
advised the council that the Minister is considering appointing a Crown observer; and
(c)
given the council an opportunity to comment on the proposal.
(4)
An appointment under this section must be in writing and must state the date on which it takes effect.
(5)
A Crown observer may—
(a)
attend any meeting of the council of the polytechnic (or a committee or board of the council) to which the Crown observer is appointed; and
(b)
offer advice to the council (or a committee or board of the council); and
(c)
report to the Minister on any matter raised or discussed at any meeting that the person attends as a Crown observer.
(6)
Except as authorised by subsection (5)(c), a Crown observer must, at all times, maintain confidentiality with respect to the affairs of the council of the polytechnic.
(7)
A Crown observer is not a member of the council of the polytechnic (or a committee or board of the council), and may not—
(a)
vote on any matter; or
(b)
exercise any of the powers, or perform any of the functions or duties, of a member of the council.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222R
Section 341J: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341K Specialist help
(1)
This section applies if the chief executive of TEC believes on reasonable grounds that—
(a)
a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic may be at risk; or
(b)
the educational and training performance of the students enrolled at a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic may be at risk.
(2)
The chief executive of TEC may, by written notice to the council of the polytechnic, require the council to obtain specialist help for the polytechnic or a related entity of the polytechnic.
(3)
The notice must state—
(a)
the help or kind of help to be obtained; and
(b)
the person or organisation, or kind of person or organisation, from whom or from which it is to be obtained.
(4)
As soon as practicable after receiving the notice, the council of the polytechnic must comply with it.
(5)
The council of the polytechnic must—
(a)
provide the information and access, and do all other things, reasonably necessary to enable the person or organisation engaged to provide the help; and
(b)
to the extent that the help provided is advice, take the advice into account in performing its functions and duties; and
(c)
pay the person’s or organisation’s reasonable fees and expenses.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222S
Section 341K: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341L Performance improvement plan
(1)
This section applies if the chief executive of TEC believes on reasonable grounds that—
(a)
a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic may be at risk; or
(b)
the educational and training performance of the students enrolled at a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic may be at risk.
(2)
The chief executive of TEC may, by written notice to the council of the polytechnic, require the council to prepare and give to the chief executive a draft performance improvement plan for the polytechnic or a related entity of the polytechnic.
(3)
The notice must state—
(a)
the matters to be addressed by the draft plan; and
(b)
the outcomes that implementation of the draft plan is intended to achieve; and
(c)
the times by which those outcomes should be achieved; and
(d)
the performance measures that are to be used to determine whether those outcomes have been achieved; and
(e)
the date by which the draft plan must be given to the chief executive of TEC.
(4)
The council of the polytechnic must prepare, and give to the chief executive of TEC by the stated date, a draft plan that complies with subsection (3).
(5)
The chief executive of TEC may—
(a)
approve the draft plan; or
(b)
after considering the draft plan, approve for the polytechnic or the related entity of the polytechnic some other plan that complies with subsection (3) (whether a modified version of the draft plan or a different plan).
(6)
If the council of the polytechnic does not comply with subsection (4), the chief executive of TEC may approve for the polytechnic or the related entity of the polytechnic any plan that complies with subsection (3) that the chief executive thinks fit.
(7)
The chief executive of TEC may not approve any plan, other than a draft plan given to the chief executive, before discussing it with the council of the polytechnic.
(8)
The council of the polytechnic must take all reasonably practicable steps to implement a plan approved under this section.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222T
Section 341L: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341M Minister may appoint Crown manager for polytechnic
(1)
This section applies if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds—
(a)
that there is a risk to the operation or long-term viability of a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic; or
(b)
that the educational and training performance of the students enrolled at a polytechnic or a related entity of a polytechnic is at risk.
(2)
The Minister may, by written notice to the council of the polytechnic, appoint a Crown manager for the polytechnic.
(3)
However, the Minister must first—
(a)
give the council of the polytechnic written notice of the Minister’s intention to do so and the Minister’s reasons for intending to do so; and
(b)
allow the council reasonable time (as specified in the notice) to respond to the notice; and
(c)
consider any written submissions received from the council within that time.
(4)
Whether the time specified is reasonable in any particular case may depend (among other things) on the urgency of the matters the Crown manager must deal with.
(5)
The notice must state—
(a)
the name of the Crown manager and the day on which their appointment takes effect; and
(b)
the functions of the council of the polytechnic to be performed by the Crown manager; and
(c)
any conditions subject to which the Crown manager may perform those functions; and
(d)
any matters about which the Crown manager may advise the council.
(6)
As soon as practicable after appointing a Crown manager, the Minister must notify the appointment in the Gazette.
(7)
While a Crown manager is appointed for the polytechnic,—
(a)
the Crown manager may perform any of the functions stated in the notice appointing them, and,—
(i)
for that purpose, the Crown manager has all the powers of the council of the polytechnic; but
(ii)
in performing any of those functions (and exercising any of those powers in order to do so), the Crown manager must comply with all relevant duties of the council; and
(b)
the council of the polytechnic—
(i)
may not perform any of those functions; but
(ii)
must provide the information and access, and do all other things, reasonably necessary to enable the Crown manager to perform those functions and exercise those powers.
(8)
The Crown manager must perform any function under subsection (7)(a) (and exercise any power in order to do so) in accordance with this Act and, in particular, must have regard to section 267.
(9)
The council of a polytechnic must pay the Crown manager’s reasonable fees and expenses.
(10)
If the Crown manager’s appointment has not been revoked earlier, the Minister must consider whether the reasons for the appointment still apply—
(a)
no later than 12 months after it was made; and
(b)
no later than 12 months after the Minister last considered whether they still applied.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222U
Section 341M: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341N Personal liability of Crown manager
A Crown manager appointed under section 341M is not personally liable for any act done or omitted to be done by the Crown manager, or for any loss arising from that act or omission, if the Crown manager was acting—
(a)
in good faith; and
(b)
in the course of performing their functions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222V
Section 341N: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341O Powers may be used concurrently
To the extent that it is possible in practice, the powers specified in sections 341J to 341P may be exercised concurrently.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222W
Section 341O: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341P Minister may dissolve council of polytechnic and appoint commissioner
(1)
The Minister may, by written notice, dissolve the council of a polytechnic and appoint a commissioner to act in place of the council if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that—
(a)
there is a serious risk to the operation or long-term viability of the polytechnic; and
(b)
other methods of reducing the risk have failed or appear likely to fail.
(2)
A notice under subsection (1) must specify—
(a)
the date on which the dissolution and appointment take effect; and
(b)
the name of the person appointed as commissioner.
(3)
The Minister may not exercise the power under subsection (1) unless the Minister has first—
(a)
consulted the council and any other interested parties about the possible need to dissolve the council and appoint a commissioner; and
(b)
following that consultation, given the council written notice of the Minister’s preliminary decision that the council should be dissolved and a commissioner appointed in its place; and
(c)
allowed the council at least 21 days in which to respond to the preliminary decision; and
(d)
considered any submissions made by the council about why the preliminary decision should not be confirmed.
(4)
As soon as practicable after giving a notice under subsection (1), the Minister must—
(a)
publish a copy of it in the Gazette; and
(b)
present a copy of it to the House of Representatives.
(5)
When a commissioner is appointed under this section, the Minister must review the appointment at least once in every 12 months following the appointment.
(6)
As soon as the Minister is satisfied (following an annual review or at any other time) that the risk that gave rise to the appointment of the commissioner has been reduced enough so that it is appropriate that the polytechnic be administered by a council, a new council must be appointed in accordance with sections 316 to 319 and clause 6 of Schedule 11.
(7)
A commissioner’s appointment ends on the close of the day before a new council takes office.
(8)
Sections 291, 292, and 293 apply, with any necessary modifications, as if a commissioner appointed under subsection (1) were appointed under section 290.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222X
Section 341P: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
341Q Council of polytechnic may request intervention
If the council of a polytechnic requests the Minister or the chief executive of TEC to act under any of sections 341J to 341P, the Minister or the chief executive of TEC—
(a)
must consider any submission or evidence supplied by the council; and
(b)
must consider whether to act under that section; but
(c)
may then (if any necessary conditions are satisfied) act under another of those sections that gives them power to act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 222Y
Section 341Q: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 22 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 5—Private training establishments
342 Minister may recognise categories of private training establishments
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, recognise categories and subcategories of registered private training establishments.
(2)
The Minister must, by notice, specify the criteria for including a registered private training establishment in a particular category or subcategory.
(3)
A notice under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 232AA
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 342(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 342(2): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 342(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
343 Requirement to be registered before providing approved programmes or micro-credentials
A private training establishment must be registered before it can provide an approved programme or micro-credential to a student.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 232C
Section 343 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 343: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Applications for registration
344 Application for registration as registered establishment
(1)
A private training establishment that is a body corporate may apply to NZQA for registration as a registered establishment for the purposes of this Act.
(2)
The application must—
(a)
include a written statement setting out—
(i)
the kinds of education the establishment proposes to provide; and
(ii)
the outcomes it seeks to achieve through the provision of those kinds of education; and
(b)
demonstrate how the establishment intends to meet the requirements of sections 346(1), 347(1), and 348(1) and (2); and
(c)
contain a statutory declaration from each governing member of the establishment in respect of—
(i)
any material conflicts of interest arising from the person’s role as a governing member of the establishment; and
(ii)
any interests that the person has in organisations in the education or immigration sector that provide goods or services to tertiary students; and
(d)
contain a statutory declaration from each governing member of the establishment in respect of the matters described in section 347(1)(a) to (g); and
(e)
describe the arrangements that the establishment has in place to manage any conflicts of interest that may arise; and
(f)
be in a form and contain any other information that NZQA requires; and
(g)
be accompanied by an amount that NZQA requires as a deposit on the fee charged under section 457(1)(a)(vii).
(3)
NZQA may not consider an application for registration if the applicant does not provide all the information required under subsection (2).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 232D
345 NZQA may verify identity of governing members of private training establishment
(1)
NZQA may require a private training establishment to provide evidence of the identities of its governing members—
(a)
before considering its application for registration; or
(b)
at any time there is a change in the membership of the governing members of the establishment.
(2)
NZQA may interview any governing member of the establishment for the purpose of verifying the member’s identity.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 232E
Determination of application
346 Grant or refusal of application
(1)
NZQA must grant an application for registration of a private training establishment if satisfied that—
(a)
every governing member of the establishment is a fit and proper person (after considering the criteria set out in section 347); and
(b)
the establishment has in place effective arrangements for managing any conflicts of interest that exist or may arise; and
(c)
no governing member of the establishment has a material conflict of interest that NZQA considers is or is likely to be unmanageable; and
(d)
no governing member of the establishment has an interest of a kind described in section 344(2)(c)(ii) that NZQA considers is or is likely to be unmanageable; and
(e)
the establishment has, or is to have at the relevant time, adequate staff, equipment, and premises to provide its programmes or micro-credentials; and
(f)
the establishment,—
(i)
if it is already operational, has acceptable financial management practices and performance (for example, is able to pay its staff, taxes, and creditors); or
(ii)
if it is not yet operational, is likely to have acceptable financial management practices and performance (for example, is likely to be able to pay its staff, taxes, and creditors); and
(g)
the establishment complies, or is capable of complying and likely to comply, with the conditions of registration under section 348; and
(h)
before accepting the enrolment of any prospective student, the establishment provides or is to provide that student with a written statement of—
(i)
the total costs and other financial commitments associated with the programme or micro-credential for which the student seeks enrolment; and
(ii)
any material conflicts of interest of any of the governing members of the establishment; and
(iii)
any interests of a kind described in section 344(2)(c)(ii); and
(i)
if the establishment intends to enrol international students, it is to become a signatory to the applicable code issued under section 534 before enrolling any international students.
(2)
Registration may be granted for a specified period or indefinitely.
(3)
The grant of registration does not entitle the establishment or any of its students to receive financial assistance out of money appropriated by Parliament.
(4)
NZQA may refuse to grant registration to a private training establishment or cancel the establishment’s registration (if already granted) if satisfied that a governing member of the establishment has provided a false or misleading declaration under section 344(2)(c).
(5)
NZQA must give written notice to a private training establishment if it grants, refuses to grant, or cancels registration.
(6)
If NZQA refuses or cancels registration, it must give reasons for doing so.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 233
Section 346(1)(e): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 346(1)(h)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
347 Criteria for determining whether governing member is fit and proper person
(1)
For the purpose of determining whether a governing member of a private training establishment is a fit and proper person for that position, NZQA must give any weight that it thinks fit to all of the following matters:
(a)
the person’s experience in the provision of education services (for example, any previous involvement in a registered establishment); and
(b)
whether the person was a governing member of a registered establishment that was closed, sold due to insolvency, or taken over; and
(c)
whether the person has been convicted of any offence involving fraud, violence, or dishonesty, or any offence against this Act or section 352 of the Immigration Act 2009; and
(d)
whether the person is a defendant in proceedings in respect of an offence described in paragraph (c); and
(e)
whether the person was adjudicated bankrupt under the Insolvency Act 2006; and
(f)
whether the person has been prohibited from being a director or promoter of, or being concerned or taking part in the management of,—
(i)
a company under the Companies Act 1993; or
(ii)
any other body corporate; and
(g)
whether the person has failed to disclose any material conflict of interest as required under section 344(2)(c)(i); and
(h)
any other matter that NZQA considers relevant.
(2)
If the applicant has had direct involvement in the provision of education services that have failed, NZQA must give the applicant an opportunity to explain why this is unlikely to occur again.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 233A
Conditions and other requirements of registration
348 Conditions of registration
(1)
A private training establishment must, as a condition of registration,—
(a)
comply at all times with the requirements in the rules made under section 452, except to the extent that NZQA exempts the establishment, by a condition on its registration, from compliance; and
(b)
keep up to date the written statement required under section 344(2)(a); and
(c)
ensure that—
(i)
existing governing members keep up to date the declarations required under section 344(2)(c) and (d); and
(ii)
any new governing member submits the declarations required under section 344(2)(c) and (d) before commencing as a governing member of the establishment.
(2)
NZQA may impose conditions on the registration of an establishment that are specific to the establishment or a group or class of establishments.
(3)
NZQA may, with the agreement of the establishment,—
(a)
impose new conditions on the establishment’s registration; or
(b)
amend or revoke any existing conditions.
(4)
NZQA may, without the agreement of an establishment, impose conditions on the establishment’s registration, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, but only if NZQA has first—
(a)
given written notice to the establishment of its intention to do so; and
(b)
given the establishment a reasonable opportunity to respond to the notice; and
(c)
considered any submissions made by the establishment in response to the notice.
(5)
When conditions are imposed, amended, or revoked, NZQA must give written notice to the establishment of the new, amended, or revoked conditions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 233B
349 Annual registration fee
Every registered establishment must pay NZQA an annual registration fee of an amount prescribed by or determined under rules made under section 452.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 233C
Cancellation and lapse of registration
350 Cancellation of registration
(1)
NZQA may cancel the registration of a registered establishment—
(a)
if it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that—
(i)
the establishment no longer meets 1 or more of the criteria set out in section 346(1); or
(ii)
the establishment is not complying, or has not complied, with 1 or more of its conditions of registration; or
(b)
if the establishment has provided false or misleading information in its application for registration; or
(c)
if it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the establishment has failed or refused to comply with any relevant duties or obligations under this Act, including (without limitation) the obligations relating to student fee protection; or
(ca)
if the establishment has been convicted of an offence against section 352 of the Immigration Act 2009; or
(d)
at the written request of the establishment.
(2)
NZQA must cancel the registration of a registered establishment if—
(a)
the establishment has been convicted of an offence against this Act; or
(b)
a governing member of the establishment is convicted of any serious criminal activity or any offence referred to in paragraph (a), and the establishment fails to comply with a written notice issued by NZQA on reasonable grounds requiring that the person be removed, within 2 months of receipt of the notice, from the person’s position as a governing member and from every other position in the establishment.
(3)
Before cancelling a registration under subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c), NZQA must—
(a)
notify the establishment that it is considering cancelling its registration, and give reasons; and
(b)
give the establishment a reasonable opportunity to respond to the notice; and
(c)
consider any submissions made by the establishment in response to the notice.
(4)
If NZQA cancels a registration under this section, it must give notice of its decision to both the establishment and TEC, with reasons.
(5)
Nothing in this section limits NZQA’s powers under section 459(6)(a) to cancel an establishment’s registration.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 233D
Section 350(1)(ca): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 16(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 350(2)(a): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 16(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
351 Effect of cancellation
(1)
Cancellation of registration under section 350 or 459(6)(a) takes effect on the date specified by NZQA in the notice given under section 350(4) (the cancellation date).
(2)
If the registration of a registered establishment is cancelled under section 350 or 459(6)(a), the following apply from the cancellation date:
(a)
all approved programmes or micro-credentials granted to the establishment are withdrawn; and
(b)
all accreditations granted to the establishment are withdrawn; and
(c)
all consents to assess against standards granted to the establishment are withdrawn.
(3)
No notice is required to be given to a registered establishment for a withdrawal under subsection (2).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 233E
Section 351(2)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
352 Lapse of registration
(1)
The registration of a registered establishment lapses—
(a)
on the date that is 1 year after registration is granted if,—
(i)
within that period, the establishment does not provide an approved programme that it is accredited to provide to enrolled students; and
(ii)
within that period, the establishment does not provide an approved micro-credential it is accredited to provide to enrolled students:
(b)
on the date that is 1 year after the establishment has ceased to provide to enrolled students—
(i)
any approved programme it is accredited to provide; and
(ii)
any approved micro-credential it is accredited to provide.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not affect the registration of a private training establishment if—
(a)
the time for the lapse of the establishment’s accreditation to provide an approved programme is extended under section 443(2) beyond either of the dates specified in subsection (1), in which case the establishment’s registration lapses when the accreditation lapses; or
(b)
the time for the lapse of the establishment’s accreditation to provide an approved micro-credential is extended under section 447(2) beyond either of the dates specified in subsection (1), in which case the establishment’s registration lapses when the accreditation to provide an approved micro-credential lapses.
(3)
Despite anything in subsections (1) and (2), the registration of a registered establishment lapses on the date on which the establishment ceases to be a body corporate.
(4)
If a registered establishment is required under this Act to pay any fees to NZQA, and fails to pay those fees after receiving 2 reminder notices within 3 months, the registration of the establishment lapses on the date that is 1 calendar month after the date of the second reminder notice from NZQA.
(5)
NZQA must give written notice of the lapse of a registration to the establishment.
(6)
If the registration of a registered private training establishment lapses under subsection (1), (3), or (4), any accreditation, approval, or consent associated with the registration is withdrawn on the date on which the registration lapses.
(7)
No notice is required to be given to a registered establishment for a withdrawal under subsection (6).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 234
Section 352(1)(a)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 352(1)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 352(2)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 352(2)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Fees for domestic students
353 Fees for domestic students and employers may not exceed maximums set in conditions of funding
(1)
A registered establishment that receives funding from TEC under section 425 or 428—
(a)
may not exceed the maximum amount when fixing a tuition fee, a fee for the provision of student services, or a fee of a particular kind for any programme or micro-credential at the establishment; and
(b)
must comply with any limit or requirement specified in a condition imposed under section 426 or 429(2) (whichever is applicable).
(2)
[Repealed](3)
In subsection (1), maximum amount means the maximum specified in a condition imposed under section 426 or 429(2) (whichever is applicable) as being the maximum fee (or fee of that kind) that can be charged to a domestic student or an employer.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 234A
Section 353(1): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 17(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 353(2): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 17(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Information that must be given to prospective students
354 Information that private training establishments must give prospective students
A private training establishment must—
(a)
ensure that all information made available to prospective students contains full details of—
(i)
the total fees for each programme or micro-credential, including fees for class or lecture materials, books, special clothing, safety equipment, tools, and any other items that are or may be provided to students enrolled in that programme or micro-credential, and including any students association membership fees; and
(ii)
the class or lecture materials, books, special clothing, safety equipment, tools, and other items that are or may be required by the establishment to be bought or provided by students enrolled in each programme or micro-credential; and
(b)
before accepting the enrolment of any prospective student, give the student a written statement of—
(i)
the total costs of the programme or micro-credential and all other financial commitments associated with the programme or micro-credential; and
(ii)
the cost of fees charged for student services provided by the establishment; and
(iii)
any material conflicts of interest of any of the governing members of the establishment; and
(iv)
any interests of a kind described in any statement required under section 344(2)(c)(ii); and
(c)
give every prospective student a written statement of the student’s entitlements under sections 357 and 529, in the event that the student withdraws from a programme or micro-credential.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 234B
Section 354(a)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 354(a)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 354(b)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 354(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Protection of student fees
355 Application of rules relating to student fee protection
(1)
This section applies to a person who receives money from a student for the purpose of enrolling, or helping the student to enrol, in a programme or micro-credential at a private training establishment.
(2)
The person must comply with the requirements of any rules made under section 452 that relate to student fee protection.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 234D
Section 355(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
356 Student fees must be deposited with independent trustee
(1)
If a private training establishment receives any funds paid by or on behalf of a student in respect of a programme or micro-credential provided by the establishment, the establishment must—
(a)
deposit those funds, as soon as practicable, with an independent trustee approved by NZQA; and
(b)
hold those funds on trust for the student until they are deposited with the independent trustee.
(2)
If a person to whom section 355 applies receives any funds paid by or on behalf of a student in respect of a programme or micro-credential provided by the establishment, the person must—
(a)
deposit those funds, as soon as practicable, with an independent trustee approved by NZQA unless the establishment has made alternative arrangements that are acceptable to NZQA; and
(b)
hold those funds on trust for the student until they are deposited with the independent trustee or in accordance with the alternative arrangements referred to in paragraph (a).
(3)
An independent trustee approved by NZQA must comply with the requirements of any rules made under section 452 relating to student fee protection.
(4)
NZQA—
(a)
may withdraw its approval of a particular trustee if satisfied that the trustee is not managing the trust funds in accordance with the rules; and
(b)
must, if approval for a trustee is withdrawn, appoint a new trustee in accordance with the rules.
(5)
The requirements specified in subsection (1) do not apply—
(a)
in respect of any programme or micro-credential that is exempt from those requirements by any rules made under section 452(1)(u); or
(b)
in the case of a student or group of students for whom the private training establishment has deposited, with an independent trustee approved by NZQA, an amount of money that is sufficient to make the necessary refunds to that student or those students under section 357 or 529.
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 234E, 292G
Section 356(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 356(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 356(5)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
357 Refund entitlements of domestic students
(1)
This section applies to a domestic student who—
(a)
is enrolled at a private training establishment for all or part of a programme or micro-credential of more than 3 months’ duration; and
(b)
withdraws from that programme or micro-credential within the refund period.
(2)
The student is entitled to a refund of the payment (or the sum of any payments) made by the student in respect of the programme or micro-credential that exceeds $500 or 10% of the amount of that payment or the sum of those payments, whichever is the lesser.
(3)
Despite subsection (2), a private training establishment must—
(a)
allow every domestic student enrolled in a programme or micro-credential that is of less than 3 months’ duration to withdraw from it within a period (being less than 7 days) specified by NZQA; and
(b)
refund to every domestic student who so withdraws a minimum amount or proportion, specified by NZQA, of any payments made by the student to the establishment in respect of the programme or micro-credential.
(4)
If the student withdraws from a programme or micro-credential within the refund period, the independent trustee must refund all payments made to it by the private training establishment in respect of the programme or micro-credential—
(a)
to the trustee of the student’s new education provider; or
(b)
if the fee has been paid for by student loan, to MSD; or
(c)
to the student, if neither paragraph (a) nor (b) applies.
(5)
When the refund period, in relation to any fees paid by or behalf of a student, has expired,—
(a)
the fees paid must continue to be held in trust by the independent trustee and the private training establishment must be paid from the trust in the manner prescribed in the rules made under section 452; or
(b)
the private training establishment may, if NZQA approves, make alternative arrangements in relation to the fees paid.
(6)
An instrument containing a specification by NZQA under subsection (3) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 235
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | It is not required to be published | LA19 s 73(2) | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 357(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 357(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 357(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 357(3)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 357(3)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 357(4): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 357(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
358 Rules apply if students withdraw because of programme or micro-credential closure
Any fees paid by or on behalf of a student who withdraws from a programme or micro-credential because of the closure of the programme or micro-credential are subject to the protections set out in the rules made under section 452.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 235C
Section 358 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 358: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
359 Requirement that funds be paid applies to all components of fee payable
The requirement that funds paid by or on behalf of a student be deposited with an independent trustee applies to all components of any fee payable by the student (for example, it includes any component of the fee payable by the student in respect of accommodation costs or agent commissions).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 234C
360 Ministerial direction to registered establishments relating to compulsory student services fees
[Repealed]Section 360: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 18 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Student records
361 Duties of private training establishments to maintain student records
(1)
A private training establishment must—
(a)
keep accurate enrolment and academic records for each student enrolled in—
(i)
a programme or micro-credential provided by the establishment; or
(ii)
standards-based study or training provided by the establishment through a consent to assess against standards granted under section 449; and
(b)
comply with rules made under section 452(1)(q) in respect of those records; and
(c)
ensure that the enrolment records required to be kept under this section are up to date; and
(d)
ensure that the enrolment records are readily available, upon request, to—
(i)
NZQA:
(ii)
Immigration New Zealand:
(iii)
a code administrator:
(iv)
the department for the time being responsible for the administration of the Social Security Act 2018:
(v)
Public Trust, if it is approved as an independent trustee for the private training establishment.
(2)
If a private training establishment closes, the establishment must forward each student’s records to—
(a)
the student’s new education provider; or
(b)
the student, if there is no new education provider.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 236A
Section 361(1)(a)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Subpart 6—Vocational education and training
Subpart 6: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Industry skills boards
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
362 Establishment of industry skills boards
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, establish an industry skills board for 1 or more specified industries.
(2)
An order made under subsection (1)—
(a)
must—
(i)
state the name of the industry skills board; and
(ii)
state the 1 or more specified industries that the industry skills board covers; and
(iii)
state the additional functions (if any) conferred on the industry skills board by the Minister in accordance with section 367(1)(j); and
(b)
may—
(i)
outline the means by which the 1 or more specified industries covered by the industry skills board may engage with the industry skills board in relation to the performance or exercise of its functions, duties, or powers; and
(ii)
prescribe matters relating to the industry skills board’s use of its assets, including assets allocated to the industry skills board from the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or a workforce development council under clause 131(1)(b) or 172(1)(b) of Schedule 1; and
(iii)
impose conditions on the performance or exercise of the industry skills board’s functions, duties, or powers; and
(iv)
subject to sections 363 to 366, provide for any other matters that are necessary or desirable to clarify the governance arrangements of the industry skills board.
(3)
The Minister must not recommend the making of an order under this section or a significant amendment to an order made under this section unless the Minister has—
(a)
consulted the representatives of the 1 or more specified industries covered or proposed to be covered by the industry skills board; and
(b)
taken into account any views expressed by those representatives regarding—
(i)
the proposed name and governance arrangements of the industry skills board; and
(ii)
the desirability of avoiding duplication of resources in the coverage of industry skills boards in relation to the specified industries; and
(iii)
the capability the proposed industry skills board requires to perform and exercise its functions, duties, and powers efficiently and effectively.
(4)
An industry skills board established under this section must comply with the provisions of the order that establishes it.
(5)
Schedule 13 sets out further provisions that apply to an industry skills board and its members.
(6)
An order made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 362: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Workforce development councils[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
363 Membership of industry skills board
An industry skills board must have 8 members, comprising—
(a)
2 members appointed by the Minister by written notice to the industry skills board; and
(b)
6 members appointed by the industry skills board.
Section 363: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
364 Appointment process
The members of an industry skills board are appointed as follows:
(a)
for members appointed by the Minister under section 363(a),—
(i)
the chief executive of TEC must—
(A)
invite nominations and expressions of interest for appointment to the board (including, where appropriate, from industry bodies, employers, and employees the industry skills board covers); and
(B)
recommend to the Minister from the list of nominations or expressions of interest received those persons that the chief executive considers suitable for appointment, having regard to the matters set out in section 365; and
(ii)
the Minister must consider the recommendations made by the chief executive and appoint those persons that the Minister considers are best suited for appointment, having regard to the matters set out in section 365:
(b)
for members appointed by the industry skills board under section 363(b), the industry skills board must—
(i)
invite nominations and expressions of interest for appointment to the board (including, where appropriate, from industry bodies, employers, and employees the industry skills board covers); and
(ii)
appoint 6 members to the board from the list of nominations or expressions of interest received by the board, being those persons who are best suited for appointment, having regard to the matters set out in section 365.
Section 364: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
365 Matters to be considered when appointing members
When appointing members, the Minister and the industry skills board must ensure that the board as a whole, as far as is reasonably practicable,—
(a)
reflects the makeup of the current and anticipated workforce of the specified industries; and
(b)
provides for the collective representation of employers and employees in the 1 or more specified industries covered by the industry skills board; and
(c)
has sufficient—
(i)
skills and abilities to perform the functions of the industry skills board, having regard to the matters set out in section 370; and
(ii)
experience in the specified industries covered by the board; and
(iii)
experience as employers in the specified industries covered by the board; and
(iv)
experience in governance, public administration, and financial analysis and management; and
(v)
knowledge of the vocational education and training system.
Section 365: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
366 Disqualification from office
The following persons are disqualified from being members of an industry skills board:
(a)
a person who occupies a governance role in relation to, or who has an ownership interest in, a provider that offers programmes that must be endorsed by the industry skills board under section 367(1)(f):
(b)
a person who is an undischarged bankrupt:
(c)
a person who is prohibited from being a director or promoter of, or being concerned with or taking part in the management of, an incorporated or unincorporated body under any legislation:
(d)
a person who is subject to a property order under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988:
(e)
a person in respect of whom a personal order has been made under that Act that reflects adversely on the person’s—
(i)
competence to manage their own affairs in relation to their property; or
(ii)
capacity to make or to communicate decisions relating to any particular aspect or aspects of their personal care and welfare:
(f)
a person who has been convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of 2 years or more, or who has been sentenced to imprisonment for any other offence, unless the person has obtained a pardon, served the sentence, or otherwise suffered the penalty imposed on the person:
(g)
a member of Parliament:
(h)
a person who is disqualified from holding an office under an Act.
Section 366: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
367 Functions of industry skills boards
(1)
The functions of an industry skills board, in relation to the specified industries it covers, are—
Workforce analysis and planning
(a)
to undertake strategic workforce analysis and planning for the specified industries:
Developing, setting, and maintaining standards, qualifications, micro-credentials, and capstone assessments
(b)
to develop, set, and maintain skill standards:
(c)
to develop and maintain industry qualifications and micro-credentials for listing on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework and to maintain qualifications and micro-credentials for which it has become the developer:
(d)
to develop and maintain national curricula for qualifications for which it is responsible as a standard-setting body under section 438:
(e)
to develop, set, and maintain capstone assessments based on the needs of the specified industries:
Endorsing programmes and moderating assessments
(f)
to decide whether to endorse programmes developed by providers:
(g)
to carry out moderation activities in relation to any standards and capstone assessments it sets:
Advisory and representative role
(h)
to advise TEC, as provided for in section 411, about the mix of vocational education and training needed for the 1 or more specified industries the industry skills board covers in the manner required by TEC:
(i)
to represent the interests of the specified industries:
Other functions
(j)
to perform any other functions that the Minister confers on the industry skills board in relation to the specified industries.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1)(f), the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, specify criteria relating to when an industry skills board must endorse a programme before it may be approved by NZQA under section 439.
(3)
The Minister must not confer any additional function on an industry skills board under subsection (1)(j) without first consulting the industry skills board.
Section 367: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
368 Industry skills board’s functions in relation to wānanga
(1)
Subject to subsection (2),—
(a)
an industry skills board may endorse a programme developed by a wānanga only if requested by the wānanga:
(b)
a capstone assessment developed by an industry skills board applies to a wānanga only if requested by the wānanga.
(2)
If a programme includes a component of work-based training, an industry skills board may perform its functions under section 367 in relation to the programme.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 483
Section 368: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
369 Duties of industry skills boards
(1)
An industry skills board must comply with any prescribed quality assurance requirements set by NZQA relating to the performance of its functions.
(2)
In performing its functions, an industry skills board—
(a)
must treat all providers and types of providers in a fair, equitable, and consistent manner:
(b)
must take into account the needs of employers and employees in the 1 or more specified industries the industry skills board covers but, in doing so, must also consider national and regional interests:
(c)
must, to the extent that is necessary or desirable in the circumstances, work collaboratively with—
(i)
providers in relation to the functions set out in section 367(1)(b) to (d) and, in the case of wānanga, while respecting their special character under section 398D(c):
(ii)
other industry skills boards, particularly on setting of standards, quality assurance of institutions, setting fees for institutions, and other matters of common interest:
(iii)
NZQA, in relation to moderation, qualifications and micro-credentials development, programme endorsement, and developing, setting, or maintaining skill standards or national curricula:
(iv)
any relevant regulatory body that performs or exercises any functions, duties, or powers under an enactment in relation to entry to an occupation in any of the specified industries the industry skills board covers:
(d)
must, when performing its functions under section 367, take all reasonable steps to avoid any adverse impact on its relationship with a provider or providers.
Section 369: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
370 Performance of industry skills board’s functions and duties
When performing its functions and duties under sections 367 to 369, the industry skills board must act in a manner that—
(a)
contributes towards the creation of a workforce that meets industry needs and is fit for work in a sustainable, globally engaged, and adaptive New Zealand; and
(b)
seeks to contribute to an education system that helps to ensure fair and equitable outcomes for all, including people who have been under-served by the education system; and
(c)
contributes to a well-functioning labour market system in which the specified industries can access the skills required to meet their current and future needs; and
(d)
aims to support and respond to New Zealand’s current and future workforce needs, taking into account the skills, knowledge, and qualifications that learners will need in future to achieve success for themselves and their communities; and
(e)
has regard to the needs of Māori and other population groups as identified in the tertiary education strategy issued under section 7.
Section 370: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
371 Incorporation
(1)
Each industry skills board established under section 362 is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, and is capable of—
(a)
holding real and personal property; and
(b)
suing and being sued; and
(c)
otherwise doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may do and suffer.
(2)
Despite subsection (1)(c), an industry skills board may only establish subsidiaries with the written approval of TEC.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 481
Section 371: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
372 Industry skills board may not operate private training establishment or registered establishment
(1)
An industry skills board may not operate or hold any interest (whether financial or otherwise) in a private training establishment or a registered establishment.
(2)
An industry skills board must not, whether directly or through an agent,—
(a)
provide any education and training approved by NZQA; or
(b)
operate, or hold an interest in, an organisation that provides education and training approved by NZQA.
Section 372: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Audit[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
373 Industry skills board may charge fees for quality assurance functions
(1)
An industry skills board may, by notice, fix fees payable by providers in relation to the board’s activities in performing its quality assurance functions.
(2)
A notice under subsection (1) may fix different fees payable by providers, or a group or category of providers, in relation to training programmes based on the standards set by the industry skills board for qualifications that relate to a specified industry.
(3)
An industry skills board may not issue a notice under subsection (1) unless the chief executive of NZQA is satisfied that the proposed fee is reasonable, having regard to—
(a)
the costs incurred by the industry skills board in performing the activities for which the proposed fee is payable; and
(b)
the fees (if any) fixed by other industry skills boards in respect of the same activities.
(4)
Fees fixed under subsection (1) are payable in the manner prescribed in the notice and are recoverable as a debt due to the industry skills board.
(5)
Before issuing a notice under subsection (1), the industry skills board must—
(a)
consult the providers concerned on any proposed fees; and
(b)
give their views due consideration when deciding on the proposed fees.
(6)
Fees fixed under this section must be limited to recovering the actual and reasonable costs incurred by an industry skills board in performing its functions.
(7)
A fee payable by a provider may be refunded or waived in accordance with any criteria set out in the notice.
(8)
In this section, quality assurance functions, in relation to an industry skills board, means the activities of the industry skills board in relation to—
(a)
administering capstone assessments under section 367(1)(e); and
(b)
endorsing programmes and moderating assessments under section 367(1)(f) and (g).
(9)
A notice made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in accordance with the Legislation (Publication) Regulations 2021 | LA19 s 74(1)(aa) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 373: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Validity of acts[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
374 Annual fee payable by industry skills board to NZQA
(1)
An industry skills board must pay to NZQA an annual fee prescribed by or determined under rules made under section 452(1)(h).
(2)
The annual fee may recover no more than the reasonable costs, excluding those costs that are recoverable through fees charged under section 457, incurred by NZQA for—
(a)
prescribing quality assurance requirements under section 452(1)(i); and
(b)
monitoring compliance, and addressing non-compliance, with those requirements in accordance with its functions under section 433(1)(e); and
(c)
issuing quality assurance improvement notices under section 375.
(3)
The fee is—
(a)
payable by the due date prescribed in the rules; and
(b)
recoverable as a debt due to NZQA.
Section 374: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
375 NZQA may issue quality assurance improvement notice
(1)
NZQA may, if satisfied that action is reasonably necessary to maintain the quality and effectiveness of an industry skills board’s performance of its functions, issue a quality assurance improvement notice to the industry skills board.
(2)
A quality assurance improvement notice must—
(a)
set out any concerns NZQA has about the industry skills board’s systems, practices, or procedures; and
(b)
specify the time within which the industry skills board is expected to address NZQA’s concerns (which must be a reasonable time, having regard to the nature and complexity of the action required); and
(c)
state that, if NZQA’s concerns are not addressed within the specified time, NZQA may issue a compliance notice under section 376; and
(d)
state the possible consequences of a failure to comply with a compliance notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 487
Section 375: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Apprenticeships[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
376 NZQA may issue compliance notice
(1)
NZQA may issue a compliance notice to an industry skills board requiring it to do either or both of the following:
(a)
do, or refrain from doing, a particular thing in relation to a prescribed quality assurance requirement:
(b)
address any concerns set out in a quality assurance improvement notice issued under section 375 that were not addressed within the time specified in that notice.
(2)
Section 459(2) to (5) applies to a compliance notice issued under this section.
(3)
If an industry skills board fails to comply with a compliance notice issued under this section, NZQA may notify the Minister in writing.
(4)
A compliance notice may be issued to an industry skills board whether or not a quality assurance improvement notice has been issued under section 375.
(5)
Nothing in this section limits the power of NZQA to issue a compliance notice to an industry skills board in accordance with section 459.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 488
Section 376: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
377 Application of Public Audit Act 2001 to industry skills board
Each industry skills board established under section 362 is a public entity as defined in section 5 of the Public Audit Act 2001 and, in accordance with that Act, the Auditor-General is its auditor.
Section 377: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
378 Acts in breach of statute invalid
(1)
An act of an industry skills board is invalid (unless section 379 applies) if—
(a)
the act is contrary to, or outside the authority of, an Act; or
(b)
the act is not done for the purpose of performing the industry skills board’s functions.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not limit any discretion of a court to grant relief in respect of a minor or technical breach.
Section 378: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
379 Some natural person acts protected
(1)
Section 378, or any rule of law to similar effect, does not prevent a person dealing with an industry skills board from enforcing a transaction that is a natural person act unless the person dealing with the entity knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that—
(a)
an express restriction in an Act makes the act contrary to, or outside the authority of, the Act; or
(b)
the act was done otherwise than for the purpose of performing the industry skills board’s functions.
(2)
A person who relies on subsection (1) has the onus of proving that the person did not have, and could not reasonably be expected to have had, the knowledge referred to in that subsection.
(3)
An industry skills board must report, in its financial report required by clause 13 of Schedule 18, each transaction that the board has performed in the year to which the report relates that was invalid under section 377 but enforced in reliance on subsection (1).
(4)
To avoid doubt, this section does not affect any person’s other remedies under the general law (for example, remedies in contract).
(5)
In this section, natural person act has the same meaning as in section 148(5).
Section 379: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
379 Availability of apprenticeship training code
[Repealed]Section 379: repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
380 Disestablishment of industry skills boards
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, disestablish an industry skills board and provide for the distribution of its assets and liabilities.
(2)
The Minister may not recommend the disestablishment of an industry skills board under subsection (1) unless—
(a)
the Minister has received a request from the industry skills board or 1 or more of the specified industries covered by the industry skills board for it to be disestablished and is satisfied on reasonable grounds that there are good reasons to do so; or
(b)
the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary to do so because—
(i)
the industry skills board has persistently engaged in unlawful activity; or
(ii)
the industry skills board has persistently failed to perform its functions or duties; or
(iii)
there have been 1 or more serious complaints, or there has been a persistent pattern of complaints, to TEC, NZQA, or the Minister from the 1 or more specified industries that the industry skills board covers regarding the board’s performance or exercise of its functions, duties, or powers.
(3)
An order made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 380: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Apprenticeship training activities
Heading: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
381 Training agreements and apprenticeship training agreements part of employment agreement
Training agreements and apprenticeship training agreements are part of the employment agreement between the employee and employer concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 478; 1992 No 55 s 3
Section 381: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
382 Apprenticeship training activities must be included in proposed plan
(1)
A provider that seeks funding for an apprenticeship training activity (as described in subsection (2)) via a plan must specify in its proposed plan how it intends to carry out that activity.
(2)
The apprenticeship training activities are—
(a)
to promote apprenticeship training generally through providing information, guidance, and advice to employers and prospective apprentices about the benefits of an apprenticeship:
(b)
to identify—
(i)
prospective apprentices; and
(ii)
employers able to offer apprenticeship training that satisfies all of the work-based requirements of the approved programme of the provider:
(c)
to provide or arrange training or employment that may lead to apprenticeship training for prospective apprentices:
(d)
to help prospective apprentices enter into apprenticeship training agreements:
(e)
to produce, and facilitate (in consultation with the apprentice and the apprentice’s employer) the implementation of, individual training plans consistent with an apprentice’s apprenticeship training agreement:
(f)
to monitor individual apprentices to ensure that their apprenticeship training enables them to attain, within a reasonable time, the level of skills necessary to complete a qualification in the skills of the specified industry:
(g)
to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that apprenticeship training, and every apprenticeship training agreement, within a specified industry is consistent with any apprenticeship training code:
(h)
to provide or procure appropriate pastoral care and support for apprentices, having regard to the age and experience of the apprentice and the contents of any apprenticeship training code.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 493; 1992 No 55 s 13D
Section 382: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
383 Duties of persons carrying out apprenticeship training activities
(1)
Persons carrying out apprenticeship training activities (whether or not via a plan) must,—
(a)
in performing any apprenticeship training activity described in section 382(2), comply with every part of the apprenticeship training code that affects that activity:
(b)
before helping a person to enter into an apprenticeship training agreement, advise that person to seek advice about the agreement from an independent person.
(2)
A provider must give written notice to an apprentice under the provider’s care if the provider becomes aware that it is impracticable for the apprentice to continue their apprenticeship training with their current employer.
(3)
A notice under subsection (2) must advise the apprentice that—
(a)
the provider is able to assist the apprentice with finding a new employer with whom the apprentice can complete their apprenticeship training; and
(b)
if the apprentice so requests, the provider will make reasonable endeavours to find a new employer with whom the apprentice can complete their training.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 494; 1992 No 55 s 13E
Section 383: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
384 Minister may issue apprenticeship training code
(1)
The Minister may issue an apprenticeship training code that—
(a)
is consistent with this subpart; and
(b)
sets out the responsibilities of apprentices, their employers, and persons carrying out apprenticeship training activities under this subpart.
(2)
The apprenticeship training code may, but need not, be a code recommended by TEC.
(3)
Before issuing an apprenticeship training code, the Minister may consult any persons or organisations that the Minister thinks fit.
(4)
Before issuing an apprenticeship training code under subsection (1), the Minister must consult relevant industry skills boards that cover the 1 or more specified industries to which the code relates.
(5)
An apprenticeship training code issued under this section—
(a)
is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
comes into force on a date specified in it, being not less than 28 days after it is published under that Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 495, 498; 1992 No 55 ss 13F, 13I
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving enough information to identify it and state where copies of it may be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 384: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
385 Apprenticeship training code to be taken into account by mediator, Employment Relations Authority, and Employment Court
In exercising or performing, in relation to a matter concerning an apprentice, any power or function under the Employment Relations Act 2000, the following must take into account every applicable element of any apprenticeship training code:
(a)
a person providing mediation services under that Act:
(b)
the Employment Relations Authority:
(c)
the Employment Court.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 497; 1992 No 55 s 13H
Section 385: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Industry skills board levy
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
385A Industry skills board levy may be imposed by Order in Council
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, impose a levy on qualifying members of a levy group that is payable to an industry skills board.
(2)
The Minister may not recommend the making of an Order in Council under this section unless the Minister is satisfied that—
(a)
the industry skills board has undertaken adequate consultation on the proposals relating to the levy order with the levy group concerned; and
(b)
the feedback from consultation with the levy group supports the view that imposing the levy is in the interests of all members of the levy group.
(3)
A levy may be payable to—
(a)
1 industry skills board by all qualifying members of the industry that is covered by that board; or
(b)
1 industry skills board by all qualifying members of a specific industry that is within the range of industries covered by that board; or
(c)
more than 1 industry skills board, jointly, by all qualifying members of an industry that is covered by those boards.
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 385A: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
385B Matters to be specified in levy orders
Schedule 16 sets out provisions relating to the matters that must be specified in a levy order made under section 385A.
Section 385B: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
385C Administration of levy orders
Schedule 17 sets out provisions relating to the administration of an industry skills board levy.
Section 385C: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
385D Minister must indicate whether levy order to continue in force
(1)
The Minister on whose recommendation a levy order is made must indicate the Minister’s intentions with regard to the levy order continuing in force by publishing a notice in the Gazette at least 6 months before the deadline that applies under subpart 3 of Part 5 of the Legislation Act 2019 (the 6-month date).
(2)
However, this section does not apply if the levy order has already been revoked, disallowed under subpart 2 of Part 5 of the Legislation Act 2019, or confirmed by an Act before the 6-month date.
Section 385D: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
385E Expiry and revocation of levy order
(1)
A levy order expires 5 years after the day on which it was made unless it is sooner—
(a)
revoked; or
(b)
disallowed under subpart 2 of Part 5 of the Legislation Act 2019.
(2)
A levy order is revoked if the industry skills board responsible for administering the levy is disestablished under section 380.
Section 385E: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 7—Offences
386 Offences relating to information requests from MSD
(1)
Any institution that intentionally fails or refuses to comply with clause 8(6) of Schedule 9 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty specified in subsection (3).
(2)
An institution commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a penalty specified in subsection (3) if, in response to any requirement to supply information under clause 8(6) of Schedule 9, the institution intentionally—
(a)
makes a false or misleading statement; or
(b)
makes a statement from which any material matter has been omitted; or
(c)
provides any false or misleading paper, document, or record; or
(d)
provides a paper, document, or record from which any material matter has been omitted.
(3)
The maximum penalty for an offence against subsection (1) or (2) is a fine not exceeding $5,000, and, if the offence is a continuing one, a fine not exceeding $500 for each day the offence continues.
(4)
Despite anything to the contrary in section 25 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, a prosecution under this section must be commenced within 12 months of the date on which MSD becomes aware of the offence.
387 Other offences relating to information requests from MSD
(1)
A private training establishment that intentionally fails or refuses to comply with clause 9(6) of Schedule 9 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty specified in subsection (3).
(2)
A private training establishment commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalty specified in subsection (3) if, in response to any requirement to supply information under section 9(6) of Schedule 9, the establishment intentionally—
(a)
makes a false or misleading statement; or
(b)
makes a statement from which any material matter has been omitted; or
(c)
provides any false or misleading paper, document, or record; or
(d)
provides a paper, document, or record from which any material matter has been omitted.
(3)
The maximum penalty for an offence against subsection (1) or (2) is a fine not exceeding $5,000, and, if the offence is a continuing one, a fine not exceeding $500 for each day the offence continues.
(4)
Despite anything to the contrary in section 25 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, a prosecution under this section must be commenced within 12 months of the date on which MSD becomes aware of the offence.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 236
388 Offences relating to handling student fees
A private training establishment that contravenes section 356(1) or a person who contravenes section 356(2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292G
389 Offences relating to duties to maintain student records
A private training establishment that fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of section 361 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292D
390 Offences relating to use of certain terms
(1)
A person commits an offence if the person—
(a)
uses the term university to describe an educational establishment or facility unless it—
(i)
is a university; or
(ii)
is a registered establishment or wānanga that has the Minister’s consent under section 456 to use the term; or
(iii)
was a university but, despite being incorporated under section 270(4) into another institution, retains the characteristics of a university as set out in section 268(2)(d)(i) and (ii)(A):
(b)
uses the term polytechnic to describe an educational establishment or facility unless the educational establishment or facility is a polytechnic:
(c)
uses the term institute of technology to describe an educational establishment or facility unless the educational establishment or facility is a polytechnic.
(2)
A person, other than a university, commits an offence if the person grants or purports to grant an award that is described as a degree, or the description of which includes the word bachelor, master, doctor, or postgraduate, unless the person has the consent of NZQA.
(3)
A person commits an offence if the person, without the consent of NZQA, grants or purports to grant an award that (or the name or description of which) includes the word national or the words New Zealand.
(4)
A person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292
Section 390(1)(b): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 24 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 390(1)(c): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 24 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
391 Offences relating to false representations
(1)
A person commits an offence if the person falsely represents, expressly or by implication, that—
(a)
a qualification, credential, or micro-credential is listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework; or
(b)
a programme or micro-credential—
(i)
is an approved programme or training scheme; or
(ii)
leads to a qualification or micro-credential listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework; or
(ba)
a curriculum is a national curriculum recognised under section 438B; or
(c)
a body—
(i)
is a registered establishment; or
(ii)
has accreditation to provide an approved programme or micro-credential; or
(iii)
is providing or purports to provide an approved programme or micro-credential; or
(iv)
has consent to assess against standards; or
(d)
a standard is in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards; or
(e)
the person is an agent of an institution, a government training establishment, a registered establishment, or a relevant school when the person is not.
(2)
A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(3)
A person commits an offence if the person, without reasonable excuse, makes a false representation for the purpose of receiving, or continuing to receive, free tertiary education from a tertiary education organisation.
(4)
A person who commits an offence against subsection (3) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(5)
For the purposes of subsection (3), free tertiary education means any tuition or training—
(a)
that a tertiary education organisation provides to, or arranges for, eligible students; and
(b)
that has costs (which would otherwise be payable by those students) that are (in whole or in part) met by money appropriated by Parliament.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292A
Section 391(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 391(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 391(1)(ba): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 391(1)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 391(1)(c)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 391(1)(c)(iii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 391(1)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
392 Offence to issue false qualifications and falsify records
(1)
A person commits an offence if the person—
(a)
receives an award knowing that the award falsely represents, expressly or by implication, that the person has achieved a qualification listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework; or
(b)
knowingly or recklessly issues an award that falsely represents, expressly or by implication, that a person has achieved a qualification listed on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework; or
(c)
enters or changes an educational outcome on a student’s record of achievement, knowing that or being reckless as to whether the entry or change has the effect of falsifying the student’s record; or
(d)
fails to enter an educational outcome on a student’s record of achievement, knowing that or being reckless as to whether the omission has the effect of falsifying the student’s record; or
(e)
causes, without reasonable excuse or lawful authority, an entry or a change to be made on a student’s record of achievement that has the effect of falsifying the student’s record.
(2)
A person who commits an offence against subsection (1)(a) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(3)
A person who commits an offence against subsection (1)(b), (c), (d), or (e) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292C
Section 392(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 392(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
393 Offence to provide or advertise cheating services
(1)
A person commits an offence if the person—
(a)
provides a specified service with the intention of giving a student an unfair advantage over other students; or
(b)
advertises a specified service knowing that the service has or is to have the effect of giving a student an unfair advantage over other students; or
(c)
publishes, without reasonable excuse, an advertisement for a specified service.
(2)
A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(3)
In this section,—
specified service, in relation to a student, means—
(a)
completing an assignment or any other work that the student is required to complete as part of a programme or micro-credential:
(b)
providing or arranging the provision of an assignment that the student is required to complete as part of a programme or micro-credential:
(c)
providing or arranging the provision of answers for an examination that the student is required to sit as part of a programme or micro-credential:
(d)
sitting an examination that the student is required to sit as part of a programme or micro-credential or providing another person to sit the examination in place of the student
student means a student of a programme or micro-credential.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292E
Section 393(3) specified service paragraph (a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 393(3) specified service paragraph (b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 393(3) specified service paragraph (c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 393(3) specified service paragraph (d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 393(3) student: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
394 Offence relating to registration of private training establishments
A private training establishment that contravenes section 343 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292F(2), (3)
395 Offences relating to enrolment of international students at private training establishments or institutions
(1)
A private training establishment that contravenes section 527(1) or (2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
(2)
The council of an institution that contravenes section 525 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292F
Section 395(2): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
396 Offences relating to allowances and student loans
(1)
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000, if the person, in response to a requirement under clause 3(1) of Schedule 9 or a question asked under clause 3(3) of Schedule 9, knowingly—
(a)
makes a false or misleading statement; or
(b)
makes a statement from which any material matter has been omitted; or
(c)
provides any false or misleading paper, document, or record; or
(d)
provides a paper, document, or record from which any material matter has been omitted.
(2)
A recipient or non-recipient commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 if the recipient or non-recipient refuses to comply with clause 3(3) of Schedule 9.
(3)
A recipient commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding $5,000 if the recipient, for the purpose of receiving or continuing to receive a statutory allowance or student loan, or a statutory allowance at a particular rate or any amount of a student loan, other than that to which the recipient is entitled,—
(a)
knowingly makes a false or misleading statement in an application for a statutory allowance or student loan; or
(b)
knowingly makes a false or misleading statement in a notification of a change in the recipient’s circumstances that materially affects the recipient’s entitlement—
(i)
to a statutory allowance or student loan; or
(ii)
to be paid a statutory allowance at a particular rate or a particular amount of a student loan; or
(c)
wilfully fails to comply with clause 3(4) of Schedule 9.
(4)
Despite anything to the contrary in section 25 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, a prosecution under this section must be commenced within 12 months of the date on which MSD becomes aware of the offence.
General provisions relating to offences
397 Injunctions and orders of High Court
(1)
If a person has engaged, is engaging, or proposes to engage in conduct that contravenes section 525(1) or any of sections 389 to 395 and 398, the High Court may, on application by NZQA, grant an injunction or make any appropriate order—
(a)
restraining the person from engaging in that conduct; or
(b)
for the purpose of ensuring that the person does not engage in that conduct.
(2)
The court may grant the injunction or make the order on any terms that it thinks fit.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292H
398 Liability of body corporate and directors in respect of certain offences
(1)
If, in proceedings in respect of conduct engaged in by a body corporate, being conduct to which any of sections 388 to 395 apply, it is necessary to establish the state of mind of the body corporate, it is sufficient to show that a director, an employee, or an agent of the body corporate, acting within the scope of that individual’s actual or apparent authority, had that state of mind.
(2)
For the purpose of sections 388 to 395, any conduct engaged in on behalf of a body corporate is to be treated as having been engaged in also by the body corporate if the conduct was engaged in by—
(a)
a director, an employee, or an agent of the body corporate, acting within the scope of that individual’s actual or apparent authority; or
(b)
any other individual acting on the direction or with the consent or agreement (whether express or implied) of a director, an employee, or an agent of the body corporate, given within the scope of the actual or apparent authority of the director, employee, or agent.
(3)
If a body corporate is convicted of an offence against any of sections 388 to 395, any director of the body corporate and, if the body corporate is a private training establishment, any governing member of the establishment is to be treated as having committed the same offence, if the director or governing member—
(a)
approved of the act that constituted the offence; or
(b)
knew the offence was to be or was being committed and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent it.
(4)
In this section, state of mind, in relation to an individual, includes the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief, or purpose of the individual and the individual’s reasons for that intention, opinion, belief, or purpose.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 292B
Part 4A Wānanga
Part 4A: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398A Outline of Part 4A
(1)
This Part, which concerns wānanga, is divided into 5 subparts.
(2)
Subpart 1 deals with various preliminary matters.
(3)
Subpart 2 concerns the administration of category A wānanga.
(4)
Subpart 3 concerns the administration of category B wānanga.
(4A)
Subpart 4 concerns the conversion of category A wānanga or category C wānanga to category B wānanga.
(5)
Subpart 5 concerns the disestablishment of wānanga.
Section 398A: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 398A(1): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 15(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 398A(4A): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 15(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
398B Purpose of Part 4A
The purpose of this Part is to provide for the establishment, modification, and administration of wānanga in a manner that gives effect to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports Māori-Crown relationships and, in particular, that—
(a)
better reflects the unique characteristics, functions, and purposes of wānanga in the tertiary education system for delivering the best possible education outcomes for ākonga; and
(b)
recognises the interests of iwi or Māori in ensuring the effective governance and administration of wānanga; and
(c)
enables direct accountability to iwi or Māori for the performance of wānanga.
Section 398B: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Subpart 1—Preliminary matters
Subpart 1: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398C Application
(1)
This Part applies to a wānanga that—
(a)
is established on or after the date on which this Part commences; or
(b)
existed immediately before the date on which this Part commences, and on or after that date—
(i)
reconstitutes its governance or administration to become a category A wānanga; or
(ii)
converts to a category B wānanga.
Provisions that do not apply to category A wānanga and category B wānanga
(2)
On or after commencement of this Part,—
(a)
the following provisions of this Act do not apply to a category A wānanga or category B wānanga:
(i)
section 268 (establishment of institutions):
(ii)
section 269 (constitutions of institutions):
(iii)
section 270 (disestablishment of institutions):
(iv)
section 573 (effect of the disestablishment of institutions):
(b)
the following provisions of this Act do not apply to councils of category A wānanga or category B wānanga:
(i)
section 275 (constitution to provide for membership of councils):
(ii)
section 276 (membership of councils):
(iii)
section 277 (disqualifications):
(iv)
section 278 (appointment criteria):
(v)
section 279 (statutes relating to appointments):
Provisions that do not apply to category A wānanga
(c)
the following provisions in Schedule 11 of this Act do not apply to a category A wānanga:
(i)
clause 1 (constitutions of councils of new institutions):
(ii)
clause 2 (amendment of constitution):
(iii)
clause 3 (limit on number of occasions on which members may be appointed):
(iv)
clause 6 (term of office):
(v)
clause 9 (casual vacancies):
(vi)
clause 12 (removal of members):
(vii)
clause 13 (process for removal):
(viii)
clause 15 (chairpersons and deputy chairpersons):
(ix)
clause 16 (meetings of councils):
(x)
clause 18 (determination of policy):
Provisions that do not apply to category B wānanga
(d)
the following provisions of this Act do not apply to a category B wānanga:
(i)
section 273 (common seals):
(ii)
section 274 (methods of contracting):
(iii)
section 280 (functions of councils):
(iv)
section 281 (duties of councils):
(v)
section 282(4) to (7) (powers of institutions):
(vi)
section 287 (criteria for risk assessment of institutions):
(vii)
section 288 (institutions to provide information to TEC if required):
(viii)
section 289 (ministerial appointment of Crown observers for institutions):
(ix)
sections 290 to 293 (ministerial dissolution of councils and appointments and processes to appoint commissioners):
(x)
section 294 (duties of chief executives):
(xi)
section 295 (delegation of functions and powers of chief executives):
(xii)
section 296 (further provisions applying to delegation):
(xiii)
section 297 (bank accounts):
(xiv)
section 298 (accounts to be kept):
(xv)
section 300 (gifts):
(xvi)
section 305 (institutions are Crown entities):
(xvii)
section 306 (annual reports):
(xviii)
section 307 (requirements to prepare statements or reports):
(xix)
section 308 (availability of annual reports for inspection):
(xx)
section 597 (good employer principles):
(xxi)
section 602 (duty to act independently):
(xxii)
section 603 (appointments on merit):
(xxiii)
section 604 (notification of vacancies):
(xxiv)
section 608 (chief executives of institutions):
(xxv)
section 609 (appointment of chief executives):
(xxvi)
section 610 (reappointment of chief executives):
(xxvii)
section 611 (conditions of employment of chief executives):
(xxviii)
section 612 (removal from office):
(xxix)
Schedule 11 (council procedures).
Provisions that apply to category A wānanga, category B wānanga, and category C wānanga
(3)
Despite anything in subsection (1), the following sections of this Part apply to category A wānanga, category B wānanga, and category C wānanga:
(a)
section 398B (purpose of Part 4A):
(b)
section 398D (what wānanga are (characteristics)):
(c)
section 398Y (disestablishing wānanga):
(d)
section 398Z (effect of disestablishing wānanga):
(e)
section 398ZA (disestablished wānanga and their councils cease to exist):
(f)
section 398ZB (entitlements of certain persons for certain awards):
(g)
section 398ZC (vesting of property of disestablished wānanga):
(h)
section 398ZD (treatment of certain contracts, instruments, and proceedings):
(i)
section 398ZE (continuation of disestablished wānanga for certain purposes):
(j)
section 398ZF (restriction on subsequent distribution of surplus assets).
Relationship of this Part with other provisions
(4)
If a provision in this Part conflicts with a provision in subpart 3 of Part 4 or Schedule 11, the provision in this Part prevails.
Section 398C: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 398C(2)(d)(vi): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
398D What wānanga are (characteristics)
Wānanga are institutions that—
(a)
Māori, primarily iwi, have been instrumental in establishing; and
(b)
are concerned with a wide diversity of teaching and intellectual endeavour (including research) that is—
(i)
closely interdependent; and
(ii)
associated with higher learning; and
(c)
are kaitiaki of mātauranga Māori, te reo Māori, and tikanga Māori within the tertiary education sector; and
(d)
have a role in the promotion and maintenance of social, spiritual, cultural, political, and economic well-being in the community; and
(e)
follow practices that are consistent with mātauranga Māori and tikanga Māori at all levels of governance and operations; and
(f)
accept a role as a critic and conscience of society from a mātauranga Māori, te reo Māori, and tikanga Māori perspective; and
(g)
position themselves within the networks of indigenous tertiary institutions across the world and contribute to the setting of international indigenous standards of teaching and intellectual endeavour, including research.
Section 398D: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Subpart 2—Administration of category A wānanga
Subpart 2: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398E Establishment of category A wānanga
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, establish a category A wānanga.
(2)
Before making a recommendation to establish a wānanga under subsection (1), the Minister must—
(a)
seek advice from NZQA on education quality assurance matters and consider any advice given; and
(b)
seek advice from Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga on whether the proposed wānanga would have the characteristics of a wānanga, and take that advice into account; and
(c)
consult iwi or Māori who are instrumental in its establishment, and take their views into account; and
(d)
consult other persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(e)
be satisfied that any additional functions and purposes of the proposed wānanga and of its council specified under subsection (3)(f) are consistent with the characteristics of a wānanga; and
(f)
be satisfied that the establishment of the proposed wānanga is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole.
(3)
An order made under subsection (1) must do all of the following:
(a)
revoke and replace a previous order, if any, establishing the wānanga; and
(b)
state the name of the wānanga; and
(c)
provide for determining the people who are to constitute the wānanga; and
(d)
set out the governance arrangements for the council of the wānanga, including the constitution of the council and arrangements for the appointment, suspension, and removal of members; and
(e)
set out the procedures for conducting meetings of the council; and
(f)
specify any functions and purposes of the wānanga and its council that are in addition to any functions and purposes of an institution or its council set out in this Act; and
(g)
specify the manner in which policies of the wānanga are to be determined; and
(h)
provide for the establishment and membership of an academic committee to advise the council on matters relating to courses of study or training, awards, and other academic matters; and
(i)
provide for any other matters that are necessary or desirable—
(i)
for the good governance of the wānanga; or
(ii)
to clarify the arrangements for the administration of the wānanga.
(4)
An order made under subsection (1) may do 1 or both of the following:
(a)
set out by way of preamble the historical background to the establishment of the wānanga and any Crown acknowledgments:
(b)
impose conditions on the performance or exercise of the powers of the wānanga.
(5)
An order made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 398E: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398F Appointment of council members
When appointing members to the council of a category A wānanga, the council, or any other person or body making the appointments, must appoint people who (in the opinion of the council, person, or body making the appointment)—
(a)
have relevant knowledge, skills, or experience; and
(b)
are likely to be able to fulfil their individual duties to the council; and
(c)
together with the other members of the council, are capable of undertaking its responsibilities, duties, and functions.
Section 398F: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398G Certain people ineligible to be appointed
A person is not eligible for appointment to the council of a category A wānanga if—
(a)
the person is subject to a property order under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988; or
(b)
a personal order has been made under that Act in respect of the person that reflects adversely on their—
(i)
competence to manage their own affairs in relation to their property; or
(ii)
capacity to make or to communicate decisions relating to any particular aspect or aspects of their personal care and welfare; or
(c)
the person has been adjudicated bankrupt and has not obtained an order of discharge, or their order of discharge has been suspended for a term that has not yet expired or is subject to any conditions that have not yet been fulfilled; or
(d)
the person has been removed from office as a member of the council of any institution.
Section 398G: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398H Statutes relating to appointment
(1)
The council of a category A wānanga may make statutes relating to the appointment of members under its constitution.
(2)
The statutes may—
(a)
provide for direct appointment by the council of a member chosen by the council; or
(b)
require the council to appoint a member—
(i)
of a stated description; or
(ii)
holding a stated office; or
(iii)
nominated by a stated person or body or by a person or body of a stated description; or
(iv)
elected by people of a stated description.
(3)
To the extent that the statutes require the council to appoint—
(a)
a member elected by people of a stated description, they must also provide for the processes by which elections must be held and their results must be determined:
(b)
a member nominated by a stated person or body or a body of a stated description, they must also provide for the process by which nominations may be called for and must be considered.
(4)
For an appointment under a statute providing for any of the matters set out in subsection (2)(b), section 398F is complied with if, when making the statute concerned, the council is satisfied that compliance with the statute is likely to result in the appointment of a person who—
(a)
has relevant knowledge, skills, or experience; and
(b)
is likely to be able to fulfil the person’s individual duties to the council; and
(c)
together with the other members of the council, is capable of undertaking its responsibilities, functions, and duties.
(5)
This section does not limit section 284.
Section 398H: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Subpart 3—Administration of category B wānanga
Subpart 3: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398I Establishment of category B wānanga
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, establish a category B wānanga.
(2)
Before making a recommendation to establish a wānanga under subsection (1), the Minister must do all of the following:
(a)
seek advice from NZQA on education quality assurance matters and consider any advice given; and
(b)
seek advice from Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga on whether the proposed wānanga would have the characteristics of a wānanga and take that advice into account; and
(c)
consult iwi or Māori instrumental in its establishment; and
(d)
consult other persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(e)
be satisfied that—
(i)
the functions and purposes of the proposed wānanga and its council are consistent with the characteristics of a wānanga; and
(ii)
the accountability arrangements set out in subsection (3)(g) and (h) are sufficient for the effective governance and administration of the wānanga; and
(f)
be satisfied that the person or body identified under subsection (3)(g) as the iwi or Māori to whom the wānanga is accountable—
(i)
accepts responsibility for ensuring that the wānanga and its council are accountable; and
(ii)
has access to the skills and resources reasonably necessary to ensure that the wānanga and its council are accountable; and
(g)
be satisfied that the establishment of the proposed wānanga is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole.
(3)
An order made under subsection (1) must do all of the following:
(a)
state the name of the wānanga; and
(b)
specify the people who are to constitute the wānanga; and
(c)
set out the governance arrangements for the council of the wānanga, including the constitution of the council and arrangements for the appointment, suspension, and removal of members; and
(d)
specify the functions, duties, and purposes of the wānanga and its council; and
(e)
set out the procedures for conducting the meetings of the council; and
(f)
specify the collective and individual duties of the members of the council and the manner in which members will be accountable for the performance of their duties; and
(g)
specify the iwi or Māori to whom the wānanga is accountable for the effective governance and administration of the wānanga, and the things for which the wānanga is accountable (for example, the progress made towards achieving the purposes of the wānanga, the financial management of the wānanga, and the educational performance of the wānanga); and
(h)
set out what the wānanga must do to ensure adequate accountability for the effective governance and administration of the wānanga, including—
(i)
requirements for the efficient and prudent financial management of the wānanga; and
(ii)
requirements for financial reporting and reporting on other matters, including (without limitation) requiring wānanga to prepare, in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice (within the meaning of section 8 of the Financial Reporting Act 2013),—
(A)
a statement of service performance; and
(B)
annual financial statements; and
(iii)
the means by which risk to the operation and long-term viability of the wānanga is to be managed, including the range or type of interventions available to address those risks; and
(iv)
requirements for setting the long-term strategic direction and objectives of the wānanga in respect of the performance of its functions; and
(i)
provide for the appointment of a chief executive, including—
(i)
the functions and duties of the chief executive; and
(ii)
the delegation of any functions or duties of the chief executive; and
(j)
set out the requirements relating to the appointment of employees of the wānanga; and
(k)
set out the things that the wānanga must do to ensure the fair and proper treatment of employees in all aspects of their employment; and
(l)
require the wānanga to publish an annual report on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the wānanga; and
(m)
require the annual report of the wānanga to include (without limitation) a statement of—
(i)
the number of employees or former employees of the wānanga who, in their capacity as employees, received remuneration of $100,000 or more (including compensation or other benefits) in the year to which the report relates; and
(ii)
the number of those employees or former employees in each bracket of remuneration in $10,000 increments.
(4)
An order made under subsection (1) may do all or any of the following:
(a)
set out, by way of a preamble, the historical background to the establishment of the wānanga and any acknowledgements by the Crown:
(b)
specify the means by which the council of the wānanga is to engage with the people who constitute the wānanga, and the iwi or Māori to whom the wānanga is accountable for its effective governance and administration:
(c)
impose conditions on the performance or exercise of the functions, duties, or powers of the wānanga and its council:
(d)
specify the manner in which policies of the wānanga are to be determined:
(e)
provide for the establishment and membership of an academic committee to advise the council on matters relating to courses of study or training, awards, and other academic matters:
(f)
provide for any other matters that are necessary or desirable—
(i)
for the good governance of the wānanga; or
(ii)
to clarify the arrangements for the administration of the wānanga.
(5)
For the purposes of subsection (3)(m), employees includes the chief executive appointed by the council of the wānanga.
(6)
An order made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 398I: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398J Appointment and nomination of council members
When appointing or nominating members of the council of a category B wānanga, the council or any other person or body making the appointments or nominations must appoint or nominate people who (in the opinion of the council or other person or body making the appointment)—
(a)
have relevant knowledge, skills, or experience; and
(b)
are likely to be able to fulfil their individual duties to the council; and
(c)
together with the other members of the council, are capable of undertaking its responsibilities, duties, and functions.
Section 398J: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398K Certain people ineligible to be appointed
A person is not eligible for appointment to the council of a category B wānanga if—
(a)
the person is subject to a property order under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988; or
(b)
a personal order has been made under that Act in respect of the person that reflects adversely on their—
(i)
competence to manage their own affairs in relation to their property; or
(ii)
capacity to make or to communicate decisions relating to any particular aspect or aspects of their personal care and welfare; or
(c)
the person has been adjudicated bankrupt and has not obtained an order of discharge, or whose order of discharge has been suspended for a term that has not yet expired or is subject to any conditions that have not yet been fulfilled; or
(d)
the person has been removed from office as a member of the council of any institution.
Section 398K: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398L Membership of more than 1 council
A person who is a council member of a category B wānanga may be appointed as a council member of another institution (whether or not they are institutions of the same kind).
Section 398L: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398M Statutes relating to appointment
(1)
The council of a category B wānanga may make statutes relating to the appointment of members under its constitution.
(2)
The statutes may—
(a)
provide for direct appointment by the council of a member chosen by the council; or
(b)
require the council to appoint a member—
(i)
of a stated description; or
(ii)
holding a stated office; or
(iii)
nominated by a stated person or by a body or person of a stated description; or
(iv)
elected by people of a stated description.
(3)
To the extent that the statutes require the council to appoint—
(a)
a member elected by people of a stated description, they must also provide for the processes by which elections must be held and their results must be determined:
(b)
a member nominated by a stated person or body or a body of a stated description, they must also provide for the process by which nominations may be called for and must be considered.
(4)
For an appointment under a statute providing for any of the matters set out in subsection (2)(b), section 398J is complied with if, when making the statute concerned, the council is satisfied that compliance with the statute is likely to result in the appointment of a person who—
(a)
has relevant knowledge, skills, or experience; and
(b)
is likely to be able to fulfil the person’s individual duties to the council; and
(c)
together with the other members of the council, is capable of undertaking its responsibilities, functions, and duties.
(5)
This section does not limit section 284.
Section 398M: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398N Acts and proceedings not invalidated by certain defects
No act or proceeding of the council, or any council committee, of a category B wānanga is invalidated by—
(a)
a defect in the appointment of a council member or of the committee; or
(b)
a defect in the nomination of a council member or committee for appointment as a council member; or
(c)
a defect in the election of a council member or committee for appointment as a council member; or
(d)
a disqualification of a council member or committee member; or
(e)
a vacancy in the membership of the council or committee; or
(f)
a defect in the convening of any meeting.
Section 398N: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398O Amendments to constitutions
If the council of a category B wānanga recommends to the Minister that the constitution of the council be amended in a manner that complies with the requirements of the Order in Council establishing the wānanga, the Minister must amend the constitution in accordance with the recommendation by notice published in the Gazette.
Section 398O: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398P Application of Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968
The council of a category B wānanga is not a local authority for the purposes of the Local Authorities (Members’ Interests) Act 1968.
Section 398P: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398Q Application of Public Records Act 2005
An institution that is a category B wānanga is a public office for the purposes of the Public Records Act 2005.
Compare: 2022 No 30 s 28
Section 398Q: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398R Application of Public Audit Act 2001
(1)
An institution that is a category B wānanga is a public entity as defined in section 5 of the Public Audit Act 2001 and, in accordance with that Act, the Auditor-General is its auditor.
(2)
The wānanga must forward to the Auditor-General,—
(a)
within 3 months after the end of each financial year,—
(i)
the annual financial statements of the wānanga; and
(ii)
the statement of service performance of the wānanga; and
(iii)
any other information that the Auditor-General has agreed, or is required, to audit; and
(b)
the annual report of the wānanga in a timely manner to enable the Auditor-General to review that report before providing the audit report required under subsection (3)(b).
(3)
The Auditor-General must—
(a)
audit the statements and information referred to in subsection (2)(a); and
(b)
provide an audit report to the wānanga within 4 months after the end of each financial year.
Section 398R: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 398R(1): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
398S Office holders and employees are officials
(1)
This section applies to office holders and employees of a category B wānanga or a subsidiary that it owns solely or together with 1 or more other institutions or Crown entities.
(2)
Individuals working for the wānanga or its subsidiary as contractors or secondees and performing or exercising a function, duty, or power of the wānanga are to be treated as if they are employees.
(3)
This section also applies to a person who was formerly an employee or office holder in respect of any acts or omissions or decisions made while that person was an employee or office holder of the wānanga or its subsidiary.
(4)
A person to whom this section applies is an official for the purposes of sections 105 and 105A of the Crimes Act 1961.
(5)
This section does not limit the meaning of official in section 99 of the Crimes Act 1961.
Compare: 2004 No 115 s 135
Section 398S: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398T Disclosure of interest
(1)
A council member of a category B wānanga, or a council committee member, who has an interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered by the council or the committee must, as soon as possible after the relevant facts have come to the member’s knowledge, disclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the council or the committee.
(2)
A disclosure under subsection (1) must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the council or committee, and the member may not, unless the council decides otherwise,—
(a)
be present during any deliberation of the council or the committee with respect to that matter; or
(b)
take part in any decision of the council or the committee with respect to that matter.
(3)
For the purposes of this section, a person has an interest in a matter if, and only if, the matter relates to the conditions of service of the person as the chief executive or a member of the staff of the wānanga concerned or the person has any other direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the matter.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 175
Section 398T: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398U Fees and allowances
(1)
A member of the council of a category B wānanga (other than the chief executive) may be paid fees at the rates, not exceeding the maximum rates fixed by the Minister in accordance with the fees framework, that the council determines.
(2)
A council member is entitled, in accordance with the fees framework, to be reimbursed, out of the funds of the wānanga, for actual and reasonable travelling and other expenses incurred in carrying out the member’s office as a member.
(3)
In this section, fees framework means the framework determined by the Government for the classification and remuneration of statutory and other bodies in which the Crown has an interest, including statutory entities and their subsidiaries and institutions.
Section 398U: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398V Personal liability of council members
A council member of a category B wānanga is not personally liable for any act done or omitted by the council member or by the council—
(a)
in good faith; and
(b)
in the performance or intended performance of the functions of the wānanga or of the council.
Section 398V: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398W Trust property
Despite anything to the contrary in this Act or any other enactment, any real or personal property held upon trust by a category B wānanga must be dealt with in accordance with the powers and duties of the wānanga as trustee.
Section 398W: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Subpart 4—Conversion to category B wānanga
Subpart 4: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398X Conversion of category A wānanga or category C wānanga to category B wānanga
A category A wānanga or category C wānanga may be converted to a category B wānanga in accordance with clauses 94 to 108 of Schedule 1.
Section 398X: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Subpart 5—Disestablishment of wānanga
Subpart 5: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398Y Disestablishing wānanga
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister,—
(a)
disestablish a wānanga and provide for the distribution of its assets and liabilities:
(b)
disestablish a wānanga and incorporate the disestablished wānanga into another wānanga or other institution, whether the wānanga or other institution is an existing wānanga or other institution or a new wānanga or other institution that is established for the purpose:
(c)
provide for the distribution of the assets and liabilities of a wānanga that is to be disestablished.
(2)
Before making a recommendation, the Minister must—
(a)
give to the council of the wānanga, and any other institution that the Minister considers is likely to be directly affected, written notice—
(i)
setting out the action that the Minister is considering whether to take and the reasons for that action; and
(ii)
inviting the council and institutions to make a written submission to the Minister in relation to the matter; and
(b)
consult iwi or Māori instrumental in the establishment of the wānanga and take those views into account; and
(c)
consult any other person or body that the Minister thinks fit; and
(d)
publish, in the Gazette, the notices that the Minister thinks fit inviting members of the public to make written submissions in relation to the matter; and
(e)
consider any submissions made within a reasonable period in response to the notices.
(3)
The Minister may not recommend the disestablishment of a category A wānanga or category C wānanga, or its disestablishment and incorporation into another wānanga or other institution, unless the Minister is satisfied—
(a)
on reasonable grounds that there is good reason to do so; and
(b)
that disestablishing the wānanga, or disestablishing the wānanga and incorporating the disestablished wānanga into another wānanga or other institution, is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole.
(4)
The Minister may not recommend the disestablishment of a category B wānanga, or its disestablishment and incorporation in another wānanga or other institution, unless—
(a)
the iwi or Māori instrumental in the establishment of the wānanga has determined that there is good reason to do so; and
(b)
the Minister is satisfied that disestablishing the wānanga, or disestablishing the wānanga and incorporating the disestablished wānanga in another wānanga or other institution, is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole; and
(c)
the iwi, hapū, or Māori organisation that is primarily accountable for the wānanga is instrumental in the Minister’s disestablishment decision.
(5)
The Minister must specify in the recommendation the reasons for the proposed disestablishment of a wānanga or proposed disestablishment of a wānanga and its incorporation into another wānanga or other institution.
(6)
An order made under this section must,—
(a)
in respect of the disestablishment of any wānanga, be consistent with the provisions of this Act regarding the distribution of assets and liabilities, including (without limitation) sections 398ZC (vesting of property of disestablished wānanga) and 575A (taxes and duties where assets and liabilities of disestablished institution vested in iwi or Māori):
(b)
in respect of the disestablishment of a category B wānanga,—
(i)
require the wānanga to provide a final report to the Minister; and
(ii)
specify the required content of the final report and the date or dates by which the contents of the report must be provided.
(7)
An order made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 398Y: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398Z Effect of disestablishing wānanga
Sections 398ZA to 398ZF apply if a wānanga is disestablished.
Section 398Z: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398ZA Disestablished wānanga and their councils cease to exist
The disestablished wānanga and its council cease to exist.
Section 398ZA: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398ZB Entitlements of certain persons for certain awards
(1)
A person who would, but for the disestablishment of the wānanga, have been entitled to be granted an award of the wānanga is entitled to be granted an equivalent award at—
(a)
the institution into which the wānanga is incorporated; or
(b)
any other institution that the Secretary directs.
(2)
A person who has partially completed a programme at the disestablished wānanga leading to an award is entitled—
(a)
to enrol in a similar programme at—
(i)
the institution into which the wānanga is incorporated; or
(ii)
any other institution that the Secretary directs; and
(b)
to be granted the status, and the credit for work performed at the disestablished wānanga, as the council of the institution referred to in paragraph (a)(i) or (ii), after consulting NZQA, thinks fit.
Section 398ZB: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398ZC Vesting of property of disestablished wānanga
(1)
If the disestablished wānanga is, immediately upon its disestablishment, incorporated into another institution,—
(a)
all real and personal property that, immediately before the disestablishment, was vested in the disestablished wānanga (including property held on trust) is vested in the other institution subject to all charges, encumbrances, estates, and interests, and any enactment, affecting that property; and
(b)
the other institution becomes liable to pay and discharge all the debts, liabilities, and obligations of the disestablished institution that existed immediately before its disestablishment.
(2)
The following provisions apply to a category A wānanga or category C wānanga:
(a)
if the disestablished wānanga is not immediately upon its disestablishment incorporated into another institution, all real and personal property that, immediately before the disestablishment, was vested in the council of the disestablished wānanga (including property held on trust) is vested in the Crown, subject to all charges, encumbrances, estates, or interests, and any enactment, affecting that property:
(b)
despite paragraph (a), the Minister may, by written notice, direct that any of the following specified real or personal property of the wānanga is vested in the iwi or Māori concerned subject to all charges, encumbrances, estates, or interests, and any enactment, affecting that property:
(i)
property that is derived from the settlement of a claim under Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to the wānanga:
(ii)
property that is gifted to the wānanga by iwi or Māori instrumental in the establishment of the wānanga:
(c)
before issuing a direction under paragraph (b), the Minister must consult the iwi or Māori concerned and any other person or body the Minister thinks fit:
(d)
the Minister is liable to pay and discharge all the debts, liabilities, and obligations of the council of the disestablished wānanga that existed immediately before its disestablishment other than in relation to any property vested in iwi or Māori under paragraph (b).
(3)
If any real or personal property that was held by a disestablished wānanga on trust vests in the Crown under subsection (2)(a), the Minister may appoint another institution or body to be the trustee of that property.
(4)
In the case of a category B wānanga, if the disestablished wānanga is not, immediately upon its disestablishment, incorporated into another institution,—
(a)
all real and personal property that, immediately before the disestablishment, was vested in the council of the disestablished wānanga (including property held on trust) is vested in the iwi or Māori to whom the wānanga is accountable, subject to all charges, encumbrances, estates, or interests, and any enactment, affecting that property; and
(b)
the iwi or Māori concerned become liable to pay and discharge all the debts, liabilities, and obligations of the council of the disestablished wānanga that existed immediately before its disestablishment.
(5)
If any real or personal property that was held by a disestablished wānanga on trust vests in an iwi or Māori under subsection (4)(a), the iwi or Māori concerned may appoint another institution or body to be the trustee of that property.
(6)
If any land vests in an institution, or in the Minister or iwi or Māori under this section, the Registrar-General of Land, on the deposit with the Registrar-General of the plans and documents that the Registrar-General may require, must make the entries in the register and generally do all the other things necessary to give full effect to this section.
(7)
If property is vested in iwi or Māori under this section, the iwi or Māori concerned are responsible for any obligations under section 40 of the Public Works Act 1981 in relation to the vested land (as if they were a local authority).
Section 398ZC: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398ZD Treatment of certain contracts, instruments, and proceedings
Any contract or other instrument (other than a contract of, or instrument relating to, employment) subsisting, or any proceeding pending, immediately before the disestablishment of a wānanga to which the wānanga was a party has effect after the disestablishment as if—
(a)
the institution into which the disestablished wānanga is incorporated or the Minister or iwi or Māori concerned is substituted for the disestablished wānanga as a party to the contract, other instrument, or proceeding; and
(b)
any reference in the contract or other instrument, or in a pleading, affidavit, or other document in the proceeding, to the disestablished wānanga in its capacity as a party to the contract, other instrument, or proceeding is (except in relation to matters that occurred before the disestablishment) a reference to the wānanga in which the disestablished wānanga is incorporated or the Minister or iwi or Māori concerned.
Section 398ZD: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398ZE Continuation of disestablished wānanga for certain purposes
(1)
Despite section 398ZA, the council of a disestablished wānanga that was a Crown entity continues in existence for the purpose of complying, or facilitating compliance, with Part 4 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 and section 306 of this Act in relation to any academic year of the wānanga and,—
(a)
if the wānanga is incorporated into another institution, the council of the other institution; or
(b)
otherwise, the Secretary—
must give to the council of the disestablished wānanga any assistance that the council requires for the purpose of complying with its obligations under those provisions and is responsible for paying any expenses incurred by the council (including remuneration and expenses of members of the council or governing body) in so complying.
(2)
Despite section 398ZA, the council of a disestablished wānanga that was a category B wānanga continues in existence for the purpose of complying, or facilitating compliance, with an order made under section 398Y.
Section 398ZE: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
398ZF Restriction on subsequent distribution of surplus assets
If a wānanga is disestablished, any surplus assets vested in the iwi or Māori concerned under section 398ZC may only be used for a public or charitable purpose to advance Māori tertiary education.
Section 398ZF: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Part 5 Performance, funding, and support
399 Outline of Part 5
(1)
This Part, which concerns performance, funding, and support agencies, is divided into 8 subparts.
(2)
Subpart 1 concerns the Tertiary Education Commission.
(3)
Subpart 2 concerns the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
(4)
Subpart 3 concerns the Education Review Office.
(5)
Subpart 4 concerns the Teaching Council.
(6)
Subpart 5 concerns Education New Zealand.
(7)
Subpart 6 concerns international students.
(8)
Subpart 7 concerns the well-being and safety of students.
(9)
Subpart 8 sets out several offences provisions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 308
Section 399(8): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Subpart 1—Tertiary Education Commission
Preliminary provisions
400 Outline of framework for planning, funding, and monitoring in tertiary education sector
(1)
This section outlines the framework for planning, funding, and monitoring in the tertiary education sector and describes, in general terms, how the framework works:
(a)
the Minister determines the design of funding mechanisms and whether funding under those mechanisms is via plans:
(b)
TEC develops the details of how to implement funding mechanisms:
(c)
TEC issues guidance on what must be contained in proposed plans:
(d)
TEC identifies criteria for assessing proposed plans:
(e)
an organisation prepares a proposed plan—
(i)
in consultation with the persons or bodies the organisation considers ought to be consulted and any other persons specified by TEC; and
(ii)
in a manner consistent with TEC’s guidance:
(f)
the organisation submits its proposed plan to TEC:
(g)
TEC applies assessment criteria to the proposed plan and decides whether or not to give funding approval:
(h)
if the proposed plan is given funding approval, TEC determines the amount of funding payable to the organisation by applying the appropriate funding mechanism:
(i)
if an organisation’s proposed plan receives funding approval, TEC monitors the organisation’s performance to determine if it is achieving, or has achieved, the outcomes it has specified in its plan.
(2)
This section is by way of explanation only.
(3)
If any other section in this Act conflicts with this section, the other section prevails.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159ABA
Tertiary Education Commission
401 TEC continued
(1)
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) established under section 159C of the Education Act 1989 is continued.
(2)
TEC is—
(a)
owned by the Crown; and
(b)
a Crown entity for the purposes of section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(3)
The Crown Entities Act 2004 applies to TEC except to the extent that this Act expressly provides otherwise.
(4)
The members of TEC are the board for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(5)
Schedule 18 sets out provisions regarding TEC, including the funding mechanisms that it operates.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159C
402 Composition of TEC
(1)
TEC comprises at least 6, but not more than 9, members appointed in accordance with section 28(1)(a) of the Crown Entities Act 2004 after consultation with the Minister for Māori Development.
(2)
At least 2 months before appointing a member, the Minister must advertise the Minister’s intention to appoint a member and must seek responses from interested persons.
(3)
When appointing members of TEC, the Minister must have regard to the need for its members to collectively have broad experience and expertise, and deep knowledge, about areas of the tertiary education sector.
(4)
Subsection (3) does not limit section 29 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159D
403 Chief executive
(1)
TEC must appoint a chief executive in accordance with section 117 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
The chief executive may not be a member of TEC.
(3)
TEC must—
(a)
act independently when appointing the chief executive; and
(b)
monitor and evaluate the performance of the chief executive.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159KA
404 Responsibilities of chief executive
The chief executive of TEC must—
(a)
ensure the efficient and effective administration of the affairs of TEC; and
(b)
act in accordance with lawful policies and directions given to the chief executive by TEC.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159KB
405 Chief executive must monitor and report on institutions
(1)
The chief executive of TEC—
(a)
must, on an ongoing basis, monitor institutions that receive funding in order to assess whether the operation or long-term viability of any of those institutions is at risk; and
(b)
may report to the Minister on the outcome of that monitoring.
(2)
In the case of an institution that is a wānanga that is not a Crown entity, the chief executive of TEC—
(a)
may, along with the council of the wānanga, establish a framework for monitoring risk to the operation and long-term viability of the wānanga, having regard to the purpose set out in section 398B and, in particular, the accountability of the wānanga to iwi or Māori; and
(b)
must undertake any monitoring activity in relation to the wānanga in accordance with the framework; and
(c)
may report on the outcome of risk monitoring in relation to the wānanga to the Minister and to the iwi or Māori to whom the wānanga is accountable for the operation and long-term viability of the wānanga.
(3)
Nothing in subsection (2) limits or affects the duty of the chief executive to monitor institutions at risk under this section.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159KBA
Section 405(2): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 11 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 405(3): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 11 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
406 Additional requirement of Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council to provide information
[Repealed]Section 406: repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
407 Declaration of interests
(1)
A person who is proposed to be appointed as chief executive of TEC must declare any interests (within the meaning of that term in section 10 of the Crown Entities Act 2004) to TEC before accepting appointment to the position of chief executive.
(2)
If the chief executive has any direct or indirect interest in any transaction or other matter referred to in section 62 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, the chief executive must disclose that interest to TEC.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159KC
408 Principles guiding how TEC operates
(1)
In performing its functions, TEC must—
(a)
comply with any direction of the Minister given under section 103 of the Crown Entities Act 2004; and
(b)
work closely with tertiary education providers and industry skills boards and their stakeholders.
(2)
TEC must have regard to the tertiary education strategy when performing its functions under this Act or any other enactment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 159AB, 159G
Section 408(1)(b): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 25 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
409 Functions of TEC
(1)
The functions of TEC are—
(a)
to give effect to the tertiary education strategy issued under section 7 by—
(i)
prescribing and publishing guidance on the content of, and processes associated with seeking funding approval for, proposed plans; and
(ii)
prescribing and publishing guidance on the criteria TEC is to use to assess proposed plans; and
(iii)
assessing proposed plans and deciding whether they are to receive funding approval by applying the relevant assessment criteria; and
(iv)
determining the amount of funding payable to organisations by applying the appropriate funding mechanisms; and
(v)
allocating funding to organisations that have plans; and
(vi)
allocating funding to organisations that are not required to have plans in order to receive funding; and
(vii)
prescribing what plan summaries must contain for the purposes of public inspection; and
(viii)
building the capability of organisations; and
(b)
to provide advice to the Minister about the activities and performance of tertiary education organisations and the tertiary education sector generally; and
(c)
to develop details of how to implement funding mechanisms; and
(d)
to implement funding mechanisms; and
(e)
to provide a publicly available careers information service that includes a database of information about occupations and tertiary education and training; and
(f)
to facilitate and strengthen the connections between schools, employers, and tertiary education organisations to ensure that students are prepared for employment and further education or training, or both; and
(g)
to provide advice to the Minister on the implementation of policy and on the operational implications of new policy initiatives; and
(h)
to monitor the performance of organisations that receive funding from TEC, including by measuring performance against specified outcomes; and
(i)
to undertake any functions directed by the Minister under section 416; and
(j)
to undertake any functions delegated to TEC, including (without limitation) functions relating to the funding of organisations other than under section 425 or 428; and
(k)
to ensure the availability within industry of high-quality vocational education and training; and
(l)
to promote the availability of vocational education and training to people of a kind or description specified in TEC’s statement of intent as people to whom that training has not traditionally been available (whether within a particular industry or industries, or generally); and
(m)
to develop and recommend to the Minister an apprenticeship training code for the purposes of section 378; and
(n)
[Repealed](o)
to monitor the performance of persons carrying out apprenticeship training activities (whether or not under a plan) to ensure that they comply with the apprenticeship training code; and
(p)
to exercise the powers and perform the functions of TEC under sections 382 to 385E (which relate to work-based training levies); and
(q)
to undertake any other function conferred on it by this Act or any other enactment.
(2)
In addition, TEC may provide information and other tertiary-related services to the Crown, provided that those functions are consistent with TEC’s statement of intent and are consistent with, and do not displace, any of its functions under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159F
Section 409(1)(n): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 409(1)(p): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 26 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
410 Certain powers may not be delegated
(1)
TEC may not delegate—
(a)
the power to appoint a chief executive; or
(b)
any other power that the Minister specifies by notice in writing to TEC.
(2)
This clause applies despite section 73 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159KG
411 Duties of TEC in relation to industry skills boards
TEC must have regard to advice from an industry skills board in relation to its 1 or more specified industries when assessing any proposed plan under section 425 or when considering funding an organisation other than via a plan under section 428 in relation to vocational education and training.
Section 411: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 27 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
412 Power of TEC to require information from industry skills board
(1)
The chief executive of TEC may, by written notice to an industry skills board, require it to provide the chief executive of TEC with any information about the financial position or operations (or both) of the industry skills board (whether or not funded under a plan under section 425).
(2)
An industry skills board that receives a notice under subsection (1) must provide the chief executive of TEC with the required information within the period specified in the notice.
(3)
The chief executive of TEC may revoke or amend a notice given under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159FB
Section 412: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 27 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
413 Power of TEC to audit industry skills board
(1)
For the purpose of ascertaining whether an industry skills board is complying, or has complied, with this Act, the chief executive of TEC may commission an independent audit of the industry skills board.
(2)
The audit may (without limitation) include an assessment of—
(a)
the performance of the industry skills board’s functions:
(b)
the application of funding that TEC provides to the industry skills board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159FC
Section 413: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 27 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
414 Secretary may delegate certain functions and powers to TEC
(1)
The Secretary may delegate to TEC any functions or powers of the Secretary under regulations made under section 645 or 646 or clause 3 of Schedule 9 (which relate to student allowances).
(2)
A delegation—
(a)
must be in writing; and
(b)
may not include a power to further delegate any function or power; and
(c)
may be revoked by notice in writing.
(3)
TEC may perform or exercise any functions or powers delegated to it in the same manner and with the same effect as if the functions or powers had been conferred on TEC directly, rather than by delegation.
(4)
If TEC purports to act under a delegation, TEC is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159AF
415 Minister may delegate functions or powers to TEC
(1)
The Minister may, either generally or specifically, delegate to TEC any or all of the Minister’s functions and powers under this Act (except those referred to in section 419) or any other Act, including functions or powers delegated to the Minister under this Act or any other Act.
(2)
A delegation must be in writing.
(3)
No delegation under this section may include the power to delegate under this section.
(4)
The power of the Minister to delegate under this section—
(a)
is subject to any prohibitions, restrictions, or conditions contained in any other Act in relation to the delegation of the Minister’s functions or powers; but
(b)
does not limit any power of delegation conferred on the Minister by any other Act.
(5)
TEC may perform or exercise any functions or powers delegated to it in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred on it directly and not by delegation (subject to any general or special directions given or conditions imposed by the Minister).
(6)
If TEC purports to act under any delegation, TEC is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.
(7)
A delegation does not affect or prevent the Minister from performing any function or exercising any power or affect the Minister’s responsibility for the actions of any person acting under the delegation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159I
416 Minister may direct TEC
(1)
The Minister may, in accordance with section 112 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, direct TEC to undertake additional functions that are consistent with TEC’s objectives.
(2)
However, the Minister may not direct TEC to provide or deny funding under section 425 or 428 to any specified organisation.
(3)
If the Minister gives a direction to TEC, TEC must include in its annual report for each year to which the direction relates a report on how it has responded to the direction.
(4)
Every direction must be consistent with the tertiary education strategy and the functions of TEC.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159J
417 Charging
(1)
TEC may charge a commercial rate for any goods and services that it provides under section 409(1)(e) and (f).
(2)
However, TEC may not charge a commercial rate for any other goods and services that it provides unless the Minister approves.
(3)
TEC may charge an organisation a fee relating to the cost of TEC investigating whether the organisation has breached or is breaching a condition subject to which the organisation was given funding approval under section 425 or funding under section 428 if TEC finds that the organisation has breached or is breaching the condition.
(4)
However, TEC may charge a fee under subsection (3) only if it has notified the affected organisation of the proposed investigation and the date on which the investigation is to start.
(5)
In deciding whether to charge an organisation a fee under subsection (3) and the amount of the fee (if one is to be charged), TEC must have regard to—
(a)
the nature and seriousness of the breach; and
(b)
the effect that a fee would have on the operation, long-term viability, and performance of the organisation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159E(1)–(5)
418 Application of Commerce Act 1986
Despite section 6 of the Commerce Act 1986, nothing in that Act applies to TEC except to the extent that it engages in supplying goods and services for which it charges.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159K
Funding mechanisms
419 Minister must determine design of funding mechanisms
(1)
The Minister must determine the design of the funding mechanisms that TEC uses to fund organisations.
(2)
Without limiting subsection (1), in making a determination, the Minister must—
(a)
identify the general form and essential components of each funding mechanism; and
(b)
indicate which of the funding mechanisms relates to—
(i)
funding to be paid by TEC under section 425 (which relates to funding organisations via plans); and
(ii)
funding to be paid by TEC under section 428 (which relates to funding organisations other than via plans); and
(iii)
other types of funding (if any).
(3)
Without limiting subsection (1), in making a determination, the Minister may—
(a)
specify the amount of money, or the proportion of an amount of money, available under any particular funding mechanism; and
(b)
provide for funding to different groups of organisations or types of organisation; and
(c)
provide for different versions of, or modifications to, a funding mechanism when applying it to different groups of organisations or types of organisation; and
(d)
specify the conditions that TEC must attach to funding that is provided under funding mechanisms, including (without limitation) conditions setting limits on and requirements relating to fees, including fees for student services, that organisations may charge—
(i)
domestic students:
(ii)
employers for supporting their employees’ work-based training; and
(e)
provide for funding that targets particular groups of students.
(4)
A determination under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159L
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | It is not required to be published | LA19 s 73(2) | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 419(3)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 21 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 419(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
420 Restrictions on design of funding mechanisms
(1)
In determining a design for a funding mechanism under section 419 or in varying a determination under section 423, the Minister may not—
(a)
identify a specified organisation or specified organisations to which funding is to be provided or denied under any funding mechanism; or
(b)
specify conditions under section 419(3)(d) that set limits or requirements relating to fees that organisations may charge domestic students or that organisations may charge employers until—
(i)
the Minister has published a notice in the Gazette that—
(A)
states that the Minister proposes to specify conditions of that kind; and
(B)
sets out the proposed conditions; and
(C)
invites submissions on the proposed conditions; and
(D)
specifies the date by which submissions must be received, which must be a date no later than 21 days after the date of the Gazette notice; and
(ii)
the date by which submissions must be received has passed.
(2)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159M
Section 420(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 22 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 420(2): repealed, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
421 Funding mechanisms consistent with quality assurance principle
Every funding mechanism must be consistent with the principle that receiving public funds is dependent on an organisation meeting the quality assurance requirements in this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159N
422 TEC to implement funding mechanisms
TEC must—
(a)
develop the details of how to implement the Minister’s determination of the design of funding mechanisms under section 419; and
(b)
implement the funding mechanisms.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159O
423 Variation of determination of design of funding mechanisms
(1)
After TEC has implemented, or started to implement, the funding mechanisms under section 422, the Minister may vary the determination of the design of the funding mechanisms.
(2)
The Minister may only vary a determination—
(a)
if it is reasonably necessary to do so; and
(b)
by making changes in relation to the matters mentioned in section 419(3).
(3)
Before deciding to vary a determination, the Minister must consult—
(a)
all organisations that would be affected by a variation that the Minister proposes; and
(b)
all other persons and organisations that the Minister thinks fit to consult.
(4)
However, the Minister is not required to consult under subsection (3) in relation to a variation of the conditions under section 419(3)(d) that set limits or requirements relating to fees that organisations may charge domestic students and employers.
(5)
If the Minister varies a determination, an organisation affected by the variation must—
(a)
consider whether any amendments are needed to its plan as a result of the variation; and
(b)
if it considers that a significant amendment is needed to its plan, or that its plan needs to be replaced, ask TEC to approve the significant amendment to, or the replacement of, its plan under clause 20 of Schedule 18.
(6)
If the Minister varies a determination and, as a result of the variation, TEC must attach new conditions to funding under a funding mechanism,—
(a)
TEC must attach the new conditions to any funding approval that it has given under that funding mechanism; and
(b)
TEC must notify any affected organisation of the attachment of the new conditions to the organisation’s funding approval; and
(c)
the new conditions take effect on the date on which the affected organisation is so notified.
(7)
A variation of a determination under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(8)
The variation comes into force on the date specified in it, being no earlier than whichever is the later of the following:
(a)
the day that is 3 months after the date on which the Minister varies the determination:
(b)
the beginning of the calendar year after the calendar year during which the Minister varies the determination.
(9)
However, if the variation is in response to, or to support recovery from, an epidemic or an emergency declared or notified under an enactment, the variation comes into force on the date specified in it, even if it is not yet published.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159OA
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | It is not required to be published | LA19 s 73(2) | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 423(4): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 23 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 423(7): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 423(8): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 423(9): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
424 Criteria for assessing proposed plans
(1)
TEC must prescribe and give public notice of the criteria that TEC is to use to assess proposed plans to determine if they are to receive funding approval.
(2)
The prescribed criteria must include (without limitation) criteria for assessing—
(a)
how an organisation contributes to the Government’s current and medium-term priorities described in the tertiary education strategy; and
(b)
the tertiary education programmes and activities of an organisation in relation to which funding is sought under section 425; and
(c)
the performance indicators used in measuring whether the specified outcomes relating to those tertiary education programmes and activities are being or have been achieved; and
(d)
the extent and nature of an organisation’s consultation over its proposed plan; and
(e)
how, in the case of a wānanga, the activities of the wānanga (other than those activities that contribute towards the Government’s priorities set out in the tertiary education strategy) support the functions and purposes of the wānanga.
(3)
When prescribing matters under subsection (1), TEC may include standard criteria, as well as different criteria applying to different organisations, types of organisation, or groups of organisations.
(4)
Notices given under subsection (1) may be—
(a)
given at different times; and
(b)
amended by TEC.
(5)
TEC must give public notice of a significant amendment made under subsection (4)(b).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159Y
Section 424(2)(e): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 12 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
425 TEC may fund tertiary education programmes and activities
(1)
TEC must assess whether a proposed plan is to receive funding approval by applying the assessment criteria prescribed under section 424.
(2)
After applying the assessment criteria, TEC may decide to—
(a)
fund (in whole or in part) all or some of the tertiary education programmes and activities described in the proposed plan under clause 4(d)(i) and (ii) of Schedule 18 in relation to which funding is sought; or
(b)
not fund any of the tertiary education programmes or activities described in the proposed plan under clause 4(d)(i) and (ii) of Schedule 18 in relation to which funding is sought.
(3)
Before deciding not to fund some or any, or part of some or any, of the tertiary education programmes or activities, TEC must—
(a)
notify the organisation of its proposed decision; and
(b)
give the organisation a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
(4)
TEC must give its reasons to the affected organisation if it decides not to fund some or any, or part of some or any, of the tertiary education programmes or activities.
(5)
In deciding to give funding approval, TEC must—
(a)
specify the date from which that funding approval has effect; and
(b)
determine the amount of funding payable to the organisation by applying the appropriate funding mechanism; and
(c)
arrange for the payment to the organisation of the amount of funding determined under paragraph (b).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159YA
426 Conditions on receiving funding
(1)
It is a condition of an organisation receiving funding under section 425 that the organisation supply to TEC or the Ministry, as required by TEC or the Ministry, and in a form specified by TEC or the Ministry, any financial, statistical, or other information that TEC or the Ministry requires the organisation to supply.
(2)
TEC may give funding approval subject to conditions, but only if the conditions are—
(a)
conditions that the Minister has determined TEC must attach to funding under section 419(3)(d); or
(b)
conditions that TEC considers necessary to ensure that the specified outcomes in a plan that relate to tertiary education programmes and activities in relation to which funding is being given are being achieved or are to be achieved; or
(c)
conditions that TEC considers reasonably necessary to enable TEC to effectively monitor the performance of organisations and the tertiary education sector generally.
(3)
If TEC intends to give funding approval subject to a condition of the type described in subsection (2)(c), TEC must, before giving funding approval,—
(a)
give the affected organisation at least 21 days’ notice of the proposed condition; and
(b)
consider any submissions on the proposed condition made by the organisation.
(4)
TEC may amend any condition imposed under subsection (2).
(5)
The amendment to the condition takes effect when the organisation has been given reasonable notice of it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159YC
427 TEC may decline to assess proposed plans
(1)
TEC may decline to assess a proposed plan under section 425 if it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the proposed plan does not adequately satisfy the requirements of Schedule 18 (including, unless the organisation is exempt under clause 7 of Schedule 18, complying with the matters prescribed by TEC under clause 6 of Schedule 18).
(2)
Before making a decision to decline to assess an organisation’s proposed plan, TEC must discuss with the organisation why the proposed plan does not adequately satisfy the requirements of Schedule 18.
(3)
TEC must give its reasons to the affected organisation if it declines to assess the organisation’s proposed plan.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159YB
428 Funding other than via plans
(1)
If a funding mechanism provides for funding for an organisation other than via plans, TEC may fund that organisation in accordance with that funding mechanism.
(2)
Nothing in subsection (1) limits TEC’s powers to fund organisations in other ways under a delegated authority or another enactment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159ZC
429 Conditions on funding received under section 428
(1)
It is a condition of receiving funding under section 428 that the recipient supply TEC or the Ministry, as required by TEC or the Ministry, and in a form specified by TEC or the Ministry, any financial, statistical, or other information that TEC or the Ministry requires the organisation to supply.
(2)
TEC may impose conditions on funding received by an organisation under section 428, but only if the Minister has provided that, under the funding mechanism under which that funding is provided,—
(a)
any or specified conditions may be imposed; or
(b)
specified conditions must be imposed.
(3)
TEC may amend any condition imposed under subsection (2).
(4)
An amendment to a condition takes effect when the organisation has been given reasonable notice of it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159ZD
Subpart 2—New Zealand Qualifications Authority
430 NZQA continued
(1)
The body called the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) in existence immediately before the commencement of this subpart is continued.
(2)
NZQA is a Crown entity for the purposes of section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(3)
The Crown Entities Act 2004 applies to NZQA except to the extent that this Act expressly provides otherwise.
(4)
The members of NZQA are the board for the purposes of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 256A
Section 430(1): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
431 Constitution
(1)
NZQA must have at least 8, but not more than 10, members.
(2)
In appointing members, the Minister must consult the persons, authorities, and bodies that the Minister thinks fit and must have regard to the interests of industry, the professions, and the authorities and bodies that are respectively responsible for providing secondary and tertiary education.
(3)
Subsection (2) does not limit section 29 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 256B
432 Chief executive of NZQA
(1)
NZQA must appoint a chief executive of NZQA, on terms and conditions agreed by NZQA and the person appointed in accordance with section 117 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
NZQA may not delegate the power to appoint a chief executive.
(3)
Subsection (2) applies despite section 73 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(4)
A delegation under section 73 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 to the chief executive, if there is no chief executive for the time being, or if the chief executive is absent from duty, continues to have effect as if made to the person for the time being acting in place of the chief executive.
433 Functions of NZQA
(1)
NZQA has the following functions:
(a)
to oversee the setting of standards for qualifications in relevant schools and in tertiary education:
(b)
to monitor and regularly review, and advise the Minister on, the standards for qualifications in relevant schools and in tertiary education, either generally or in relation to a particular organisation or a particular programme or micro-credential:
(c)
to maintain mechanisms for the recognition of learning (for example, the recognition of learning through qualifications gained and standards met):
(d)
to maintain the Qualifications and Credentials Framework and Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards:
(e)
to monitor, through the exercise of its powers under this Act, compliance by industry skills boards with the prescribed quality assurance requirements, and to address non-compliance:
(f)
to monitor the quality and results of an industry skills board’s systems and procedures for its moderation activities:
(g)
to make rules, not inconsistent with this Act, under any provision of this subpart that empowers NZQA to make rules:
(h)
to ensure there are mechanisms in place to guarantee that relevant schools and tertiary education providers that provide programmes or micro-credentials that, in the view of NZQA, require national consistency have assessment and moderation procedures that are fair, equitable, and consistent, and comply with the appropriate standards:
(i)
to assist overseas governments, and agencies of those governments, by—
(i)
conducting examinations and assessments:
(ii)
approving programmes and micro-credentials:
(iii)
granting accreditations for the provision of approved programmes or approved micro-credentials:
(iv)
assisting governments and agencies to develop and conduct examinations, and to develop and confer awards:
(j)
to maintain effective liaison with overseas certifying and validating bodies, in order to recognise overseas educational and vocational qualifications in New Zealand and to achieve recognition overseas of New Zealand educational and vocational qualifications:
(k)
to ensure that post-school educational and vocational qualifications maintain international comparability:
(l)
to promote and monitor the delivery of inter-institutional programmes and micro-credentials:
(m)
any other functions that are conferred on it by this Act or any other enactment.
(2)
NZQA may consult any persons, authorities, and bodies that it thinks fit for the purposes of performing any of its functions.
(3)
NZQA must have regard to the tertiary education strategy when performing its functions under this Act or any other enactment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 159AB, 246A
Section 433(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 433(1)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 433(1)(e): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 28(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 433(1)(f): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 28(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 433(1)(g): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 433(1)(h): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 433(1)(i)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 433(1)(i)(iii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 433(1)(l): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
434 Additional functions of NZQA relating to entrance to universities
(1)
In addition to its other functions, NZQA has,—
(a)
in relation to the rights of people who have not turned 20 years to obtain entrance to universities, the function of establishing and maintaining, by any means that it thinks fit, a common educational standard as a prerequisite for entrance to a university, other than discretionary entrance and entrance ad eundem statum; and
(b)
the function of consulting the universities about the criteria to be established for discretionary entrance, or entrance ad eundem statum, to universities.
(2)
A person who is refused discretionary entrance or entrance ad eundem statum to a university on grounds relating to the person’s educational qualifications may appeal to NZQA against the refusal.
(3)
NZQA must consider the appeal and,—
(a)
if it is satisfied that the person meets the criteria established by the universities, as mentioned in subsection (1)(b), must allow the appeal and direct the council of the university concerned to admit the person as a student and, where appropriate, to grant the person the status that NZQA determines; or
(b)
if it is not so satisfied, must dismiss the appeal.
(4)
The council of a university must comply with a direction given to it by NZQA under subsection (3)(a).
(5)
Before establishing standards for entrance to universities, NZQA must consult the council of each university and the Vice-Chancellors Committee.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 247
435 Research
NZQA has the power to carry out any research activities that it considers relevant to the performance of its functions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 256
Qualifications and Credentials Framework
Heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 24 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
436 Qualifications and Credentials Framework
(1)
The Qualifications and Credentials Framework—
(a)
consists of all qualifications and micro-credentials that have been approved and listed by NZQA in accordance with the rules made under section 452; and
(b)
includes the rules relating to the framework made under that section.
(2)
NZQA—
(a)
must list on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework all qualifications and micro-credentials that it has approved in accordance with the rules made under section 452:
(b)
may, in accordance with the rules, review, amend, remove, or alter the status of any qualification or micro-credential on the framework.
(3)
If a qualification is removed from the Qualifications and Credentials Framework,—
(a)
any programme approval granted to an institution under section 439 in respect of that qualification lapses; and
(b)
any accreditation granted to an institution under section 441 in respect of that qualification lapses.
(4)
If a micro-credential is removed from the Qualifications and Credentials Framework,—
(a)
any approval of the content of that micro-credential granted to an institution under section 445 lapses; and
(b)
any accreditation granted to an institution under section 446A to provide that micro-credential lapses.
Section 436: replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 25 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards
Heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 26 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
437 Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards
(1)
The Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards consists of all assessment and skill standards approved by NZQA for use by institutions as standards for the assessment of students.
(2)
An application to have standards listed in the Directory—
(a)
may only be made by an approved standard-setting body; and
(b)
must be made in accordance with the rules.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 248A
Section 437 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 27(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 437(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 27(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
438 Standard-setting bodies
(1)
An approved standard-setting body includes—
(a)
an industry skills board established under section 362; and
(b)
the Ministry; and
(c)
NZQA; and
(d)
any other body approved by NZQA under subsection (3).
(2)
A body may apply, in accordance with the rules, to NZQA for approval as a standard-setting body.
(3)
In deciding whether to approve a standard-setting body, NZQA must apply the criteria set out in the rules, and must be satisfied that the applicant is able to—
(a)
draft standards that meet the requirements in the rules; and
(b)
manage consistency across New Zealand in learning outcomes in the relevant subject areas; and
(c)
carry out national moderation of assessment of students; and
(d)
develop and maintain national curricula for qualifications for which the standard-setting body is responsible.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 248B
Section 438(1)(a): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 29 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 438(3)(d): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 28 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
438A Standard-setting bodies may develop national curricula
(1)
An approved standard-setting body may develop and maintain a national curriculum for a qualification for which the body is responsible.
(2)
In performing this function, a standard-setting body must, to the extent that is necessary or desirable in the circumstances, work collaboratively with—
(a)
providers:
(b)
other standard-setting bodies, particularly on matters of common interest:
(c)
NZQA:
(d)
any relevant regulatory body that performs or exercises any functions, duties, or powers under an enactment in relation to entry to an occupation in any of the specified industries covered by the standard-setting body.
Section 438A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 29 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
438B Recognition of national curricula
(1)
The standard-setting body may apply to NZQA for recognition of a national curriculum.
(2)
NZQA—
(a)
may grant or refuse to grant recognition of the national curriculum to the applicant; and
(b)
must give the applicant written notice of its decision to grant or refuse recognition; and
(c)
may grant recognition for a specified period or indefinitely.
(3)
If 2 or more standard-setting bodies have developed a national curriculum together, they may make a joint application for recognition of the national curriculum.
(4)
If NZQA considers that there may be grounds for withdrawing recognition of a national curriculum,—
(a)
NZQA must give written notice to the standard-setting body concerned stating the grounds on which NZQA is considering withdrawing recognition; and
(b)
NZQA must give the standard-setting body reasonable time (as specified in the notice) to make submissions on the matter; and
(c)
after considering those submissions, NZQA—
(i)
may withdraw recognition from a specified date if it considers there are reasonable grounds to do so; and
(ii)
must notify the standard-setting body of the withdrawal (if any) and the reasons for it.
(5)
NZQA may withdraw recognition of a national curriculum from a specified date at the written request of the standard-setting body concerned.
Section 438B: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 29 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
438C Recognised national curriculum treated as approved programme
(1)
For the purposes of this Act, a national curriculum that is recognised under section 438B is to be treated as if it were a programme granted approval under section 439 and any reference in this Act to an approved programme applies to that national curriculum.
(2)
However, the following sections do not apply in respect of a recognised national curriculum:
(a)
section 440 (which relates to conditions on programme approvals):
(b)
section 459 (which relates to compliance notices).
Section 438C: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 29 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Approval of programmes
Heading: inserted, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
439 Approval of programmes
(1)
An institution may apply to NZQA for approval of a programme.
(2)
NZQA—
(a)
may grant or refuse to grant approval of the programme to the applicant; and
(b)
is required only to consider the programme as a whole; and
(c)
must give the applicant written notice of its decision to grant or refuse approval; and
(d)
may grant approval for a specified period or indefinitely.
(3)
If 2 or more institutions have prepared a programme together, they may make a joint application for approval of the programme.
(4)
If NZQA considers that there may be grounds for withdrawing approval of a programme,—
(a)
NZQA must give written notice to the institution concerned stating the grounds on which NZQA is considering withdrawing approval; and
(b)
NZQA must give the institution reasonable time (as specified in the notice) to make submissions on the matter; and
(c)
after considering those submissions, NZQA—
(i)
may withdraw approval if it considers there are reasonable grounds to do so; and
(ii)
must notify the institution of the withdrawal (if any) and the reasons for it.
(5)
NZQA may withdraw approval of a programme at the written request of the institution concerned.
(6)
This section—
(a)
is subject to section 453:
(b)
does not limit NZQA’s power to withdraw a programme approval under section 459(6):
(c)
does not apply in respect of NCEA.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 249
440 Conditions on programme approvals
(1)
Every programme approval is subject to the condition that the institution complies at all times with the relevant rules, except to the extent that NZQA exempts the institution, by a condition on the approval, from compliance.
(2)
When approving a programme, NZQA may impose conditions on the approval that are specific to the programme or to a class of programmes.
(3)
NZQA may, with the agreement of the institution that holds the programme approval,—
(a)
impose new conditions on the approval; or
(b)
amend or revoke any existing conditions.
(4)
NZQA may, without the agreement of the institution, impose conditions on a programme approval, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, but only if NZQA has first—
(a)
given written notice to the institution of its intentions; and
(b)
given the institution a reasonable opportunity to respond to the notice; and
(c)
considered any submissions made by the institution in response to the notice.
(5)
When conditions are imposed, amended, or revoked, NZQA must give notice in writing to the institution that holds the approval of the new, amended, or revoked conditions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 249A
Accreditation to provide approved programmes
441 Accreditation to provide approved programmes
(1)
An institution may not offer or provide all or part of an approved programme unless the institution is granted accreditation to provide the programme or part of the programme.
(2)
An institution may apply to NZQA for a grant of accreditation to provide all or part of a programme.
(3)
[Repealed](4)
NZQA—
(a)
may grant or refuse to grant accreditation to the institution to provide all or part of the programme; and
(b)
must give the institution written notice of its decision to grant or refuse accreditation; and
(c)
may grant accreditation for a specified period or indefinitely.
(4A)
If NZQA grants accreditation to the institution to provide all or part of the programme and the programme or part of the programme incorporates standards from the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards, the institution is authorised to assess against those standards.
(5)
This section—
(a)
does not apply to any secondary school qualification or class of secondary school qualification that NZQA exempts, by notice, from the application of this section:
(b)
is subject to section 453.
(6)
A notice under subsection (5)(a) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 250
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 441(3): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 30(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 441(4)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 441(4A): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 30(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 441(5)(a): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 441(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
442 Conditions on accreditation
(1)
Every accreditation to provide an approved programme is subject to the condition that the institution complies at all times with the relevant rules made under section 452, except to the extent that NZQA exempts the institution, by a condition on the accreditation, from compliance.
(2)
When granting accreditation to an institution to provide an approved programme, NZQA may impose conditions on the accreditation that are—
(a)
specific to the programme or a particular class of programmes; or
(b)
specific to the institution or a particular class of institutions.
(3)
NZQA may, with the agreement of the accredited institution, impose new conditions on the accreditation and may amend or revoke any existing conditions.
(4)
NZQA may, without the agreement of the institution, impose conditions on an accreditation, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, but only if NZQA has first—
(a)
given written notice to the institution of its intentions; and
(b)
given the institution a reasonable opportunity to respond to the notice; and
(c)
considered any submissions made by the institution in response to the notice.
(5)
When conditions are imposed, amended, or revoked, NZQA must give notice in writing to the accredited institution of the new, amended, or revoked conditions.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 250A
Section 442(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
443 Lapse of accreditation to provide approved programme
(1)
An accreditation to provide an approved programme granted to an institution lapses when—
(a)
12 months have passed since accreditation was granted and the institution has not during that time provided all or part of the programme to which the accreditation relates; or
(b)
12 months have passed since the institution last provided all or part of the programme to which the accreditation relates; or
(c)
the programme to which the accreditation relates ceases to be an approved programme; or
(d)
the status of the qualification to which the accreditation relates is discontinued on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework.
(2)
Despite subsection (1), NZQA may, if it considers that the circumstances so require, extend the time specified in subsection (1)(a) or (b).
(3)
NZQA must give written notice of the lapse of an accreditation to the institution concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 250B
Section 443 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 443(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 443(1)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
444 Withdrawal of accreditation to provide approved programme
(1)
If NZQA considers that there may be grounds for withdrawing an accreditation to provide an approved programme from an institution, NZQA must give written notice to the institution—
(a)
setting out the grounds on which NZQA is considering withdrawing the accreditation; and
(b)
giving the institution a reasonable period to make submissions on the matter.
(2)
After that period, and having considered any submission made by the institution, NZQA may, on any reasonable grounds, withdraw the accreditation.
(3)
If NZQA withdraws an accreditation under subsection (2), it must give notice of the withdrawal, with reasons, to the institution concerned.
(4)
NZQA may withdraw an accreditation at the written request of the institution concerned.
(5)
This section does not limit NZQA’s power to withdraw an accreditation under section 459(6).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 250C
Section 444 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 444(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Micro-credentials
Heading: replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 31 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
445 Application for micro-credential approval
(1)
An institution may apply to NZQA for approval of the content of a micro-credential.
(2)
NZQA—
(a)
may grant or refuse to grant approval of the content of the micro-credential; and
(b)
must give the institution and any joint applicant written notice of its decision to grant or refuse approval; and
(c)
may grant approval for a specified period or indefinitely.
(3)
[Repealed](4)
This section does not apply to any secondary school qualification or class of secondary school qualification that NZQA exempts, by notice, from the application of this section.
(5)
A notice under subsection (4) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 251
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 445 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 32(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 445(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 32(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 445(2)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 32(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 445(3): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 32(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 445(4): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 445(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
446 Conditions of micro-credential approval
(1)
Every approval of the content of a micro-credential is subject to the condition that the institution complies at all times with the relevant rules made under section 452 except to the extent that NZQA exempts the institution, by a condition on the approval, from compliance.
(2)
NZQA may impose conditions on an approval, and, for that purpose, section 442(2) to (5) applies as if each reference to accreditation or accreditation to provide an approved programme were a reference to a training scheme approval under this section.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 251A
Section 446 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 446(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 446(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
446A Accreditation to provide approved micro-credentials
(1)
An institution may not offer or provide an approved micro-credential unless the institution is granted accreditation to provide the micro-credential.
(2)
An institution may apply to NZQA for accreditation to provide a micro-credential.
(3)
NZQA—
(a)
may grant or refuse to grant accreditation to the institution to provide the micro-credential; and
(b)
must give the institution written notice of its decision to grant or refuse accreditation; and
(c)
may grant accreditation for a specified period or indefinitely.
(4)
If NZQA grants accreditation to the institution to provide the micro-credential and the micro-credential incorporates standards from the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards, the institution is authorised to assess against those standards.
Section 446A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 33 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
446B Conditions on accreditation to provide approved micro-credentials
(1)
Every accreditation to provide an approved micro-credential is subject to the condition that the institution complies at all times with the relevant rules made under section 452, except to the extent that NZQA exempts the institution, by a condition on the accreditation, from compliance.
(2)
NZQA may impose conditions on an accreditation to provide an approved micro-credential, and, for that purpose, section 442(2) to (5) applies as if each reference to accreditation or accreditation to provide an approved programme included an accreditation to provide an approved micro-credential under this section.
Section 446B: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 33 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
447 Lapse of accreditation to provide approved micro-credential
(1)
An accreditation to provide an approved micro-credential granted to an institution lapses when—
(a)
12 months have passed since the accreditation was granted and the institution has not during that time provided the micro-credential to which the accreditation relates; or
(b)
12 months have passed since the institution last provided the micro-credential to which the accreditation relates.
(2)
Despite subsection (1), NZQA may, if it considers that the circumstances so require, extend the time specified in subsection (1)(a) or (b).
(3)
NZQA must give written notice of the lapse of an accreditation to the institution concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 251C
Section 447 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 34(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 447(1): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 34(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 447(3): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 34(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
448 Withdrawal of micro-credential approval or accreditation
(1)
If NZQA considers that there may be grounds for withdrawing an approval of the content of a micro-credential or an accreditation to provide a micro-credential from an institution, NZQA must give written notice to the institution—
(a)
setting out the grounds on which NZQA is considering withdrawing the approval or accreditation; and
(b)
giving the institution a reasonable period to make submissions on the matter.
(2)
After the period referred to in subsection (1)(b), and having considered any submission made by the institution, NZQA—
(a)
may, on reasonable grounds, withdraw the approval or accreditation; and
(b)
must give notice of the withdrawal, with reasons, to the institution concerned.
(3)
This section does not limit NZQA’s power to withdraw a approval or accreditation under section 459(6).
(4)
NZQA may withdraw a approval or accreditation at the written request of the institution concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 251B
Section 448 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 35(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 448(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 35(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 448(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 35(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 448(2)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 35(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 448(3): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 35(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 448(4): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 35(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Consent to assess against standards
449 Consent to assess against standards
(1)
An institution that proposes to assess its students against standards listed in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards must apply to NZQA for consent to assess against those standards.
(2)
NZQA may grant or refuse consent to assess against those standards.
(3)
NZQA may withdraw a consent, but only after complying with subsection (4).
(4)
Before NZQA withdraws a consent, it must—
(a)
give written notice of its intentions to the institution; and
(b)
give the institution a reasonable opportunity to respond to the notice; and
(c)
consider any submissions made by the institution in response to the notice.
(5)
NZQA must give the institution written notice of its decision under subsection (3), and must give reasons for its decision.
(6)
Despite subsection (3), NZQA may withdraw a consent at the written request of the institution concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 252
Section 449(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
450 Conditions on consent
(1)
Every consent to assess against standards is subject to the condition that the institution complies at all times with the relevant rules made under section 452 except to the extent that NZQA exempts the institution, by a condition on the consent, from compliance.
(2)
NZQA may impose conditions on a consent to assess against standards, and for that purpose section 442(2) to (5) applies as if each reference to accreditation or accreditation to provide an approved programme were a reference to a consent to assess against standards.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 252A
Section 450(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
451 When consent expires or ceases to have effect
(1)
A consent to assess against standards expires—
(a)
when any accreditation to which the consent relates is withdrawn, lapses, expires, or otherwise ceases to have effect:
(b)
when the status of all standards to which the consent relates is discontinued in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards.
(2)
If the status of any standard to which the consent relates is discontinued in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards, the consent ceases to have effect in respect of that standard.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 252B
Section 451(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 451(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 451(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Rules
452 Rules
(1)
NZQA may make rules—
(a)
prescribing the process for, and the information required in, an application for—
(i)
registration of a private training establishment:
(ii)
approval of a programme:
(iii)
approval of a micro-credential:
(iv)
accreditation:
(v)
consent to assess against standards:
(vi)
approval as a standard-setting body:
(vii)
the listing of a qualification or micro-credential on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework:
(viii)
the listing of a standard on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards:
(ix)
recognition of a national curriculum:
(b)
prescribing criteria that NZQA must apply when considering—
(i)
each class of application described in paragraph (a); and
(ii)
different kinds of application within each class:
(c)
prescribing requirements that the applicant must meet in order to maintain the registration, approval, accreditation, consent, or recognition granted by NZQA:
(d)
prescribing the amount of, or the method of determining, the annual registration fee required under section 349:
(e)
prescribing the requirements for the protection of student fees that must be met by a private training establishment, any person to whom section 355 applies, any agent or person purporting to act as an agent for a student or private training establishment, and any independent trustee:
(f)
prescribing matters relating to the general operation of the Qualifications and Credentials Framework and the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards:
(g)
prescribing the quality assurance requirements that must be met by providers of adult and community education:
(h)
prescribing the amount of, or the method of determining, the annual fee payable by an industry skills board and when and how that fee is payable:
(i)
prescribing quality assurance requirements for industry skills boards, including (without limitation) requirements relating to the performance of the relevant functions of industry skills boards:
(j)
[Repealed](k)
providing for the review, amendment, removal, or alteration of the status of qualifications, micro-credentials, and standards, including their components (including where amendments to titles occur, consequential amendments to approved programmes of study or training titles, micro-credential approval titles, accreditations to provide approved programmes or approved micro-credentials, and consents to assess against standards):
(l)
providing any special requirements for NCEA and other secondary school qualifications or awards for the purposes of the Qualifications and Credentials Framework:
(m)
providing for the conduct of assessments and examinations relating to any qualifications or awards:
(n)
prescribing the details for credits, cross-credits, recognition of prior learning, and moderation:
(o)
prescribing requirements for qualifications in respect of which NZQA is the qualifications developer:
(p)
prescribing requirements relating to work-based training:
(q)
providing for the following matters for the purposes of section 361:
(i)
the kinds of enrolment and academic records that must be kept:
(ii)
the manner in which the records must be kept:
(iii)
how long the records must be kept:
(r)
prescribing reporting requirements that institutions or industry skills boards must comply with in relation to a student’s record of achievement that is maintained by NZQA:
(s)
for the purposes of rules made under paragraph (r), specifying the qualifications and standards for which institutions or industry skills boards are required to report the credits gained by students who are undertaking or who have undertaken study or training towards those qualifications or standards:
(t)
prescribing the quality assurance requirements for tertiary education bodies in respect of which NZQA grants approvals or consents under this subpart:
(u)
prescribing the types of programmes and micro-credentials that are exempt from the requirements specified in section 356(1):
(ua)
prescribing the process that an institution must follow in order to make any 1 of the following types of transitions:
(i)
a transition from education and training that leads to a qualification through an approved programme that it is accredited to provide to education and training that it is accredited to provide through a national curriculum (or vice versa):
(ii)
a transition from education that leads to a qualification through a national curriculum that it is accredited to provide to an amended or a replacement national curriculum for that qualification.
(v)
providing for any other matters contemplated by this subpart and subpart 5 of Part 4, necessary for their administration, or necessary for giving them full effect.
(2)
Without limiting any power to make rules under this section, restrictions on the use of standards may be included in any rules made under subsection (1)(b) that—
(a)
prescribe criteria that NZQA must apply when considering applications for approval of a programme leading to a degree or postgraduate qualification:
(b)
prescribe criteria that NZQA must apply when considering applications for the listing of a degree or postgraduate qualification on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework:
(c)
prescribe criteria that NZQA must apply when considering applications for the listing of a standard in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards that relates to any programme leading to a degree or postgraduate qualification.
(3)
Rules made under subsection (1)(o) may specify different requirements for different qualifications.
(4)
Before making rules under this section that apply to a class of institutions, NZQA must consult,—
(a)
if the rules relate to universities, the Vice-Chancellors Committee; and
(b)
if the rules relate to bodies that provide adult and community education, those bodies or a body that represents their interests; and
(c)
if the rules relate to a class of institutions in respect of which there is a body whose function is to set up programme approval and moderation procedures, the representative bodies of those institutions, and any other bodies as NZQA considers appropriate.
(5)
Any proposed rules under this section must be approved by the board of NZQA and the Minister before being made, but, if the rules relate to any matter described in subsection (1)(m), the approval of the Minister is not required.
(6)
Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(7)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 253
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, NZQA | ||||
| • make it available in printed form for purchase at a reasonable price on request by members of the public | ||||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 452(1)(a)(iii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(a)(vii): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 36(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(a)(viii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(a)(ix): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 36(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 36(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(f): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(h): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 30(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 452(1)(i): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 30(1) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 452(1)(j): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 36(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(k): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 36(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(l): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(r): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 30(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 452(1)(s): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 30(2) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 452(1)(u): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(1)(ua): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 36(6) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(2)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(2)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 452(6): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 452(7): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Functions and powers of NZQA in relation to universities
453 Exercise of certain powers of NZQA by Vice-Chancellors Committee
(1)
In this section, powers of NZQA means NZQA’s powers under sections 439 to 448, 458(1)(b), and 459.
(2)
The powers of NZQA, as far as they are applicable to universities, may be exercised by the Vice-Chancellors Committee in relation to universities as if references to NZQA in the relevant provisions were references to the Vice-Chancellors Committee.
(3)
In exercising the powers of NZQA, the Vice-Chancellors Committee—
(a)
must apply the relevant rules made under section 452:
(b)
may charge fees to a university for the grant of any approval or accreditation:
(c)
may list or arrange for the listing of qualifications offered by universities on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework:
(d)
may correct any errors or omissions in the listing of qualifications on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework.
(4)
To avoid doubt, this section does not limit NZQA’s power to delegate its functions or powers under the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 253A
Section 453(3)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 453(3)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Granting of awards
454 Powers of NZQA in granting of awards
(1)
A person may apply to NZQA for consent—
(a)
to grant an award that is described as a degree or the description of which includes the word bachelor, master, or doctor:
(b)
to grant an award that is described as a postgraduate qualification, for example, a postgraduate certificate or diploma.
(2)
NZQA may, in accordance with this section, grant or refuse its consent.
(3)
NZQA may not consent to the granting of an award of a kind referred to in subsection (1) unless it is satisfied that the award recognises the completion of a programme of advanced learning that—
(a)
is taught mainly by people engaged in research; and
(b)
emphasises general principles and basic knowledge as the basis for self-directed work and learning.
(4)
NZQA may not withhold its consent to the use of any particular term or the granting of an award that, or whose name or description, includes any particular word, unless satisfied on reasonable grounds that it should do so.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 253B
454A Withdrawal of consent to grant award
(1)
If NZQA considers that there may be grounds for withdrawing consent to grant an award from a person, NZQA must give written notice to the person—
(a)
setting out the grounds on which NZQA is considering withdrawing consent; and
(b)
giving the person a reasonable period to make submissions on the matter.
(2)
After that period, and having considered any submission made by the person, NZQA may, on any reasonable grounds, withdraw consent.
(3)
If NZQA withdraws consent under subsection (2), it must give notice of the withdrawal, with reasons, to the person concerned.
(4)
NZQA may withdraw consent at the written request of the person concerned.
Section 454A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 37 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
455 NCEA may not be provided outside New Zealand
(1)
A person may not provide, or offer to provide, an NCEA qualification outside New Zealand.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of—
(a)
domestic students outside New Zealand if they are studying through a distance school; or
(b)
students outside New Zealand if they are studying in a jurisdiction with which New Zealand has entered into an arrangement that authorises the teaching and assessment of NCEA standards in that jurisdiction.
Use of certain terms in name or description of registered establishment or wānanga
456 Minister may consent to use of certain terms in name or description of registered establishment or wānanga
(1)
A registered establishment may apply to the Minister for consent to describe itself using the term university.
(2)
A wānanga may apply to the Minister for consent to describe itself using the term university.
(3)
Before deciding whether to grant consent under subsection (1) or (2), the Minister must—
(a)
take into account the characteristics of institutions as described in section 268(2)(d); and
(b)
receive advice about the application from NZQA and from TEC; and
(c)
be satisfied that consenting to the application is in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole; and
(d)
consult the institutions, organisations representing institutions, and other relevant bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(e)
in the case of a wānanga, consult the persons or bodies who are knowledgeable in āhuatanga Māori (Māori tradition) and tikanga Māori (Māori custom) within a kaupapa Māori pedagogy that the Minister thinks fit.
(4)
The Minister may grant consent under subsection (1) or (2) subject to conditions that the Minister considers reasonably necessary to—
(a)
ensure that students, employers, and members of the public are adequately informed of the legal status or the characteristics of the registered establishment or wānanga to which the consent is granted; and
(b)
ensure adequate protection of the quality and reputation of the institutions that may use the term without applying to do so; and
(c)
protect the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole.
(5)
The Minister may carry out a review of a registered establishment or wānanga to assess whether it is continuing to comply with any conditions subject to which it was granted consent under subsection (1) or (2).
(6)
If, having regard to a review carried out under subsection (5), the Minister is not satisfied that a registered establishment or wānanga is continuing to comply with the conditions subject to which it was granted consent under subsection (1) or (2), the Minister may—
(a)
withdraw the consent; or
(b)
suspend the consent for a specified period, at the expiry of which the Minister must either lift the suspension or withdraw the consent.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 253C
Fees
457 Fees
(1)
NZQA may—
(a)
charge fees to any person or institution for any of the following:
(i)
programme approval:
(ii)
micro-credential approval:
(iii)
accreditation:
(iv)
consent to assess against standards:
(v)
approval to list qualifications on the Qualifications and Credentials Framework:
(vi)
approval to list standards in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards:
(vii)
registration of a private training establishment:
(viii)
approval to be a standard-setting body:
(ix)
consent to award a degree:
(x)
consent for the use by a registered establishment of certain terms in its name:
(xi)
reporting credits for the purposes of rules made under section 452(1)(r) and (s):
(b)
charge fees to any person or institution for any services provided by NZQA, including fees in relation to sitting an examination conducted by NZQA, to the making of any assessment by NZQA, or to the granting to any person of an award certifying that the person had passed the examination or been so assessed:
(c)
charge fees to any person or institution for any quality assurance activities undertaken by NZQA.
(2)
A fee may not be charged under subsection (1)(b) to a person who is a student at a relevant school unless the Minister has consented to the charging of the fee.
(3)
Fees set under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 254
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, NZQA | ||||
| • make it available in printed form for purchase at a reasonable price on request by members of the public | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 457(1)(a)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 457(1)(a)(v): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 457(1)(a)(vi): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 457(3): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Enforcement powers of NZQA
458 Power to obtain information
(1)
The chief executive or a person authorised by the chief executive may, subject to subsection (2),—
(a)
by written notice to the Secretary, require the Secretary, within a reasonable period that is specified in the notice, to supply to NZQA the information or documents relating to institutions that are specified in the notice; and
(b)
by written notice to the chief executive of an institution or an industry skills board, require the chief executive, within a reasonable period that is specified in the notice, to supply to NZQA the information or documents relating to the institution or industry skills board that are specified in the notice.
(2)
The powers conferred by subsection (1) may be exercised only where the obtaining of the information or documents is necessary for the purposes of the performance of the functions of NZQA.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 254A
Section 458(1)(b): replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 31 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
459 Compliance notices
(1)
NZQA may issue a compliance notice to an institution requiring the institution to do, or refrain from doing, a particular thing in relation to—
(a)
the institution’s registration as a registered establishment; or
(b)
the institution’s programme approvals, micro-credential approvals, or accreditations; or
(c)
any consent that the institution has to assess against standards; or
(d)
any quality assurance conditions on work-based training; or
(e)
any notice issued under section 458(1)(b).
(2)
A compliance notice must be in writing and must state—
(a)
the date on which it is issued; and
(b)
a time on or before which, or a period within which, the institution must comply with the notice; and
(c)
the consequences or possible consequences of non-compliance with the notice.
(3)
[Repealed](4)
An institution that receives a compliance notice must comply with it within the time or period stated in the notice.
(5)
NZQA may, before the expiry of the time or period referred to in subsection (2)(b), extend that time or period during which the notice must be complied with.
(6)
If the institution does not comply with the compliance notice, NZQA may immediately,—
(a)
if the notice related to the registration of a registered establishment, cancel the registration, or impose new conditions, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, on the registration; or
(b)
if the notice related to a programme or micro-credential approval, withdraw the approval, or impose new conditions, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, on the approval; or
(c)
if the notice related to an accreditation, withdraw the accreditation, or impose new conditions, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, on the accreditation; or
(d)
if the notice related to a consent to assess against standards, withdraw the consent, or impose new conditions, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, on the consent; or
(e)
if the notice related to any quality assurance conditions on work-based training, withdraw the programme or micro-credential approval to which the training relates, or impose new conditions, or amend or revoke any existing conditions, on the approval.
(7)
NZQA may not do any of the things specified in subsection (6) until the later of the following:
(a)
10 days from the date of issue of the notice:
(b)
the expiry of the time or period referred to in subsection (2)(b).
(8)
If NZQA withdraws programme approval, it must also withdraw any consent to assess against standards or any accreditation in respect of the programme approval.
(9)
If NZQA withdraws any micro-credential approval, it must also withdraw any consent to assess against standards or any accreditation in respect of the micro-credential approval.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 255
Section 459(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 459(3): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 38 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 459(6)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 459(6)(e): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 459(9): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Publication of conditions and notices by NZQA
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 39 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
459A Publication of conditions and notices
NZQA may publish the following on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of NZQA:
(a)
any condition (or summary of a condition) imposed by NZQA under any 1 of the following provisions:
(i)
section 348(2) (which relates to registration of private training establishments):
(ii)
section 440 (which relates to approval of programmes):
(iii)
section 442 (which relates to accreditation of institutions to provide approved programmes):
(iv)
section 446 (which relates to approval to provide micro-credentials):
(v)
section 446B (which relates to accreditation to provide approved micro-credentials):
(vi)
section 450 (which relates to consent to assess students against standards):
(b)
any notice (or summary of a notice) issued by NZQA under any 1 of the following provisions:
(i)
section 371(1) (which relates to quality assurance improvement notices):
(ii)
section 372(1) (which relates to compliance notices):
(iii)
section 459(1) (which relates to compliance notices):
(iv)
section 535(1) (which relates to sanctions for breach of code):
(v)
section 535C(1) (which relates to performance improvement notices):
(c)
any notice (or summary of a notice) of a cancellation of the registration of a registered establishment under section 350:
(d)
any notice (or summary of a notice) of a withdrawal made under any 1 of the following provisions of an accreditation, an approval, or a consent from an institution or a person:
(i)
section 438B(4) (which relates to withdrawal of recognition of national curricula):
(ii)
section 439 (which relates to withdrawal of approval of programmes):
(iii)
section 444 (which relates to withdrawal of accreditation to provide approved programmes):
(iv)
section 448 (which relates to withdrawal of approval of content of micro-credentials or accreditation to provide micro-credentials):
(v)
section 449 (which relates to withdrawal of consent to assess against standards):
(vi)
section 454A (which relates to withdrawal of consent to grant awards):
(vii)
section 524A (which relates to withdrawal of approval of classes, courses, or programmes intended for international students).
Section 459A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 39 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Miscellaneous provisions
460 Child care allowances
A member of NZQA may be paid any allowances in respect of child care that NZQA determines.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 256F
461 Taxation
(1)
NZQA is to be treated as the agent of the Crown in respect of its property and the performance of its functions and is entitled accordingly to all the privileges the Crown enjoys in respect of exemption from taxation and the payment of fees or charges, and from other obligations.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not exempt NZQA from—
(a)
the payment of goods and services tax under the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985; or
(b)
any obligation imposed by that Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 256G
Subpart 3—Education Review Office
462 Education services to which this subpart applies
(1)
This subpart applies to every education service (other than a service provided only to or for people over 16 years who are not enrolled at a State school)—
(a)
that is provided by an organisation that is—
(i)
owned or operated by the Crown; or
(ii)
forbidden by law to provide that service (or a service of that kind) unless it holds a licence, permit, or other authority issued by or on behalf of the Crown; or
(b)
whose provision is (wholly or partly)—
(i)
funded by money appropriated by Parliament; or
(ii)
regulated by or under statute.
(2)
Sections 466 to 469 apply in relation to education services provided to persons who are exempted from the requirements of section 35; and, for the purposes of this subsection and sections 466 to 469, education service is to be construed in that context, and the meaning it has in the definition of applicable service in section 10(1) does not apply.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 324
463 Chief Review Officer to perform certain functions
(1)
The Chief Review Officer must—
(a)
administer reviews, either general or relating to particular matters, of the performance of applicable organisations in relation to the applicable services they provide—
(i)
when directed by the Minister to do so; or
(ii)
on the Chief Review Officer’s own motion (despite section 52 of the Public Service Act 2020); and
(b)
administer the preparation of reports to the Minister on the undertaking and results of the reviews; and
(c)
give the Minister any other assistance and advice on the performance of the applicable organisations that the Minister requires.
(2)
The Chief Review Officer—
(a)
must administer reviews of professional learning and development services accessed by applicable organisations when directed by the Minister to do so; and
(b)
may, despite section 52 of the Public Service Act 2020, administer reviews of professional learning and development services accessed by applicable organisations on the Chief Review Officer’s own motion; and
(c)
must administer the preparation of reports to the Minister on the undertaking and results of the reviews.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 325
Section 463(1)(a)(ii): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 463(2): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 40 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
464 Information requests
(1)
In carrying out the functions specified in section 463, the Chief Review Officer may request in writing from an applicable organisation or applicable person, or a provider of professional learning and development services, such information that the Chief Review Officer considers is reasonably necessary or desirable for the purposes of carrying out those functions.
(2)
In this section, applicable organisation, in relation to an early childhood service, includes an entity that owns the service (wholly or partly) or operates the service.
Section 464(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 41 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
465 Review officers
The Chief Review Officer—
(a)
may designate any suitably qualified person (whether or not an employee of the Chief Review Officer) a review officer; and
(b)
must ensure that every person for the time being so designated has a certificate to that effect, in a form approved by the Chief Review Officer.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 326
Provisions concerning students with enrolment exemption
466 Functions of Chief Review Officer
The Chief Review Officer—
(a)
may carry out reviews (which may be general or in relation to particular matters) of the education services provided to persons exempted from the requirements of section 35, and must carry out the reviews when directed by the Minister to do so; and
(b)
must administer the preparation of reports to the Minister on the undertaking and results of the reviews; and
(c)
must give the Minister any other assistance and advice that the Minister requires on the education services provided to persons exempted from the requirements of section 35.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328A
467 Review officers
Review officers designated under section 465 are also review officers for the purposes of section 466, and sections 468 and 469 apply to them accordingly.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328B
468 Powers of review officers for purposes of section 466
(1)
For the purposes of enabling any functions of the Chief Review Officer to be performed for the purposes of section 466, any review officer may, at any reasonable time and having given reasonable notice,—
(a)
conduct inspections or inquiries:
(b)
require a parent or other person to produce, and permit the review officer to make copies or extracts of, documents or information relating to—
(i)
the education service the parent or other person provides; or
(ii)
people to whom the education service is (or has been) provided:
(c)
require a parent or other person to make or provide statements, in the form and manner that is reasonable in the circumstances, about any matters relating to provision of the education service provided by that parent or person:
(d)
inspect the work of any person to whom the education service concerned is (or has been) provided:
(e)
meet and talk with any person to whom the education service concerned is being provided.
(2)
Nothing in this section confers on a review officer the power to enter any dwelling house without the consent of the owner or occupier.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328C
469 Review officers to prove identity before acting under section 468
A review officer who exercises any power under section 468 must, before exercising that power and, if requested at any later time, produce to the parent or other person providing the education service concerned the review officer’s certificate of designation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328D
Provisions concerning hostels
470 Functions of Chief Review Officer
The Chief Review Officer—
(a)
may carry out reviews (which may be general or in relation to particular matters) of the provision of a safe physical and emotional environment that supports learning for students accommodated in hostels, and must carry out those reviews when directed by the Minister to do so; and
(b)
must administer the preparation of reports to the Minister on the undertaking and results of the reviews; and
(c)
must give the Minister any other assistance and advice that the Minister requires on the provision of a safe physical and emotional environment that supports learning for students accommodated at hostels.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328E
471 Review officers
Review officers designated under section 465 are also review officers for the purposes of section 470, and sections 472 and 473 apply to them accordingly.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328F
472 Powers of review officers for purposes of section 470
(1)
For the purposes of enabling any functions of the Chief Review Officer to be performed under section 470, any review officer may, at any reasonable time and having given reasonable notice to the management of the hostel, enter any hostel and do 1 or more of the following:
(a)
conduct inspections or inquiries:
(b)
require any person to produce documents or information relating to—
(i)
the provision of a safe physical and emotional environment that supports learning for the students accommodated in the hostel; or
(ii)
the students accommodated in the hostel:
(c)
make copies or extracts of any documents and information referred to in paragraph (b):
(d)
require any person to make or provide statements, in any form and manner that is reasonable in the circumstances, about any matters relating to the provision of a safe physical and emotional environment that supports learning for the students accommodated in the hostel:
(e)
meet and talk to any person who is accommodated at the hostel.
(2)
Nothing in this section confers on a review officer the power to enter any room or sleeping area of a student accommodated at the hostel unless—
(a)
the review officer believes on reasonable grounds that entry or inspection is necessary for the purpose of review; and
(b)
the review officer produces the review officer’s certificate of designation to the student; and
(c)
the student is present during the inspection.
(3)
This section does not limit any other powers of a review officer under this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328G
473 Review officers to prove identity before acting under section 472
A review officer who exercises any power under section 472 must, before exercising that power and, if requested at any later time, produce to the person apparently in charge the review officer’s certificate of designation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328H
Subpart 4—Teaching Council
474 Continuation of Teaching Council
(1)
The Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand is continued.
(2)
The Teaching Council is a body corporate with perpetual succession and is capable of—
(a)
holding real and personal property; and
(b)
suing and being sued; and
(c)
otherwise doing and suffering all that bodies corporate may lawfully do and suffer.
(3)
Schedule 19 sets out provisions regarding the Teaching Council.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 379
475 Composition of Teaching Council
(1)
The Teaching Council comprises 13 members as follows:
(a)
7 members appointed by the Minister in accordance with section 476:
(b)
6 elected members, being—
(i)
1 teacher representing the early childhood education sector, elected by teachers from that sector; and
(ii)
1 teacher representing the primary education sector, elected by teachers from that sector; and
(iii)
1 teacher representing the secondary education sector, elected by teachers from that sector; and
(iv)
[Repealed](v)
1 principal representing the primary education sector, elected by principals from that sector; and
(vi)
1 principal representing the secondary education sector, elected by principals from that sector; and
(vii)
1 early childhood education service leader, representing leadership in the early childhood education sector, elected by leaders from that sector.
(2)
Each of the elected members must be a registered teacher holding a current practising certificate.
(3)
The Minister—
(a)
must appoint one of the members appointed or elected under this section as chairperson; and
(b)
may appoint one of the members appointed or elected under this section as a deputy chairperson.
(4)
The elected members of the Teaching Council must be nominated and elected in accordance with rules made under section 486.
(5)
However,—
(a)
elections must be held at least 4 months before members take office; and
(b)
the Teaching Council must provide confirmation of the election results to the Minister at least 3 months before members take office.
(6)
The electors specified in subsection (1)(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (v), and (vi) must be—
(a)
registered teachers with current practising certificates; or
(b)
currently authorised persons.
(7)
The electors specified in subsection (1)(b)(vii) must be early childhood education service leaders who are registered teachers with current practising certificates.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 380
Section 475(1)(a): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 16(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 475(1)(b): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 16(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 475(1)(b)(iv): repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 16(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 475(2): replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 16(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
476 Ministerial appointment as member
(1)
The members of the Teaching Council appointed by the Minister must be persons nominated after notification of the Teaching Council vacancy in the Gazette and consultation by the Minister undertaken in accordance with subsection (3).
(2)
A Gazette notice must specify the appointment process and must list the criteria for appointment specified in subsections (3) and (4).
(3)
At least 1 of the appointed members must be appointed after the Minister consults, as the Minister thinks fit, representatives of parent and community interest groups in relation to schools and early childhood services.
(4)
When considering whether to appoint a member of the Teaching Council, the Minister must—
(a)
take into account each candidate’s ability to carry out the duties of a member of the Teaching Council and represent the public interest; and
(b)
have regard to the collective skills, experience, and knowledge of members of the Teaching Council, including (without limitation) the candidate’s knowledge and experience in any of the following areas:
(i)
education:
(ii)
governance:
(iii)
leadership experience and skills:
(iv)
financial skills:
(v)
understanding of the partnership principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 21 cl 1
477 Disqualification from office
(1)
The following persons are disqualified from being members:
(a)
a person who is an undischarged bankrupt:
(b)
a person who is prohibited from being a director or promoter of, or being concerned or taking part in the management of, an incorporated or unincorporated body under any enactment other than this Act:
(c)
a person who is subject to a property order under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988:
(d)
a person in respect of whom a personal order has been made under that Act that reflects adversely on the person’s—
(i)
competence to manage their own affairs in relation to their property; or
(ii)
capacity to make or to communicate decisions relating to any particular aspect or aspects of their personal care and welfare:
(e)
a person who has been convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for a term of 2 years or more, or who has been sentenced to imprisonment for any other offence, unless the person has obtained a pardon, served the sentence, or otherwise suffered the penalty imposed on the person:
(f)
a member of Parliament:
(g)
an elected member of the Teaching Council—
(i)
who ceases to be registered as a teacher; or
(ii)
who ceases to hold a current practising certificate; or
(iii)
whose registration as a teacher is suspended; or
(iv)
whose practising certificate is suspended.
(2)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 21 cl 2
Section 477(2): repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 17 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
478 Purpose of Teaching Council
The purpose of the Teaching Council is to ensure safe and high-quality leadership, teaching, and learning for children and young people in early childhood, primary, and secondary schooling in English-medium and Māori-medium settings, and settings of other languages, through raising the status of the profession.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 377
Section 478: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 42(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 478: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 42(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
479 Functions and powers of Teaching Council
(1)
The functions that the Teaching Council must perform are as follows:
(a)
to provide direction for teachers:
(b)
to enhance the status of teachers:
(c)
to identify and disseminate best practice in teaching and foster the teaching profession’s continued development in light of research and evidence of changes in society and technology:
(d)
to carry out the functions under Schedule 3 relating to teacher registration:
(e)
to establish and maintain any criteria for teacher registration under Schedule 3 that the Teaching Council considers necessary or desirable:
(f)
to review, at any time, the criteria for teacher registration established under paragraph (e) and, after consulting the Minister,—
(i)
vary, delete, or replace 1 or more of the criteria; or
(ii)
add 1 or more criteria; or
(iii)
delete all of the criteria and substitute new criteria:
(g)
to establish and maintain standards for qualifications that lead to teacher registration:
(h)
to review, at any time, the standards for qualifications established under paragraph (g) and, after consulting the Minister,—
(i)
vary, delete, or replace 1 or more of the standards; or
(ii)
add 1 or more standards; or
(iii)
delete all of the standards and substitute new standards:
(i)
to conduct, in conjunction with quality assurance agencies, approvals of teacher education programmes:
(j)
to establish and maintain—
(i)
standards for ongoing practice; and
(ii)
criteria for the issue of practising certificates of different kinds:
(ja)
to review, at any time, the standards for ongoing practice or criteria for the issue of practising certificates established under paragraph (j), and, after consulting the Minister,—
(i)
vary, delete, or replace 1 or more of the standards or criteria; or
(ii)
add 1 or more standards or criteria; or
(iii)
delete all the standards or criteria and substitute new standards or criteria:
(k)
to establish and maintain a code of conduct for teachers under section 485:
(l)
to monitor and enforce the requirements relating to mandatory reporting in this subpart and Schedule 3:
(m)
to perform the disciplinary functions in this subpart relating to teacher misconduct and reports of teacher convictions:
(n)
to set the criteria for reporting serious misconduct and for reporting on competence issues:
(o)
to perform the functions in this subpart relating to teacher competence:
(p)
to co-ordinate a system providing for the vetting by the Police of all teachers:
(pa)
to prosecute, as the Teaching Council considers appropriate, breaches of the requirements of this Act relating to mandatory reports to the Teaching Council, teacher registration, practising certificates, and limited authorities to teach:
(q)
to perform any other functions conferred on it by this Act or any other enactment.
(2)
The functions that the Teaching Council may perform, with the written approval of the Minister, are as follows:
(a)
to provide leadership to the education profession:
(b)
to enhance the status of education leaders:
(c)
to identify and disseminate best practice in education leadership.
(3)
The Teaching Council may, by written notice to a governing body, require the governing body to give the Teaching Council, within a time specified in the notice, any information specified in the notice, and the governing body must within that time give the Teaching Council in writing all information so required that is reasonably necessary or desirable for the Teaching Council to have for the proper administration of this subpart.
(4)
The Teaching Council has and may exercise all other powers conferred by this Act or reasonably necessary for the purpose of performing its functions.
(5)
For the purposes of subsection (3), governing body means the board of a State school or a service provider that operates any licensed early childhood service or any certified playgroup, or the managers of a private school.
(6)
When performing its functions and exercising its powers, the Teaching Council must act in accordance with the rules of natural justice.
(7)
When performing its functions under subsection (1)(g), (h), or (i), the Teaching Council must—
(a)
consult the Secretary; and
(b)
have regard to any advice given by the Secretary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 382, 383(6)–(8)
Section 479 heading: amended, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(1) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(1): amended, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(2) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(1)(a): replaced, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(3) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(1)(b): replaced, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(3) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(1)(c): replaced, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(3) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(1)(ja): inserted, on 19 November, by section 18(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 479(1)(pa): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 43 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 479(1)(pa): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 18(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 479(2): replaced, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(3): inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(4): inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(5): inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(6): inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(4) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Section 479(7): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 18(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 479 compare note: replaced, on 20 November 2021, by section 4(5) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
480 Teaching Council fees, levies, and costs
(1)
The Teaching Council may, by notice,—
(a)
fix fees payable for—
(i)
registration as a teacher:
(ii)
the issuing of a practising certificate:
(iii)
the granting of a limited authority to teach:
(iv)
any other matter associated with those matters (for example, inspection of the register of registered teachers or supplying a copy of an entry in the register):
(b)
impose a levy payable by registered teachers, holders of a limited authority to teach, and applicants for registration as a teacher or a limited authority to teach for the purpose of funding the Teaching Council’s functions set out in section 479(1).
(2)
A notice under subsection (1) may fix different fees or provide for different amounts of levy payable—
(a)
by registered teachers, holders of a limited authority to teach, and applicants for registration as a teacher or a limited authority to teach; and
(b)
for registration effected in different circumstances; and
(c)
for practising certificates of different kinds.
(3)
Fees fixed and levies imposed under subsection (1) are payable in the manner (for example, by instalments) prescribed in the notice and are recoverable as a debt due to the Teaching Council.
(4)
Before issuing a notice under subsection (1), the Teaching Council must—
(a)
consult registered teachers and holders of a limited authority to teach on any proposed fees or levies; and
(b)
receive the views presented to it with an open mind and give those views due consideration when making a decision on the proposed fees or levies.
(5)
The Teaching Council may also charge a fee for any goods or services it provides in accordance with its functions under section 479(1).
(6)
Fees fixed and levies imposed under subsection (1) and any fees charged under subsection (5) must recover only the actual and reasonable costs incurred by the Teaching Council in performing its functions set out in section 479(1).
(7)
Despite anything in this Act, the Teaching Council may refuse to register a person as a teacher, issue a practising certificate, or grant a limited authority to teach until the appropriate fee or levy has been paid in the manner prescribed by the notice.
(8)
If the Teaching Council cancels a teacher’s registration or limited authority to teach, it may, by written notice to the teacher or person concerned, require the teacher or person to pay the Teaching Council any reasonable costs specified in the notice that were incurred by the Teaching Council in dealing with the proposal to cancel the registration or authorisation, or with the cancellation itself.
(9)
A notice made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 364, 372, 383(1), (2), (5)
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in accordance with the Legislation (Publication) Regulations 2021 | LA19 s 74(1)(aa) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 480: replaced, on 20 November 2021, by section 5 of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
481 Ministerial powers
(1)
For the purpose of ascertaining whether the Teaching Council is complying, or has complied, with this subpart and Schedule 3, the Minister may commission an independent audit of the conduct of the Teaching Council’s functions.
(2)
The Minister may, by written notice to the Teaching Council, require the Teaching Council to provide to the Minister any financial, statistical, or other information, including information relating to the performance of the functions of the Teaching Council or any of its committees.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 384
482 Issue of statement of Government policy relating to Teaching Council’s functions
(1)
The Minister may, at any time, issue a statement of Government policy relating to 1 or more of the Teaching Council’s functions specified in section 479(1).
(2)
Before issuing a statement of Government policy, the Minister must consult the Teaching Council.
(3)
Every statement of Government policy must be—
(a)
given in writing to the Teaching Council; and
(b)
published in the Gazette; and
(c)
presented to the House of Representatives.
(4)
A statement of Government policy comes into effect on the date specified in the Gazette notice, which date must be on or after the date of the notice and is to be treated as the date on which the statement is issued.
(5)
When performing its functions, the Teaching Council must have regard to any relevant statement of Government policy.
(6)
A statement of Government policy may be amended, revoked, or replaced in the same way as it is given.
(7)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 382A
Section 482(7): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
483 Reports
(1)
At least every 3 years, following consultation with teachers, the Government, and the public, the Teaching Council must publish on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Teaching Council a report setting out its strategic direction for the next 5 years.
(2)
The Teaching Council must present to the House of Representatives an annual report on its operations.
(3)
The annual report must include (without limitation)—
(a)
the audited financial statements of the Teaching Council; and
(b)
a report on how the Teaching Council has complied with the requirement under section 482(5) to have regard to any relevant statement of Government policy.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 385
Section 483(2): replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 19 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 483(3): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 19 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
484 Advisory committees
The Teaching Council may establish advisory committees for specific aspects of its operation or for particular issues as it sees fit.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 386
485 Code of conduct
(1)
The Teaching Council must establish and maintain a code of conduct for teachers.
(2)
When preparing the code of conduct (and any amendments to it), the Teaching Council—
(a)
must take all reasonable steps—
(i)
to consult those who are to be bound by it; and
(ii)
to consult the Public Service Commissioner; and
(b)
must have regard to any relevant minimum standards of integrity and conduct or code of conduct that the Public Service Commissioner sets or issues under section 17 of the Public Service Act 2020.
(3)
The chairperson of the Teaching Council must sign the code of conduct.
(4)
The code of conduct, or an amendment to the code of conduct, is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(5)
The Teaching Council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that those bound by the code of conduct are aware of its existence and where it is available.
(6)
The code of conduct prepared under this section is binding on all teachers who hold a practising certificate and on all authorised persons.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 387
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • notify it in the Gazette and state where copies of it may be obtained free of charge | ||||
| • make copies of it available free of charge | ||||
| • comply with subsection (5) | ||||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 485(2)(a)(ii): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 485(2)(b): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 485(3): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 485(4): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 485(5): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
486 Teaching Council to make rules
(1)
The Teaching Council must make rules providing for—
(a)
the conduct of elections for electing members to the Teaching Council, including the election process; and
(b)
a Complaints Assessment Committee to—
(i)
investigate complaints of misconduct about, and reports of convictions of, teachers; and
(ii)
carry out any other function, and exercise any power, given under this Act or delegated to it by the Teaching Council; and
(c)
a Disciplinary Tribunal to conduct hearings, and review decisions of the Complaints Assessment Committee, relating to misconduct by, and convictions of, individual teachers, and to exercise the powers given under this Act; and
(d)
a Competence Authority to consider reports and complaints about teacher competence and to exercise the powers given under this Act; and
(e)
the practices and procedures of the disciplinary bodies and the Competence Authority; and
(f)
the procedures of the Teaching Council for dealing with reports received under the mandatory reporting provisions in sections 489 to 493; and
(g)
the procedures relating to Police vetting, and in particular the rights of persons who are vetted; and
(h)
the requirements that teachers must meet to satisfy the refresh process referred to in clause 10 of Schedule 3.
(2)
The Teaching Council may make rules for any other purpose relating to the performance of its functions.
(3)
When preparing rules (and any amendments to them), the Teaching Council must take all reasonable steps to consult those affected by the rules.
(4)
Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(5)
The Teaching Council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that those bound by the rules are aware of their existence and where they are available.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 388
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 486(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 486(4): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 486(5): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
487 Delegations
(1)
The Teaching Council may delegate any of its powers (other than this power of delegation), either generally or specifically, as it sees fit.
(2)
Despite subsection (1), the Teaching Council may not delegate its powers—
(a)
to appoint a chief executive:
(b)
to make rules:
(c)
relating to voluntary deregistration:
(d)
relating to cancellation of registration, practising certificates, or limited authorities to teach:
(e)
to establish and maintain a code of conduct for teachers under section 485.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 389
488 Chief executive and employees
(1)
The Teaching Council may appoint a chief executive and any other employees it thinks necessary for the efficient performance of its functions.
(2)
A person appointed under subsection (1) may not be a member of the Teaching Council.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 390
Mandatory reporting
489 Mandatory reporting of dismissals and resignations
(1)
When an employer dismisses a teacher for any reason, the employer must immediately report the dismissal to the Teaching Council.
(2)
If, within the 12 months before the resignation of a teacher from a teaching position (including a fixed-term position) or the expiry of the term of a teacher’s fixed-term position, the teacher’s employer had advised the teacher that it was dissatisfied with, or intended to investigate, any aspect of the teacher’s conduct, or the teacher’s competence, the employer must, immediately after the resignation or expiry, report it to the Teaching Council.
(3)
A report must be in writing and must include,—
(a)
for a dismissal, the reason for the dismissal; and
(b)
for a resignation or an expiry,—
(i)
a description of the conduct or competence issues that the employer was concerned about; and
(ii)
a report of what action (if any) the employer took with respect to the issues.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 392
490 Mandatory reporting of complaints received about former employees
(1)
The former employer of a teacher must immediately report to the Teaching Council if, within 12 months after a teacher ceases to be employed by the employer, the employer receives a complaint about the teacher’s conduct or competence while the teacher was an employee.
(2)
A report must be in writing and must include,—
(a)
for an oral complaint, a description of the aspects of the teacher’s conduct or competence complained of; and
(b)
for a written complaint, a copy of the complaint; and
(c)
a report of what action (if any) the employer took with respect to the matters complained of.
(3)
This section does not apply to a complaint received by a sponsor in relation to the competence of a former employee who held a limited authority to teach.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 393
Section 490(3): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 45 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
491 Mandatory reporting of possible serious misconduct
(1)
The employer of a teacher must immediately report to the Teaching Council if it has reason to believe that the teacher has engaged in serious misconduct.
(2)
A report must be in writing and include—
(a)
a description of the conduct of the teacher that the employer believes to be serious misconduct; and
(b)
a description of what action (if any) the employer has taken in relation to it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 394
492 Mandatory reporting of failure to reach required level of competence
(1)
The employer of a teacher must immediately report to the Teaching Council if the employer, despite undertaking competency procedures with the teacher, is satisfied that the teacher has not reached the required level of competence.
(2)
A report must be in writing and include—
(a)
a description of the competence issues leading to the report; and
(b)
a description of the action that the employer has taken in relation to it.
(3)
This section does not apply to a sponsor in relation to an employee who holds a limited authority to teach.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 395
Section 492(3): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 46 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
493 Mandatory reporting of convictions
(1)
Every holder of a practising certificate, and every authorised person, who is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 3 months or more must, within 7 days of conviction, report the conviction to the Teaching Council.
(2)
Failure to report a conviction to the Teaching Council in accordance with subsection (1) is misconduct that may give rise to disciplinary proceedings.
(3)
The Registrar of every court must, unless the court expressly orders otherwise, report to the Teaching Council when a person whom the Registrar believes to be, or to have been, a teacher is convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 3 months or more.
(4)
If the Registrar has reported a conviction to the Teaching Council under subsection (3), then, if that conviction is subsequently quashed, the Registrar must notify the Teaching Council of that fact.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 397
Disciplinary functions
494 Disciplinary bodies
(1)
The constitution of the disciplinary bodies must be set out in the rules, and those rules must be consistent with this section.
(2)
Both disciplinary bodies may operate in panels, and more than 1 panel of each body may operate at any one time.
(3)
The Disciplinary Tribunal must include at least 1 person who is selected from a list, prepared by the Minister after consultation with the Teaching Council, of people who are not teachers, employers, or members of an employing body.
(4)
The majority of members on the Disciplinary Tribunal, and on every panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal, must be registered teachers.
(5)
No member of the Complaints Assessment Committee may be a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal.
(6)
Rules must provide for the replacement of any member of a disciplinary body who, in relation to a particular complaint,—
(a)
made the complaint; or
(b)
is otherwise in a position of conflict of interest.
(7)
When performing their functions and exercising their powers, the disciplinary bodies must act in accordance with the rules of natural justice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 398
495 Complaints about conduct
(1)
A person who wishes to make a complaint about the conduct of a teacher, including complaints about possible breaches of the code of conduct prepared by the Teaching Council under section 485, must first make the complaint to the teacher’s employer, unless one of the circumstances in subsection (2) applies.
(2)
Any person (including a parent, an employer, or a member of the Teaching Council) may make a written complaint to the Teaching Council about the conduct of a teacher—
(a)
if the complaint is about a teacher who is not currently employed by an employer; or
(b)
if the complainant considers, on reasonable grounds, that the employer is unable to deal with the complaint effectively because of an actual or a perceived conflict of interest; or
(c)
if the complaint has been made to the employer, but the complainant is not satisfied with the way in which the complaint is being, or was, dealt with; or
(d)
in any other exceptional circumstance.
(3)
A complaint by an employer or a former employer must include a report of any action that the employer or former employer has taken in relation to it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 399
496 Complaints and reports relating to teacher conduct
(1)
The Teaching Council may refer to the Complaints Assessment Committee—
(a)
any report it receives under any of sections 489 to 491 and 493 that relates to teacher conduct; and
(b)
any complaint it receives under section 495.
(2)
The Teaching Council may refer to the Complaints Assessment Committee any matters that relate to teacher conduct of its own motion as it sees fit.
(3)
In relation to a complaint received under section 495 from a person other than the current employer of the teacher concerned,—
(a)
if the Complaints Assessment Committee considers that the complaint should have been sent first to the teacher’s employer or former employer, the Complaints Assessment Committee must refer the matter to the employer or former employer; and
(b)
if the teacher is currently employed by an employer and it has not already referred the matter to the employer under paragraph (a), it must notify the employer that it has received a complaint about the teacher.
(4)
An employer to whom a complaint is referred under subsection (3), or who is required to provide information in the course of an investigation by the Complaints Assessment Committee, must report to the Complaints Assessment Committee as required by it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 400
497 Powers of Complaints Assessment Committee
(1)
The Complaints Assessment Committee may investigate any report, complaint, or matter referred to it under section 496 and, for this purpose, may conduct a hearing.
(1A)
A hearing is to be a hearing on the papers, unless the Complaints Assessment Committee otherwise directs.
(2)
Following an investigation, the Complaints Assessment Committee may do 1 or more of the following:
(a)
resolve to take the matter no further:
(b)
refer the teacher concerned to a competency review:
(c)
refer the teacher concerned to an impairment process, which may involve either or both of the following:
(i)
assessment of an impairment:
(ii)
assistance with an impairment:
(d)
refer the matter back to the Teaching Council.
(2A)
Subsection (2)(b) does not apply to an employee in a charter school who holds a limited authority to teach.
(3)
If the Complaints Assessment Committee makes a finding of misconduct or serious misconduct, with the agreement of the teacher concerned, it may do 1 or more of the following:
(a)
censure the teacher:
(b)
impose conditions on the teacher’s practising certificate or authority for a specified period, including (without limitation) requiring the teacher to undergo supervision or professional development:
(c)
[Repealed](d)
annotate the register or the list of authorised persons in a specified manner:
(e)
direct the Teaching Council to impose conditions on any subsequent practising certificate or authority issued to the teacher.
(4)
The Complaints Assessment Committee may, at any time, refer a matter to the Disciplinary Tribunal for a hearing.
(5)
The Complaints Assessment Committee must refer to the Disciplinary Tribunal any matter if the Committee considers that either of the following powers is likely to be considered in order to address the matter:
(a)
the power to suspend a teacher’s practising certificate or authority under section 500(1)(d):
(b)
the power to cancel a teacher’s registration or authority or practising certificate under section 500(1)(g).
(6)
When a matter is referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal under subsection (5), a notice must be sent to the teacher concerned setting out the charge of misconduct against the teacher.
(7)
Any person authorised by the Complaints Assessment Committee may require an employer, a former employer, or a government agency to provide information that the person considers necessary for the purposes of an investigation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 401
Section 497(1): amended, on 29 July 2023, by section 44(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 497(1A): inserted, on 29 July 2023, by section 44(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 497(2)(d): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 20(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 497(2A): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 47 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 497(3): amended, on 29 July 2023, by section 44(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 497(3)(b): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 20(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 497(3)(c): repealed, on 29 July 2023, by section 44(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 497(3)(e): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 20(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 497(5): replaced, on 29 July 2023, by section 44(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
498 Interim suspension until matter about or involving possible serious misconduct concluded
(1)
At any time between when the Complaints Assessment Committee receives a complaint or receives or becomes aware of a report that is about or involves a teacher’s possible serious misconduct and when the matter is concluded (as defined in section 499(6)), the Complaints Assessment Committee may apply to the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal for an interim suspension of the teacher’s practising certificate or authority.
(2)
On an application under subsection (1) for an interim suspension, the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal may, having regard primarily to the safety of the children in the school or early childhood education and care service and to the reputation of the teaching profession, either with or without a hearing, suspend the teacher’s practising certificate or authority.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 402
499 Duration of interim suspension
(1)
The duration of an interim suspension under section 498 is initially until the earliest of the following occurs:
(a)
the expiry of a period specified by the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal at the time the interim suspension commences:
(b)
the expiry of a period specified by the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal after the interim suspension commences:
(c)
any conditions specified by the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal are met:
(d)
the interim suspension is otherwise lifted or revoked, for example, as the result of a review under subsection (2).
(2)
The chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal must review the initial interim suspension decision if the teacher—
(a)
requests a review during the initial interim period of suspension; and
(b)
provides a written explanation or statement in support of the request.
(3)
The Disciplinary Tribunal may renew an interim suspension under section 498 for further successive periods specified by the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal if, at the end of the relevant period of interim suspension,—
(a)
the matter has not been concluded; and
(b)
the interim suspension has not been otherwise lifted or revoked, for example, as the result of an appeal against it under subsection (4).
(4)
A teacher whose practising certificate or authority is subject to an interim suspension under section 498 that is renewed under subsection (3) may, during a further period of interim suspension, appeal against the interim suspension to the Disciplinary Tribunal at a hearing if the teacher believes that there is an unreasonable delay in concluding the matter.
(5)
A hearing under subsection (4) is before the Disciplinary Tribunal, and sections 501 to 504 apply to it.
(6)
For the purposes of this section and section 498(1) and clauses 8(4) and 21(4) of Schedule 3, a matter is concluded when the later of the following occurs in relation to the complaint or report:
(a)
the Complaints Assessment Committee has carried out whatever action it decides to take under section 497(2):
(b)
the Disciplinary Tribunal has carried out whatever action it decides to take under section 500(1), if the Complaints Assessment Committee has referred the matter to the Disciplinary Tribunal under section 497(4) or (5).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 403
499A Review of Complaints Assessment Committee decisions
(1)
A teacher who is the subject of a decision by the Complaints Assessment Committee under section 497(2) or (3), or the person who made the complaint or report or referred the matter to the Committee under section 496 that led to the decision, may request that the Disciplinary Tribunal review all or part of that decision.
(2)
A request for a review under this section must be made within 28 days after receipt of written notice of the decision, or any longer period that the Disciplinary Tribunal allows.
(3)
The review is by way of written notice to the Disciplinary Tribunal of the teacher’s or person’s intention to request a review, accompanied by—
(a)
a copy of the written notice of the decision; and
(b)
the fee prescribed by notice made under section 480, if any; and
(c)
any other information that the teacher or person wishes the Disciplinary Tribunal to consider in relation to the review.
(4)
The review is by way of rehearing.
(5)
The Disciplinary Tribunal must consider the review as soon as practicable, and may confirm, reverse, or modify the decision in accordance with its powers under section 500, or refer the matter back to the Complaints Assessment Committee.
(6)
Nothing in this section gives the Disciplinary Tribunal power to review any part of the Complaint Assessment Committee’s decision to which the request does not relate.
(7)
A decision of the Complaints Assessment Committee continues in force and has effect pending the determination of the review.
(8)
The Disciplinary Tribunal may order a party to pay the costs incurred by the other party in respect of the review.
Section 499A: inserted, on 29 July 2023, by section 45 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
500 Powers of Disciplinary Tribunal
(1)
Following a hearing of a charge of serious misconduct, or a hearing into any matter referred to it by the Complaints Assessment Committee, the Disciplinary Tribunal may do 1 or more of the following:
(a)
any of the things that the Complaints Assessment Committee could have done under section 497(2):
(b)
censure the teacher:
(c)
impose conditions on the teacher’s practising certificate or authority for a specified period:
(d)
suspend the teacher’s practising certificate or authority for a specified period, or until specified conditions are met:
(e)
annotate the register or the list of authorised persons in a specified manner:
(f)
impose a fine on the teacher not exceeding $3,000:
(g)
order that the teacher’s registration or authority or practising certificate be cancelled:
(h)
require any party to the hearing to pay costs to any other party:
(i)
require any party to pay a sum to the Teaching Council in respect of the costs of conducting the hearing:
(j)
direct the Teaching Council to impose conditions on any subsequent practising certificate or authority issued to the teacher.
(1A)
Despite subsection (1)(a), the Disciplinary Tribunal may not refer an employee in a charter school who holds a limited authority to teach to a competency review.
(2)
Despite subsection (1), following a hearing that arises out of a report under section 493 of the conviction of a teacher, the Disciplinary Tribunal may not do anything specified in subsection (1)(f), (h), or (i).
(3)
A fine imposed on a teacher under subsection (1)(f), and a sum ordered to be paid to the Teaching Council under subsection (1)(i), are recoverable as debts due to the Teaching Council.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 404
Section 500(1)(j): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 21 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 500(1A): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 48 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
501 Evidence at Disciplinary Tribunal hearings
(1)
The Disciplinary Tribunal may—
(a)
receive evidence on oath (and for that purpose an officer or employee of the Teaching Council may administer an oath); and
(b)
permit a person appearing as a witness before it to give evidence by written statement and verify that statement by oath.
(2)
A hearing before the Disciplinary Tribunal is a judicial proceeding for the purposes of section 109 of the Crimes Act 1961 (which relates to punishment for perjury).
(3)
Except as provided in subsections (4) to (6), every hearing of the Disciplinary Tribunal must be held in public.
(4)
If the Disciplinary Tribunal is of the opinion that it is proper to do so, having regard to the interest of any person (including, without limitation, the privacy of the complainant (if any)) and to the public interest, it may hold a hearing or part of a hearing in private.
(5)
The Disciplinary Tribunal may, in any case, deliberate in private about its decision or about any question arising in the course of a hearing.
(6)
If the Disciplinary Tribunal is of the opinion that it is proper to do so, having regard to the interest of any person (including, without limitation, the privacy of the complainant (if any)) and to the public interest, it may make any 1 or more of the following orders:
(a)
an order prohibiting the publication of any report or account of any part of any proceedings before it, whether held in public or in private:
(b)
an order prohibiting the publication of the whole or any part of any books, papers, or documents produced at any hearing:
(c)
an order prohibiting the publication of the name, or any particulars of the case, of the person charged or any other person.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 405
502 Powers of Disciplinary Tribunal in relation to witnesses
(1)
The Disciplinary Tribunal may require a person to do either or both of the following:
(a)
attend and give evidence at a hearing of the Disciplinary Tribunal:
(b)
produce any documents, records, or other information in the person’s custody or control that relate to the subject matter of the hearing, whether specified by the Disciplinary Tribunal or not.
(2)
A requirement under subsection (1) must be in writing and signed by the chairperson of the Disciplinary Tribunal.
(3)
A person required to attend a hearing is entitled to be paid, by the party calling the person (or, if called by the Disciplinary Tribunal itself, by the Teaching Council), witnesses’ fees, allowances, and travelling expenses prescribed by regulations made under the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, and those regulations apply accordingly.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 406
503 Privileges and immunities
(1)
A person who does any of the following has the same privileges as witnesses in court:
(a)
provides documents, things, or information to a disciplinary body:
(b)
produces documents or things to a disciplinary body:
(c)
gives evidence to, or answers questions from, a disciplinary body.
(2)
A counsel appearing before a disciplinary body has the same privileges and immunities as counsel in a court.
(3)
If a person is represented at a hearing before a disciplinary body by a person other than a barrister or solicitor,—
(a)
any communications between the person and the representative in relation to the hearing are as privileged as they would have been if the representative had been a barrister or solicitor; and
(b)
the representative is treated as counsel for the purposes of subsection (2).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 408
504 Appeals against decisions of chairperson or Disciplinary Tribunal
(1)
The teacher who is the subject of a decision by the chairperson or the Disciplinary Tribunal made under section 498(2) or 500 may appeal against that decision to the District Court.
(2)
The Complaints Assessment Committee may, with the leave of the Teaching Council, appeal to the District Court against a decision of the chairperson or the Disciplinary Tribunal made under section 498(2) or 500.
(3)
An appeal under this section must be made within 28 days after receipt of written notice of the decision, or any longer period that the court allows.
(4)
Clause 5(2) to (6) of Schedule 3 applies to an appeal under this section as if it were an appeal under clause 5(1) of Schedule 3.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 409
Section 504 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 46 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
504A Application of competence provisions to holders of limited authority to teach in charter schools
Sections 506 to 509 do not apply to an employee in a charter school who holds a limited authority to teach.
Section 504A: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 49 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Review of competence
505 Competence Authority
(1)
The constitution of the Competence Authority must be set out in rules made under section 486, and those rules must be consistent with this section.
(2)
The Competence Authority may operate in panels, and more than 1 panel may operate at any one time.
(3)
The Competence Authority must include at least 1 person who is selected from a list, prepared by the Minister after consultation with the Teaching Council, of people who are not teachers, employers, or members of an employing body.
(4)
The majority of members on the Competence Authority, and on every panel of the Competence Authority, must hold practising certificates.
(5)
No member of the Competence Authority may be a member of the Complaints Assessment Committee or the Disciplinary Tribunal.
(6)
The rules must provide for the replacement of any member of the Competence Authority who, in relation to a particular complaint,—
(a)
made the complaint; or
(b)
is otherwise in a position of conflict of interest.
(7)
The rules must also provide for the Competence Authority to co-opt up to 2 members onto the Competence Authority for their specialist knowledge and expertise in relation to a particular complaint.
(8)
Members co-opted onto the Competence Authority may be in addition to any limit on the number of members set in the rules.
(9)
When performing its functions and exercising its powers, the Competence Authority must act in accordance with the rules of natural justice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 410AA
506 Complaints about competence
(1)
A person who wishes to make a complaint about a teacher’s competence must first make the complaint to the teacher’s employer, unless one of the circumstances in subsection (2)(a) to (d) applies.
(2)
Any person (including a parent, an employer, or a member of the Teaching Council) may make a written complaint to the Teaching Council about the competence of a teacher—
(a)
if the complaint is about a teacher who is not currently employed by an employer; or
(b)
if the complainant considers, on reasonable grounds, that the employer is not able to deal with the complaint effectively because of an actual or a perceived conflict of interest; or
(c)
if the complaint has been made to the employer, but the complainant is not satisfied with the way in which the complaint is being, or was, dealt with; or
(d)
in any other exceptional circumstance.
(3)
The Teaching Council may investigate any matters that relate to teacher competence of its own motion as it sees fit.
(4)
The Teaching Council may, after any investigation it decides to make, refer to the Competence Authority a complaint or other matter that relates to competence for a decision as to whether the required level of competence has been attained.
(5)
A complaint under this section by an employer or a former employer must include a description of the competence issues leading to the complaint and the actions (if any) that the employer or former employer has undertaken in relation to them.
(6)
If the Teaching Council considers that a complaint should first have been sent to the teacher’s employer, it must refer it to the employer, and, in any other case, it must notify the employer (if the teacher is currently employed by an employer) that—
(a)
it has received a complaint about the teacher’s competence; or
(b)
it is investigating the teacher’s competence of its own motion.
(7)
When the Teaching Council refers a complaint to an employer, the employer must report as required by the Teaching Council.
(8)
If the Teaching Council is satisfied that the employer has not responded, or has not been able to respond, to the complaint in a satisfactory way, the Teaching Council may investigate the complaint.
(9)
When a complaint about competence is made by a member of the Teaching Council, that member may not be involved in any investigation of the complaint.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 410
507 Investigation by Teaching Council of mandatory reports relating to competence and referral to Competence Authority for decision
(1)
The Teaching Council may, after any investigation it decides to make, refer to the Competence Authority a report it receives under section 489, 490, or 492 that relates to competence.
(2)
When investigating a report that relates to competence under section 489, 490, or 492, the Teaching Council may require the teacher’s employer or former employer to supply information in addition to the information supplied in the report and, in that case, the employer or former employer must supply it.
(3)
When a report that relates to competence is made under section 489, 490, or 492 by a member of the Teaching Council, that member may not be involved in any investigation of the report.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 411
508 Powers of Competence Authority after finding required level of competence not attained
Following any investigation by the Teaching Council under section 506, or of a report received by the Teaching Council under section 507 and referred to the Competence Authority, the Competence Authority may, if satisfied that a teacher has not attained the required level of competence,—
(a)
do any 1 or more of the following:
(i)
impose conditions on the teacher’s practising certificate or authority for a specified period:
(ii)
refer the teacher to an impairment process, which may involve either or both of the following:
(A)
assessment of an impairment:
(B)
assistance with an impairment:
(iii)
annotate the register or the list of authorised persons in a specified manner, in relation to any action taken under subparagraph (i):
(iv)
direct the Teaching Council to impose conditions on any subsequent practising certificate or authority issued to the teacher; or
(b)
order that the teacher’s registration, practising certificate, or authority be cancelled.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 412
Section 508(a)(i): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 22(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 508(b): replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 22(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
509 Appeals against decisions of Competence Authority
(1)
A teacher who is the subject of a decision by the Competence Authority made under section 508 may appeal against that decision to the District Court.
(2)
An appeal must be made within 28 days after receipt of written notice of the decision, or any longer period that the court allows.
(3)
Clause 5(2) to (6) of Schedule 3 applies to an appeal under this section as if it were an appeal under clause 5(1) of Schedule 3.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 412A
Subpart 5—Education New Zealand
510 Education New Zealand continued
(1)
The body called Education New Zealand in existence before the commencement of this subpart is continued.
(2)
Education New Zealand is a Crown entity for the purposes of section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(3)
The Crown Entities Act 2004 applies to Education New Zealand except to the extent that this Act expressly provides otherwise.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 269
Section 510(1): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
511 Functions
(1)
The functions of Education New Zealand are—
(a)
to deliver strategies, programmes, and activities for promoting, together with providers and other government agencies, New Zealand education overseas; and
(b)
to promote New Zealand as an educational destination for international students; and
(c)
to promote the provision of New Zealand education and training services overseas; and
(d)
to manage, in collaboration with other government agencies, activities undertaken by representatives appointed to act on behalf of the New Zealand Government in relation to international education; and
(e)
to carry out research on international education markets and marketing strategies; and
(f)
to administer any international programmes or activities that are consistent with the Government’s policy on international education; and
(g)
to provide information, advice, and assistance to providers on strategies to promote industry co-ordination and professional development; and
(h)
to provide information to international students about living and studying in New Zealand; and
(i)
to work with other agencies to ensure that international students are adequately supported while living and studying in New Zealand; and
(j)
to foster collaborative networks with former international students; and
(k)
to perform any other function directed by the Minister under subsection (3).
(2)
In performing its functions under this Act or any other enactment, Education New Zealand must give effect to the Government’s policy on international education.
(3)
The Minister may direct Education New Zealand to perform any function that the Minister considers consistent with the Government’s policy on international education.
(4)
In this section, provider means any organisation that provides education, training, or education-related services.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 270
512 Membership of board of Education New Zealand
(1)
The board of Education New Zealand consists of at least 5 members and no more than 7 members appointed by the Minister under section 28 of the Crown Entities Act 2004.
(2)
Before appointing any member to the board, the Minister must consult—
(a)
the bodies that represent the organisations involved in the provision of international education; and
(b)
any organisations or people that, in the Minister’s opinion, have a substantial interest in the board’s operations.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 272
513 Special advisers to board
(1)
The Minister may appoint as special advisers to the board—
(a)
the Secretary; and
(b)
the chief executive of the department responsible for the administration of the Immigration Act 2009; and
(c)
any other person as the Minister determines.
(2)
The function of a special adviser is to assist the board to align its strategies and activities with Government policy.
(3)
A special adviser may attend any meeting of the board or any board committees but may not vote.
(4)
The board (including any board committee) must give the special advisers sufficient notice of its meetings and copies of all documents and materials to be considered at each meeting.
(5)
A special adviser may delegate to any person the functions and powers conferred by this section, and the delegate may perform or exercise those functions and powers in the same manner and with the same effect as if they had been conferred directly by this section.
(6)
Every person purporting to act under a delegation under subsection (5) is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 272A
514 International education advisory committee
(1)
The Minister may establish an international education advisory committee to provide expert advice to the board on matters relating to the performance of its functions.
(2)
The board must consider any advice it receives from the committee.
(3)
The members of the committee must be appointed by the Minister, on terms and conditions that the Minister determines, by written notice to each member.
(4)
When appointing members of the committee, the Minister must ensure, as far as practicable, that—
(a)
the committee’s membership is broadly representative of the international education industry; and
(b)
the members collectively have sufficient experience and knowledge of the international education industry to give appropriate advice to the board.
(5)
The Minister may give terms of reference on the topics or subject areas on which the committee may advise the board.
(6)
The committee must comply with any terms of reference given by the Minister.
(7)
The committee may determine its own procedure.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 272B
515 Chief executive
(1)
The board—
(a)
must appoint a chief executive of Education New Zealand; and
(b)
must act independently when appointing the chief executive; and
(c)
may not delegate its duty under paragraph (a).
(2)
The chief executive may not be a member of the board.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 273
516 Responsibilities of chief executive
The chief executive is responsible for—
(a)
the effective and efficient management and administration of Education New Zealand; and
(b)
the achievement of outcomes identified in the statement of intent of Education New Zealand.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 273A
517 Application of Part 2 of Commerce Act 1986
(1)
For the purposes of section 43 of the Commerce Act 1986, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council, specifically authorise any act, matter, or thing, or kind of act, matter, or thing, to be done or omitted to be done by Education New Zealand.
(2)
Part 2 of the Commerce Act 1986 does not apply to any act, matter, or thing, or kind of act, matter, or thing, that is specifically authorised under subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 274
Subpart 6—International students
518 Purpose of subpart 6
The purpose of this subpart is to ensure that international students trust New Zealand education and consider it appropriate, which is to be achieved by—
(a)
providing for the health, safety, and welfare of international students studying in New Zealand; and
(b)
regulating enrolment, the payment of fees, and the repayment of fees; and
(c)
providing for levies on institutions enrolling international students to offset the contribution of the State to the costs of educating international students.
International students at schools
519 Enrolment of international students
(1)
Subject to section 520(3), an international student may not be enrolled at a State school or a charter school without the board’s or sponsor’s consent.
(2)
Subject to sections 79 and 521 and to subsections (3) to (6), once enrolled at a State school or a charter school an international student has the same rights to remain enrolled, and to tuition, at the school as a domestic student.
(3)
If an international student’s conduct is in breach of the student’s contract of enrolment, the school’s board or sponsor may take appropriate disciplinary action against the student.
(4)
For the purposes of subsection (3), disciplinary action, including suspension, exclusion, or the termination of the student’s enrolment, is appropriate disciplinary action if it is taken in accordance with the applicable code issued under section 534 and the student’s contract of enrolment.
(5)
An international student may not be enrolled at a State school or a charter school if the student’s enrolment has the effect that a domestic student who is entitled to enrol there and has applied for enrolment is not able to be enrolled.
(6)
An international student may not be enrolled in any subject, course, or programme at a State school or a charter school if the student’s enrolment has the effect that a domestic student who is entitled to enrol in the subject, course, or programme and has applied for enrolment in it is not able to be enrolled in it.
(7)
Despite subsection (5) or (6), although domestic students may not be able to be enrolled, an international student may be enrolled at a State school or charter school, or in any subject, course, or programme at a State school or charter school, if the enrolment is in a vacant place—
(a)
that the board or sponsor established for international students; and
(b)
the continued availability of which is dependent on the fees payable by international students enrolled in it.
(8)
As soon as practicable after an international student is enrolled at a State school or charter school, the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school must give the Secretary written notice of—
(a)
the student’s name, age, and nationality; and
(b)
the day on which the student began (or will begin) to receive tuition at the school.
(9)
Despite anything in this section or section 521, an international student may, with the consent of the principal or person responsible for teaching and learning in a charter school and during a period of not more than 28 consecutive days (or any longer period the Secretary approves for any particular student), receive tuition at or from a State school or charter school—
(a)
without the consent of the school’s board or the sponsor; and
(b)
without paying the amount required by section 521.
(10)
If subsection (9) applies, the student may not be counted for the purpose of calculating or ascertaining the school’s entitlement to teachers or funding.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 4
Section 519(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(5): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(6): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(7): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(5)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(7)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(5)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(8): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(6)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(8): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(6)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(9): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(6)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(9): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(6)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 519(9)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 50(7) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
520 Certain international students may enrol at State schools or charter schools as of right
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, declare international students of a specified kind or description to be entitled to enrol at State schools or charter schools.
(2)
A notice may be unconditional or subject to any conditions specified in it.
(3)
An international student of a kind or description for the time being specified in a notice under subsection (1) has the same rights to enrolment and tuition at State schools as a domestic student, subject to section 521 and any conditions specified in the notice.
(4)
A notice under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 4A
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 520 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 51(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 520(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 51(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 520(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 520(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
521 Fees for international students
(1)
Subject to section 519(9), no international student may receive tuition in any subject, course, or programme at a State school or a charter school unless there has been paid to the school’s board or the sponsor an amount fixed by the board that is not less than the sum of the following amounts:
(a)
the board’s or the sponsor’s best estimate of the cost involved (including the appropriate proportion of the board’s or the sponsor’s administrative and other general costs) in providing tuition in the subject, course, or programme for 1 student:
(b)
an amount that is in the board’s or the sponsor’s opinion an appropriate reflection of the use made of the board’s or the sponsor’s capital facilities by 1 student receiving tuition in the subject, course, or programme:
(c)
the amount (if any) prescribed under section 523 for a student receiving tuition at a State school or a charter school in the subject, course, or programme:
(d)
all other fees (if any) prescribed by the board or the sponsor.
(2)
Nothing in subsection (1) prevents a board or the sponsor from accepting any amount required by that subsection to be paid by instalments but, subject to section 525(2), no international student may continue to receive tuition in any subject, course, or programme at a State school or a charter school unless the sum of the following amounts is less than the sum of the instalments paid up to that time:
(a)
the board’s or the sponsor’s best estimate of the cost involved (including the appropriate proportion of the board’s or the sponsor’s administrative and other general costs and the appropriate proportion of any initial or start-up costs of the subject, course, or programme) in providing tuition in the subject, course, or programme for 1 student up to that time:
(b)
an amount that is in the board’s or the sponsor’s opinion an appropriate reflection of the use made of the board’s or the sponsor’s capital facilities by 1 student receiving tuition in the subject, course, or programme:
(c)
the appropriate proportion of the amount (if any) prescribed under section 523 for a student receiving tuition at a State school or a charter school in the subject, course, or programme:
(d)
all other fees (if any) prescribed by the board or the sponsor.
(3)
If an international student has received tuition in a subject, course, or programme at a State school or charter school without paying the full amount required by subsection (1) in respect of the subject, course, or programme, the board or sponsor may, in any court of competent jurisdiction, recover the underpayment from the student (or a parent of the student) as a debt due to the board or sponsor.
(4)
A board’s or sponsor’s grant under section 550 may be reduced if the student’s education has been subsidised by money appropriated by Parliament.
(5)
A grant may not be reduced under subsection (4) unless the Secretary has given the board or sponsor concerned written notice of the circumstances taken into account when the proposed reduction was decided on.
(6)
If the board or sponsor disagrees that a grant should be reduced under subsection (4), or disputes the amount by which it should be reduced, the following provisions apply:
(a)
the board or sponsor may, within 28 days of getting notice from the Secretary under subsection (5), by written notice to the Secretary giving the name and address of a proposed arbitrator, require the dispute to be settled by arbitration:
(b)
if, within 14 days of getting the board’s or sponsor’s notice, the Secretary has agreed an arbitrator with the board or sponsor, the agreed arbitrator must settle the dispute:
(c)
if, within 14 days of getting the board’s or sponsor’s notice, the Secretary has not agreed an arbitrator with the board or sponsor, an arbitrator appointed jointly by the Secretary and the arbitrator originally proposed by the board or sponsor must settle the dispute:
(d)
the arbitrator’s decision is final.
(7)
If an international student withdraws from a subject, course, or programme at a State school or charter school, the school’s board or sponsor may refund to the person who paid (in respect of the student’s enrolment in the subject, course, or programme) the amount of the fees referred to in subsection (1) (or the sum of any instalments paid in respect of those fees) any amount it thinks fit not exceeding the extent (if any) by which the amount paid exceeds the sum of the following amounts:
(a)
the board’s or sponsor’s best estimate of the cost involved (including the appropriate proportion of the board’s or sponsor’s administrative and other general costs and the appropriate proportion of any initial or start-up costs of the subject, course, or programme) in providing tuition in the subject, course, or programme for 1 student up to that time:
(b)
an amount that is in the board’s or sponsor’s opinion an appropriate reflection of the use made of the board’s or sponsor’s capital facilities by 1 student receiving tuition in the subject, course, or programme:
(c)
the appropriate proportion of the amount (if any) prescribed under section 523 for a student receiving tuition at a State school or charter school in the subject, course, or programme:
(d)
all other fees (if any) prescribed by the board or sponsor.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 4B
Section 521(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(1)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(c) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(1)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(c) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(1)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(1)(d): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(2)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(c) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(2)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(c) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(2)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(2)(d): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(2)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(5): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(6): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(5)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(6)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(5)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(6)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(5)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(6)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(5)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(6)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(5)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(6)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(5)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(7): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(6)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(7): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(6)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(7)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(6)(c) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(7)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(6)(c) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(7)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(6)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 521(7)(d): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 52(6)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
522 Exemption from paying fees
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, exempt international students of a particular kind or description from paying all or a specified proportion or amount of the amount required by section 521 to be paid.
(2)
A notice under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 4C
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
523 Board or sponsor must reimburse the Crown for expenditure relating to international students
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, set fees to be paid by the following:
(a)
boards in respect of international students enrolled at State schools:
(b)
sponsors in respect of international students enrolled at charter schools.
(2)
Fees may be set for 1 or more of the following:
(a)
all State schools, State schools of a specified kind or description, or specified State schools:
(aa)
all charter schools, charter schools of a specified kind or description, or specified charter schools:
(b)
all international students, or international students of a specified kind or description:
(c)
all subjects, courses, and programmes; subjects, courses, and programmes of a specified kind or description; or specified subjects, courses, or programmes.
(3)
Within 28 days of the first day in any year on which an international student enrolled at a State school or charter school attends the school, the board or sponsor must pay to the Secretary the appropriate fee (if any) prescribed under subsection (1).
(4)
The Minister may pay to the proprietors of a State integrated school whose board has paid a fee under this section a portion of that fee, as determined in accordance with a formula prescribed under subsection (5), for the purpose of reimbursing the proprietors for that part of the levy associated with the use of capital assets owned by the proprietors.
(5)
The Minister may, by notice, prescribe a formula for the payment of money under subsection (4), and may prescribe different formulas to apply to different schools or classes of school.
(6)
The following are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements):
(a)
a notice under subsection (1):
(b)
a notice under subsection (5), unless it applies only to 1 or more named schools.
(7)
If a notice under subsection (5) is not secondary legislation, the Minister must give the notice to the proprietor or proprietors of the school or schools named in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 4D
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 523 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 53(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 523(1): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 53(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 523(1): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 23 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 523(2)(aa): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 53(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 523(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 53(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 523(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 53(4)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 523(5): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 523(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 523(7): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
524 Courses for international students
(1)
The board of a State school, the sponsor, or the managers of a school registered under section 214 may not establish, or permit any student to enrol or continue to be enrolled in, any class, course, or programme intended exclusively or mainly for international students unless the class, course, or programme is for the time being approved by NZQA.
(2)
NZQA may not approve a class, course, or programme under subsection (1) unless satisfied on reasonable grounds that—
(a)
the school has or will have adequate staff, equipment, and premises to provide it; and
(b)
the standard of instruction provided in it will not be lower than the standard that would be expected in any similar class, course, or programme for domestic students.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 4E
Section 524(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 54 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
524A Withdrawal of approval of course for international students
(1)
If NZQA considers that there may be grounds for withdrawing approval of a class, course, or programme intended exclusively or mainly for international students, NZQA must give written notice to the board of the State school, the sponsor, or the managers of the school registered under section 214 to whom the approval was granted—
(a)
setting out the grounds on which NZQA is considering withdrawing approval; and
(b)
giving the board, the sponsor, or the managers a reasonable period to make submissions on the matter.
(2)
After that period, and having considered any submission made by the board or the managers, NZQA may, on any reasonable grounds, withdraw approval.
(3)
If NZQA withdraws approval under subsection (2), it must give notice of the withdrawal, with reasons, to the board, the sponsor, or the managers concerned.
(4)
NZQA may withdraw an approval at the written request of the board, the sponsor, or the managers concerned.
Section 524A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 47 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 524A(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 55(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 524A(1)(b): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 55(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 524A(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 55(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 524A(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 55(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
International students at tertiary education and vocational education and training institutions
525 Enrolment of international students
(1)
An institution’s council may not permit the enrolment of an international student at the institution for all or part of a programme unless—
(a)
the programme is approved by NZQA and the institution is accredited to provide the programme; or
(b)
the programme is exempted under section 528.
(2)
An institution’s council may not permit the enrolment of an international student at the institution for a micro-credential unless—
(a)
the micro-credential is approved by NZQA and the institution is accredited to provide the micro-credential; or
(b)
the micro-credential is exempted under section 528.
(3)
An international student—
(a)
may not be enrolled at an institution if the student’s enrolment there has the effect that a domestic student who is eligible to enrol there and has applied for enrolment is not able to be enrolled:
(b)
may not be enrolled in any programme or micro-credential at an institution if the student’s enrolment has the effect that a domestic student who is eligible to enrol in the programme or micro-credential and has applied for enrolment in it is not be able to be enrolled in it.
(4)
Despite subsection (3), although domestic students may not be able to be enrolled, an international student may be enrolled at an institution, or in any programme or micro-credential at the institution, if the enrolment is in a vacant place—
(a)
that the institution’s council established for international students; and
(b)
whose continued availability is dependent on the fees payable by international students enrolled in it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 224(7)–(11)
Section 525(2): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 525(3)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 525(4): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
526 Fees for international students
(1)
An institution’s council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no person is enrolled at the institution until it has established whether the person is a domestic student or an international student.
(2)
An international student may not be enrolled or continue to be enrolled in any programme of study or training at an institution unless there have been paid to the council in respect of the student—
(a)
an amount fixed by the council that is not less than the council’s best estimate of—
(i)
the cost involved (including the institution’s marginal administrative and other general costs, and the appropriate portion of any initial or start-up costs of the programme) of providing tuition in the programme for 1 student, in the case of a programme in which no domestic student is enrolled:
(ii)
the marginal cost involved (including the institution’s marginal administrative and other general costs, and any marginal initial or start-up costs of the programme) of providing tuition in the programme for 1 student in addition to the domestic students receiving tuition in the programme, in every other case; and
(b)
an amount fixed by the council that is not less than an amount that in the council’s opinion is an appropriate reflection of the use by 1 student receiving tuition in the programme of the capital facilities (if any) whose provision at the institution is necessary owing only to the institution’s provision of tuition to international students in addition to domestic students; and
(c)
all other fees (if any) prescribed by the council.
(3)
Despite subsection (2), a council may accept from an international student in respect of any programme of study or training at an institution an amount that is less than the sum of the amounts referred to in that subsection by an amount that is no greater than the sum of—
(a)
any amounts by which the council has decided to subsidise the student in respect of the programme; and
(b)
the appropriate proportion of any amounts by which the council has decided to subsidise the student in respect of programmes of a kind or description that include the programme; and
(c)
the appropriate proportion of any amounts by which the council has decided to subsidise students of a kind or description that include the student in respect of the programme; and
(d)
the appropriate proportion of any amounts by which the council has decided to subsidise students of a kind or description that include the student in respect of programmes of a kind or description that include the programme,—
out of the general revenue of the council (not being funds provided under sections 425 or 428) or out of any special supplementary grant under that section that may be used for the purpose.
(4)
Subsection (2) does not prevent a council from accepting payment of a fee by instalments.
(5)
If an international student has received tuition in a programme of study or training at an institution without paying the full amounts required by subsection (2)(a) or (b) in respect of the programme, the institution may, in any court of competent jurisdiction, recover the underpayment from the student as a debt to the institution.
(6)
In any year, the amount of any grant for an institution may be reduced from what it would otherwise have been by any amount by which (in the Secretary’s opinion), because the full amount required by subsection (2)(a) in respect of a programme of study or training at the institution in which an international student was enrolled has not been paid to the institution, the student’s education has been subsidised by money appropriated by Parliament.
(7)
A grant may not be reduced under subsection (6) unless the Secretary has given to the council of the institution written notice of the circumstances taken into account when the proposed reduction was decided on.
(8)
If an institution’s council disagrees that a grant should be reduced under subsection (6), or disputes the amount by which it should be reduced, the following provisions apply:
(a)
the council may, within 28 days of getting notice from the Secretary under subsection (7), by written notice to the Secretary giving the name and address of a proposed arbitrator, require the dispute to be settled by arbitration:
(b)
if, within 14 days of getting the council’s notice, the Secretary has agreed an arbitrator with the council, the agreed arbitrator must settle the dispute:
(c)
if, within 14 days of getting the council’s notice, the Secretary has not agreed an arbitrator with the council, an arbitrator appointed jointly by the Secretary and by the arbitrator originally proposed by the council must settle the dispute:
(d)
the arbitrator’s decision is final.
(9)
An institution’s council must,—
(a)
when an international student enrols, or resumes attendance, at the institution, give to the Secretary written notice (to the best of the council’s knowledge) of the student’s name, nationality, and programme of study or training:
(b)
when an international student ceases to be enrolled at, or ceases to attend, the institution, notify the Secretary in writing:
(c)
comply with all accounting requirements relating to international students enrolled at institutions contained in any notice published by the Minister in the Gazette that is for the time being in force.
(10)
An institution’s council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that when a student enrols at the institution (whether for the first time or for a subsequent time) the student is given written notice of the circumstances (if any) in which the student is or may be entitled to a refund of all or any part of fees under this section paid or to be paid to the council.
(11)
The power of a council to refund to a student all or any part of any fees paid to it under this section is not limited or affected by—
(a)
any failure to comply with subsection (10); or
(b)
the fact that the circumstances fall outside those notified under that subsection; or
(c)
the fact that the refund is larger than a notice under that subsection provides for.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 228
527 Requirements that private training establishments must comply with before enrolling international students
(1)
A private training establishment may not enrol an international student in all or part of a programme at the establishment unless—
(a)
the establishment is registered under section 346 and is a signatory to the applicable code issued under section 534; and
(b)
either—
(i)
the programme is an approved programme and the establishment is accredited to provide the entire programme; or
(ii)
the programme is of less than 3 months’ duration and is exempted under section 528; and
(c)
if standards from the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards are included in the programme, the establishment has a consent to assess against standards.
(2)
A private training establishment may not enrol an international student in a micro-credential at the establishment unless—
(a)
the establishment is a registered establishment and is a signatory to the applicable code issued under section 534; and
(b)
either—
(i)
the micro-credential is an approved micro-credential and the establishment is accredited to provide the micro-credential; or
(ii)
the micro-credential is of less than 3 months’ duration and is exempted under section 528; and
(c)
if standards from the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards are included in the approved micro-credential, the establishment has a consent to assess against those standards.
(3)
For the purposes of this section and section 528, a programme or micro-credential is of less than 3 months’ duration if the period starting on the day on which the programme or micro-credential starts and ending on the day on which it ends (or is likely to end) is less than 3 calendar months, irrespective of the number of days on which the programme or micro-credential is, or is proposed to be, provided during that period.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 232A
Section 527(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 527(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 527(2)(b)(i): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 527(2)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 527(2)(c): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 28 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 527(2)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 527(3): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Section 527(3): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
528 Exemptions
(1)
NZQA may—
(a)
exempt programmes for the purposes of section 525(1)(b) or 527(1)(b)(ii); or
(b)
exempt micro-credentials for the purposes of section 525(2)(b) or 527(2)(b)(ii).
(2)
An exemption under subsection (1)—
(a)
may exempt only programmes or micro-credentials that are, or are likely to be, of less than 3 months’ duration; and
(b)
may identify programmes or micro-credentials, or classes of programmes or micro-credentials, that are exempt; and
(c)
may identify programmes or micro-credentials by reference to a provider, or a class of providers, that offers them; and
(d)
may be in respect of programmes or micro-credentials that have been completed, are in progress, or have not yet started.
(3)
An exemption under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 232B
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 528(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 528(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 528(1)(b): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 29 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 528(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 528(2): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 528(2)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 528(2)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 528(2)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 528(2)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 528(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
529 Refund entitlements of international students
(1)
A private training establishment must—
(a)
allow every international student enrolled for a programme or micro-credential that is of 3 months’ duration or more to withdraw from it within the refund period; and
(b)
refund to every international student who so withdraws, without deduction, at least so much of any payment, or of the sum of any payments, made by the student to the establishment in respect of that programme or micro-credential, and, if withdrawal from the programme or micro-credential also constitutes withdrawal from the establishment as a whole, in respect of enrolment at the establishment, as exceeds the percentage specified in the notice made under section 530; and
(c)
allow every international student enrolled for a programme or micro-credential that is of less than 3 months’ duration to withdraw from it within a period (being less than 7 days) specified by NZQA; and
(d)
refund to every international student who so withdraws a minimum amount or proportion, specified by NZQA, of any payments made by the student to the establishment in respect of the programme or micro-credential.
(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), a programme or micro-credential is of less than 3 months’ duration if the period starting on the day on which the programme or micro-credential starts and ending on the day on which it ends (or is likely to end) is less than 3 calendar months, irrespective of the number of days on which the programme or micro-credential is, or is proposed to be, provided during that period.
(3)
When the refund period, in relation to any fees paid by or on behalf of an international student, has expired,—
(a)
the fees paid must continue to be held in trust with the independent trustee and the private training establishment must be paid from the trust in the manner prescribed in the rules made under section 452; or
(b)
the private training establishment may, if NZQA approves, make alternative arrangements in relation to the fees paid.
(3A)
An instrument containing a specification by NZQA under subsection (1)(c) or (d) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(4)
In this section, refund period means the period that begins when the student’s fees are paid to the private training establishment (or paid directly to the independent trustee) and ends on the date specified in the notice made under section 530.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 235A
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | It is not required to be published | LA19 s 73(2) | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 529(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 529(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 529(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 529(1)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 529(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 529(3A): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
530 Refund requirements set by Minister
(1)
For the purposes of refunds under section 529, the Minister must specify, by notice,—
(a)
either—
(i)
the end of the period within which an international student may withdraw from a programme or micro-credential of 3 months’ duration or more and be entitled to a refund under that section; or
(ii)
a means by which the end of that period may be calculated or ascertained; and
(b)
the maximum percentage of the payment or payments that an establishment may retain; and
(c)
the cost components of the fee total on which the maximum percentage is determined; and
(d)
the expenses or categories of expenses that the establishment must show that it has incurred in relation to an international student in order to deduct the maximum percentage.
(2)
Before giving notice, the Minister must, as the Minister considers appropriate, consult any 1 or more of the following:
(a)
private training establishments:
(b)
sector and industry representative organisations:
(c)
any other relevant bodies.
(3)
A notice under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 235B
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 530 heading: amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 530(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 530(1)(a)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 530(3): replaced, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
531 Private training establishment to notify immigration officer if student withdraws from programme or micro-credential
(1)
A private training establishment must ensure that, within 7 days of the withdrawal of any student from a programme or micro-credential at the establishment, an immigration officer (within the meaning of section 4 of the Immigration Act 2009) is given written notice of the name of the student and the programme or micro-credential, and the day on which the student withdrew.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a student if the establishment is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the student is a domestic student.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 235E
Section 531 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 531(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Subpart 7—Well-being and safety of students
Heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 48 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Signatory providers
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 49 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
531A Approval and removal of signatory providers
(1)
Before a provider can become a signatory provider of a code, the provider must apply to the relevant code administrator for approval, in exercise of the code administrator’s power under section 535A(3)(a), for the provider to become a signatory provider.
(2)
The relevant code administrator may withdraw approval of a signatory provider at the written request of the provider concerned.
(3)
If approval is withdrawn under subsection (2), a provider ceases to be a signatory to the code and is no longer a signatory provider.
Section 531A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 49 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Enrolment of international students
532 Signatory providers may enrol persons as international students
(1)
A provider may enrol a person as an international student or continue to have an international student enrolled, as long as the provider is a signatory provider.
(2)
A provider may not enrol a person as an international student or continue to have an international student enrolled, or provide educational instruction for the person, if the provider—
(a)
is not a signatory provider; or
(aa)
has its approval to be a signatory provider withdrawn under section 531A(2); or
(b)
is removed as a signatory provider under section 535(2); or
(c)
ceases to be a signatory provider for any other reason provided in the code.
(3)
A signatory provider that is subject to a sanction under section 535(1) may continue to have international students enrolled and may provide educational instruction to those students, but only to the extent permitted by the sanction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238E
Section 532(2)(aa): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 50 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
533 Providers must enrol persons as international students in certain circumstances
A provider must enrol a person as an international student if the person is not a domestic student and the provider—
(a)
provides the person with educational instruction for more than 2 weeks; or
(b)
accepts tuition fees from the person.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238F
Well-being and safety of domestic and international students
Heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 51 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
534 Well-being and safety codes of practice
(1)
The Minister may issue—
(a)
1 or more codes that provide a framework for the well-being and safety of domestic tertiary students:
(b)
1 or more codes that provide a framework for the well-being and safety of international students:
(c)
1 or more codes that provide a framework for the well-being and safety of domestic tertiary students and international students.
(1A)
The Minister must specify whether a code applies to—
(a)
any provider that provides educational instruction to the students in respect of whom the code is issued; or
(b)
a particular type of provider or group of providers (for example, schools, Kura Kaupapa Māori, or Māori providers).
(2)
The purpose of a code,—
(a)
in respect of domestic tertiary students, is to support the Government’s objectives for the education of domestic tertiary students by—
(i)
requiring providers to take all reasonable steps to maintain the well-being and safety of domestic tertiary students; and
(ii)
ensuring, so far as is possible, that domestic tertiary students have a positive experience that supports their educational achievement:
(b)
in respect of international students, is to support the Government’s objectives for international education by—
(i)
requiring providers to take all reasonable steps to maintain the well-being and safety of international students; and
(ii)
ensuring, so far as is possible, that international students have a positive experience that supports their educational achievement.
(3)
The scope of a code,—
(a)
in respect of domestic tertiary students, is to prescribe, alongside other quality assurance prescribed by this Act,—
(i)
outcomes sought from providers for their domestic tertiary students; and
(ii)
key processes required of providers to support the well-being and safety, achievement, and rights of domestic tertiary students:
(b)
in respect of international students, is to prescribe, alongside other quality assurance prescribed by this Act,—
(i)
outcomes sought from providers for their international students; and
(ii)
key processes required of providers to support the well-being and safety, achievement, and rights of international students.
(4)
Without limiting subsections (1) to (3), a code may include provisions for 1 or more of the following purposes:
(a)
despite anything in the Public Finance Act 1989, requiring providers to indemnify the code administrator:
(b)
providing for any other matters contemplated by this Part, necessary for its administration, or necessary for giving it full effect.
(5)
Before issuing a code, the Minister must consult—
(a)
those parties that the Minister considers likely to be affected by the code, including representatives of students, parents, providers, signatory providers, and the staff of providers and signatory providers; and
(aa)
Māori; and
(b)
the Privacy Commissioner.
(6)
A code—
(a)
in respect of domestic tertiary students is binding on all providers:
(b)
in respect of international students is binding on all signatory providers.
(7)
A code—
(a)
may make different provision for students under the age of 18 years and students aged 18 years or over:
(b)
that applies in respect of students undertaking study or training with a provider applies whether the students undertake the study or training in New Zealand or in another country.
(b)
[Repealed](c)
[Repealed](8)
A code must be made and administered in accordance with regulations made under section 648.
(9)
A code under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238G
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, the Ministry | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 534 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(1A): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(2)(a)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(2)(b)(i): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(6) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(2)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(7) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(3)(a)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(3)(b)(ii): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(5)(aa): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(8) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(7)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(9) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(7)(b): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 52(10) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 534(7)(b): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 534(7)(c): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 534(9): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
534A Code for particular providers to be mandatory or optional
(1)
A code that applies to a particular type of provider or group of providers under section 534(1A)(b) must specify whether the code is mandatory or optional.
(2)
If a code is mandatory, a provider to which the code applies must comply with that code and is not required to comply with any other code.
(3)
If a code is optional, a provider to which the code applies may elect to comply with that code in place of compliance with any other code and,—
(a)
if an election is made, the provider must comply with the code and is not required to comply with any other code; and
(b)
if an election is not made, the provider is not required to comply with the code.
(4)
An election under subsection (3) to comply with a code must be made in accordance with the mechanism set out in the code for this purpose.
Section 534A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 53 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
534B Minister may make minor or technical changes to code or grant exemptions
(1)
The Minister may—
(a)
make minor or technical amendments to a code; and
(b)
exempt specified providers, or types or groups of providers, from compliance with specified requirements of a code that applies to that provider, or type or group of providers, under section 534(1A)(b).
(2)
To avoid doubt, the Minister is not required to consult the parties set out in section 534(5) when making an amendment or granting an exemption under this section.
(3)
If the Minister amends a code under subsection (1)(a), the code administrator must make reasonable efforts to notify representatives of students, parents, providers, signatory providers, and the staff of providers and signatory providers of the amendment.
Section 534B: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 53 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
535 Sanctions for breach of code
(1)
If satisfied that a provider or signatory provider has breached the relevant code or failed to comply with a performance improvement notice issued under section 535C, a code administrator may,—
(a)
in the case of signatory providers, impose new, or amend or revoke any existing, conditions on the signatory provider’s approval as a signatory provider:
(b)
in the case of providers and signatory providers, impose limitations on the provider’s or the signatory provider’s power to enrol students.
(2)
If satisfied that a signatory provider has not complied with a sanction imposed under subsection (1) or notice issued under section 535C, a code administrator may remove the signatory provider as a signatory provider.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238L
Section 535(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 54(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 535(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 54(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Code administrators
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 55 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
535A Appointment and functions of code administrators
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, appoint a person or an agency to be responsible for—
(a)
administering—
(i)
a code for domestic tertiary students:
(ii)
a code for international students:
(iii)
a code for domestic tertiary students and international students; and
(b)
administering 2 or more codes.
(2)
When appointing a code administrator, the Minister must have regard to the knowledge, skills, or experience of the person or agency.
(3)
The functions of the code administrator are,—
(a)
in the case of international students,—
(i)
to receive applications from providers seeking to become signatory providers; and
(ii)
to assess those applications against—
(A)
the criteria stated in a code; and
(B)
the purpose stated in section 534(2) and the scope of the code stated in section 534(3); and
(iii)
to approve or decline to approve applicants becoming signatory providers in accordance with those assessments; and
(b)
in the case of domestic tertiary students and international students,—
(i)
to monitor the extent to which providers comply with a code in close collaboration with quality assurance agencies; and
(ii)
to issue to providers and signatory providers notices under section 535C; and
(iii)
to impose on providers and signatory providers sanctions under section 535 for breaches of a code and failure to comply with notices; and
(iv)
to undertake periodic reviews of how providers and signatory providers generally are giving effect to a code, or a part or parts of a code, in order to assess the extent to which the purposes of the code are being met.
(4)
The Minister may set performance standards and priorities for code administrators, which code administrators must have regard to in the performance of their duties and functions.
(5)
A code administrator may allow an applicant to become a signatory provider unconditionally, or subject to any written conditions made known to the applicant at the time the code administrator informs the applicant that the applicant is allowed to become a signatory provider.
(6)
A code administrator may, with the Minister’s prior written approval and subject to any conditions that the code administrator or the Minister thinks fit, delegate any or all of the functions, duties, and powers specified in this section to another person or agency (having regard to their knowledge, skills, or experience).
(7)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238H(1)–(4), (9)
Section 535A(7): repealed, on 23 August 2023, by section 30 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
535B Further obligations of code administrator
A code administrator must—
(a)
exercise and perform all of its functions, powers, and duties in a manner that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports Māori-Crown relationships; and
(b)
report annually to the Minister on the exercise and performance of its functions, powers, and duties, including the extent to which providers and signatory providers are giving effect to their obligations under the codes, and publish the report on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the code administrator; and
(c)
provide information to the Minister, at the request and in the form specified by the Minister, relating to—
(i)
the performance of its duties and functions; and
(ii)
the performance of providers and signatory providers in meeting the requirements of a code.
Section 535B: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 55 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
535C Power to issue performance improvement notices
(1)
A code administrator may issue a performance improvement notice to a provider or signatory provider that requires the provider or signatory provider to do, or refrain from doing, a particular thing in relation to—
(a)
its obligations under a code; or
(b)
in the case of a signatory provider, the conditions of its approval as a signatory provider.
(2)
The notice must—
(a)
set out any concerns the administrator has about the provider’s or signatory provider’s systems, practices, training, or procedures; and
(b)
identify—
(i)
any areas for improvement in relation to any of the specified outcomes in a code; and
(ii)
any areas for compliance in relation to key process requirements in a code; and
(c)
specify the time within which the provider or signatory provider is expected to address the code administrator’s concerns (which must be a reasonable time, having regard to the nature and complexity of the action required); and
(d)
specify the possible consequences of a failure to comply with a performance improvement notice.
(3)
The code administrator may publish the notice, or a summary of it, in a manner designed to give public notice of it.
(4)
The code administrator may, before the expiry of the time referred to in subsection (2)(c), extend the time, and in that case the time as extended becomes the time within or during which the notice must be complied with.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238I
Section 535C: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 55 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
535D Providers and signatory providers to comply with performance improvement notices
(1)
A provider or signatory provider must comply with a performance improvement notice issued under section 535C.
(2)
If, in a code administrator’s opinion, a provider or signatory provider does not comply with the notice, the code administrator may (as the code administrator sees fit) impose sanctions against the provider or signatory provider under section 535.
(3)
The code administrator may not act under subsection (2) until the later of the following:
(a)
10 working days after the date on which the notice was issued:
(b)
the expiry of any time of a kind referred to in section 535C(2)(c) or any extension of that time if that time has been extended under section 535C(4).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238K
Section 535D: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 55 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Dispute resolution
536 Student contract dispute resolution scheme established
(1)
This section establishes a student contract dispute resolution scheme (the DRS).
(2)
The purpose of the DRS is to resolve disputes between students (and former and prospective students) and providers or signatory providers relating to the following matters:
(a)
contractual and financial matters:
(b)
a claim for redress for any loss or harm suffered by a student as a result of a breach by a provider or signatory provider of a code issued under section 534.
(3)
Every provider or signatory provider that enrols, intends to enrol, or has enrolled students is subject to and must (in relation to a dispute described in subsection (2)(a) or (b) with a student or a former or prospective student) comply with the rules of the DRS prescribed under section 539.
(4)
The Minister—
(a)
may, by notice in the Gazette, appoint 1 or more persons or organisations to be responsible for administering the DRS; and
(b)
must take reasonable steps to ensure that there is at all times a person or an organisation appointed to be responsible for administering the DRS; and
(c)
may impose any conditions on the appointment that the Minister thinks fit.
(5)
A student claimant may lodge with a DRS operator for resolution under the DRS a dispute described in subsection (2)(a) or (b) with a provider or signatory provider, but only if—
(a)
the provider or signatory provider has been given an opportunity to resolve the dispute, but the student claimant is not satisfied with the process or outcome, or both; or
(b)
the provider or signatory provider—
(i)
has not tried to resolve the dispute; or
(ii)
has refused to try to do so.
(5A)
In addition, a student claimant may lodge with a DRS operator for resolution under the DRS a dispute with a provider or signatory provider described in subsection (2)(b) only if the code administrator is satisfied that the provider or signatory provider has breached the applicable code.
(6)
However, a student may not lodge a dispute for resolution under subsection (5) later than 7 years after the date of the act or omission on which the dispute is based.
(7)
The resolution of a dispute is binding on all parties to the dispute if—
(a)
it is the outcome of an adjudication of the dispute by or on behalf of a DRS operator; or
(b)
it is produced by consensual methods undertaken by or on behalf of a DRS operator, and the parties to the dispute have agreed that it is to be binding.
(8)
A DRS operator—
(a)
may charge fees to a student claimant or the provider concerned, or both, according to the rules of the DRS prescribed under section 539; but
(b)
(despite those rules) may in its absolute discretion partially or completely exempt any person, or class of persons, from the payment of fees.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238M
Section 536(2): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 56(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(3): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 56(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(4)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 56(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(4)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 56(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(5): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(5): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 56(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(5A): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 56(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(7)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(7)(b): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 56(6) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 536(8): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
536A How DRS operator must perform role
(1)
A DRS operator must perform and exercise its functions, powers, and duties in a manner that contributes to an education system that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supports Māori-Crown relationships by—
(a)
resolving disputes in a way that—
(i)
has regard to tikanga Māori; and
(ii)
is consistent with the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and
(b)
responding to the concerns and interests of Māori in the administration and operation of the scheme.
(2)
A DRS operator must perform and exercise its functions, duties, and powers—
(a)
in a manner that is fair and reasonable in the relevant circumstances; and
(b)
having regard to—
(i)
the general law; and
(ii)
best practice for dispute resolution; and
(iii)
in the case of a particular dispute, the provisions of a code issued under section 534 that is relevant to the dispute.
(3)
In the adjudication of any dispute, a DRS operator, or a person appointed as an adjudicator, must determine the dispute according to the substantial merits of the case and—
(a)
is not bound by the rules of evidence or by previous decisions; and
(b)
is not required to give effect to strict legal obligations, or to legal forms or technicalities.
Section 536A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 57 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
536B Obligation of DRS operator to provide information
(1)
If a specified body reasonably considers that it is necessary for the efficient and effective performance and exercise of any of the body’s functions, duties, and powers that a DRS operator provide certain information to the specified body, the specified body may request that the DRS operator provide the information.
(2)
A DRS operator must—
(a)
comply with a request under subsection (1) within a reasonable time; and
(b)
in relation to matters arising from the information requested, provide any other reasonable assistance to the specified body.
(3)
In this section, a specified body means one of the following:
(a)
the Ministry:
(b)
a quality assurance agency (for example, NZQA, the Education Review Office, or the Vice-Chancellors Committee) or other body responsible for monitoring or enforcement of education quality:
(c)
a code administrator or other body responsible for the well-being and safety of students.
Section 536B: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 57 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
536C Sharing of information relating to disputes
(1)
A DRS operator, a code administrator, and a quality assurance agency may provide any information about a dispute or the resolution of a dispute to each other if the sharing of information relates to a purpose set out in subsection (2).
(2)
A DRS operator, code administrator, or quality assurance agency may provide information under subsection (1) for 1 or more of the following purposes:
(a)
to enable the DRS operator, code administrator, or quality assurance agency to perform any of their duties and responsibilities in relation to the dispute or to matters or concerns to which the dispute relates:
(b)
to ensure the timely and expedient resolution of the dispute:
(c)
to avoid the unnecessary use or duplication of resources in the resolution of a dispute.
Section 536C: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 57 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
536D Sharing of personal information restricted
(1)
No personal information may be supplied under section 536B or 536C except in accordance with—
(a)
(b)
an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020; or
(c)
principles 11 and 12 set out in section 22 of the Privacy Act 2020.
(2)
In this section, personal information has the meaning given to it by section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020.
Section 536D: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 57 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
537 Cap on amount to be paid
In resolving any dispute, a DRS operator—
(a)
may not require a provider or signatory provider to pay to a student claimant in relation to any particular claim any amount exceeding $200,000; but
(b)
may charge the provider fees in addition to any amount required to be paid.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238N
Section 537: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
537A Time frame for payment for resolution of claim
(1)
Within 20 working days of the date of a resolution of a dispute under section 536(7), a provider or signatory provider must pay to a student claimant any amount it is required to pay to comply with the resolution.
(2)
However, if, before the expiration of the 20 working days, the provider or signatory provider has applied to the District Court under section 538(1)(c) for a modification of the terms of the resolution, the provider or signatory provider is not required to pay the amount until the District Court has determined the matter.
Section 537A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 58 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
538 District Court to enforce DRS
(1)
The District Court may,—
(a)
on the application of a student claimant or a DRS operator, make an order requiring a provider or signatory provider to comply with the rules of the DRS or to give effect to any resolution that is binding under section 536(7); or
(b)
on the application of the provider or signatory provider or a DRS operator, make an order requiring a student claimant to give effect to any resolution that is binding under section 536(7); or
(c)
on the application of a student claimant, provider, or signatory provider, make an order—
(i)
modifying the terms of an adjudicated resolution of a dispute by a DRS operator if the District Court is satisfied that the terms are manifestly unreasonable; and
(ii)
requiring the student claimant, provider, or signatory provider to give effect to the modified resolution.
(2)
If an order (or part of an order) requiring the provider or signatory provider to comply with the resolution or modified resolution requires the provider or signatory provider to pay any sum of money to any person, that order (or part) may be enforced as if it were a judgment by the District Court for the payment of that sum of money to that person.
(3)
[Repealed](4)
An order made under subsection (1)(c) overrides section 536(7).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238O
Section 538(1)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 538(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 538(1)(c): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 59(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 538(2): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 59(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 583(3): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 59(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 538(4): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 59(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
539 Rules of student contract dispute resolution scheme
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make rules for the functioning and administration of the DRS.
(2)
Before recommending that an order be made, the Minister must consult any relevant bodies and sector representatives that the Minister thinks fit.
(3)
The rules may prescribe fees, or a means by which fees can be calculated or ascertained.
(4)
Rules under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238P
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 539(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Export education levy
540 How export education levy may be applied
(1)
Funds arising from an export education levy imposed in accordance with regulations made under section 641 may be applied for the following purposes:
(a)
the development, promotion, and quality assurance of the export education sector, which may include (without limitation)—
(i)
professional and institutional development; and
(ii)
marketing; and
(iii)
implementation of scholarship schemes; and
(iv)
research, and resource development; and
(v)
support (financial or otherwise) of other bodies engaged in the development, promotion, or quality assurance of the export education sector:
(b)
the making of payments as set out in subsections (2) and (3):
(c)
the administration and audit of the code in respect of international students:
(d)
the funding of the cost of the operation of the DRS established by section 536 that is attributable to international students:
(e)
the general administration of the levy and associated purposes.
(2)
Subsection (3) applies if—
(a)
an international student is or was enrolled at a private training establishment or a private school for a course of study or training; and
(b)
at the time of the international student’s enrolment, the private training establishment held a current registration under section 346, or the private school held a current registration under section 214; and
(c)
the private training establishment or private school has not provided, cannot provide, or is not to provide, in whole or in part, the course of study or training.
(3)
If this subsection applies, the levy funds may be used for any of the following purposes:
(a)
to make payment to any person to ensure the reimbursement of the student, in whole or in part, for tuition fees or for any payment other than tuition fees made by or on behalf of that student to the private training establishment or private school in respect of the student’s course of study or training if, and to the extent that,—
(i)
the private training establishment or private school has not refunded the tuition fees or other payment; and
(ii)
the agency responsible for the administration of the levy approves the reimbursement of the student as necessary and appropriate in the circumstances:
(b)
with the approval of the Minister, to reimburse the Crown for any sum provided by the Crown and paid to any person to ensure the reimbursement of the student, in whole or in part, for tuition fees or for any other payment made by or on behalf of that student to the private training establishment or private school in respect of the student’s course of study or training if, and to the extent that,—
(i)
the private training establishment or private school had not refunded the tuition fees or other payment; and
(ii)
the agency responsible for the administration of the levy approved the reimbursement of the student as necessary and appropriate in the circumstances:
(c)
with the approval of the Minister, to reimburse, in whole or in part, the agency responsible for the administration of the levy, or any Crown entity, for—
(i)
costs incurred by that agency or Crown entity in placing the student with an alternative provider; or
(ii)
other costs incurred by that agency or Crown entity as a direct result of the private training establishment or private school not providing the course of study or training.
(4)
Levy funds must be kept in a separate bank account that is used only for the purposes of the levy.
(5)
The amount of levy payable by a provider under regulations made under section 641 is a debt due to the Crown and may be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(5)
[Repealed]Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238R
Section 540(5) (former subsection number (6)): renumbered, on 23 August 2023, by section 31(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2020 No 45).
Section 540(5) (former subsection number (6)): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 31(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2020 No 45).
Section 540(5): repealed, on 23 August 2023, by section 31(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2020 No 45).
Employees of student accommodation
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 60 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
540A Good character assessment of employees of student accommodation
(1)
This section applies in respect of student accommodation operated by a provider or signatory provider.
(2)
The provider or signatory provider must not employ a person to work in the student accommodation without ensuring that the person is of good character.
(3)
In assessing whether a person is of good character, the provider or signatory provider must—
(a)
obtain a Police vet of the person; and
(b)
take into account the matters specified in regulations made under section 648(a) for that purpose.
(4)
The provider or signatory provider must make a further assessment of good character of every person—
(a)
of whom an assessment of good character has already been made under this section by that provider or signatory provider; and
(b)
who is still employed to work at the student accommodation.
(5)
The further assessment of good character under subsection (4) must be made within 3 years of the previous assessment of that person by the provider or signatory provider.
(6)
This section does not apply in respect of a person if the provider or signatory provider is required under Part 3 of the Children’s Act 2014 to ensure that a safety check of the person is completed in order for the person to be employed to work in the student accommodation.
Section 540A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 60 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Subpart 8—Offences
541 Offence relating to providing or offering to provide NCEA outside New Zealand
A person who intentionally contravenes section 455(1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
542 Offence relating to failure to report certain matters to Teaching Council
(1)
An employer or a former employer commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $25,000, if it fails without reasonable justification to report to the Teaching Council in relation to any matter of conduct as required under section 489, 490, or 491.
(2)
An employer or a former employer commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000, if it fails without reasonable justification to report to the Teaching Council in relation to any matter of competence as required under section 489, 490, or 492.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 396
543 Other offences
(1)
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500, if the person, without lawful justification, fails or refuses—
(a)
to attend and give evidence when required by the Disciplinary Tribunal; or
(b)
to answer truthfully and fully any question put to the person by a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal; or
(c)
to produce any document, record, or other information as required by the Disciplinary Tribunal.
(2)
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000, if the person, without lawful excuse, breaches an order made by the Disciplinary Tribunal under section 501(6).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 407
544 Offence relating to breach of code resulting in serious harm to or death of students
(1)
A provider or signatory provider commits an offence if—
(a)
the provider or signatory provider, without reasonable excuse, breaches the applicable code; and
(b)
the breach results in serious harm to or the death of 1 or more of its students.
(2)
A provider who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238S
545 Pecuniary penalty relating to breach of code
(1)
On the application of a code administrator, a court may order a provider or signatory provider to pay to the Crown any pecuniary penalty that the court determines to be appropriate if the court is satisfied that the provider or signatory provider has, without reasonable excuse, committed a serious breach of the applicable code.
(2)
The amount of any pecuniary penalty may not exceed $100,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238T
546 Relationship between offences and penalties
(1)
Once criminal proceedings against a provider or signatory provider for an offence against section 544 are determined, a court may not order the provider or signatory provider to pay a pecuniary penalty under section 545 in respect of the conduct, events, transactions, or other matters that were the subject of the criminal proceedings.
(2)
Once civil proceedings against a provider or signatory provider for a pecuniary penalty under section 545 are determined, the provider or signatory provider may not be convicted of an offence against section 544 in respect of the conduct, events, transactions, or other matters that were the subject of the civil proceedings.
(3)
Any uncompleted proceedings for an order under this Act that a provider or signatory provider pay a pecuniary penalty must be stayed if criminal proceedings are started or have already been started against the provider or signatory provider for the same act or omission, or substantially the same act or omission, in respect of which the pecuniary penalty order is sought.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238U
Part 6 Administration of education system
547 Outline of Part 6
(1)
This Part, which concerns the administration of New Zealand’s education system, is divided into 9 subparts.
(2)
Subpart 1 concerns funding.
(3)
Subpart 2 concerns property and assets.
(4)
Subpart 3 concerns the payment of salaries.
(5)
Subpart 4 concerns employment matters.
(6)
Subpart 5 concerns information and reporting.
(7)
Subpart 6 concerns entry and inspection.
(8)
Subpart 7 sets out provisions empowering the making of regulations.
(9)
Subpart 8 sets out offence provisions.
(10)
Subpart 9 sets out consequential amendments and repeals.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 308
Subpart 1—Funding
548 Funding of certain early childhood services and certified playgroups
(1)
In each year, out of money appropriated by Parliament,—
(a)
the service provider of every licensed early childhood service—
(i)
must be paid general grants; and
(ii)
may be paid 1 or more discretionary grants; and
(b)
the service provider who operates a certified playgroup—
(i)
may be paid general grants; and
(ii)
may be paid 1 or more discretionary grants; and
(c)
the management of any body corporate may be paid a discretionary grant for the purpose of establishing a licensed early childhood service or certified playgroup.
(2)
The amount of every grant must be determined by the Minister.
(3)
The Minister may determine the means by which the amounts of grants may be calculated or ascertained, and—
(a)
different means may be determined in respect of—
(i)
grants of different classes or descriptions; and
(ii)
licensed early childhood services of different classes or descriptions and certified playgroups; and
(b)
the amount of any grant may be determined accordingly; but
(c)
nothing in this subsection limits or affects the Minister’s power under subsection (2) to determine the amount of any grant.
(4)
Without limiting subsection (3), the Minister may determine that no grant is payable in respect of any international student attending a licensed early childhood service.
(5)
Any grant—
(a)
may be paid unconditionally, or subject to any conditions the Minister specifies in writing when the grant is paid or earlier; and
(b)
may be paid to be used for any purpose the service provider thinks fit, or for only the purposes that the Minister specifies in writing when the grant is paid or earlier; and
(c)
may be withheld in whole or in part if the service provider fails to comply with any regulations made under section 636 or 637 or any conditions of the licence or certificate.
(5A)
Subsections (5B) and (5C) apply to conditions or purposes—
(a)
specified under subsection (5)(a) or (b); and
(b)
that relate to employment matters (for example, remuneration).
(5B)
Those conditions or purposes may be specified by the Minister to help achieve aims that are, or include, employment relations aims.
(5C)
Those aims may, but need not, also be specified by the Minister.
(6)
The service provider must ensure that,—
(a)
where a grant has been paid subject to conditions, the conditions are complied with; and
(b)
if a grant has been paid to be used only for purposes specified by the Minister under subsection (5)(b), the grant is used only for those purposes.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 311
Section 548(5A): inserted, on 13 July 2021, by section 4 of the Education and Training (Grants—Budget Measures) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 28).
Section 548(5B): inserted, on 13 July 2021, by section 4 of the Education and Training (Grants—Budget Measures) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 28).
Section 548(5C): inserted, on 13 July 2021, by section 4 of the Education and Training (Grants—Budget Measures) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 28).
548A Data accessed by Ministry under Data and Statistics Act 2022
(1)
This section applies despite section 54(1)(c) of the Data and Statistics Act 2022.
(2)
The Ministry may, if the criteria specified in this section are met, publish or otherwise disclose the following data accessed under Part 5 of the Data and Statistics Act 2022 in a form that may identify an individual or an organisation:
Early childhood services
(a)
data relating to the socio-economic status of children attending early childhood services and their families, but only if—
(i)
the data is published or disclosed at the level of an early childhood service; and
(ii)
the publication or other disclosure is for the purpose of assisting the Ministry to develop or use tools relating to the provision of funding to early childhood services under this Act; and
(iii)
the data does not include personal information, unless the service provider of the early childhood service, who is an individual, has consented to the publication or disclosure of information regarding the service they operate:
Charter schools
(b)
data relating to the socio-economic status of children attending the charter school and their families, but only if—
(i)
the data is published or disclosed at the level of a charter school; and
(ii)
the publication or other disclosure is for the purpose of assisting the Ministry to develop or use tools relating to the provision of funding to charter schools or to enable performance measurement of charter schools under this Act.
(3)
In this section,—
organisation has the same meaning as in section 6 of the Data and Statistics Act 2022
personal information has the same meaning as in section 7(1) of the Privacy Act 2020.
Section 548A: replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 56 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
549 Loans to licensed early childhood services
The Minister may, on any terms and conditions the Minister thinks fit, lend to the service provider of any licensed early childhood service money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 312
550 Grants and supplementary grants to boards
(1)
In each financial year, boards must be paid, out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, grants and supplementary grants of the amounts that the Minister determines.
(2)
Subsection (1) is subject to subsections (3) and (4) and section 554.
(3)
However, in determining the amount of a grant, the Minister may not take into account international students (other than students entitled under section 520(1)) enrolled, or likely to be enrolled, at a school that the board administers.
(4)
A supplementary grant is payable on the condition that it be used for the purposes set out in the grant, and a board that receives a supplementary grant must use it for those purposes only.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 79
551 Discretionary grants to boards
(1)
The Minister may, in or for a financial year, make discretionary grants to boards out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.
(2)
Subsection (1) is subject to subsections (3) to (7).
(3)
The Minister must determine the amount of each discretionary grant made under subsection (1).
(4)
In determining the amount of a discretionary grant, the Minister must take no account of international students (other than students entitled under section 520(1)) enrolled, or likely to be enrolled, at a school administered by the board concerned.
(5)
A discretionary grant made under subsection (1)—
(a)
must be made subject to the condition that a board that receives it does not seek or receive any solicited voluntary payment from parents; and
(b)
may also be made subject to other conditions (except a condition that it be used for the purposes set out in the grant) determined by the Minister.
(6)
A discretionary grant may be paid to a board only if the board has decided by resolution to receive the grant.
(7)
A board that receives a discretionary grant must take all reasonable steps to ensure that all conditions of the grant are complied with.
(8)
An instrument imposing conditions under subsection (5)(b) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements), unless it applies only to 1 or more named boards.
(9)
If an instrument under subsection (5)(b) is not secondary legislation, the Minister must give a copy of the instrument to the boards named in the instrument.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 79A
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving a general description and indicating where the full text can be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 551(5)(b): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 551(8): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 551(9): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
552 Minister may prescribe exemptions to mandatory condition
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, prescribe exemptions to the condition in section 551(5)(a).
(2)
Exemptions prescribed by a notice under this section enable any board, or class or classes of boards, specified in the notice to which a discretionary grant is made, or is to be made, to seek or receive any solicited voluntary payment from parents for any student activity or student activities specified in the notice.
(3)
An exemption under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements), unless it applies only to 1 or more named boards.
(4)
If an exemption is not secondary legislation, the Minister must give a copy of the exemption to the boards named in the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 79B
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 552(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 552(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 552(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
553 Application of Legislation Act 2012
[Repealed]Section 553: repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
554 Effect of non-compliance with conditions of earlier discretionary grants
(1)
In determining for the purposes of section 550 or 551 the amount of any grant, supplementary grant, or discretionary grant payable to a board in respect of a school in or for a financial year, the Minister—
(a)
must have regard to the extent to which the board has, in any 1 or more earlier financial years, failed to comply with all or any conditions of a discretionary grant paid to the board in respect of the school in or for those 1 or more earlier financial years; and
(b)
may, after consulting the board, determine for the grant, supplementary grant, or discretionary grant an amount that is less than it would otherwise have been.
(2)
However, the total of all reductions (if any) made under subsection (1)(b) because of non-compliance with all or any conditions of a discretionary grant paid to the board in respect of the school in or for those 1 or more earlier financial years may not exceed the amount of that discretionary grant.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 79D
555 Grants for distance schools
Despite section 550,—
(a)
the board of a distance school must in each financial year be paid, out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, a single grant of an amount that the Minister determines:
(b)
any part of a grant may be used for the payment of teacher salaries:
(c)
a board may not, out of money that is not part of a grant, pay any part (or all) of a teacher’s salary, or pay to the Crown any part (or all) of a teacher’s salary paid by the Crown, except—
(i)
with the Minister’s consent; and
(ii)
in accordance with the conditions of the consent (if any):
(d)
the Minister must withhold consent under paragraph (c)(i) unless satisfied that special circumstances applying to the school make it inappropriate for the Minister to do so.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 81A
556 Grants to educational bodies
(1)
An educational body may, on conditions that the Minister thinks fit, be paid grants out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose.
(2)
However, a grant may not be paid to a tertiary education provider or an industry skills board unless the Minister is satisfied that the payment is in the national interest.
(3)
The Minister may determine the amount of, and the conditions that apply to, each grant.
(4)
Before a grant is paid, the Minister may give the educational body written notice that the grant, or a part or parts of the grant (specified as a particular sum or as a proportion of the total grant), is not to be used except for purposes specified in the notice.
(5)
If notice is given, the educational body must ensure that no part of the grant to which the notice relates is used for purposes other than those specified for it in the notice.
(6)
Apart from this restriction, an educational body to which a grant is paid may apply the grant as it sees fit.
(7)
In the financial year during which a grant was paid to an educational body, and during the next financial year,—
(a)
the Secretary may, by written notice, require the educational body to provide the Secretary with any financial report, or statistical or other information, relating to the educational body, within a time specified in the notice and in writing; and
(b)
the educational body must take all reasonable steps to comply with the notice.
(8)
The Minister may, for the purposes of this section and section 557, recognise a body that provides any educational or developmental service or facility, including a tertiary education organisation, as an educational body.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 321
Section 556(2): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 32 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
557 Educational bodies to keep accounts
(1)
Every grant to an educational body must be paid under a funding agreement that specifies—
(a)
the purpose of the grant; and
(b)
any conditions attaching to it; and
(c)
the reporting obligations of the recipient.
(2)
If a grant has conditions, the educational body receiving the grant must—
(a)
keep records (in respect of the year in which the grant was paid and the year after), in a manner approved by the Minister, that show fully and fairly—
(i)
the effect of the grant on the financial transactions, assets, liabilities, and funds of the educational body; and
(ii)
the educational body’s compliance with the conditions; and
(b)
ensure that the records are available for inspection at all reasonable times by a Ministry employee whom the Secretary has authorised for the purpose.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 322
558 Reduction in grants if limits not met
When determining the amount of a grant payable to a board under section 550, the Minister—
(a)
must have regard to the extent to which the Secretary has caused teachers employed at the relevant school to be paid salaries greater in total than the salaries that would have been payable if the board had complied with sections 581(1) and 583; and
(b)
may, after consulting the board, reduce the amount that the grant would otherwise have been had the board complied.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91K
559 School transport
(1)
The Secretary may assist in the provision of school transport by doing any of the following:
(a)
paying registered schools, early childhood services, and certified playgroups to provide school transport for their students:
(b)
arranging transport providers to provide school transport:
(c)
contributing to the cost of parents providing school transport.
(2)
In providing school transport assistance for students enrolled at a State integrated school, the Secretary must have reasonable regard to the preference of parents to enrol their children at a State integrated school or a State school.
(3)
In this section, school transport means the transport of students to and from—
(a)
a registered school:
(b)
an early childhood service:
(c)
a certified playgroup:
(d)
an educational activity that the Secretary has approved.
Subpart 2—Property and assets
560 Centres situated on land owned by, or leased to, the Crown
(1)
The operation of an early childhood education and care centre on land owned by, or leased to, the Crown, and the occupation by an early childhood education and care centre of any building on that land, may be governed by—
(a)
a lease, tenancy, or licence between the Crown and the service provider who operates the centre under section 45 of the Public Works Act 1981; or
(b)
a lease or licence between a board and the service provider; or
(c)
a lease between a third party (to whom a lease has been granted by the Crown) and the service provider; or
(d)
an occupancy document notified to the service provider who operates the centre by the Secretary.
(2)
If subsection (1)(d) applies to an early childhood education and care centre, the following provisions also apply:
(a)
the Secretary may direct the building of any capital works on that land that are intended for the centre’s use:
(b)
the service provider who operates the centre must—
(i)
pay to the Secretary the rent for the time being charged by the Secretary; and
(ii)
comply with standards of maintenance and capital works as determined by the Secretary:
(c)
the service provider who operates the centre may not, without the Secretary’s approval,—
(i)
carry out any capital works on the land; or
(ii)
grant any lease or sublease of, or grant any licence or permit in respect of, or assign any rights in respect of, or part with possession or control of, or allow any other person to share possession, control, or use of, the land or any other property of the Crown.
(3)
The Secretary may amend an occupancy document by written notice to the service provider who operates the early childhood education and care centre.
(4)
In this section, lease includes a sublease.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319J
561 Minister may declare land no longer needed for educational purposes
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare any land of the Crown to be no longer needed for educational purposes.
(2)
On publication of a notice under subsection (1), any land referred to in the notice that was, immediately before publication of the notice, held for a purpose set out in subsection (3), ceases to be held and may be disposed of as land no longer required for a public work.
(3)
Subsection (2) applies to land held—
(a)
for education or educational purposes; or
(b)
for, or for the purposes of, a school or other educational institution (whether or not any particular school or institution); or
(c)
for any purpose related to or connected with a school or other educational institution (whether or not any particular school or institution); or
(d)
for any similar purpose.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 71B
562 Rent for teachers’ residences
(1)
A teacher who is provided with a teacher’s residence in respect of the teacher’s teaching position must pay rent in accordance with a scheme prescribed by the Minister.
(2)
A rental scheme under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 88A
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must notify it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
563 Transfer of Crown assets and liabilities to institutions
(1)
Despite any Act, rule of law, or agreement, the Minister may, on behalf of the Crown and on any terms and conditions the Minister agrees with an institution’s chief executive, do any 1 or more of the following:
(a)
transfer to an institution assets and liabilities of the Crown (being assets and liabilities relating to the activities to be carried on by the institution):
(b)
vest in an institution any rights conferred by designations under operative district plans under the Resource Management Act 1991 applying to land transferred to the institution:
(c)
grant to an institution leases, licences, easements, permits, or rights of any kind in respect of any assets or liabilities of the Crown.
(2)
The Minister must, within 12 sitting days after taking any action under subsection (1)(a) or (b), present to the House of Representatives a copy of the document by which the action was taken.
(3)
Assets that are fixed to, or are under or over, any land may be transferred to an institution under this section whether or not any interest in the land is also transferred; but, if the asset is transferred, the asset and the land must be treated as separate assets each capable of separate ownership.
(4)
Any asset or liability of the Crown may be transferred to an institution under this section whether or not any Act or agreement relating to the asset or liability permits the transfer or requires any consent to the transfer.
(5)
If a transfer referred to in subsection (4) takes place,—
(a)
the transfer does not entitle any person to terminate, alter, or in any way affect the rights or liabilities of the Crown or the institution under any Act or agreement:
(b)
if the transfer is registrable, the person responsible for keeping the register must register the transfer as soon as practicable after written notice of the transfer is received by that person from any other person authorised for this purpose by the Minister:
(c)
the presentation to the House of Representatives of any document relating to the transfer must be treated as notice of the transfer, and any third party must after the date of the document deal with the institution in place of the Crown:
(d)
the Crown remains liable to any third party as if the asset or liability had not been transferred:
(e)
any satisfaction or performance by the institution in respect of the asset or liability must also be treated as being satisfaction or performance by the Crown:
(f)
any satisfaction or performance in respect of the asset or liability by any third party to the benefit of the institution must also be treated as being to the benefit of the Crown.
(6)
No provision in any agreement limiting the Crown’s right to sell any assets to third parties, or for determining the consideration for the sale of any assets to third parties, or obliging the Crown to account to any person for the whole or part of the proceeds of sale by the Crown of any assets to third parties, or obliging the Crown to pay a greater price than otherwise by reason of or as a consequence of the sale of any assets to third parties, may have any application or effect in respect of any agreement or transfer entered into or made under this section or under the agreement or transfer.
(7)
If land, interests in land, licences, permits, or rights created on terms and conditions wholly or partly set out in any Act are transferred to an institution under this section, and the Governor-General has by Order in Council declared that this subsection applies in respect of that land or those interests, licences, permits, or rights, then the terms and conditions set out in the Act (whether or not repealed) and that are specified in the order (with all necessary modifications) continue to apply in respect of that land or those interests, licences, permits, or rights after the transfer unless the institution and the holders of that land or those interests, licences, permits, or rights otherwise agree.
(8)
If any requirement has been made under section 168 of the Resource Management Act 1991 in respect of any work that has been transferred to an institution under this Act, the procedures specified in the Resource Management Act 1991 may be completed as if a Minister of the Crown continued to be financially responsible for the work and as if the work were a public work.
(9)
See section 572(3) for the status of an order made for the purposes of subsection (7).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 206
Section 563(1)(b): amended, on 23 December 2023, by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).
Section 563(8): amended, on 23 December 2023, by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).
Section 563(9): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
564 Transfer of land
(1)
Crown land and any lands of the Crown other than lands registered under the Land Transfer Act 2017 that are to be transferred to an institution must—
(a)
be identified by an adequate legal description, or on plans lodged in the office of the Chief Surveyor for the land district in which the land is situated (being plans certified as correct for the purposes of this section by that Chief Surveyor); and
(b)
be approved by the Governor-General in Council and vest in the institution in accordance with, and on a date specified in, an Order in Council made for the purposes of this section.
(2)
All land that is subject to the Land Act 1948 or the Forests Act 1949 and that is transferred to an institution under this Act must cease to be subject to the Land Act 1948 or the Forests Act 1949 from the date of that transfer, unless otherwise expressly provided by this Act or any other Act.
(3)
Nothing in sections 40 to 42 of the Public Works Act 1981 applies to the transfer of land to an institution under this Act; but sections 40 and 41 of that Act apply after the transfer to the land as if the institution were the Crown and the land had not been transferred under section 563 of this Act.
(4)
Nothing in this Act or in any transfer of land to an institution under section 563 limits—
(a)
section 3 of the Petroleum Act 1937:
(b)
sections 10 and 11 of the Crown Minerals Act 1991:
(c)
section 354 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
(5)
See section 572(3) for the status of an order made for the purposes of subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 207
Section 564(4)(c): replaced, on 23 December 2023, by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).
Section 564(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
565 Title to land
(1)
The Registrar-General of Land must, on written application by any person authorised by the Minister and on payment of the prescribed fee,—
(a)
register an institution as the owner, replacing the Crown, of the estate or the interest of the Crown in any land that is incorporated in the register or otherwise registered under the Land Transfer Act 2017 and that is transferred to the institution under section 563 of this Act; and
(b)
make the entries in the register and generally do all the things required to give effect to this section.
(2)
The powers conferred by subsection (1) may be exercised in respect of an estate or interest that is incorporated in the register owing to a lease or licence that has expired or has been determined.
(3)
The Registrar-General of Land must, on written application by any person authorised by the Minister and on payment of the prescribed fee, issue a record of title for land vested in an institution under section 564(1).
(4)
As soon as the land is registered in accordance with subsection (1) or a record of title is issued in accordance with subsection (3), the institution must, except where the interest acquired is either an easement in gross or an estate as lessee or mortgagee, be treated as being seised of an estate in fee simple in possession in respect of that land.
(5)
Applications in accordance with subsections (1) and (3) must specify the name of the institution and the date of the approval under section 564(1)(b) of the land to be transferred, together with a description of the land sufficient to identify it and, in the case of applications under subsection (3), a certificate by the Chief Surveyor for the district concerned as to the correctness of the description.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 208
566 Land certification
(1)
Before the Registrar-General of Land issues a record of title in respect of any land vested in an institution under section 564(1), the Registrar-General of Land must either receive or request from the Surveyor-General, within the meaning of section 4 of the Cadastral Survey Act 2002, or any Chief Surveyor a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 2 of the Land Act 1948 as to the legal description of the land, any trusts, reservations, or restrictions affecting the land, and any other matters that the Registrar-General of Land thinks fit.
(2)
Where any land that has been vested in an institution under section 564(1), and for which no record of title has been issued in the name of that institution, is to be transferred to any other person, the Registrar-General of Land must, before issuing a record of title, either receive or request from the Surveyor-General, within the meaning of section 4 of the Cadastral Survey Act 2002, or any Chief Surveyor for a certificate in the form set out in Schedule 2 of the Land Act 1948 as to the legal description of the land, any trusts, reservations, or restrictions affecting the land, and any other matters that the Registrar-General of Land thinks fit.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 209
567 Māori land claims
The submission in respect of any land or interest in land of a claim under section 6 of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 does not prevent the transfer of that land or of any interest in that land or of that interest in land—
(a)
by the Crown to an institution; or
(b)
by an institution to any other person.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 210
568 Registrar-General of Land to register memorial
(1)
If any land or interest in land is transferred to an institution under section 563 or vested in an institution by an Order in Council made under section 572, the Registrar-General of Land must, without fee, note on the record of title “Subject to section 569 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (which provides for the resumption of land on the recommendation of the Waitangi Tribunal and which does not provide for third parties (for example, the owner of the land) to be heard in relation to the making of the recommendation)”
.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to any piece of land or interest in land that is excluded under section 569(2) or (3).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 211
569 Resumption of land on recommendations of Waitangi Tribunal
(1)
If the Waitangi Tribunal has, under section 8A(2)(a) of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975, recommended the return to Māori ownership of any land or interest in land transferred to an institution under section 563 or vested in an institution by an Order in Council made under section 572, that land or interest in land must, if the recommendation has been confirmed with or without modifications under section 8B of that Act, be resumed by the Crown in accordance with section 570 and returned to Māori ownership.
(2)
This section does not apply in relation to any piece of land that, at the date of its transfer to an institution under section 563 or the date of its vesting in an institution by an Order in Council made under section 572, was subject to—
(a)
a deferred payment licence issued under the Land Act 1948; or
(b)
a lease under which the lessee had the right of acquiring the fee simple.
(3)
This section does not apply in relation to any piece of land or interest in land in respect of which a certificate issued under section 8E(1) of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 has been registered.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 212
570 Resumption of land to be acquired under Public Works Act 1981
(1)
If section 569 requires any land or interest in land to be resumed by the Crown, the responsible Minister must acquire that land or interest in land under Part 2 of the Public Works Act 1981 as if it were land or an interest in land required for both Government work and a public work and Parts 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of that Act and Schedules 1, 3, 4, and 5 of that Act, subject to any necessary modifications, apply accordingly.
(2)
The existence on the record of title to any land or interest in land acquired under subsection (1) of a memorial under section 568 may not be taken into account in any assessment of compensation made under the Public Works Act 1981 in relation to the acquisition of that land or interest in land.
(3)
The power conferred by this section does not include the power to acquire or take and to hold under section 28 of the Public Works Act 1981 any interest in land described in section 8A(6) of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 213
571 Resumption of wāhi tapu
(1)
If the Governor-General is satisfied that any land or interest in land held by an institution, being land or an interest in land transferred to that institution under section 563 or vested in that institution by an Order in Council made under section 572, is wāhi tapu, being land of special spiritual, cultural, or historical tribal significance, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council published in the Gazette, declare—
(a)
that the land or interest in land is resumed by the Crown on a date specified in the order; and
(b)
that, on the date of its resumption in accordance with the order, that land or interest in land is no longer liable to resumption under section 569.
(2)
If any land or interest in land is resumed under subsection (1)(a),—
(a)
the institution must transfer the land or interest in land to the Crown on the date specified in the order; and
(b)
the Crown must pay to the institution in respect of the land or interest in land the compensation that would have been payable to the institution if, on the date specified in the order, the land or interest in land had, under section 570, been acquired by the relevant Minister under Part 2 of the Public Works Act 1981.
(3)
Every memorandum of transfer executed in accordance with an order must—
(a)
state that it is executed in accordance with the order; and
(b)
give both the date of the order and the date of its publication in the Gazette.
(4)
Upon its resumption under subsection (1), the land or interest in land must be dealt with in accordance with an agreement made between the Crown and the relevant iwi or, if they fail to agree, in accordance with any recommendation of the Waitangi Tribunal in accordance with a claim made under section 6 of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975.
(5)
A resumption of land or of an interest in land under subsection (1)(a) is not a subdivision of land within the meaning of section 218 of the Resource Management Act 1991.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 214
Section 571(5): amended, on 23 December 2023, by section 6 of the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Act 2023 (2023 No 68).
572 Orders in Council relating to transfer of assets and liabilities
(1)
For the purpose of facilitating the transfer of assets and liabilities to an institution under section 563, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council, do any 1 or more of the following:
(a)
vest in or impose on an institution any asset or liability (other than land to which section 564(1) applies), or any class of asset or liability, that the institution has agreed to have transferred to it:
(b)
vest land in an institution for the purposes of section 564(1):
(c)
declare that a reference to the Crown or a Minister, officer, employee, department, or instrument of the Crown in any or all regulations, orders, notices, or documents is to be treated as being, or to include, a reference to an institution specified in the order:
(d)
declare that an institution must assume or continue to have the rights and obligations of the Crown or a Minister, officer, employee, department, or instrument of the Crown in respect of applications for rights, objections, or proceedings before any court, authority, or other person, being rights and obligations that the institution has agreed to assume:
(e)
declare, in respect of any assets or liabilities transferred to an institution under section 563, that the institution is to be treated as having specified rights or obligations in respect of those assets or liabilities, being rights or obligations that are required in respect of those assets or liabilities as a result of the change of ownership or responsibility from the Crown to the institution:
(f)
declare that any order made under this section is to be treated as being notice to all persons, and that specific notice need not be given to any authority or other person:
(g)
direct any authority or other person to register or record the vesting or declaration.
(2)
Every order made under this section may be made on the terms and conditions that the Governor-General thinks fit, and has effect according to its terms.
(3)
An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 215
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 572(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
573 Effect of disestablishment of institution
(1)
If an institution is disestablished, the following provisions apply.
(2)
The institution and the council of the institution cease to exist.
(3)
A person who would, but for the disestablishment of the institution, have been entitled to be granted an award of the institution is entitled to be granted an equivalent award,—
(a)
if the institution is incorporated into another institution, of the other institution; or
(b)
otherwise, of any institution that the Secretary directs.
(4)
A person who has partially completed a programme at the disestablished institution leading to an award is entitled—
(a)
to enrol in a similar programme at—
(i)
another institution if the disestablished institution is incorporated into that institution; or
(ii)
any other institution that the Secretary directs to enrol the person; and
(b)
to be granted the status, and the credit for work performed at the disestablished institution, as the council of the other institution, after consulting NZQA, thinks fit.
(5)
If the disestablished institution is, immediately upon its disestablishment, incorporated into another institution,—
(a)
all real and personal property that, immediately before the disestablishment, was vested in the disestablished institution (including property held on trust) is vested in the other institution subject to all charges, encumbrances, estates, and interests, and any enactment, affecting that property; and
(b)
the other institution becomes liable to pay and discharge all the debts, liabilities, and obligations of the disestablished institution that existed immediately before its disestablishment.
(6)
If the disestablished institution is not, immediately upon its disestablishment, incorporated into another institution,—
(a)
all real and personal property that, immediately before the disestablishment, was vested in the council of the disestablished institution (including property held on trust) is vested in the Minister subject to all charges, encumbrances, estates, or interests, and any enactment, affecting that property; and
(b)
the Minister becomes liable to pay and discharge all the debts, liabilities, and obligations of the council of the disestablished institution that existed immediately before its disestablishment.
(7)
If any real or personal property that was held by a disestablished institution on trust vests in the Minister under subsection (6)(a), the Minister may appoint another institution to be the trustee of that property.
(8)
If any land vests in an institution or in the Minister under this section, the Registrar-General of Land, on the deposit with the Registrar-General of the plans and documents that the Registrar-General may require, must make the entries in the register and generally do all the other things necessary to give full effect to this section.
(9)
Any contract or other instrument (other than a contract of, or instrument relating to, employment) subsisting, or any proceeding pending, immediately before the disestablishment of an institution to which the institution was a party has effect after the disestablishment as if—
(a)
the institution into which the disestablished institution is incorporated or the Minister is substituted for the disestablished institution as a party to the contract, other instrument or proceeding; and
(b)
any reference in the contract or other instrument, or in a pleading, affidavit or other document in the proceeding, to the disestablished institution in its capacity as a party to the contract, other instrument or proceeding is (except in relation to matters that occurred before the disestablishment) a reference to the institution in which the disestablished institution is incorporated or the Minister.
(10)
Despite subsection (2), the council of the disestablished institution continues in existence for the purpose of complying, or facilitating compliance, with Part 4 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 and section 306 of this Act in relation to any academic year of the institution and,—
(a)
if the institution is incorporated into another institution, the council of the other institution; or
(b)
otherwise, the Secretary,—
must give to the council of the disestablished institution any assistance that the council requires for the purpose of complying with its obligations under those provisions and is responsible for paying any expenses incurred by the council (including remuneration and expenses of members of the council) in so complying.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 217
574 Taxes and duties where disestablished institution incorporated into another institution
(1)
For the purposes of the Acts specified in Schedule 1 of the Tax Administration Act 1994 and any other enactment that imposes, or provides for the collection of, a tax, duty, levy, or other charge,—
(a)
a disestablished institution referred to in section 398ZC(1) or 573(5) and the other institution referred to in those provisions must be treated as being the same person with effect on and from the date on which the real and personal property of the disestablished institution vests in the other institution under that section; and
(b)
in respect of the liability under 1 or more of those enactments for, and the assessment, determination, or imposition of, taxes, duties, levies, or other charges accruing on and from the day on which the real and personal property of the disestablished institution so vests in the other institution, all transactions entered into by, and acts of, the disestablished institution before the vesting under section 398ZC(1) or 573(5) must be treated as having been entered into by, or to be those of, the other institution and to have been entered into or performed by the other institution at the time when they were entered into or performed by the disestablished institution.
(2)
For the purposes of determining a matter referred to in subsection (3), shares held by a disestablished institution in any company (whether directly or through any 1 or more interposed companies) immediately before the vesting under section 573(6) must be treated as having been acquired by the Minister at the time when they were acquired by the disestablished institution.
(3)
The matters are whether—
(a)
any taxpayer satisfies the requirements of section IA 5(2) of the Income Tax Act 2007:
(b)
any taxpayer is included in a group of companies or a wholly-owned group for the purposes of section IA 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007:
(c)
any debit arises to be recorded in a taxpayer’s imputation credit account under section OB 41 of the Income Tax Act 2007.
(4)
The vesting of all the real and personal property of a disestablished institution in another institution under section 398ZC(1) or 573(5) may not be treated as a supply of any goods or services for the purposes of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985, or as a disposition of property for the purposes of the Estate and Gift Duties Act 1968.
(5)
Nothing in subsection (2) or (4) limits the generality of subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 218
Section 574(1)(a): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 13(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 574(1)(b): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 13(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 574(4): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 13(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
575 Taxes and duties in other cases
(1)
For the purposes of the Acts specified in Schedule 1 of the Tax Administration Act 1994 and any other enactment that imposes, or provides for the collection of, a tax, duty, levy, or other charge,—
(a)
a disestablished institution referred to in section 398ZC(2) or 573(6) and the Minister must be treated as being the same person with effect on and from the date on which the real and personal property of the disestablished institution vests in the Minister under that section; and
(b)
in respect of the liability under 1 or more of those enactments for, and the assessment, determination, or imposition of, taxes, duties, levies, or other charges accruing on and from the day on which the real and personal property of the disestablished institution so vests in the Minister, all transactions entered into by, and acts of, the disestablished institution before the vesting under section 398ZC(2) or 573(6) must be treated as having been entered into by, or to be those of, the Minister and to have been entered into or performed by the Minister at the time when they were entered into or performed by the disestablished institution.
(2)
For the purposes of determining a matter referred to in subsection (3), shares held by a disestablished institution in any company (whether directly or through any 1 or more interposed companies) immediately before the vesting under section 398ZC(2) or 573(6) must be treated as having been acquired by the Minister at the time when they were acquired by the disestablished institution.
(3)
The matters are whether—
(a)
any taxpayer satisfies the requirements of section IA 5(2) of the Income Tax Act 2007:
(b)
any taxpayer is included in a group of companies or a wholly-owned group for the purposes of section IA 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007:
(c)
any debit arises to be recorded in a taxpayer’s imputation credit account under section OB 41 of the Income Tax Act 2007.
(4)
The vesting of all the real and personal property of a disestablished institution in the Minister under section 398ZC(2) or 573(6) may not be treated as a supply of any goods or services for the purposes of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985, or as a disposition of property for the purposes of the Estate and Gift Duties Act 1968.
(5)
Nothing in subsection (2) or (4) limits the generality of subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 219
Section 575(1)(a): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 575(1)(b): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 575(2): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 575(4): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
575A Taxes and duties where assets and liabilities of disestablished institution vested in iwi or Māori
(1)
For the purposes of the Acts specified in Schedule 1 of the Tax Administration Act 1994, and of any other enactment that imposes, or provides for the collection of, a tax, duty, levy, or other charge,—
(a)
a disestablished wānanga referred to in section 398ZC(4) and the iwi or Māori concerned must be treated as being the same person with effect on and from the date on which the real and personal property of the disestablished wānanga vests in the iwi or Māori under that section; and
(b)
in respect of the liability under 1 or more of those enactments for, and the assessment, determination, or imposition of, taxes, duties, levies, or other charges accruing on and from the day on which the real and personal property of the disestablished wānanga vests in the iwi or Māori concerned, all transactions entered into by, and acts of, the disestablished wānanga before the vesting under section 398ZC(4) must be treated as having been entered into by, or to be those of, the iwi or Māori concerned and to have been entered into or performed by those iwi or Māori at the time when they were entered into or performed by the disestablished wānanga.
(2)
For the purposes of determining a matter referred to in subsection (3), shares held by a disestablished wānanga in any company (whether directly or through any 1 or more interposed companies) immediately before the vesting under section 398ZC(4) must be treated as having been acquired by the iwi or Māori concerned at the time when they were acquired by the disestablished wānanga.
(3)
The matters are whether—
(a)
any taxpayer satisfies the requirements of section IA 5(2) of the Income Tax Act 2007:
(b)
any taxpayer is included in a group of companies or a wholly-owned group for the purposes of section IA 6 of the Income Tax Act 2007:
(c)
any debit arises to be recorded in a taxpayer’s imputation credit account under section OB 41 of the Income Tax Act 2007.
(4)
The vesting of all the real and personal property of a disestablished wānanga in the iwi or Māori concerned under section 398ZC(4) may not be treated as a supply of any goods or services for the purposes of the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985, or as a disposition of property for the purposes of the Estate and Gift Duties Act 1968.
(5)
Nothing in subsection (2) or (4) limits subsection (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 219
Section 575A: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 15 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
School risk management schemes
576 School risk management scheme
(1)
The Minister may, in accordance with this section, establish a school risk management scheme for the purpose of indemnifying participating boards—
(a)
against accidental loss or damage to property of the participating boards:
(b)
for any other purpose authorised by regulations made under section 642.
(2)
An indemnity under the school risk management scheme must be given in a form and contain terms and conditions authorised by regulations made under this Act.
(3)
A participating board is liable to pay to the Crown the annual fee set under section 577.
(4)
The Minister may, on giving reasonable notice to all participating boards, discontinue a school risk management scheme and direct the Secretary to wind up the scheme.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78D
577 School risk management scheme fee
(1)
In respect of each year during which a school risk management scheme has effect, the Minister must, by notice, set the amount of the annual fee payable by a participating board or the rate at which the amount is to be assessed.
(2)
The purpose of the annual fee is to recover the administration, insurance, and claims costs of the scheme.
(3)
The Secretary must deduct the fee from grants made to the participating board under section 550.
(4)
The Secretary must establish a separate bank account for the purposes of this section, and—
(a)
all fees deducted under subsection (3) must be paid into the account; and
(b)
the Secretary may authorise payments to be made from the account for the purposes of administering the scheme.
(5)
If the school risk management scheme is discontinued, the money held in the separate account after the scheme has been wound up must be paid into a Crown Bank Account in accordance with any directions of the Secretary to the Treasury.
(6)
A notice under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78E
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Subpart 3—Payment of salaries
578 Payroll service
(1)
The Secretary must ensure that a payroll service is established and maintained to provide for the payment of employees of boards who are employed in the education service.
(2)
A board must use the payroll service unless the Secretary directs otherwise.
(3)
A board required to use the payroll service must—
(a)
keep all records that are necessary to enable the board to use the service; and
(b)
provide those records to the Secretary on request.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 89
579 Salaries of teachers at certain schools to be paid by the Crown
(1)
Despite any other provision in this Act, the Secretary must cause to be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose the salaries of all regular teachers employed at payrolled schools.
(2)
This section applies to State schools apart from distance schools.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91C
580 Restrictions on payment of salaries of regular teachers by boards of payrolled schools
A board may not pay all or any part of the salary of a regular teacher in respect of employment at a payrolled school it administers unless—
(a)
the Minister has consented to the payment, and
(b)
the board complies with the conditions of the consent (if any).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91F
581 Payment of salaries of relieving teachers and employment-based trainee teachers
(1)
Boards must pay the salaries of relieving teachers and employment-based trainee teachers employed at schools they administer.
(2)
However, the Secretary must cause the salary of a relieving teacher or an employment-based trainee teacher to be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose if, under an order under subsection (3), the employment to which the payment relates justifies the central payment of the salary.
(3)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, specify the circumstances in which the employment of a relieving teacher or an employment-based trainee teacher justifies the central payment of the teacher’s salary—
(a)
immediately; or
(b)
after employment for an initial specified period of consecutive school days on which the school at which the teacher is employed is open for instruction.
(4)
An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91G
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 581(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
582 Limits on appointment and employment of regular teachers at payrolled schools
(1)
To limit the financial liability of the Crown under section 579, the Governor-General must in every year, by Order in Council, prescribe limits on the number of regular teachers who may be employed at payrolled schools during the next year.
(2)
The order may do any 1 or more of the following:
(a)
apply different limits to different types of school or to particular schools:
(b)
impose limits on the numbers of particular types of teachers who may be employed:
(c)
set out 1 or more mechanisms by which the applicable limits are calculated:
(d)
specify—
(i)
the circumstances in which the Secretary may exempt a school or type of school from a limitation:
(ii)
any conditions that apply to the exemption.
(3)
An order under subsection (1) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(4)
If an order authorises the Secretary under subsection (2)(d) to grant exemptions in respect of a type of school,—
(a)
instruments granting those exemptions are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
the order must contain a statement to that effect.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91H
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (3) | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (4)(a) | ||||
| Publication | See the relevant publication, presentation, and disallowance table in the secondary legislation referred to in subsection (3) | LA19 ss 73, 74, Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives, unless a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
583 Boards to comply with limit
If an order made under section 582 applies, a board must ensure that the appointment and employment of teachers at the school are in accordance with any limit in that order while it applies.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91J
584 Secretary may grant exemptions in individual cases
Despite section 583,—
(a)
the Secretary may, in accordance with any conditions specified in an order made under section 582, by written notice to a board,—
(i)
exempt the board from any limitation that the order imposes; or
(ii)
amend or revoke the notice; and
(b)
the board may appoint and employ teachers at the school in accordance with the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91I
Subpart 4—Employment matters
Education service
585 Application of Employment Relations Act 2000
Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, the Employment Relations Act 2000 applies in relation to the education service.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 73
586 Negotiation of conditions of employment
(1)
Except as provided in section 593, the Public Service Commissioner is responsible for negotiating under the Employment Relations Act 2000 every collective agreement applicable to employees in the education service as if the Commissioner were the employer.
(2)
Without limiting subsection (1), for the purposes of initiating bargaining for a collective agreement, good-faith bargaining for a collective agreement, and entering into collective agreements,—
(a)
the Public Service Commissioner has the same rights, duties, and obligations under the Employment Relations Act 2000 as the Commissioner would have if the Commissioner were the employer; and
(b)
employees in the education service are to be treated as if they were all employees of the Commissioner.
(3)
Unless otherwise directed in writing by the Public Service Commissioner, an employer in the education service may not lock out employees or suspend, or make specified pay deductions in respect of, striking employees in relation to negotiations by the Commissioner for a collective agreement applicable to those employees.
(4)
The Public Service Commissioner must conduct the negotiations—
(a)
with a union of which the employees are members; and
(b)
in consultation with—
(i)
the Secretary; and
(ii)
representatives of the employer or employers who are to be bound by the collective agreement, which representatives must be employers, or organisations of employers, of persons employed in the education service.
(5)
Every collective agreement must be entered into between—
(a)
the Public Service Commissioner; and
(b)
a union of which the employees to whom the collective agreement is applicable are members.
(6)
Every collective agreement entered into between the Public Service Commissioner and any union and relating to employees in the education service is binding on—
(a)
the employers of the employees to whom the collective agreement is applicable; and
(b)
the employees in the education service who are, or who become, members of the union.
(7)
Except as provided in this section, an employer who is bound by a collective agreement under subsection (6) has the rights, obligations, and duties that the employer would have, in respect of that collective agreement, under the Employment Relations Act 2000 as if that employer were a party to that agreement.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74
Section 586(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 586(2)(a): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 586(3): amended, on 1 July 2025, by section 16 of the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 35).
Section 586(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 586(4): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 586(5)(a): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 586(6): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
587 Public Service Commissioner’s powers when collective agreements are negotiated
(1)
During the negotiations for a collective agreement that is to bind any employees of a board, the Public Service Commissioner has, for the purpose of those negotiations, all the rights, duties, and powers of an employer under the Employment Relations Act 2000 in respect of those employees.
(2)
To avoid doubt and without limiting subsection (1), the powers referred to in that subsection include the power to—
(a)
lock out employees:
(b)
suspend employees:
(c)
make specified pay deductions.
(3)
Despite subsection (1), in the case of employees who are members of a union, the Public Service Commissioner may, where there is a strike, exercise the power of suspension by advising the union of the class or classes of employees who are, or are to be, suspended, and, if the union is so advised, the suspension takes effect on the date specified for the purpose in the advice, and the Commissioner need not—
(a)
separately advise any employee who is included in a class; or
(b)
comply with section 89 of the Employment Relations Act 2000.
(4)
In any case where the Public Service Commissioner has suspended or locked out an employee under this section, the Commissioner may, at the Commissioner’s discretion, give either or both of the following directions:
(a)
that the employee is not to be remunerated in respect of the period of the suspension or lockout:
(b)
that any amount paid to the employee in respect of that period be deducted from any remuneration otherwise payable to the employee.
(4A)
In any case where the Public Service Commissioner intends to make a specified pay deduction, the Commissioner may give a direction that a specified pay deduction is to be made.
(5)
Any direction under subsection (4) or (4A)—
(a)
may be given to any person responsible for effecting payments or transfers of sums of money required for the remuneration of the employee; and
(b)
must be followed by the person.
(6)
The Public Service Commissioner may give any notice that, as a result of a direction under subsection (4)(b) or (4A), is required to be given to an employee under section 6(3)(b) of the Wages Protection Act 1983.
(7)
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74AA
Section 587 heading: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 587(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 587(2): replaced, on 1 July 2025, by section 17(1) of the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 35).
Section 587(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 587(4): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 587(4A): inserted, on 1 July 2025, by section 17(2) of the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 35).
Section 587(5): amended, on 1 July 2025, by section 17(3) of the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 35).
Section 587(6): amended, on 1 July 2025, by section 17(4) of the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 35).
Section 587(6): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
588 Boards indemnified by Public Service Commissioner
(1)
If, in any claim or proceedings, a board becomes liable for costs or damages that arise from the exercise or purported exercise of any of the powers conferred on the Public Service Commissioner by section 587, the Commissioner must, out of money appropriated for the purpose by Parliament, indemnify the board for those costs or damages.
(2)
However, a board may not be indemnified for any costs or damages to the extent that those costs or damages arise out of conduct of the board that, in the reasonable opinion of the Public Service Commissioner,—
(a)
is not in good faith; or
(b)
is engaged in without reasonable care.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74AB
Section 588 heading: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 588(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 588(2): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
589 Strikes in schools to be notified
(1)
A strike by employees of any board is not lawful for the purposes of the Employment Relations Act 2000 unless the Public Service Commissioner and each board are given notice in written or electronic form of the proposed strike not less than 7 days before the commencement of the proposed strike.
(2)
The notice required by subsection (1) must state—
(a)
the nature of the proposed strike, including—
(i)
whether or not the proposed action will be continuous; and
(ii)
whether or not the employees will continue to perform some work for their employer while undertaking the proposed action; and
(b)
the school or schools that are to be affected by the proposed strike; and
(c)
the period of the proposed strike, which is to be specified by giving—
(i)
the date on and time at which the proposed strike is to commence; and
(ii)
the date on and time at which, or an event on the occurrence of which, the proposed strike is to end.
(3)
The notice must be signed by a representative of the employees’ union.
(4)
Unless the notice is withdrawn before the commencement of the strike, every employee is, throughout the period stated in the notice, to be treated as participating in the strike if—
(a)
the employee’s duties are normally performed in a school affected by the strike; and
(b)
the strike relates to the negotiation of a collective agreement that is to bind the employee; and
(c)
the employee’s name has not been notified to the Public Service Commissioner in a current notice given under section 590.
(5)
A notice required under subsection (1) may be withdrawn by a representative of the employees’ union giving written or electronic notice of the withdrawal to the Public Service Commissioner and each board.
(6)
This section is in addition to, and does not limit or affect, the Employment Relations Act 2000.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74AC
Section 589(1): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 24 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 589(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 589(2)(a): replaced, on 1 July 2025, by section 18 of the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 35).
Section 589(4)(c): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 589(5): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
590 Boards to notify Public Service Commissioner about participation in strikes
(1)
As soon as practicable after the commencement of a strike notified under section 589, the board of each school to which the notice relates must—
(a)
provide the Public Service Commissioner with a list of the names of the employees of the board who are not participating in the strike notified by the notice; and
(b)
notify each of those employees that they have been included in the list.
(2)
A board that has complied, or is to comply, with subsection (1) must, at the written direction of the Public Service Commissioner, provide the Commissioner with any information required by the Commissioner about the conduct of the strike to which the notice under section 589 relates.
(3)
Information under subsection (2) may, without limitation, include, or consist of, information about the number of hours worked by any employee or any class of employee.
(4)
The Public Service Commissioner may, at the Commissioner’s discretion, require a board to inform the Commissioner, by a specified date, about the board’s compliance with this section or any directions given under it.
(5)
If the Public Service Commissioner has reasonable grounds for believing that a board has failed to comply with this section or any directions given under it, the Commissioner may report those grounds to the Minister.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74AD
Section 590 heading: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 590(1)(a): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 590(2): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 590(4): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 590(5): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
591 Personal grievances and disputes
Despite section 586,—
(a)
in relation to a personal grievance, the employer is the employer as defined in section 10(7); and
(b)
in relation to a dispute about the interpretation, application, or operation of any collective agreement, the employer is the employer as defined in section 10(7), acting, if the Public Service Commissioner so requires, together or in consultation with the Commissioner; and
(c)
in relation to any other employment relationship problem (within the meaning of section 5 of the Employment Relations Act 2000), the employer is the employer as defined in section 10(7).
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74A
Section 591(b): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
592 Delegation of Public Service Commissioner’s powers
(1)
The Public Service Commissioner may delegate, in writing, any of the Commissioner’s powers specified in section 586 to—
(a)
an employer; or
(b)
any organisation of employers of persons employed in the education service.
(2)
If the Public Service Commissioner, acting under subsection (1), delegates to an employer or an organisation of employers the function, under section 586(1), of conducting negotiations with a union of which the employees are members, the employer or organisation of employers must conduct those negotiations in consultation with—
(a)
the Commissioner; and
(b)
the Secretary.
(3)
Nothing in this section limits clause 6 of Schedule 3 of the Public Service Act 2020.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74B
Section 592 heading: amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 592(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 592(2): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 592(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
593 Negotiation of conditions of employment for employees of institutions
(1)
The chief executive of each institution is responsible, individually or jointly through an organisation of employers of persons employed in an institution, for negotiating under the Employment Relations Act 2000 collective agreements that are applicable to a group of employees in an institution.
(2)
Before entering into a collective agreement under the Employment Relations Act 2000, the chief executive of each institution or an organisation of employers representing jointly the chief executives, must consult the Public Service Commissioner about the conditions of employment to be included in the collective agreement.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 74C(3)
Section 593(2): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
594 Senior positions at institutions
[Repealed]Section 594: repealed, on 23 August 2023, by section 33 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
595 Actual conditions of employment
(1)
The Public Service Commissioner may declare that all or any part of the conditions of employment fixed under a collective agreement for persons employed in the education service are to be the actual conditions of employment.
(2)
The Public Service Commissioner may, in addition to the actual conditions declared under subsection (1), approve further conditions of employment for an individual employee who is employed in the education service under a collective agreement if the conditions are—
(a)
mutually agreed by the employee and their employer; and
(b)
not inconsistent with the conditions of the collective agreement.
(3)
The conditions of employment of employees in the education service who are not bound by any collective agreement must be determined in each case by agreement between the employer and the individual employee, but the employer must obtain the written concurrence of the Public Service Commissioner to the conditions of employment with that individual employee.
(4)
The Public Service Commissioner, in carrying out the function under subsection (3), may promulgate in writing to employers, either generally or specifically, the conditions of employment for persons who are to have their conditions of employment determined in accordance with that subsection.
(5)
Where the conditions of employment agreed between the employer and the person to be appointed comply with the conditions of employment promulgated by the Public Service Commissioner, the employer must, without any further action, be treated as having obtained the written concurrence of the Commissioner with those conditions of employment.
(6)
In this section, education service excludes service in the employment of an institution.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 75
Section 595(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 595(2): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 595(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 595(4): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Section 595(5): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
596 Personal liability of education service chief executives and employees
Education service chief executives and employees are not personally liable for any act done or omitted by the education service chief executives or employees—
(a)
in good faith; and
(b)
in the performance or intended performance of the functions of the education service chief executives or employees.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77
Personnel provisions in relation to education service
597 General principles
(1)
Every employer in the education service must—
(a)
operate an employment policy that complies with the principle of being a good employer; and
(b)
make that policy (including the equal employment opportunities programme) available to its employees; and
(c)
ensure its compliance with that policy (including its equal employment opportunities programme) and report in its annual report (if any) on the extent of its compliance.
(2)
In this section, good employer means an employer who operates an employment policy containing provisions generally accepted as necessary for the fair and proper treatment of employees in all aspects of their employment, including provisions requiring—
(a)
good and safe working conditions; and
(b)
an equal employment opportunities programme; and
(c)
the impartial selection of suitably qualified persons for appointment; and
(d)
recognition of—
(i)
the aims and aspirations of Māori; and
(ii)
the employment requirements of Māori; and
(iii)
the need for greater involvement of Māori in the education service; and
(e)
opportunities for the enhancement of the abilities of individual employees; and
(f)
recognition of the aims and aspirations and employment requirements, and the cultural differences, of ethnic or minority groups; and
(g)
recognition of the employment requirements of women; and
(h)
recognition of the employment requirements of persons with disabilities.
(3)
In addition to the requirements specified in subsections (1) and (2), each employer must ensure that all employees maintain proper standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for—
(a)
the public interest; and
(b)
the well-being of students attending the place of education.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77A
598 Code of conduct
(1)
The Secretary may issue a code of conduct covering the minimum standards of integrity and conduct that are to apply in the education service.
(2)
The Secretary may issue separate codes of conduct under this section to apply to different parts of the education service.
(3)
Before the Secretary issues a code of conduct under this section, the Secretary must consult—
(a)
representatives of the employers whose employees are to be bound by the code of conduct, which representatives must be employers, or organisations of employers, of persons employed in the education service; and
(b)
the organisations of employees employed in the education service that represent the employees who are to be bound by the code of conduct; and
(c)
the Public Service Commissioner, and must have regard to any code of conduct issued by the Commissioner under section 17 of the Public Service Act 2020.
(4)
Nothing in this section prevents an employer from prescribing standards of integrity or conduct that are to apply to that employer’s employees (being standards that are not inconsistent with any code of conduct issued by the Secretary under this section and that apply in relation to employees of that employer).
(5)
Nothing in this section applies to any institution.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77B
Section 598(3)(c): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
599 Performance of teachers
(1)
The Secretary may prescribe matters that are to be taken into account by employers in assessing the performance of teachers.
(2)
Before the Secretary prescribes any matters under subsection (1), the Secretary must consult—
(a)
the Teaching Council; and
(b)
the chief executive of the Education Review Office; and
(c)
representatives of employers of teachers; and
(d)
the organisations of teachers that represent teachers who are to be subject to the matters prescribed under this section.
(3)
Nothing in this section prevents an employer from prescribing matters to be taken into account in assessing the performance of teachers employed by that employer (being matters that are not inconsistent with any matters prescribed under this section by the Secretary and that apply to teachers employed by that employer).
(4)
Nothing in this section applies to any teachers employed in any institution, or any early childhood service that is not a free kindergarten.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77C
600 Equal employment opportunities
The Secretary is responsible for promoting, developing, and monitoring equal employment opportunities policies and programmes in the education service.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77D
601 Employees in education service
(1)
Subject to this Act, each employer—
(a)
may appoint any employees (including acting, temporary, casual, or relieving employees) that the employer thinks necessary for the efficient performance or exercise of the functions, duties, and powers of the place of education; and
(b)
may, subject to any conditions of employment included in the employment agreement applying to the employee, remove any employee from that employee’s employment.
(2)
Unless expressly provided to the contrary in this Act, the employer has all the rights, duties, and powers of an ordinary employer in respect of the persons employed in that place of education.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77E
601A Lawful instruction regarding charter school services
(1)
The board of a State school may require a person employed by the board at the school to provide services to a charter school (a recipient school) or a charter school student if that requirement would be a lawful and reasonable instruction but for the recipient school being a charter school, or the student being enrolled at a charter school.
(2)
This section overrides anything to the contrary in—
(a)
the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
a relevant employment agreement.
Section 601A: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 57 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
602 Duty to act independently
In matters relating to decisions on individual employees (whether matters relating to the appointment, promotion, demotion, transfer, disciplining, or the cessation of the employment of any employee, or other matters), the employer must act independently.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77F
603 Appointments on merit
An employer in making an appointment under this Act must give preference to the person who is best suited to the position.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77G
604 Obligation to notify vacancies
If an employer intends to fill a position that is vacant or is to become vacant in a place of education (other than with an acting, temporary, casual, or relieving employee), the employer must, when practicable, notify the vacancy or prospective vacancy in a manner sufficient to enable suitably qualified persons to apply for the position.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77H
605 Restriction of compensation for technical redundancy arising from closure or merger of schools
(1)
An employee in a school is not entitled to receive any payment or other benefit on the ground that the employee’s position in the school (the previous position) has ceased to exist because the school is affected by a merger under section 206 or is closed under section 199 and, before the date on which the merger or the closure takes effect,—
(a)
the employee is offered in writing employment in an equivalent position (whether or not the employee accepts the offer) in the continuing school or in the replacement school or in another school directly affected by the merger or the closure; or
(b)
the employee is offered in writing, and accepts, employment in any other position in the continuing school or in the replacement school or in another school directly affected by the merger or the closure.
(2)
The Minister may determine whether a school is directly affected by a closure or merger, and that determination is binding on all parties.
(3)
Subsection (1)(b) is subject to any contrary provision in an employment agreement that provides for a payment on the ground that the employee’s position has ceased to exist, but only if that payment is less than the amount that would otherwise be payable in any case to which subsection (1) does not apply.
(4)
A collective agreement that binds employees in schools may provide, consistently with subsection (1), for the manner in which that subsection is to apply to those employees.
(5)
In this section, employment in an equivalent position, in relation to the employee’s previous position, means employment that—
(a)
is generally similar in role, duties, and status; and
(b)
requires similar qualifications, training, skills, and experience, but may have a different title; and
(c)
is in the same general locality; and
(d)
is on terms and conditions of employment that are no less favourable than those that applied to the employee immediately before the offer of employment (including any service-related redundancy conditions and superannuation conditions); and
(e)
is on terms that treat the period of service with the school in which the previous position was held (and any other period of service recognised for the purposes of the previous position as continuous service) as if it were continuous service for the purposes of the position offered to the employee.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77HA
606 Appointment of employees following closure or merger of schools
(1)
Sections 603 and 604 do not apply to an appointment of an employee to a position in a school if—
(a)
the appointment is made in connection with the closure of a school under section 199 or the merger of schools under section 206; and
(b)
the position that the employee previously held has ceased to exist as a result of the closure or merger.
(2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to the appointment of an employee to the position of principal.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77HB
607 Acting appointments
(1)
In the case of absence from duty of any employee (from whatever cause arising) or on the occurrence from any cause of a vacancy in any position with an employer (whether by reason of death, resignation, or otherwise) and while the absence or vacancy continues, all or any of the powers and duties of the employee or pertaining to the position may be exercised and performed by any other employee for the time being directed by the employer to exercise and perform them, whether the direction has been given before the absence or vacancy occurs or while it continues.
(2)
No direction and no acts done by any employee acting under a direction may, in any proceedings, be questioned on the ground that the occasion for the direction had not arisen or had ceased, or on the ground that the employee has not been appointed to any position to which the direction relates.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77I
Senior appointments in institutions
608 Chief executives of institutions
Despite anything to the contrary in any other enactment, the appointment and conditions of employment of every chief executive of an institution must be determined under this subpart.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77IA
609 Appointment of chief executive
(1)
Subject to section 610, each council of an institution must appoint its chief executive in accordance with this section.
(2)
Where there is a vacancy or an impending vacancy in the position of chief executive of an institution, the council of the institution must notify the vacancy or impending vacancy in the manner that it thinks sufficient to enable suitably qualified persons to apply for the position.
(3)
The council may—
(a)
examine applicants for the position; and
(b)
seek advice from the sources that it considers relevant.
(4)
The council may invite any other persons that it thinks fit to assist it to decide on the person to be appointed, and any person so invited may take part in the examination of applicants or in the council’s deliberations on the matter, or in both.
(5)
In deciding upon the person to be appointed as chief executive, the council must have regard to the need to appoint a person who can—
(a)
discharge the specific responsibilities placed on the chief executive; and
(b)
imbue the employees with a spirit of service to the institution and to the community; and
(c)
promote efficiency; and
(d)
manage the institution in a responsible manner that reflects the needs of academic freedom, accountability, and the proper use of resources; and
(e)
maintain appropriate standards of integrity and conduct among employees and ensure the well-being of students attending the institution; and
(f)
ensure that the institution is a good employer; and
(g)
promote equal employment opportunities.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77IB
610 Reappointment of chief executive
A council may reappoint its existing chief executive for a further term without first notifying the impending vacancy or examining other applicants.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77IC
611 Conditions of employment of chief executive
(1)
A chief executive must be appointed for a term of not more than 5 years.
(2)
A chief executive is eligible for reappointment.
(3)
Except where specific conditions of employment for a chief executive are provided in this Act, the conditions of employment for a chief executive must be determined in each case by agreement between the council of the institution and the chief executive, but,—
(a)
in the case of a wānanga that is a Crown entity, the council must consult the Public Service Commissioner on the conditions of employment before finalising them with the chief executive or amending any or all of the conditions once they have been finalised:
(b)
in the case of any other institution, the council must obtain the written agreement of the Public Service Commissioner to the conditions of employment before finalising them with the chief executive or amending any or all of the conditions once they have been finalised.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77ID
Section 611(3): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 16 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
612 Removal from office
The council, for just cause or excuse, may remove the chief executive from office.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77IE
613 Acting chief executive
(1)
All or any of the functions, powers, and duties of the chief executive or relating to the position may be exercised and performed by an employee for the time being directed by the council of the institution to exercise and perform them, whether the direction has been given before the absence or vacancy occurs or while it continues if—
(a)
a vacancy in the position of chief executive of an institution exists; or
(b)
a chief executive of an institution is absent from duty (from whatever cause arising).
(2)
No direction and no acts done by any person acting under any direction may, in any proceedings, be questioned on the ground that the occasion for the direction had not arisen or had ceased, or on the ground that the person had not been appointed to the position of chief executive.
(3)
The council of the institution must determine the conditions of employment that are to apply to any person directed under subsection (1) to exercise and perform any of the functions, powers, and duties of a chief executive.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 77IF
Employment of others
614 Power of Secretary to employ teachers
(1)
The Secretary may employ persons to work in State schools as teachers.
(2)
An order made under section 582 that limits the number of teachers who may be employed at a State school does not include teachers employed under this section.
(3)
The following provisions apply to persons employed as teachers under this section as if the Secretary were a board, and with any other necessary modifications:
(a)
sections 92 to 96 (which set out restrictions on appointment and continued employment of teaching staff):
(b)
sections 489 to 509 (which relate to mandatory reporting to, disciplinary functions of, and review of competence by the Teaching Council):
(c)
sections 542, 543, and 662 (which set out offence provisions):
(d)
Schedule 3 (which relates to teacher registration, practising certificates, and other matters):
(e)
clause 13 of Schedule 19 (which relates to Police vetting).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91N
615 Employment-based trainee teaching positions
(1)
On receipt of a request from a board, the Secretary may, by written notice to the board, establish an employment-based trainee teaching position for the school.
(2)
Despite any provision to the contrary in this Act, the board for which an employment-based trainee teaching position has been established may appoint only an employment-based trainee teacher to the position.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 91O
616 Agreements with trainee teachers
(1)
The Minister may enter into an agreement with any person who undertakes teacher training.
(2)
The agreement must provide for—
(a)
payment by the Minister to the person of an amount of money on condition that the person must, on completion of teacher training, work in New Zealand as a teacher for a specified period; and
(b)
an undertaking by the person that, if the person defaults on the condition, the person must repay the amount paid under the agreement (in full or as specified in the agreement).
(3)
The Minister may require the agreement with the person to be signed by a guarantor, in which case the person and the guarantor are jointly and severally liable.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 139E
617 Minister may issue eligibility criteria relating to appointment of principals
(1)
The Minister may issue eligibility criteria that must be met by applicants for appointment to the position of principal for the purposes of—
(a)
ensuring consistency in the skills, competencies, knowledge, and expertise that applicants for appointment to the position must demonstrate; and
(b)
supporting better understanding of the background and experience needed for school leadership among persons aspiring to the role of a principal as part of their future career; and
(c)
providing confidence to boards in making appointments; and
(d)
signalling the importance of the role of a principal across the wider school system.
(2)
Before issuing any criteria under subsection (1), the Minister must make reasonable efforts to consult—
(a)
children and young people and their parents, whānau, and communities:
(b)
national bodies representing the interests of—
(i)
teachers:
(ii)
principals:
(iii)
boards:
(iv)
the disability community:
(v)
support staff in schools:
(vi)
Māori education organisations:
(vii)
proprietors of State integrated schools:
(c)
national bodies with a particular role in respect of the character of designated character schools and Kura Kaupapa Māori.
(3)
The Minister may delegate the Minister’s function under subsection (1) to any person or persons that the Minister thinks fit.
(4)
In making an appointment to the position of principal, a board must apply any criteria issued under subsection (1) and may also apply any specific additional criteria developed by it under section 618.
Section 617 heading: amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 25(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 617(1): amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 25(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 617(2)(c): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 34 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
618 Board may develop additional criteria relating to appointment of principals
(1)
A board may develop additional criteria relating to the appointment of a principal at the relevant board’s school.
(2)
Any additional criteria developed by the board must not be inconsistent with any eligibility criteria issued by the Minister under section 617.
(3)
In developing any additional criteria, the board must consult its school community.
Subpart 5—Information and reporting
619 Secretary may require information for administration of Act
(1)
The Secretary may, by written notice that complies with subsection (2), require any of the following individuals or bodies to provide information:
(a)
the board of a State school:
(aa)
the sponsor:
(b)
the service provider who operates any licensed early childhood service or any certified playgroup:
(c)
the managers of a private school.
(2)
The notice must specify the information required and the date by which it must be provided to the Secretary.
(3)
The individual or body must provide the information in writing by the date specified in the notice.
(4)
Information that identifies individuals may be used only for the following purposes:
(a)
statistical purposes:
(b)
ensuring that institutions and students receive relevant resourcing:
(c)
monitoring and ensuring student rights in respect of enrolment and attendance.
(5)
For the purposes of registering or inspecting private schools, information required under subsection (1) is relevant to determining whether a school meets the criteria for registration as a private school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 144A
Section 619(1)(aa): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 58 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
619A Director of Regulation may require information for administration of Part 2
(1)
The Director of Regulation may, by written notice, require information from a service provider who operates—
(a)
a licensed early childhood service; or
(b)
a certified playgroup.
(2)
The notice must specify the information required and the date by which it must be provided.
(3)
The service provider must provide the information in writing by the date specified in the notice.
(4)
Information that identifies individuals may only be used for statistical purposes.
Section 619A: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 9 of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
620 Report on performance of school sector
(1)
The Minister must in each year, not later than 30 September, prepare and present to the House of Representatives a report on the performance of the school sector in the immediately preceding financial year ending on 31 December.
(2)
The report must include information about—
(a)
the performance of the school sector:
(b)
the management performance in the school sector, including the quality of the management systems and practices in the school sector and the management of all the assets used in the school sector:
(c)
the effectiveness of the school sector in terms of educational achievement.
(3)
The report—
(a)
must relate to all of the schools owned by the Crown; and
(b)
may relate to other schools.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 87B
621 National student numbers
The Secretary must ensure that national student numbers are assigned and used in accordance with Schedule 24 and any regulations made under this Act.
Subpart 6—Entry and inspection
Review officers
622 Powers of entry and inspection for places other than dwelling houses
(1)
For the purpose of enabling any functions of the Chief Review Officer under subpart 3 of Part 5 to be performed, a review officer may, at any reasonable time and having given reasonable notice to the applicable organisation or applicable person of an applicable organisation, enter any place (other than a dwelling house) occupied by the applicable organisation or applicable person, and—
(a)
conduct inspections or make inquiries:
(b)
require any applicable person to produce documents or provide information, and permit the review officer to make copies of or take extracts from the documents or information, relating to—
(i)
an applicable service that the applicable organisation provides; or
(ii)
people to whom the service is (or has been) provided:
(c)
require any applicable person of the applicable organisation, or any other person employed by the applicable organisation or any applicable person of the applicable organisation or involved in the management of the applicable organisation, to make or provide statements, in any form and manner the review officer specifies, about any matters relating to an applicable service:
(d)
inspect the work of any person to whom an applicable service is (or has been) provided:
(e)
meet and talk with any person to whom an applicable service is being provided.
(2)
In this section, applicable organisation, in relation to an early childhood service, includes an entity that owns the service (wholly or partly) or operates the early childhood service.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 327
623 Review officers to prove identity before acting under section 622
A review officer who enters any place under the authority of section 622 must, on first entering and, if requested at any later time, produce to the person apparently in charge the review officer’s certificate of designation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328
Early childhood services
624 Power to enter and inspect, without warrant, homes used by licensed home-based education and care services
(1)
For the purposes of enabling the functions of the Chief Review Officer to review and evaluate curriculum delivery and health and safety performance in a home used by a licensed home-based education and care service, a review officer may, at any reasonable time and having given reasonable notice to the relevant service provider, enter the home, and—
(a)
conduct inspections or inquiries, including (without limitation) observing any children present in the home who are receiving the service:
(b)
require the person providing the service in the home—
(i)
to make available documents or information, and permit the review officer to make copies or extracts of the documents or information, relating to curriculum delivery and health and safety performance of the service in the home:
(ii)
to make or provide statements, in any form and manner the review officer specifies, about any matters relating to curriculum delivery and health and safety performance of the service in the home:
(c)
inspect the work of any person to whom the service is (or has been) provided:
(d)
meet and talk with the person providing the service in the home or any person to whom the service is being provided.
(2)
If a service provider receives a notice, the service provider must provide the Education Review Office with a list of the addresses of all the homes where the service provider provides a licensed home-based education and care service.
(3)
A review officer may only inspect those areas of a home that are used to provide the licensed home-based education and care service.
(4)
A review officer may request those given notice to provide, before the entry, information that is reasonably necessary or desirable to carry out the inspection or inquiries.
(5)
The request may be part of the notice.
625 Review officers to prove identity before acting under section 624
A review officer who enters any place under the authority of section 624 must, on first entering and, if requested at any later time, produce to the person apparently in charge the review officer’s certificate of designation.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 328
626 Powers of entry and inspection without warrant
(1)
A person authorised under subsection (3) may, for the purpose of ensuring that the provisions of this Act and any regulations made under this Act, or the conditions of any licence, certificate, or grant issued or made under any of those provisions, are being complied with, or for the purpose of conducting any audit, at any reasonable time, do all or any of the following:
(a)
enter and inspect—
(i)
any premises that—
(A)
are or contain a licensed early childhood education and care centre; or
(B)
are used to provide a licensed home-based education and care service (whether or not used as a home by the person providing the service); or
(C)
are used to provide a licensed hospital-based education and care service; or
(D)
are used by a certified playgroup:
(ii)
any offices of a service provider that are related to those premises:
(b)
inspect, photocopy, print, or copy onto a storage device any documents (whether held in electronic or paper form) that the person believes on reasonable grounds to be those of the licensed early childhood service or certified playgroup:
(c)
remove any document described in paragraph (b), whether in its original form or as an electronic or a paper copy.
(2)
If any documents are removed from premises under subsection (1)(c), the person who removes them must—
(a)
leave at the premises a list of the documents removed; and
(b)
return the documents, or a copy of them, to the premises as soon as practicable, unless to do so would prejudice any investigation being or to be carried out by the Ministry.
(3)
The Secretary or the Director of Regulation may authorise in writing any person who, in the Secretary’s opinion or the Director of Regulation’s opinion, is suitably qualified and trained in the exercise of powers under subsection (1) to exercise those powers.
(4)
An authorisation under subsection (3) must contain—
(a)
a reference to this section; and
(b)
the full name of the person authorised; and
(c)
a statement of the powers conferred on that person by this section.
(5)
A person exercising any power under subsection (1) must have the appropriate written authorisation and evidence of identity, and must produce them to the person in charge of the premises concerned (or the person having possession or control of the documents concerned)—
(a)
on first entering the premises; and
(b)
whenever subsequently reasonably required to do so by the person in charge.
(6)
For the purposes of this section and section 627, inspection, in relation to any premises, includes observing any children present there.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319B
Section 626(3): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 10(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 626(3): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 10(b) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
627 Powers of entry and inspection with warrant
(1)
A person who is authorised under section 626 and who has reasonable grounds to believe that premises are being used as an early childhood education and care centre in contravention of this Act, or regulations made under section 636, may apply in writing on oath to a District Court Judge, Justice of the Peace, Community Magistrate, or Registrar or Deputy Registrar of any court for a warrant.
(2)
If the Judge or other person to whom the application is made is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the premises are being so used, the Judge or other person may issue a warrant directed to the person by name authorising the person to enter the premises.
(3)
A warrant issued under subsection (2) must contain—
(a)
a reference to this section; and
(b)
the full name of the person authorised; and
(c)
a description of the premises concerned; and
(d)
the date on which it was issued and the date on which it expires.
(4)
A warrant issued under subsection (2) must authorise the person named in it, at any reasonable time within 4 weeks after the date on which it is issued, to—
(a)
enter the premises described in the warrant; and
(b)
do on those premises anything necessary to ascertain whether those premises are being used as an early childhood education and care centre in contravention of this Act or any regulations made under section 636.
(5)
A person exercising any power under subsection (4)—
(a)
must have the appropriate warrant and evidence of identity and must produce them to the occupier of the premises concerned—
(i)
on first entering the premises; and
(ii)
whenever subsequently reasonably required to do so by that occupier; and
(b)
may observe any children present.
(6)
A warrant issued under subsection (2) expires on the earlier of the following dates:
(a)
the date on which the purpose for which it was issued has been satisfied:
(b)
the date specified as the date of expiry under subsection (3)(d).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319C
Schools
628 Powers of entry and inspection
(1)
A person holding an authorisation under subsection (3) may, at any reasonable time,—
(a)
enter and inspect any registered school:
(b)
inspect, photocopy, print, or copy onto a storage device any documents (whether held in electronic or paper form) that the person believes on reasonable grounds to be those of the board or manager of the school:
(c)
remove any document described in paragraph (b), whether in its original form or as an electronic or a paper copy.
(2)
If any documents are removed from a school under subsection (1)(c), the person who removes the documents must—
(a)
leave at the school a list of the documents removed; and
(b)
return the documents, or a copy of them, to the school as soon as practicable unless to do so would prejudice any investigation being or to be carried out by the Ministry.
(3)
The Secretary may authorise in writing any person to exercise the powers in subsection (1).
(4)
An authorisation under subsection (3) must contain—
(a)
a reference to this section; and
(b)
the full name of the person authorised; and
(c)
a statement of the powers conferred on that person by this section.
(5)
A person exercising any power under subsection (1) must have the appropriate written authorisation and evidence of identity, and must produce them to the person in charge of the premises concerned (or the person having possession or control of the books, records, or accounts concerned)—
(a)
on first entering the premises; and
(b)
whenever subsequently reasonably required to do so by the person in charge.
(6)
In this section, inspection, in relation to a school, includes—
(a)
access to the written and recorded work of students enrolled there; and
(b)
meeting and talking with students enrolled there.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78A
629 Entry where private school suspected of being unregistered
(1)
A person who holds an authorisation under section 628(3), and who has reasonable cause to believe that any premises are being used as a private school in contravention of section 249, may apply for a warrant to enter the premises.
(2)
An application for a warrant must be in writing, on oath, and be made to a District Court Judge, Justice of the Peace, or Registrar or Deputy Registrar of any court.
(3)
A warrant may be issued if the person issuing it is satisfied that there is reasonable cause to believe that the premises are being used as a private school in contravention of section 249.
(4)
A warrant issued under subsection (3) must contain—
(a)
a reference to this section; and
(b)
the full name of the person authorised; and
(c)
a description of the premises concerned; and
(d)
the date on which it was issued and the date on which it expires.
(5)
A warrant issued under subsection (3) authorises the person named in it, at any reasonable time within 4 weeks of the date on which it is issued, to enter and inspect the premises described in the warrant to ascertain whether those premises are being used as a private school in contravention of section 249.
(6)
A person acting under a warrant issued under subsection (3) must retain the warrant and must produce it, along with evidence of identity, to the occupier of the premises concerned—
(a)
on first entering the premises; and
(b)
whenever subsequently reasonably required to do so by that occupier.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 35S
School hostels
630 Purpose of sections 631, 632, and 643
The purpose of sections 631, 632, and 643 is to help ensure the safety of students who board at hostels.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 144B
631 Entry to inspect hostels
(1)
An authorised person may, at any reasonable time, do 1 or more of the following:
(a)
enter any hostel premises and inspect the premises and facilities:
(b)
inspect, and make and remove copies of, any information relating to the management of the hostel:
(c)
require any person at a hostel to make or provide statements, in whatever form or manner is reasonable in the circumstances, about any matter relating to the safety of students who board at the hostel.
(2)
An authorised person may exercise the powers in subsection (1) only for the purpose of monitoring compliance with minimum standards, codes of practice, licences, or licence conditions.
(3)
The person in charge (or apparently in charge) of the hostel must, if an authorised person requests it, co-operate in allowing the authorised person access to the premises, facilities, and information relating to the management of the hostel, including assisting the authorised person to copy (in usable form) any information required for the inspection.
(4)
An authorised person may not enter or inspect the room or sleeping area of a student accommodated at the hostel unless—
(a)
the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that entry or inspection is necessary for a purpose specified in subsection (2); and
(b)
prior notice of the inspection is given to the student, and the purpose of the inspection is explained; and
(c)
the student is present during the inspection.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 144D
632 Authorised persons
(1)
The Minister may, by notice in writing, appoint any person as an authorised person for the purpose of exercising the powers in section 631.
(2)
An authorisation under subsection (1) must state—
(a)
the name of the authorised person; and
(b)
the powers that the person may exercise under section 631; and
(c)
the date on which the authorisation was given, and the date (if any) on which it expires.
(3)
When an authorised person is exercising powers under section 631, the person must carry a copy of their authorisation and must produce it,—
(a)
on entering a hostel to be inspected, to the person in charge, or apparently in charge, of the hostel; and
(b)
if the authorised person wishes to speak to any person in connection with the inspection, to that person.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 144E
Student accommodation
633 Entry to inspect student accommodation subject to codes
(1)
A code administrator may—
(a)
enter any student accommodation and inspect the premises and facilities:
(b)
inspect, and make and remove copies of, any information relating to the management of student accommodation:
(c)
ask any person at any student accommodation to make or provide statements, in whatever form or manner is reasonable in the circumstances, about any matter relating to the safety of students who board at the student accommodation.
(2)
A code administrator may exercise the powers in subsection (1) only for the purposes of monitoring or investigating compliance with the relevant code.
(3)
A code administrator may not enter or inspect the room or sleeping area of a student accommodated at any student accommodation unless—
(a)
the code administrator believes on reasonable grounds that the entry or inspection is necessary for the purposes specified in subsection (2); and
(b)
the code administrator gives the student at least 24 hours’ written notice of the intended entry or inspection and that notice explains the purpose of the entry or inspection; and
(c)
the student consents to the entry or inspection, and the student is present during the entry or inspection if being present is a condition of the consent.
(4)
Subsection (3)(c) does not apply if obtaining the student’s consent is unreasonable in the circumstances.
(5)
A code administrator may, with the Minister’s prior written approval and subject to any conditions that the code administrator or the Minister thinks fit, delegate any or all of the functions, duties, and powers specified in this section to another person or agency (having regard to their knowledge, skills, or experience).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238H(5)–(9)
Section 633(1): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 61 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Private training establishments
634 Powers of entry and inspection
(1)
For the purpose of ensuring that a private training establishment (whether registered or not) and any agent of the establishment comply with this Act, the rules made under section 452, and any approval, consent, or other authorisation granted by NZQA, the chief executive may authorise any person to do, at any reasonable time, any 1 or more of the following things:
(a)
enter and inspect any premises (other than a dwelling house) that are occupied by the private training establishment or its agent:
(b)
require any person to produce documents or information under the control of the person:
(c)
inspect, photocopy, print, or copy any documents (whether held in electronic or paper form) produced under paragraph (b) or that the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds to belong to the establishment:
(d)
remove any document referred to in paragraph (c), whether in its original form or as an electronic or a paper copy:
(e)
require any employee or member of the establishment to make or provide statements, in any form and manner that the authorised person specifies:
(f)
inspect any education and training work and any related materials:
(g)
meet and talk with any person.
(2)
A person authorised by the chief executive under subsection (1) must—
(a)
produce evidence of the person’s authorisation to the person in charge of the premises when the person first enters the premises, and at any later time, at the request of the person in charge; and
(b)
give the person in charge a list of all documents that have been removed (if any); and
(c)
return any documents that have been removed unless to do so would prejudice any investigation.
(3)
An authorisation under subsection (1) must be in writing and contain—
(a)
a reference to this section; and
(b)
the full name of the person authorised; and
(c)
a statement of the powers conferred on that person under this section.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 255A
Providers and signatory providers
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 62 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
634A Powers of entry and inspection
(1)
For the purpose of ensuring that a provider or signatory provider complies with a code with which it is required to comply, a code administrator may authorise any person to do, at any reasonable time, any 1 or more of the following things:
(a)
enter and inspect any premises (other than a dwelling house) that is occupied by the provider or signatory provider:
(b)
require any person to produce documents or information under the control of the person:
(c)
inspect, photocopy, print, or copy any documents (whether held in electronic or paper form) that are produced under paragraph (b) or that the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds to belong to the establishment:
(d)
remove any document referred to in paragraph (c), whether in its original form or as an electronic or a paper copy:
(e)
require any employee or member of the provider or signatory provider to make or provide statements, in any form and manner that the authorised person specifies:
(f)
inspect any education and training work and any related materials:
(g)
meet and talk with any person.
(2)
A person authorised by the code administrator under subsection (1) must—
(a)
produce evidence of the person’s authorisation to the person in charge of the premises when the person first enters the premises, and at any later time, at the request of the person in charge; and
(b)
give the person in charge a list of all documents that have been removed (if any); and
(c)
return any documents that have been removed unless to do so would prejudice any investigation.
(3)
Before authorising a person under subsection (1), the code administrator must be satisfied that the person—
(a)
is of good character; and
(b)
has received appropriate training on the exercise of the powers available under subsection (1).
(4)
An authorisation under subsection (1) must be in writing and contain—
(a)
a reference to this section; and
(b)
the full name of the person authorised; and
(c)
a statement of the powers conferred on that person under this section.
Section 634A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 62 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Other entry and inspection provisions
635 Entry and inspection powers elsewhere in Act
The right of parents who have children in early childhood centres to enter the premises is set out in section 27.
Subpart 7—Regulations and directions
Regulations
636 Regulations relating to early childhood services
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations—
(a)
[Repealed](aa)
providing for the licensing of service providers to provide early childhood services of any kind, including (without limitation) providing for the transfer of licences:
(b)
regulating the management, operation, and control of licensed early childhood services of any kind, and imposing duties on service providers:
(c)
declaring specified early childhood services, or early childhood services of 1 or more specified types or descriptions, to be early childhood education and care services for the purpose of Part 2:
(d)
modifying the definition of teaching position in section 10(1) for the purposes of applying it to Kura Kaupapa Māori or early childhood services or both.
(e)
[Repealed](2)
Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may—
(a)
prescribe, for the purposes of ensuring the health, comfort, care, education, and safety of children attending licensed early childhood services, minimum standards relating to—
(i)
premises and facilities:
(ii)
programmes of education, practices in relation to children’s learning and development, and implementation of the curriculum framework:
(iii)
staff and parent and caregiver involvement (including adult-to-child ratios):
(iv)
health and safety:
(v)
practices in relation to behaviour management and limits on the use of physical restraint:
(vi)
communication and consultation with parents:
(vii)
the operation or administration of licensed early childhood services:
(b)
authorise the Minister, after consultation with the Director of Regulation and those organisations that appear to the Minister to be representative of persons likely to be substantially affected by the regulations, to prescribe criteria to be used by the Director of Regulation to assess compliance with the minimum standards imposed by the regulations:
(c)
[Repealed](d)
limit or regulate the number of children who may attend licensed early childhood education and care centres or any premises used to provide a licensed home-based education and care service or a licensed hospital-based education and care service:
(e)
provide for the grant or refusal to grant, duration, expiry, renewal, suspension, transfer, reclassification, and cancellation of licences of 1 or more specified kinds for service providers for each kind of early childhood service, and prescribe the conditions under which licences may be granted, renewed, suspended, or transferred and the fees payable in respect of the grant, renewal, suspension, or transfer of the licences, or do any of those things:
(ea)
provide for the Director of Regulation to take 1 or more actions in relation to a licence held by a service provider of a licensed early childhood service, including—
(i)
making a record of non-compliance; and
(ii)
issuing a formal warning or a written direction; and
(iii)
requiring the provider to employ or engage specialist help or prepare, implement, and complete an improvement plan:
(eb)
enable or require the Director of Regulation to publicly notify action taken by the Director in relation to a non-compliance by a service provider of a licensed early childhood service with—
(i)
a condition of their licence; or
(ii)
a requirement of regulations:
(ec)
enable the Director of Regulation to give public notice of an investigation into a complaint against a service provider of a licensed early childhood service or an incident involving the service provider:
(ed)
enable the Director of Regulation to require a service provider of a licensed early childhood service to inform parents or caregivers of children attending the service that an investigation into a complaint or incident is being carried out by the Director or licensed service provider, or both:
(f)
prescribe conditions governing licensed early childhood services and the duties of their service providers:
(g)
prescribe the records to be kept by service providers in respect of children attending licensed early childhood education and care centres, licensed home-based education and care services, and licensed hospital-based education and care services:
(h)
regulate, including by authorising the Secretary to issue a notice recognising a qualification, the qualifications to be held by any specified number or proportion of persons carrying out the following activities:
(i)
the control and management of each licensed early childhood education and care centre, licensed home-based education and care service, or licensed hospital-based education and care service:
(ii)
the education and care of children attending a licensed early childhood education and care centre, licensed home-based education and care service, or licensed hospital-based education and care service:
(i)
provide for transitional matters not dealt with in this Act:
(j)
prescribe offences punishable on conviction by a fine not exceeding $500 in respect of the contravention of, or non-compliance with, the regulations.
(3)
The regulations may prescribe different standards and other requirements—
(a)
for early childhood services of different types or descriptions; and
(b)
in respect of different kinds of licences.
(4)
Criteria prescribed by the Minister for use in assessing compliance with minimum standards imposed by regulations made under this section—
(a)
may differ in any way, including (without limitation) providing for—
(i)
early childhood services of different types or descriptions; and
(ii)
different kinds of licences; and
(iii)
different minimum standards.
(b)
[Repealed](4A)
Regulations made under subsection (2)(b) must contain a statement that the Secretary is the Minister’s principal policy adviser in relation to any criteria that are prescribed.
(5)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(6)
If the regulations authorise the Minister under subsection (2)(b) to prescribe criteria,—
(a)
an instrument that prescribes the criteria is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
the regulations must contain a statement to that effect.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 317; 2001 No 88 s 69(2)(a), (c)
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (5) | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (6)(a) | ||||
| Publication | See the relevant publication, presentation, and disallowance table in the secondary legislation referred to in subsection (5) | LA19 ss 73, 74, Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives, unless a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 636(1)(a): repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 59 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 636(1)(aa): inserted, on 16 December 2021, by section 9(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 636(1)(e): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 9(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 636(2): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 9(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 636(2)(b): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 11(1)(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 636(2)(b): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 11(1)(b) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 636(2)(c): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 636(2)(ea): inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 636(2)(eb): inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 636(2)(ec): inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 636(2)(ed): inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 636(2)(h): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 63 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 636(4)(b): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 636(4A): inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 11(3) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 636(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 636(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
637 Regulations relating to certifying playgroups
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for certifying playgroups.
(2)
The regulations may—
(a)
prescribe, for the purpose of ensuring the health, comfort, care, education, and safety of children attending certified playgroups, minimum standards relating to—
(i)
premises and facilities:
(ii)
programmes of education, practices in relation to children’s learning and development, and implementation of the curriculum framework:
(iii)
staff and parent and caregiver participation (including adult-to-child ratios):
(iv)
health and safety:
(v)
practices in relation to behaviour management and limits on the use of physical restraint:
(vi)
communication and consultation with parents:
(vii)
the operation and administration of playgroups:
(b)
authorise the Minister, after consultation with the Director of Regulation and those organisations that appear to the Minister to be representative of persons likely to be substantially affected by the regulations, to prescribe criteria to be used by the Director of Regulation to assess compliance with the minimum standards imposed by the regulations:
(c)
[Repealed](d)
limit or regulate the number of children who may attend certified playgroups:
(e)
provide for the grant, duration, expiry, renewal, suspension, transfer, reclassification, and cancellation of certificates of 1 or more specified kinds for playgroups, and prescribe the conditions under which certificates may be granted, renewed, or transferred and the fees payable in respect of the grant, renewal, or transfer of the certificates:
(f)
prescribe conditions governing certified playgroups and the duties of their service providers:
(g)
prescribe the records to be kept by the service provider in respect of children attending certified playgroups:
(h)
regulate the qualifications to be held by any specified number or proportion of persons responsible for—
(i)
the control and management of a certified playgroup:
(ii)
the education and care of children attending a certified playgroup:
(i)
provide for transitional matters not dealt with in this Act.
(3)
Criteria prescribed by the Minister for use in assessing compliance with minimum standards imposed by regulations made under this section—
(a)
may differ in any way, including (without limitation) providing for—
(i)
different kinds of certificates; and
(ii)
different minimum standards.
(b)
[Repealed](3A)
Regulations made under subsection (2)(b) must contain a statement that the Secretary is the Minister’s principal policy adviser in relation to any criteria that are prescribed.
(4)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(5)
If the regulations authorise the Minister under subsection (2)(b) to prescribe criteria,—
(a)
an instrument that prescribes the criteria is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
the regulations must contain a statement to that effect.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (4) | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (5)(a) | ||||
| Publication | See the relevant publication, presentation, and disallowance table in the secondary legislation referred to in subsection (4) | LA19 ss 73, 74, Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives, unless a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 637(2)(b): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 12(1)(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 637(2)(b): amended, on 23 February 2026, by section 12(1)(b) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 637(2)(c): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 637(3)(b): repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 637(3A): inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 12(2) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Section 637(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 637(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
638 Regulations relating to how schools must be run
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations providing for the control, management, organisation, conduct, and administration of schools.
(2)
Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may—
(a)
provide differently for different classes or descriptions of schools:
(b)
give powers to, or impose duties on, the following:
(i)
boards or principals (or both):
(ii)
sponsors or persons responsible for teaching and learning in charter schools (or both):
(c)
prescribe processes and procedures in respect of boards or sponsors:
(d)
provide for the development of enrolment schemes:
(e)
provide for when schools (other than charter schools) must or may be open and closed for instruction, including (without limitation) by—
(i)
specifying term dates and the number of half-days on which schools must be open and providing for exceptions in particular cases:
(ii)
allowing boards to vary the time at which any 1 or more half-days take place subject to any specified preconditions or requirements:
(iii)
allowing boards to run multiple timetable arrangements unconditionally or subject to any specified preconditions or requirements:
(iv)
authorising the Minister, by notice, to determine the matters set out in subparagraphs (i) to (iii), and authorising the Minister to delegate the power to determine those matters to the Secretary in relation to any individual school:
(f)
provide for the circumstances in which the Secretary may direct that a student be enrolled at a school:
(g)
provide for matters relating to attendance management plans under sections 137A to 137D, including (without limitation)—
(i)
specifying thresholds (applying to schools other than distance schools), based on the number of days a student is absent within a school term, to trigger a school’s actions and responses to a student’s absence:
(ii)
specifying thresholds applying to distance schools to trigger a distance school’s actions and responses to a student’s absence:
(iii)
prescribing required content of attendance management plans, including (without limitation) requiring information about how the school intends to—
(A)
identify issues that make attendance challenging for a student:
(B)
respond to student absences at the specified thresholds and to underlying causes of student absence:
(iv)
specifying the period in which a board must review its attendance management plan and readopt the plan or adopt a new or amended plan.
(3)
Regulations made under this section prescribing a course of study may not restrict the method by or manner in which any subject forming part of the course is to be taught, except to the extent necessary to ensure that the teaching of the subject is consistent with the general aims of the course.
(4)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(5)
If the regulations authorise the Minister to determine matters referred to in subsection (2)(e)—
(a)
an instrument that determines those matters is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
the regulations must contain a statement to that effect.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section, except for subsection (5)(a) | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subsection (5)(a) | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in accordance with the Legislation (Publication) Regulations 2021, unless it is published by PCO | LA19 ss 69, 73, 74(1)(aa) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives, unless it is excluded by section 114(2) of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives, unless it is excluded by section 115 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 638(2): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 638(2)(b): replaced, on 1 October 2024, by section 60(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 638(2)(c): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 60(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 638(2)(d): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 638(2)(e): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 35(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 638(2)(e): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 60(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 638(2)(g): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 26 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Section 638(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 638(5): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 35(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
639 Regulations relating to planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting for schools and boards
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
(a)
developing school strategic plans under sections 138 to 144:
(b)
monitoring and reporting on a board’s performance under section 145:
(c)
monitoring and reporting on the performance of a school’s students under section 165:
(d)
preparing and delivering statements of variance and annual reports under section 134.
(2)
Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may make provision in relation to 1 or more of the following:
(a)
the form of school strategic plans:
(b)
matters that must be dealt with in plans:
(c)
when plans must be prepared or submitted:
(d)
requirements for consultation in the development and implementation of plans:
(e)
requirements for how and when plans are amended or expire:
(f)
the information that must be included in a statement of variance under section 134(1)(a):
(g)
the form of statements of variance:
(h)
the information that must be included in an annual report under section 134(2)(a):
(i)
the form and content of annual reports, including financial statements:
(j)
the form of reports on the performance of a school’s students:
(k)
the information that must be included in reports on the performance of a school’s students:
(l)
any other matters contemplated by, or necessary for giving full effect to, any of the following provisions:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(3)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 118A
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 639(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
640 Regulations relating to board elections and appointments
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
(a)
[Repealed](b)
prescribing the manner in which board members may be elected, co-opted, or appointed:
(c)
prescribing a board member’s term of office and providing for vacancies in board membership:
(d)
prescribing the manner in which returning officers are to be appointed for the purposes of an election of board members.
(2)
Without limiting subsection (1), the regulations may—
(a)
provide for persons who are forbidden to participate in 2 elections to choose the election in which they prefer to stand or vote, or both; and
(b)
provide for persons who do not exercise their choice within the time or in the manner provided for to be restricted to standing or voting, or both, in only 1 election; and
(c)
require a person who has chosen or been restricted to 1 election to continue to be restricted to elections of the kind concerned if elections are later held to fill casual vacancies.
(3)
A person who has been nominated for election to a board is not eligible to be appointed returning officer for the election.
(4)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 118
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 640(1)(a): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 640(2): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 640(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
641 Regulations relating to imposition of export education levy
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations imposing an export education levy on signatory providers who receive tuition fees from international students enrolled with them.
(2)
Without limiting subsection (1), regulations made under this section must—
(a)
prescribe the amount or the method of calculating the amount (or both) of export education levy payable by individual signatory providers, and may prescribe different amounts, or different methods of calculating the amounts, payable by different classes of signatory provider; and
(b)
prescribe when the levy, or any part of the levy, is payable; and
(c)
designate an agency to administer the levy and, if that agency is the Ministry, may authorise the Ministry to delegate all or specified aspects of the levy’s collection and use to another body; and
(d)
require a signatory provider to supply, on request by the agency responsible for the administration of the levy, information about student numbers or any other matter that is necessary to determine or verify the amount of levy payable by the signatory provider.
(3)
Before making a recommendation under subsection (1), the Minister must consult signatory providers.
(4)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 238Q
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 641(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
642 Regulations relating to school risk management schemes
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
(a)
providing for the establishment of a school risk management scheme:
(b)
defining accidental loss or damage and other terms for the purposes of the regulations:
(c)
setting out the scope of the indemnity that may be given by the Crown, including any exclusions:
(d)
setting out the procedure for lodging claims and their determination:
(e)
listing the kinds of costs that the Crown may deduct from money payable under the scheme to a participating board:
(f)
providing for the manner in which the parties may withdraw from the scheme:
(g)
providing for the manner in which the scheme may be varied, replaced, or terminated.
(2)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78F
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 642(2): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
643 Regulations relating to school hostels
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
(a)
adopting minimum standards that apply to hostel premises and facilities:
(b)
adopting codes of practice relating to the management of hostels:
(c)
creating offences for failing to comply with minimum standards or codes of practice adopted by regulations, and providing for a penalty on conviction for any offence to be a fine not exceeding $10,000:
(d)
providing for exemptions from the application of minimum standards or codes of practice:
(e)
prescribing a system of licensing for hostels, which may include provisions—
(i)
providing for different sorts of licences:
(ii)
setting out the conditions to be met before a licence may be issued:
(iii)
prescribing the circumstances in which conditions may be imposed on a licence:
(iv)
setting out the conditions or types of conditions that may attach to a licence:
(v)
prohibiting students from boarding at an unlicensed hostel:
(vi)
prohibiting the payment of a boarding bursary, or any government subsidy relating to the cost of boarding at a hostel, in respect of a student boarding at an unlicensed hostel:
(vii)
creating offences for failure to comply with any or all licence conditions, and providing for a penalty on conviction for any offence to be a fine not exceeding $10,000:
(viii)
providing for the suspension or cancellation of any licence:
(ix)
establishing a licensing body:
(x)
prescribing fees payable on application for, or renewal of, a licence, and for the return or refund of any fees in specified circumstances:
(f)
establishing a procedure for complaints about hostels by students, parents, and boards:
(g)
providing for matters relating to the inspection of hostels and the authorisation of persons to inspect hostels:
(h)
providing for any other matters necessary or expedient for giving effect to the purpose described in section 630.
(2)
Regulations made under subsection (1) may relate to all hostels, individual hostels, hostels of specified classes, or parts of hostels.
(3)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 144C
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 643(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
644 Regulations relating to dispute resolution panels
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
(a)
establishing 1 or more dispute resolution panels for the purpose of subpart 9 of Part 3 and prescribing the process and procedures (if any) of the panels:
(b)
prescribing criteria for the appointment and removal of dispute resolution panel members:
(c)
prescribing the maximum number of members that may be appointed to a dispute resolution panel and specifying the number of panel members who must be local community members and expert members:
(d)
in relation to the Chief Referee and any deputy chief referees,—
(i)
prescribing further criteria for appointment:
(ii)
prescribing criteria for removal:
(iii)
specifying the term of office:
(e)
providing for the Chief Referee or a dispute resolution panel to receive, obtain, or use any specified information that is reasonably required for the purpose of performing or exercising their functions, duties, and powers under subpart 9 of Part 3.
(2)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 644(2): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
645 Regulations relating to student allowances
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for the purposes of Schedule 9 by establishing student allowances to help recipients undertake—
(a)
courses of education or training within New Zealand; and
(b)
secondary and tertiary level courses of education inside and outside New Zealand.
(2)
Every student allowance must—
(a)
be awarded in accordance with the regulations establishing it; and
(b)
have an annual or other value set out in it.
(3)
The regulations may, in relation to the payment of student allowances for courses of study at private schools or private training establishments, apply to—
(a)
all of those schools or establishments; or
(b)
schools or establishments of a specified class or description only; or
(c)
particular schools or establishments.
(4)
The regulations may require officials of institutions at which any student allowance established by the regulations is or has been payable to give the chief executive 1 or both of the following:
(a)
information about payments made under the regulations to or in respect of recipients enrolled or formerly enrolled at the institution:
(b)
statistical or other information relating to payments made under the regulations to or in respect of recipients enrolled or formerly enrolled at the institution, whether—
(i)
in general; or
(ii)
in relation to recipients of a particular class or description; or
(iii)
in relation to a particular recipient or particular recipients.
(5)
The regulations may be expressed to come into force, and may come into force, before the date on which they are made, but only if they—
(a)
increase the value or maximum value of any allowance, or the rate or maximum rate at which any allowance may be paid; or
(b)
extend the class or classes of persons entitled to be paid an allowance, or entitled to be paid an allowance at any particular rate.
(6)
The regulations must adjust the rates of student allowances (except the rates of allowances provided for accommodation benefit) as at 1 April each year so that in each case the new rate (after the deduction of standard tax) is the rate at that date (after the deduction of standard tax and before the adjustment under this section is made) adjusted by an amount equal to the percentage movement upwards in the CPI between the CPI for the quarter ended with 31 December 1 year before the immediately preceding 31 December and the CPI for the quarter ended with the immediately preceding 31 December.
(7)
The adjustments may not reduce the weekly amounts of student allowances payable.
(8)
The adjustments come into force, or are considered to have come into force, on 1 April of the calendar year in which they are made, and apply to student allowances payable on and after that date.
(9)
The power to make regulations under this section includes (and is to be treated as always having included) power to make regulations—
(a)
authorising the chief executive of MSD, for the purposes of assessing the eligibility of any person for an allowance, to take into account the income of that person’s parents, spouse, or partner:
(b)
defining parent, spouse, and partner, and any related terms, for the purposes of the regulations:
(c)
stating when and to what extent income referred to in paragraph (a) is to be taken into account.
(9A)
Regulations under this section—
(a)
are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
commence in accordance with subsections (5) to (8), even if they are not yet published.
(10)
In this section,—
CPI means the Consumers Price Index (all groups) published by Statistics New Zealand or, if that index ceases to be published, any measure certified by the Government Statistician as being equivalent to that index
standard tax means the amount of tax calculated on a weekly basis that would be withholdable in accordance with tax code M stated in Schedule 5, Part A, clause 4, row 1 of the table of the Tax Administration Act 1994.
Compare: 1989 No 80 ss 303, 307
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 645(9A): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Section 645(10) CPI: replaced, on 1 September 2022, by section 107(1) of the Data and Statistics Act 2022 (2022 No 39).
646 Regulations relating to Student Allowance Appeal Authorities
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for the purposes of Schedule 10 prescribing how—
(a)
appeals are to be made to a Student Allowance Appeal Authority; and
(b)
a Student Allowance Appeal Authority is to deal with appeals and conduct its proceedings.
(2)
A Student Allowance Appeal Authority may regulate its procedures as it thinks fit, subject to—
(a)
this Act and any regulations made under it; and
(b)
any practice notes issued under clause 6 of Schedule 10.
(3)
The Ministry of Justice must provide for all the Student Allowance Appeal Authorities all administrative and secretarial services necessary to enable them to perform their functions.
(4)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 306
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 646(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
647 Regulations relating to charging by TEC
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:
(a)
prescribing the criteria against which TEC must assess a breach to determine the nature and seriousness of the breach for the purposes of section 417(5):
(b)
prescribing the criteria against which TEC must assess a proposed fee to determine, for the purposes of section 417(5), the effect that the fee would have on the operation, long-term viability, and performance of an organisation:
(c)
specifying the maximum percentage or proportion of the cost incurred by TEC in its investigation that may be charged as a fee by TEC under section 417(3).
(2)
Before making a recommendation under subsection (1), the Minister must consult the persons and organisations that the Minister thinks fit.
(3)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159E(6), (7)
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 647(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
647A Regulations relating to contracts of enrolment
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations that set out the following requirements:
(a)
requirements for the form, content, and scope of contracts of enrolment:
(b)
requirements for the supply of information to students regarding the rights and responsibilities of the parties to a contract of enrolment.
(2)
Regulations made under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 647A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 64 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
648 Regulations relating to well-being and safety
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations in relation to the following matters:
(a)
prescribing the matters that providers and signatory providers must take into account when assessing whether a person working in student accommodation is of good character under section 540A:
(b)
dispute resolution schemes relating to the well-being and safety of students, including (without limitation)—
(i)
establishing the schemes:
(ii)
providing rules for the schemes:
(iii)
prescribing fees for the schemes:
(iv)
setting caps on the amounts that those found liable must pay to claimants:
(v)
prescribing annual reporting requirements for a DRS operator, including in relation to the publication of reports.
(2)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 648 heading: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 65(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 648(1)(a): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 65(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 648(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 65(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 648(1)(b)(v): inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 65(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Section 648(2): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
649 Regulations relating to national student numbers
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations identifying any agency or body as a specified user of national student numbers.
(2)
Before making a recommendation under subsection (1), the Minister must consult the Privacy Commissioner.
(3)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 347
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 649(1): replaced, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 649(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
650 Regulations relating to State integrated schools
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations for the following purposes:
(a)
prescribing a form of integration agreement:
(b)
providing for the control, management, organisation, finance, and conduct of State integrated schools.
(2)
If there is a conflict between regulations made under this section and regulations made under another provision of this Act or any enactment repealed by this Act, the regulations made under this section prevail.
(3)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 476
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 650(3): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
651 Regulations relating to composite schools
(1)
If a provision of this Act empowers the making of regulations relating to State primary or secondary schools or both, or to the staff or students of State primary or secondary schools or both, any regulations made under those provisions may be limited in their application to—
(a)
composite schools or composite schools of any specified class; or
(b)
staff or students of composite schools or composite schools of any specified class.
(2)
Subject to any regulations to which subsection (1) refers, this Act applies to every composite school as if a reference in this Act to—
(a)
a State primary school were a reference to those classes and courses in that composite school providing primary education; and
(b)
a State secondary school were a reference to those classes and courses in the composite school providing secondary education.
Compare: 1964 No 135 s 87
651A Regulations relating to applications to operate charter schools
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations prescribing, or providing for the fixing of, the fee payable for an application made under section 212F to operate a charter school.
(2)
Regulations made under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 651A: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 61 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
651B Regulations relating to annual reporting requirements for university council
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations prescribing information relating to academic freedom and freedom of expression that must be included in the annual report of the council of a university, for the purpose of measuring performance and establishing benchmarks.
(2)
Regulations made under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 651B: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 27 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
652 General regulations
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, make regulations providing for any other matters contemplated by this Act, necessary for its administration, or necessary for giving it full effect.
(2)
Regulations under this section are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 301
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 652(2): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Directions
653 Application and purpose of sections 654 to 658
(1)
Sections 654 to 658 apply if—
(a)
a state of emergency is declared under section 66 or 68 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002:
(b)
a transition period is notified under section 94A of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002:
(c)
an epidemic notice is in force under section 5 of the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006.
(2)
The purpose of sections 654 to 658 is to support the response to, and recovery from, an emergency or an epidemic in a manner that—
(a)
avoids, remedies, or mitigates the actual or potential adverse effects of the emergency or epidemic; and
(b)
facilitates co-ordinated processes among education entities and government agencies.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 476A
654 Power of Secretary to direct education entities
(1)
The Secretary may direct the governing body of an education entity (or the governing bodies of a class of education entities) to comply with any specified requirements—
(a)
to close or open the education entity or any part of it (including in relation to any specified category, class, or year group of students):
(b)
to close or open the education entity for physical attendance or instruction, or both:
(c)
to set restrictions on the attendance of students and those working at an education entity, having regard to any relevant employment or health and safety legislation:
(d)
to operate, control, or manage the education entity:
(e)
to provide education or instruction through the education entity in any specified ways.
(2)
The Secretary may renew, amend, or revoke a direction while the relevant state of emergency, transition period, or epidemic notice is in force.
(3)
[Repealed].
(4)
A direction, or a renewal, an amendment, or a revocation of a direction, under this section—
(a)
is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements); and
(b)
comes into force when it is made or at a later date specified in it, even if it is not yet published.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 476C
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this section | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette | ||||
| • publish it on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, the Ministry | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Section 654(3): repealed, on 1 January 2023, by section 669(1)(a).
Section 654(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
655 Effect of directions
(1)
Every education entity to which a direction applies must give effect to the direction on the date on which the direction is given or on any later date that is specified in the direction.
(2)
A direction overrides every other provision of this Act (apart from the provisions set out in sections 653 to 658).
(3)
However, a direction does not override the provisions of any other Act, including (without limitation) the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006, the Health Act 1956, and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 476D
656 Publication of directions
[Repealed]Section 656: repealed, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
657 Expiry of directions
A direction expires on the earlier of—
(a)
the expiry date specified in the direction:
(b)
the date on which the relevant state of emergency, transitional period, or epidemic notice ends.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 476E(2)
658 Academic freedom unaffected
Nothing in sections 653 to 657 limits the academic freedom of an institution as set out in section 267.
Section 658: replaced, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
659 Power of boards and sponsors to close schools
(1)
Despite anything in regulations made under section 638(2)(e), a board or a sponsor may close a school it administers because of an epidemic, a flood, a fire, or any other emergency.
(2)
The Secretary may, by written notice to the board, reduce the number of half-days for which a school would otherwise be required by regulations made under section 638(2)(e) to be open for instruction if satisfied that its closure for instruction was necessary because of an epidemic, flood, fire, or other emergency.
(3)
The Secretary may direct a board or a sponsor to reopen a school if the Secretary, after consulting the board or a sponsor and any other parties that the Secretary considers relevant, is satisfied that the closure is no longer justified.
(4)
A board or a sponsor may not close a school if the Secretary has issued a direction under section 654 in respect of the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 65E
Section 659 heading: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 62(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 659(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 62(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 659(1): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 36(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 659(2): amended, on 23 August 2023, by section 36(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Section 659(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 62(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Section 659(4): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 62(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Subpart 8—Offences
660 Offence relating to attempt to influence employer
(1)
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000, if the person directly or indirectly solicits or endeavours to influence, with respect to decisions on the matters described in section 602, any employer or any other person or persons to whom the employer has, under this Act or any other Act, delegated powers.
(2)
This section does not apply to a person giving information or advice or making representations to the employer or to any other person acting under a delegation from the employer in respect of any matter at the request or invitation of the employer or to any other person acting under a delegation.
(3)
Nothing in this section is to be construed so as to prevent any union from making representations to the employer or to any other person acting under a delegation from the employer on any matter affecting the salaries, wages, or conditions of employment of any employees who are members of that union.
Compare: 1988 No 20 s 76
661 Offences relating to national student numbers
(1)
A specified user commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $15,000, if the specified user uses or discloses a person’s national student number otherwise than—
(a)
in accordance with the authorisations under this Act or any regulations made under this Act that apply to that user; or
(b)
as required by section 141 of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 (to the extent that a permission granted under section 137 or 138 of that Act permits the Director-General of an intelligence and security agency to access information relating to national student numbers).
(2)
A person (person A) who is not a specified user commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $15,000, if the person, without reasonable excuse, keeps a record of, or requires the disclosure of, the national student number of another person (person B) if the number is, or is capable by person A of being, linked to any information that may lead person A to the identification of person B.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 346
662 Offences relating to false representations
(1)
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000, if the person—
(a)
makes a statement to the Teaching Council about the person’s qualifications or experience that would be perjury if made on oath in judicial proceedings; or
(b)
not being a registered teacher, uses, or permits to be used, in connection with the person’s name or business, the words “registered teacher”, or any words or initials intended or likely to make any other person believe that the person is a registered teacher; or
(c)
wilfully makes, or causes to be made, a false entry in, or falsification of, the register or a practising certificate; or
(d)
falsely represents a document that is not a practising certificate to be a practising certificate; or
(e)
falsely represents a document that is not a limited authority to teach to be a limited authority to teach; or
(f)
is appointed to or continues to be employed in a position, knowing that the appointment or employment is contrary to section 92 or 93; or
(g)
being the employer of a person to whom section 95(1) applies, fails or refuses to ensure that the person does not carry out any of the duties of the teaching position in which the person is employed; or
(h)
being the employer of a person to whom section 95(1) applies, fails or refuses to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that the person does not undertake any activities that might bring the person into contact with students enrolled at the school or children who attend the service; or
(i)
being a person to whom section 95(1) applies, carries out any of the duties of the teaching position in which the person is employed; or
(j)
being a person who holds neither a practising certificate nor a limited authority to teach, in any calendar year continues in the employment of an employer in a teaching position after the sum of the following periods is 20 half-days, or any greater number of half-days the Teaching Council has allowed that person (each being a half-day on which a school or an early childhood education and care service at which the person was then employed was open for instruction):
(i)
the period or periods for which that person has already during that year been employed by the employer in a teaching position or teaching positions; and
(ii)
any period or periods for which that person has already during that year been employed by any other employer in a teaching position or teaching positions; and
(iii)
any period or periods for which that person has during that year been employed as a teacher by the employer at an early childhood education and care service; or
(k)
being a person who holds neither a practising certificate nor a limited authority to teach, in any calendar year continues in the employment of the employer at an early childhood education and care service as a teacher after the sum of the following periods is 20 half-days, or any greater number of half-days the Teaching Council has allowed that person (each being a half-day on which an early childhood education and care service or a school at which the person was then employed was open for instruction):
(i)
the period or periods for which that person has already during that year been employed by the employer as a teacher; and
(ii)
any period or periods for which that person has already during that year been employed by an employer at any other early childhood education and care service as a teacher; and
(iii)
any period or periods for which that person has during that year been employed in a teaching position by the employer at a State school.
(2)
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000, if the person appoints any person to a position, or continues to employ any person in a position, knowing that the appointment or employment is contrary to section 92 or 93.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 374
663 Offence relating to obstructing power of entry
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000, if the person obstructs, hinders, resists, or deceives any person exercising or attempting to exercise a power of entry conferred by section 626 or 627.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319H
664 Offence relating to inspection of hostels
A person in charge (or apparently in charge) of a hostel commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000, if the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 631(3).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 144D(3)
665 Offence relating to powers of entry and inspection
A person commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000, if the person obstructs, hinders, resists, or deceives any person exercising or attempting to exercise a power of entry conferred by section 634(1) or section 634A(1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 255A(4)
Section 665: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 66 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
666 Offence relating to breach of order of Student Allowance Appeal Authority
A person who breaches an order that a Student Allowance Appeal Authority makes under clause 5(8) of Schedule 10 is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 305(8)
Subpart 9—Consequential amendments, repeals, and revocations
667 Consequential amendments to this Act
(1)
[Repealed](2)
[Repealed](3)
On 1 December 2020,—
(a)
in section 89(1)(f), replace “1993”
with “2020”
:
(b)
in Schedule 3, clause 9(2), replace “1993”
with “2020”
:
(c)
in Schedule 3, clause 9(3), replace “1993”
with “2020”
.
(4)
On 1 December 2020, in Schedule 3, after clause 9(3), insert:
(4)
On or after 1 December 2020, no information may be supplied under this clause except under—
(a)
an information matching agreement entered into under Part 10 of the Privacy Act 1993 and continued by clause 11 of Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 2020; or
(b)
an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020.
(5)
On 1 December 2020, in Schedule 9, clause 7, insert as subclause (2):
(2)
On or after 1 December 2020, no information may be supplied under this clause except under—
(a)
an information matching agreement entered into under Part 10 of the Privacy Act 1993 and continued by clause 11 of Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 2020; or
(b)
an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020.
(6)
On 1 December 2020,—
(a)
in Schedule 9, clause 8(2), replace “may, in accordance with arrangements under the Privacy Act 1993 previously agreed between the chief executive and any institution or, if they are unable to agree, settled by the Privacy Commissioner, by notice in writing or electronically”
with “may, by notice in writing or electronically,”
:
(b)
in Schedule 9, clause 8(7), after “chief executive”
, insert “under the Privacy Act 2020”
:
(c)
in Schedule 9, clause 8(8),—
(i)
replace “Section 104 of the Privacy Act 1993”
with “Section 182 of the Privacy Act 2020”
; and
(ii)
replace “section 104(2)(a), (d), or (e) of the Privacy Act 1993”
with “section 182(2)(a), (d), or (e) of the Privacy Act 2020”
.
(7)
On 1 December 2020, in Schedule 9, after clause 8(8), insert:
(9)
On or after 1 December 2020, no information may be supplied under this clause except under—
(a)
an information matching agreement entered into under Part 10 of the Privacy Act 1993 and continued by clause 11 of Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 2020; or
(b)
an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020.
(8)
On 1 December 2020,—
(a)
in Schedule 9, clause 9(2), replace “may, in accordance with arrangements under the Privacy Act 1993 previously agreed between the chief executive and any institution or, if they are unable to agree, settled by the Privacy Commissioner, by notice in writing or electronically”
with “may, by notice in writing or electronically,”
:
(b)
in Schedule 9, clause 9(7), after “chief executive”
, insert “under the Privacy Act 2020”
:
(c)
in Schedule 9, clause 9(8),—
(i)
replace “Section 104 of the Privacy Act 1993”
with “Section 182 of the Privacy Act 2020”
; and
(ii)
replace “section 104(2)(a), (d), or (e) of the Privacy Act 1993”
with “section 182(2)(a), (d), or (e) of the Privacy Act 2020”
.
(9)
On 1 December 2020, in Schedule 9, after clause 9(8), insert:
(9)
On or after 1 December 2020, no information may be supplied under this clause except under—
(a)
an information matching agreement entered into under Part 10 of the Privacy Act 1993 and continued by clause 11 of Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 2020; or
(b)
an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020.
Section 667(1): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 667(2): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 10 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
668 Consequential amendments to other enactments
Amend the enactments specified in Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 26 as set out in that schedule.
669 Repeals and revocations
(1)
The following provisions of this Act are repealed on 1 January 2023:
(a)
section 654(3) (which relates to Schedule 25):
(b)
[Repealed](c)
Schedule 21 (which relates to when State schools must be open):
(d)
[Repealed](e)
Schedule 25 (which relates to directions in relation to COVID-19).
(2)
[Repealed](3)
The following are repealed:
(a)
Education Act 1964 (1964 No 135):
(b)
Education Act 1989 (1989 No 80):
(c)
Education Law Amendment Act 1933 (1933 No 37):
(d)
Education Legislation Act 2016 (2016 No 72):
(e)
Education Standards Act 2001 (2001 No 88):
(f)
Education (Update) Amendment Act 2017 (2017 No 20):
(4)
The legislative instruments specified in Part 4 of Schedule 26 are revoked.
Section 669(1)(b): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 11(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 669(1)(d): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 11(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Section 669(2): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 11(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Schedule 1 Transitional, savings, and related provisions
Contents
Part 1 Provisions relating to Act as enacted
Subpart 1—General transitional provisions
1 Interpretation
In this schedule, unless the context otherwise requires,—
1964 Act means the Education Act 1964
1989 Act means the Education Act 1989
matter includes any action undertaken, any decision taken, any notice given, any proceedings commenced, any applications made, any agreement entered into, or any requirements imposed.
2 Matters initiated under former enactments
(1)
This clause applies to any matter initiated under a former enactment before the commencement of this clause.
(2)
If this clause applies, the provisions of the former enactment, as they read immediately before the commencement of this clause, continue to apply to the matter as if they had not been repealed or replaced by this Act.
(3)
However, for the purposes of making amendments to a matter initiated under a provision of a former enactment, the matter may be amended under a corresponding provision in this Act (if any) as if the matter had been initiated under the corresponding provision.
3 References to former enactments
(1)
A reference in an enactment or a document to a former enactment, or to 1 or more of its provisions, must be interpreted as a reference to this Act, or to the corresponding provision of this Act, to the extent necessary to reflect sensibly the intent of the enactment or document.
(2)
Subclause (1) is subject to the consequential amendments in Schedule 26.
Compare: 2018 No 32 s 9(1)
4 Legislative instruments continued
(1)
The following legislative instruments made under the 1989 Act and the Education Standards Act 2001 continue in force and must be treated as if they were made under the corresponding provisions of this Act:
(a)
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 (SR 2008/204):
(b)
(c)
Education (Export Education Levy) Regulations 2011 (SR 2011/383):
(d)
Education (Hostels) Regulations 2005 (SR 2005/332):
(e)
(f)
Education (Playgroups) Regulations 2008 (SR 2008/205):
(h)
Education (Payment of Relieving Teachers) Order 2012 (SR 2012/221):
(i)
(k)
(l)
Education (2020 School Staffing) Order 2019 (LI 2019/180):
(m)
Education (School Trustee Elections) Regulations 2000 (SR 2000/195):
(n)
(o)
(p)
Education (Surrender, Retention, and Search) Rules 2013 (SR 2013/469):
(q)
(r)
(s)
Student Allowances Regulations 1998 (SR 1998/277):
(t)
Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand Election Rules 2018 (LI 2018/234):
(u)
Teaching Council Rules 2016 (LI 2016/122).
(2)
The legislative instruments continued in force by this clause may be amended, revoked, or replaced under the corresponding provisions of this Act.
5 Title of legislative instrument changed
(1)
In the Education (School Trustee Elections) Regulations 2000, replace regulation 1 with:
1 Title
These regulations are the Education (Board Elections) Regulations 2000.
(2)
Unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to the Education (School Trustee Elections) Regulations 2000 in any enactment and any document must, after the commencement of this clause, be read as a reference to the Education (Board Elections) Regulations 2000.
6 Regulations for transitional and savings purposes
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations prescribing transitional or savings provisions for either or both of the following purposes:
(a)
facilitating or ensuring the orderliness of the transition to this Act from a former enactment:
(b)
ensuring that existing rights or obligations continue as part of, or despite, that transition.
(2)
The Minister may not recommend the making of regulations unless satisfied that they—
(a)
are reasonably necessary for either or both of the purposes in subclause (1)(a) and (b); and
(b)
are consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(3)
The transitional provisions or savings provisions prescribed by regulations made under subclause (1) may be provisions in addition to or instead of all other provisions of this schedule, and may—
(a)
provide that, for a transitional period, in any circumstances, or subject to any conditions, specified in the regulations, 1 or more provisions (including definitions) of this Act do not apply, or apply with modifications or additions:
(b)
provide that, for a transitional period, in any circumstances, or subject to any conditions, specified in the regulations, 1 or more provisions repealed, amended, or revoked by this Act are to continue to apply, or apply with modifications or additions, as if they had not been repealed, amended, or revoked:
(c)
provide for any other matter necessary for either or both of the purposes in subclause (1)(a) and (b).
(4)
No regulations may be made under this clause on or after 1 January 2023.
(5)
Any regulations made under this clause before 1 January 2023 are revoked on 1 January 2023.
(6)
Regulations under this clause are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 73; 2018 No 4 Schedule 1 cl 37; 2018 No 32 cl 68
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 6(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
7 Saving provisions
(1)
Despite any other provision in this Act, the following provisions of the 1989 Act, as they read immediately before the commencement of this clause, continue to apply until 1 January 2023 as if they had not been repealed or replaced by this Act:
(a)
section 60A (curriculum statements and national performance measures):
(b)
section 61 (school charter):
(c)
section 62 (procedural requirements of preparing or updating school charter):
(d)
section 63 (effect of school charter):
(e)
section 63A (when school charter or updated charter takes effect):
(f)
section 63B (board must make copies of school charter available):
(g)
section 78L (action plans):
(h)
section 87 (annual reports).
(2)
[Repealed](3)
[Repealed](4)
The following instruments are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements):
(a)
a curriculum statement under section 60A of the 1989 Act:
(b)
national performance measures under section 60A of the 1989 Act:
(c)
a notice under section 88 of the 1989 Act.
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subclause (4) | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette; or | ||||
| • notify it in the Gazette giving a general description and indicating where the full text can be obtained | ||||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 7(2): repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Schedule 1 clause 7(3): repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Schedule 1 clause 7(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Subpart 2—Provisions for Part 2 (early childhood education)
[Repealed]Schedule 1 Part 1 subpart 2: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
8 Applications for licence to operate early childhood education and care centre
[Repealed]Schedule 1 clause 8: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
9 Review of section 17B
[Repealed]Schedule 1 clause 9: repealed, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Subpart 3—Provisions for Part 3 (primary and secondary education)
10 Enrolment schemes
An enrolment scheme that complies with section 71 (regardless of whether that section has commenced) may be established, amended, or abandoned in accordance with the 1989 Act as if sections 11A to 11Q of that Act were still in force if the process of establishing, amending, or abandoning the enrolment scheme is initiated in the period beginning on the commencement of this clause and ending with the close of 31 December 2020.
11 Temporary power of Minister to approve provision of education outside New Zealand
(1)
The Minister may, on a case-by-case basis, grant approval to a State school to provide education in the 2020 calendar year to students outside New Zealand who, on or before 3 July 2020, were enrolled at the school for that year.
(2)
A State school granted approval under subclause (1) may continue to provide education in the 2021 and 2022 calendar years to the students described in subclause (1).
(3)
An approval granted to a State school under subclause (1) expires with the close of 31 December 2022.
12 Temporary power of NZQA to approve provision of NCEA outside New Zealand
(1)
Despite section 455, NZQA may, in accordance with any rules made under subclause (6), grant approval to a registered school to provide assessment for an NCEA qualification in the 2020 calendar year to students outside New Zealand who, on or before 3 July 2020, were enrolled at the school for that year.
(2)
NZQA may specify the standards against which a registered school may or may not assess students—
(a)
as part of an approval granted under subclause (1); or
(b)
in a direction given to the school after approval is granted under subclause (1).
(3)
NZQA may impose conditions on an approval granted under subclause (1), and, for that purpose, section 442(2) to (5) applies as if—
(a)
each reference to accreditation or accreditation to provide an approved programme were a reference to approval under subclause (1); and
(b)
each reference to an institution were a reference to a registered school.
(4)
NZQA may withdraw an approval granted under subclause (1), and, for that purpose, section 444(1) to (4) applies as if—
(a)
each reference to accreditation or accreditation to provide an approved programme were a reference to approval under subclause (1); and
(b)
each reference to an institution were a reference to a registered school.
(5)
A registered school that is granted approval under subclause (1) may continue to provide assessment for an NCEA qualification in the 2021 and 2022 calendar years to students described in subclause (1).
(6)
NZQA may, for the purposes of subclause (1), make rules, in addition to any relevant requirements set out in rules made under section 452, prescribing—
(a)
the process for an application for approval:
(b)
the information required in an application for approval:
(c)
the criteria that NZQA must apply when considering an application for approval:
(d)
the requirements that the applicant must meet to maintain an approval.
(7)
NZQA may, in accordance with section 457, charge fees to any registered school for an application for approval under subclause (1).
(8)
Any rules made under subclause (6)—
(a)
must comply with the process set out in section 452(4) and (5); and
(b)
expire with the close of 31 December 2022; and
(c)
are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it on an Internet site maintained by, or on behalf of, NZQA | ||||
| • make it available in printed form for purchase at a reasonable price on request by members of the public | ||||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 12(3)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Schedule 1 clause 12(4)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Schedule 1 clause 12(8)(a): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Schedule 1 clause 12(8)(c): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Subpart 4—General provisions for Part 4 (tertiary education and vocational education and training)
Tertiary education strategy
13 Tertiary education strategy
(1)
This clause applies to the tertiary education strategy issued by the Minister under section 159AA of the 1989 Act and in force immediately before the commencement of this clause.
(2)
The strategy continues in force as if it were issued under section 7.
Institutions
14 Institutions
(1)
This clause applies to an institution in existence immediately before the commencement of this clause.
(2)
The institution must be treated as having been established under section 268.
(3)
A reference in any other Act to an institution established under this Act must be read as including a reference to a body specified in the definition of institution in section 10(1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 162(1)
Schedule 1 clause 14 heading: amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Schedule 1 clause 14(1): amended, on 22 October 2025, by section 39 of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Ministerial directions
15 Ministerial direction relating to compulsory student services fees
(1)
This clause applies to the direction relating to compulsory student services fees given by the Minister under section 227A of the 1989 Act and in force immediately before the commencement of this clause.
(2)
The direction continues in force as if it were issued under section 257.
16 Ministerial direction relating to programmes
(1)
This clause applies to the direction relating to a programme of study or training given by the Minister under section 223(2) of the 1989 Act and in force immediately before the commencement of this clause.
(2)
The direction continues in force as if it were issued under section 260.
Staff
17 Transitional provisions for employment of staff
(1)
A person who was a member of the staff of an institution immediately before the commencement of this clause must, after that commencement, unless the employment of the person would, apart from this Act, have ended on that commencement, be, under this subclause, in the employment of the chief executive of the institution, on the same terms and conditions as those on which the person was employed immediately before that commencement, until the person’s employment terminates or is terminated in accordance with those terms and conditions.
(2)
The terms and conditions of employment of a person to whom subclause (1) applies must remain in force until varied either individually or through a collective agreement.
(3)
This clause applies subject to the Employment Relations Act 2000 and the Public Service Act 2020.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 198
Schedule 1 clause 17(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Subpart 5—Specific provisions for Part 4 (Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and work-based training)
Schedule 1 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
18 Purpose
(1)
The purpose of this subpart is to re-enact the provisions set out in Part 10 of Schedule 1 of the 1989 Act relating to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and workforce development councils that came into force on 1 April 2020 and are operative on and after that date in order to continue their legal effect.
(2)
Anything done under Part 10 of Schedule 1 of the 1989 Act before the commencement of this subpart is to be treated as having been done under this subpart.
Schedule 1 clause 18(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
19 Interpretation
In this subpart, unless the context otherwise requires,—
corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, in relation to an existing polytechnic, means the Crown entity subsidiary specified in the second column of the table in clause 20(3) opposite the name of the existing polytechnic specified in the first column of the table
existing polytechnic or polytechnic means each polytechnic that is listed in the first column of the table in clause 20(3) and that was established or treated as having been established under section 268 before 1 April 2020 and in existence immediately before that date.
Schedule 1 clause 19 corresponding NZIST subsidiary: repealed, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 19 corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary: inserted, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Conversion of polytechnics to corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiaries
Schedule 1 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
20 Polytechnics converted to corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiaries
(1)
On and after 1 April 2020, an existing polytechnic is a Crown entity subsidiary of Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and the following provisions apply for that purpose:
(a)
the polytechnic is to be treated as a company registered under the Companies Act 1993 with the name specified in the second column of the table in subclause (3) opposite the name of the polytechnic specified in the first column of that table; and
(b)
the Registrar of Companies must issue a certificate of incorporation for the company; and
(c)
100 shares must be treated as having been issued to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
(2)
The certificate of incorporation is conclusive evidence that the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary was, on and after 1 April 2020, registered as a company under the Companies Act 1993.
(3)
For the purposes of subclause (1)(a), the name of the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary is:
| Name of existing polytechnic | Name of corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary |
| Ara Institute of Canterbury | Ara Institute of Canterbury Limited |
| Eastern Institute of Technology | Eastern Institute of Technology Limited |
| Manukau Institute of Technology | Manukau Institute of Technology Limited |
| Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology | Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Limited |
| Northland Polytechnic | Northland Polytechnic Limited |
| Otago Polytechnic | Otago Polytechnic Limited |
| Southern Institute of Technology | Southern Institute of Technology Limited |
| Tai Poutini Polytechnic | Tai Poutini Polytechnic Limited |
| The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand | The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Limited |
| Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology | Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Limited |
| Unitec Institute of Technology | Unitec New Zealand Limited |
| Universal College of Learning | Universal College of Learning Limited |
| Waikato Institute of Technology | Waikato Institute of Technology Limited |
| Wellington Institute of Technology | Wellington Institute of Technology Limited |
| Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki | Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki Limited |
| Whitireia Community Polytechnic | Whitireia Community Polytechnic Limited |
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 29
Schedule 1 clause 20 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 20(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 20(1)(c): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 20(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 20(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Duration of corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiaries
Schedule 1 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
21 Duration of corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiaries
(1)
Each corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary continues in existence until the close of 31 December 2022.
(2)
However, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, extend the period that any particular corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary may continue to exist to a date specified in the order.
(3)
Before making a recommendation under subclause (2), the Minister must consult Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology on the proposed extension and take into account Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s views.
(4)
The Minister must not recommend an extension under subclause (2) unless the Minister is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the extension is—
(a)
consistent with Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s responsibilities under the charter set out in Schedule 13; and
(b)
in the interests of the tertiary education system and the nation as a whole.
(5)
An order under subclause (2) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 30
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 21 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 21(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 21(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 21(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 21(4)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 21(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
22 Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council may dissolve corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary
Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council may, by resolution, at any time before the date specified in clause 21(1) or by Order in Council under clause 21(2), dissolve a corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary and transfer some or all of the rights, assets, and liabilities of that subsidiary to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or another Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary (whether established under clause 20(1) or formed by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology under section 340).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 31
Schedule 1 clause 22 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 22: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Consequences of conversion of polytechnics to corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiaries
Schedule 1 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
23 Directors of corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary
(1)
The directors of each corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary must comprise at least 4, but not more than 8, directors.
(2)
In appointing directors under subclause (1), Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology must ensure that at least half of the initial directors reside in the region in which the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary mainly operates.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 32
Schedule 1 clause 23 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 23(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 23(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
24 Application of this Act to corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary
The provisions of this Act, as far as they relate to an Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary that provides education or training (or both) apply, with any necessary modifications, to each corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary during the period that the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary exists in accordance with clause 21 or 22.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 33
Schedule 1 clause 24 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 24: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
25 Corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary is tertiary education organisation, provider, and institution for purposes of this Act
(1)
On and after 1 April 2020, each Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary is to be treated,—
(a)
until 31 December 2022, as a tertiary education organisation within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions of this Act relating to tertiary education organisations apply to it accordingly as if those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary:
(b)
as a provider within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions of this Act relating to providers apply to it accordingly as if those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary:
(c)
as a specified user within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions of this Act or any regulations made under this Act relating to national student numbers apply to it accordingly as if those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary:
(d)
as an institution within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions referred to in subclause (3) apply to it accordingly as if—
(i)
those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary; and
(ii)
any reference in those provisions to the council of an institution were a reference to the board of the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(2)
For the purposes of subclause (1)(a), TEC may consider a proposed plan of an Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary and fund that subsidiary for an academic year beginning on or after 1 January 2021 but only if requested by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 34
Schedule 1 clause 25 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 25(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 25(1)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 25(1)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 25(1)(c): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 25(1)(d)(i): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 25(1)(d)(ii): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 25(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
26 Members of existing polytechnic council cease to hold office
(1)
Every member of an existing polytechnic council holding office immediately before 1 April 2020 ceases to hold office on the close of the day before that date.
(2)
Neither the Crown nor any existing polytechnic council is liable to make a payment to, or otherwise compensate, a person referred to in subclause (1) in respect of the loss of office.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 35
27 Rights, assets, and liabilities of existing polytechnics
(1)
This clause applies to all rights, assets, and liabilities that an existing polytechnic had immediately before 1 April 2020.
(2)
On and after 1 April 2020,—
(a)
the rights, assets, and liabilities of the existing polytechnic vest in the existing polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to the existing polytechnic in any enactment (other than this Act), instrument, agreement, deed, lease, application, notice, or other document before that date must be read as a reference to the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(3)
In this clause, assets, liabilities, and rights have the same meanings as in section 10(6).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 36
Schedule 1 clause 27(2)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 27(2)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
28 Same person for purposes of Inland Revenue Acts
For the purposes of the Inland Revenue Acts (as defined in section 3(1) of the Tax Administration Act 1994), a corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary must be treated as the same person as the existing polytechnic.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 37
Schedule 1 clause 28: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
29 Employees of existing polytechnics
(1)
On and after 1 April 2020, every employee of an existing polytechnic becomes an employee of the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary on the same terms and conditions that applied to the person immediately before they became an employee of the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(2)
For the purposes of every enactment, law, determination, contract, and agreement relating to the employment of that employee,—
(a)
the employee’s employment agreement of that employee is to be treated as unbroken; and
(b)
the employee’s period of service with the existing polytechnic, and every other period of service of the employee that is recognised by the polytechnic as continuous service, is to be treated as a period of service with the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(3)
To avoid doubt, the employment of an employee to whom this clause applies by a polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary does not constitute new employment for the purposes of any service-related benefits, whether legislative or otherwise.
(4)
An employee to whom this clause applies is not entitled to receive any payment or benefit from an existing polytechnic or its corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary on the grounds that the person’s position in the polytechnic has ceased to exist or the person has ceased to be an employee of the polytechnic as a result of the transfer to its corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(5)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employment protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 38
Schedule 1 clause 29(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 29(2)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 29(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 29(4): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
30 Government Superannuation Fund
(1)
(2)
For the purposes of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the person is treated as being employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be an employee of the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(3)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary were Government service.
(4)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(5)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary is the controlling authority.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 39
Schedule 1 clause 30(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 30(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 30(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 30(5): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
31 Students of existing polytechnics
(1)
This clause applies to every student enrolled at an existing polytechnic immediately before 1 April 2020.
(2)
On and after 1 April 2020, the student must be treated as having been enrolled at the existing polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(3)
A student who would, but for the conversion of the existing polytechnic into its corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, have been entitled to be granted an award of the existing polytechnic is entitled to be granted a like award of the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 40
Schedule 1 clause 31(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 31(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
32 Visas granted under Immigration Act 2009
(1)
This clause applies to a visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 in respect of—
(a)
a student, for the purposes of enrolment at an existing polytechnic; or
(b)
a staff member of an existing polytechnic.
(2)
On and after 1 April 2020, any reference to the existing polytechnic in a condition imposed on the visa must be read as a reference to the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 41
Schedule 1 clause 32(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
33 Existing NZQA approvals, accreditations, and consents
(1)
This clause applies to the following granted to an existing polytechnic by NZQA under Part 20 of the 1989 Act before 1 April 2020 and in effect immediately before that date:
(a)
an approval of a programme under section 439:
(b)
an accreditation to provide all or part of a programme under section 441:
(c)
an approval to provide a training scheme under section 445:
(d)
a consent to assess against the standards listed in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards under section 449:
(e)
a consent to award a degree or a postgraduate qualification under section 454.
(2)
On and after 1 April 2020,—
(a)
except as provided in subclause (3), the approval, accreditation, or consent (including any conditions imposed on an approval, an accreditation, or a consent) must be treated as if it were granted to the existing polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to the existing polytechnic in the approval, accreditation, or consent must be read as a reference to the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(3)
On and after 1 January 2023, the approval of a programme under section 439 and the consent to award a degree or a postgraduate qualification under section 454 must be treated as if they were granted to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 42
Schedule 1 clause 33(1)(d): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Schedule 1 clause 33(2)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 33(2)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 33(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
34 Existing funding paid by TEC under funding mechanism
(1)
This clause applies to funding (including any conditions imposed on the funding) payable by the Commission to an existing polytechnic—
(a)
in accordance with an approval granted under section 425(2); or
(b)
other than via a plan under section 428.
(2)
On and after 1 April 2020,—
(a)
the Commission must treat the funding as if it were payable to the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary until the close of 31 December 2020, unless that funding is earlier suspended, revoked, or withdrawn under clause 16 or 26 of Schedule 18 or the subsidiary is earlier dissolved in accordance with clause 22; and
(b)
for the purposes of paragraph (a), every reference to the existing polytechnic in an approval granted under section 425(2) must, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as a reference to the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 43
Schedule 1 clause 34(2)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 34(2)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
35 Other references to existing polytechnics
On and after 1 April 2020, every reference to an existing polytechnic in any enactment (other than this Act) or document must, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as a reference to the polytechnic’s corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 44
Schedule 1 clause 35: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
36 Existing proceedings and other matters
(1)
On and after 1 April 2020,—
(a)
any proceedings by or against an existing polytechnic may be continued or enforced by or against its corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary without amendment to the proceedings; and
(b)
a matter or thing that would, but for this clause, have been completed by the existing polytechnic may be completed by its corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary; and
(c)
anything done, or omitted to be done, or that is to be done, by or in relation to the existing polytechnic is to be treated as having been done, or having been omitted to be done, or to be done, by or in relation to its corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(2)
In subclause (1)(a), proceedings—
(a)
means civil and criminal proceedings; and
(b)
includes any enforcement or compliance action by TEC or NZQA.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 45
Schedule 1 clause 36(1)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 36(1)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 36(1)(c): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
37 Final report of existing polytechnics
(1)
Each corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary must provide a final report to the Minister in relation to the polytechnic from which the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary was formed in accordance with clause 20.
(2)
For the purposes of section 45L of the Public Finance Act 1989, an existing polytechnic that is converted into a corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary must be treated as if it were disestablished and its operations were transferred to the corresponding Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(3)
Despite subpart 1 of Part 5 of the Public Finance Act 1989, the Minister may specify the contents of the final report and the date or dates by which the contents of the report must be provided.
(4)
The Minister must present a copy of the final report to the House of Representatives as soon as practicable after receiving it.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 46
Schedule 1 clause 37(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 37(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Schedule 1 heading: replaced, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
38 Validation of pre-commencement actions and processes relating to ministerial appointments to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council
(1)
This clause applies to any action or process undertaken by the Minister before 1 April 2020 when appointing members to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council.
(2)
An appointment is valid if the action or process substantially complies with this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 47
Schedule 1 clause 38 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 38(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
39 Membership of Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council reduced until all appointments made
(1)
The number of Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology council members is proportionately reduced until the date on which each member referred to in section 320(1)(a), (b), and (c) is appointed to the council.
(2)
No action of Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council is invalid merely because any member referred to in subclause (1) has not been appointed to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology’s council on 1 April 2020.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 49
Schedule 1 clause 39 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 39(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 39(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
40 Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology must obtain ministerial approval before forming new subsidiary
(1)
Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology must obtain ministerial approval before forming a subsidiary under section 340(1).
(2)
The requirement in subclause (1) ceases to apply on the close of 31 December 2024.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 50
Schedule 1 clause 40 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 40(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
41 Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary is tertiary education organisation, provider, and institution
(1)
This clause applies to an Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary formed by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology on or after 1 April 2020 under section 340 that provides education or training, or both.
(2)
The Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary must be treated as—
(a)
a tertiary education organisation within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions of this Act relating to tertiary education organisations apply to it accordingly as if those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary:
(b)
a provider within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions of this Act relating to providers apply to it accordingly as if those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary:
(c)
a specified user within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions of this Act or any regulations made under this Act relating to national student numbers apply to it accordingly as if those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary:
(d)
an institution within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions referred to in subclause (4) apply to it accordingly as if—
(i)
those provisions included a reference to the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary; and
(ii)
any reference in those provisions to the council of an institution were a reference to the board of the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary.
(3)
For the purposes of subclause (2)(a), the Commission may consider a proposed plan of the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary and fund that subsidiary for an academic year beginning on or after 1 January 2021 but only if requested by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 51
Schedule 1 clause 41 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(2)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(2)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(2)(c): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(2)(d)(i): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(2)(d)(ii): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 41(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Work-based training
42 Interpretation
(1)
In clauses 44 to 58, unless the context otherwise requires,—
1992 Act means the Industry Training and Apprenticeships Act 1992
assets has the same meaning as in section 10(6)
former ITO means an industry training organisation listed in clause 44(1)(a) that was recognised under Part 2 of the 1992 Act and whose recognition was in force immediately before that date
transition period means the period beginning on 1 April 2020 and ending with the close of 31 December 2022
transitional ITO means—
(a)
a former ITO:
(b)
a body corporate that is recognised by the Minister under clause 44(1)(b)
workforce development council means a workforce development council established under section 363.
(2)
In clauses 44 to 58, unless the context otherwise requires, provider, specified industries, trainee, and work-based training have the same meanings as in section 10(1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 52
43 Application of clauses 44 to 58
Clauses 44 to 58 apply during the transition period.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 53
44 Recognition of transitional ITOs
(1)
The following are recognised as transitional ITOs for the purposes of clauses 45 to 58:
(a)
each of the following former ITOs:
(i)
Boating Industries Association of New Zealand Incorporated:
(ii)
Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation Incorporated:
(iii)
Community Support Services ITO Limited:
(iv)
Competenz Trust:
(v)
Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation Incorporated:
(vi)
MITO New Zealand Incorporated:
(vii)
New Zealand Hair and Beauty Industry Training Organisation Incorporated:
(viii)
Primary Industry Training Organisation Incorporated:
(ix)
Service Skills Institute Incorporated:
(x)
Skills Active Aotearoa Limited:
(xi)
The Skills Organisation Incorporated:
(b)
any body corporate recognised by the Minister, by notice, as a transitional ITO for the purposes of clauses 45 to 58.
(2)
A notice under subclause (1)(b) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 54
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
45 Effect of recognition
(1)
A transitional ITO recognised under clause 44(1)(a)—
(a)
is recognised for the 1 or more specified industries for which it was recognised under Part 2 of the 1992 Act immediately before 1 April 2020; and
(b)
must carry out the 1 or more activities described in subclause (3) in relation to the specified industries for which it was previously recognised under the 1992 Act.
(2)
A transitional ITO recognised under clause 44(1)(b)—
(a)
is recognised for the 1 or more industries specified in the notice given by the Minister when recognising the transitional ITO; and
(b)
must carry out the 1 or more activities described in subclause (3) and specified in the notice.
(3)
For the purposes of this clause, the activities are—
(a)
developing, setting, and maintaining skill standards to be listed on the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards; and
(b)
developing and maintaining arrangements for the delivery of work-based training that enable trainees to achieve the relevant skill standards; and
(c)
the apprenticeship training activities described in section 376(2).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 55
Schedule 1 clause 45(1): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Schedule 1 clause 45(2): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Schedule 1 clause 45(3)(a): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
46 Minister may impose conditions on recognition of transitional ITO
(1)
The Minister may, by written notice to a transitional ITO, impose any conditions on that recognition that the Minister considers are reasonably necessary—
(a)
to maintain the quality and effectiveness of vocational education and training in the transitional ITO’s specified industries; and
(b)
to ensure the success of the transfer of responsibility for the activities of the transitional ITO.
(2)
The Minister may amend or revoke a condition imposed under subclause (1) by written notice to the transitional ITO.
(3)
However, no condition may be imposed under subclause (1) that requires the assets of a transitional ITO to be allocated to a workforce development council under clause 57.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 56
47 Minister may change specified industries or activities of transitional ITO
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, change—
(a)
the specified industries covered by a transitional ITO; or
(b)
the activities that must be carried out by the transitional ITO in relation to those industries.
(2)
A notice under subclause (1) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 57
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
48 Application of certain provisions of Industry Training and Apprenticeships Act 1992 to transitional ITO
(1)
Despite the repeal of the Industry Training and Apprenticeships Act 1992 (the 1992 Act) by section 75 of the Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Amendment Act 2020, the provisions of the 1992 Act listed in subclause (2) continue in force, with any necessary modifications, and apply to a transitional ITO during the period that the transitional ITO remains in existence as if—
(a)
references in those provisions to an industry training organisation were references to the transitional ITO; and
(b)
references in those provisions to industry training were references to work-based training.
(2)
The provisions are—
(a)
section 10 (industry training organisation’s proposed plan must identify activities for which it seeks funding):
(b)
section 10A (power to fund if employer switches industry training organisation):
(c)
section 11 (matters to which TEC must have regard in determining whether to give funding approval to proposed plan):
(d)
section 11B (obligations of industry training organisations):
(e)
section 11C (NZQA may issue quality assurance improvement notice):
(f)
section 11D (NZQA may issue compliance notice):
(g)
section 11E (industry training organisation not to operate registered private training establishments):
(h)
section 11F (annual fee):
(i)
section 13A (additional functions of NZQA):
(j)
section 13B (NZQA may prescribe quality assurance requirements):
(k)
Part 2A (apprenticeship training):
(l)
Part 5 and Schedule 4 (training levies).
(3)
Despite subclause (1), section 11E of the 1992 Act (as applied by subclause (2)(g)) applies to a transitional ITO only while the transitional ITO continues to exercise any standard-setting powers for the specified industries covered by the transitional ITO.
(4)
The following are secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements):
(a)
an apprenticeship training code under section 13F of the 1992 Act:
(b)
a levy order under section 26 of the 1992 Act.
(5)
Despite the amendment of Schedule 2 of the Legislation Act 2012 and Schedule 4 of the Legislation Act 2019 by section 78(1) of the Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Amendment Act 2020,—
(a)
subpart 1A of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2012 continues to apply to a levy order under section 26 of the 1992 Act that is made before the main commencement date (see also clause 34 of Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019):
(b)
subpart 3 of Part 5 of the Legislation Act 2019 applies to a levy order under section 26 of the 1992 Act if it is made on or after the main commencement date.
(6)
For the purposes of subclause (5), main commencement date has the meaning given in clause 2 of Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 58
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subclause (4)(a) | ||||
| Publication | The maker must: | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| • publish it in the Gazette, or notify it in the Gazette giving enough information to identify it and stating where copies of it may be obtained | ||||
| • make it available at every office of the TEC | ||||
| • publish it on the TEC’s Internet site | ||||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation referred to in subclause (4)(b) | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 48(4): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Schedule 1 clause 48(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Schedule 1 clause 48(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
49 Existing approvals and consents granted to former ITO
(1)
This clause applies to the following matters granted to a former ITO by NZQA under Part 20 of the 1989 Act before 1 April 2020 and in effect immediately before that date:
(a)
an approval of a programme under section 439:
(b)
an approval to provide a micro-credential under section 445:
(c)
a consent to assess against the standards listed in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards under section 449.
(2)
On and after 1 April 2020,—
(a)
an approval or a consent (including any conditions imposed on the approval or consent) must be treated as if it were granted to the former ITO’s corresponding transitional ITO; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference in the approval or consent must be read as a reference to the corresponding transitional ITO.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 59
Schedule 1 clause 49(1)(b): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Schedule 1 clause 49(1)(c): amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 73 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
50 Transitional ITO is tertiary education organisation
A transitional ITO is to be treated as a tertiary education organisation within the meaning of section 10(1), and the provisions of this Act relating to tertiary education organisations apply to it accordingly.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 60
51 Transitional ITO is approved standard-setting body
A transitional ITO is to be treated as an approved standard-setting body for the purposes of section 438 in relation to the specified industries for which it is recognised under clauses 44 to 58 until—
(a)
a notice is given under clause 47 that removes the activity described in clause 45(3)(a) for a specified industry covered by the transitional ITO; or
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 61
52 Transitional ITOs must develop transition plan
(1)
As soon as practicable after 1 April 2020, every transitional ITO must—
(a)
develop a transition plan for approval by TEC that provides for the transfer of—
(i)
responsibility for the activity described in clause 45(3)(a) (or any part of that activity), or the activity described in clause 45(3)(b) to the extent that it relates to developing or maintaining qualifications, to any 1 or more workforce development councils:
(ii)
responsibility for the activities described in clause 45(3)(b) and (c) (or any part of those activities) to any 1 or more providers specified by TEC:
(iii)
responsibility for any of the activities described in clause 45(3) (or any part of those activities) to another transitional ITO:
(iv)
the assets of the transitional ITO to any 1 or more providers, workforce development councils, or other transitional ITO; and
(b)
implement and maintain that plan; and
(c)
support providers specified by TEC when transferring the responsibility for the activities described in clause 45(3)(b) and (c).
(2)
When approving a transition plan under subclause (1), TEC—
(a)
may make any amendments to the plan that it considers necessary or desirable by giving written notice to the transitional ITO; but
(b)
must not amend that part of the plan that relates to transfer of the assets to any 1 or more providers, workforce development councils, or other transitional ITOs.
(3)
If a transitional ITO fails or refuses to comply with subclause (1), TEC may develop the transition plan for the transitional ITO and the transitional ITO must implement and maintain that plan.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 62
53 TEC must issue guidance on transition plans
(1)
TEC must issue guidance to transitional ITOs on what must be contained in a transition plan required by clause 52(1).
(2)
TEC must consult transitional ITOs when developing guidance under subclause (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 63
54 Minister may direct funding to provider for work-based training
Despite section 420(1), the Minister may direct that funding be provided to a provider to support work-based training on behalf of employers if the Minister believes it is reasonably necessary for facilitating or ensuring the successful transfer of responsibility for the activities referred to in clause 45(3)(b) and (c) of this schedule.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 64
55 Cancellation of recognition of transitional ITO
(1)
The Minister may, by notice, cancel the recognition of a transitional ITO—
(a)
if it asks the Minister to cancel its recognition; or
(b)
if the circumstances described in subclause (2) apply; or
(c)
if it has breached the requirement set out in section 11E of the 1992 Act (as applied by clause 48(2)(g)); or
(d)
if the Minister is satisfied that—
(i)
the transitional ITO is no longer responsible for carrying out any of the activities referred to in clause 45(3); or
(ii)
the body corporate recognised as the transitional ITO no longer exists.
(2)
For the purpose of subclause (1)(b), the circumstances are that—
(a)
the Minister has issued a notice to the transitional ITO stating that the Minister considers its performance is inadequate for any of the following reasons:
(i)
it is not carrying out at least 1 of the activities for the specified industries for which it is recognised:
(ii)
it is failing to comply with 1 or more conditions of its recognition:
(iii)
it is failing to comply with a compliance notice issued by NZQA; and
(b)
the period of time specified in the notice within which the transitional ITO must improve its performance has elapsed; and
(c)
the Minister is satisfied that the transitional ITO’s performance continues to be inadequate for the reason or reasons specified in the notice.
(3)
For the purpose of subclause (2)(a), the notice must be in writing and state—
(a)
the areas in which the Minister considers the transitional ITO’s performance to be inadequate; and
(b)
what actions the transitional ITO should take to improve its performance; and
(c)
the period (which must be a reasonable period) within which the transitional ITO must improve its performance; and
(d)
the fact that the Minister may cancel the recognition of the transitional ITO under subclause (1) if it fails to improve its performance within that period.
(4)
If the recognition of a transitional ITO is cancelled under subclause (1), any approval or consent associated with that recognition is withdrawn on the date on which the recognition is cancelled.
(5)
No notice is required to be given to a transitional ITO for a withdrawal under subclause (4).
(6)
A notice under subclause (1) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 65
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
56 Recognition lapses at end of transition period
(1)
This clause applies to any transitional ITO in existence at the close of the day immediately before the end of the transition period.
(2)
The recognition of the transitional ITO lapses at the end of the transition period.
(3)
If the recognition of a transitional ITO lapses under subclause (2), any approval or consent associated with that recognition is withdrawn on the date on which the recognition lapses.
(4)
No notice is required to be given to a transitional ITO for a withdrawal under subclause (3).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 66
57 Allocation of assets of transitional ITO
(1)
This clause applies to any assets of a transitional ITO during the transition period.
(2)
Despite any enactment to the contrary or anything in the transitional ITO’s founding document, those assets may be allocated to 1 or more providers, workforce development councils, or other transitional ITOs to which the activities of the transitional ITO have been transferred in accordance with the transition plan.
(3)
In this clause, founding document means,—
(a)
for a transitional ITO that is a company, the transitional ITO’s constitution (if any):
(b)
for a transitional ITO that is an incorporated society, the transitional ITO’s rules:
(c)
for a transitional ITO that is a charitable trust, the transitional ITO’s trust deed.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 67
58 Employment of transitional ITO employees by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, wānanga, workforce development council, or other transitional ITO
(1)
This clause applies if the activities of a transitional ITO are transferred to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, an Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, a wānanga, a workforce development council, or another transitional ITO in accordance with a transition plan developed under clause 52.
(2)
The chief executive of Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, wānanga, workforce development council, or other transitional ITO to which those activities are transferred must identify the employees of the transitional ITO—
(a)
whose duties overall are required by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or that Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, wānanga, workforce development council, or other transitional ITO to carry out its functions; and
(b)
whose positions will cease to exist as a result of the transfer of responsibility of the transitional ITO’s activities to Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, wānanga, workforce development council, or other transitional ITO.
(3)
An employee who is identified under subclause (2) may be offered equivalent employment by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, wānanga, workforce development council, or other transitional ITO, being employment that is—
(a)
in substantially the same position; and
(b)
in the same general locality; and
(c)
on terms and conditions (including any terms and conditions relating to redundancy and superannuation) that are no less favourable than those applying to the employee immediately before the date on which the offer of employment is made to the employee; and
(d)
on terms that treat the period of service with the transitional ITO (and every other period of service recognised by the transitional ITO as continuous service) as if it were continuous service with Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, wānanga, workforce development council, or other transitional ITO.
(4)
If the employee accepts an offer of employment under subclause (3), the employee’s employment by Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or the Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiary, wānanga, workforce development council, or other transitional ITO is to be treated as continuous employment, including for the purpose of service-related entitlements, whether legislative or otherwise.
(5)
An employee of a transitional ITO that is offered employment under subclause (3) is not entitled to receive any payment or other benefit on the ground that the employee’s position in the transitional ITO has ceased to exist, whether or not the employee accepts the offer.
(6)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employee protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
(7)
In this clause, transitional ITO has the same meaning as in clause 42.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 68
Schedule 1 clause 58 heading: amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 58(1): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 58(2): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 58(2)(a): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 58(2)(b): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 58(3): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 58(3)(d): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
Schedule 1 clause 58(4): amended, on 25 September 2020, by clause 4(1) of the Education (Name Change for NZIST) Order 2020 (LI 2020/260).
59 Employment of NZQA employees by workforce development council
(1)
This clause applies if the functions of NZQA in developing, setting, and maintaining skill standards in relation to 1 or more specified industries are to be transferred to a workforce development council that covers those industries in accordance with a transition plan developed by NZQA for the purpose of this clause.
(2)
The chief executive of the workforce development council to which the functions of NZQA are transferred must identify the employees of NZQA—
(a)
whose duties overall are required by the workforce development council to carry out its functions; and
(b)
whose positions will cease to exist as a result of the transfer of responsibility of NZQA’s functions to the workforce development council.
(3)
An employee who is identified under subclause (2) may be offered equivalent employment by the workforce development council, being employment that is—
(a)
in substantially the same position; and
(b)
in the same general locality; and
(c)
on terms and conditions (including any terms and conditions relating to redundancy and superannuation) that are no less favourable than those applying to the employee immediately before the date on which the offer of employment is made to the employee; and
(d)
on terms that treat the period of service with NZQA (and every other period of service recognised by NZQA as continuous service) as if it were continuous service with the workforce development council.
(4)
If the employee accepts an offer of employment under subclause (3), the employee’s employment by the workforce development council is to be treated as continuous employment, including for the purpose of service-related entitlements, whether legislative or otherwise.
(5)
An employee of NZQA who is offered employment under subclause (3) is not entitled to receive any payment or other benefit on the ground that the employee’s position in NZQA has ceased to exist, whether or not the employee accepts the offer.
(6)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employee protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 69
60 Provider must not charge fee for compulsory student services during specified period
(1)
A provider must not charge a trainee a compulsory student services fee during the specified period.
(2)
The Minister may, by notice published on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Ministry, specify any class of trainees to whom subclause (1) does not apply.
(3)
In subclause (1),—
compulsory student services fee means a fee determined under section 256(1)(b) or as defined in section 360(6)
specified period means the period beginning on 1 April 2020 and ending with the close of 31 December 2022.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 70
Schedule 1 clause 60(3) specified period: amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 12 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
61 Existing training contracts
(1)
This clause applies to a training contract between an employer and employee that is in force immediately before 1 April 2020.
(2)
On and after 1 April 2020, the training contract must be treated as if it were a training agreement for the purposes of section 362.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 71
62 References to industry training organisation to be treated as references to transitional ITO
Despite the repeal of the 1989 Act, a reference to an industry training organisation in any enactment or document, as it read immediately before 1 April 2020, must, on and after that date, be read as a reference to a transitional ITO for the period that transitional ITOs remain in existence under this Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 72
Subpart 6—Provisions for Part 5 (performance, funding, and support)
Superannuation
63 Superannuation relating to TEC
(1)
Any person who, immediately before becoming an employee of TEC, was a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund under Part 2 or 2A of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 is to be treated, for the purpose of that Act, as employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be an employee of TEC.
(2)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of TEC were Government service.
(3)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(4)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of TEC is the controlling authority.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 159KD
64 Superannuation relating to NZQA
Employment in the service of NZQA is Government service within the meaning of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 256E
65 Superannuation relating to Teaching Council
(1)
Any person who, immediately before becoming an employee of the Teaching Council, was a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund under Part 2 or 2A of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 or to the State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme is to be treated, for the purpose of that Act, as being employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be an employee of the Teaching Council.
(2)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of the Teaching Council were government service.
(3)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund or to the State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(4)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of the Teaching Council is the controlling authority.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 391
66 Superannuation relating to Education New Zealand
(1)
Any person who, immediately before becoming an employee of Education New Zealand, is a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund under Part 2 or 2A of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 is to be treated, for the purpose of that Act, as being employed in the Government service so long as the person continues to be an employee of Education New Zealand.
(2)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of Education New Zealand were Government service.
(3)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(4)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of Education New Zealand is the controlling authority.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 273B
Pastoral care
67 Transitional provision relating to code in respect of domestic tertiary students
[Repealed]Schedule 1 clause 67: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
68 Transitional provision relating to code in respect of international students
(1)
This clause—
(a)
applies to signatory providers that enrol international students; and
(b)
applies despite subpart 7 of Part 5 of this Act.
(2)
(3)
Despite subclause (2), Part 18A of the 1989 Act, as it read immediately before the commencement of this clause, continues to apply for the purposes of completing any proceedings commenced before the commencement of this clause.
69 Transitional provision relating to export education levy
[Repealed]Schedule 1 clause 69: repealed, on 1 January 2022, by clause 69(3).
Subpart 7—Provisions for Part 6 (administration of education system)
70 Criteria relating to appointment of principals
The requirement for a person to meet criteria issued by the Minister under section 617 for appointment as a principal does not take effect until the day that is 6 months after the date on which the criteria are first issued.
71 National student numbers
(1)
This clause applies to a national student number assigned to a person under section 343 of the 1989 Act before the commencement of this clause.
(2)
The national student number continues to apply in respect of the person as if it were assigned under clause 3 of Schedule 24.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 343(2)
Part 2 Provision relating to Education and Training (Grants—Budget Measures) Amendment Act 2021
Schedule 1 Part 2: inserted, on 13 July 2021, by section 5(a) of the Education and Training (Grants—Budget Measures) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 28).
72 Application of section 548(5A) to (5C)
Section 548(5A) to (5C) (as inserted by section 4 of the Education and Training (Grants—Budget Measures) Amendment Act 2021) applies to a grant paid under section 548, and to a condition or purpose specified under section 548(5)(a) or (b) for that grant, after the commencement of that Act (whether that grant was determined before or after that commencement).
Schedule 1 clause 72: inserted, on 13 July 2021, by section 5(a) of the Education and Training (Grants—Budget Measures) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 28).
Part 3 Provisions relating to Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021
Schedule 1 Part 3: inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 7(a) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
73 Interpretation
In this Part,—
2015 fees means fees fixed or purportedly fixed by the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand Fees for Registration, Practising Certificates and Limited Authorities to Teach notice published in the Gazette on 25 June 2015, 2015-gs3644
2020 fee means a fee fixed or purportedly fixed by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand Fees for Registration, Practising Certificates, and Limited Authorities to Teach notice published in the Gazette on 22 May 2020, 2020-gs2144
commencement means the commencement of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021
former Council means any predecessor of the Teaching Council.
Schedule 1 clause 73: inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 7(a) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
74 Validation of specified fees
(1)
This clause applies to the 2015 fees and any previous fees fixed by a former Council for registration as a teacher, the issuing of a practising certificate, or the granting of a limited authority to teach (specified fees).
(2)
The specified fees, and all actions of a former Council in fixing the specified fees, are valid and declared to be and to always have been lawful.
(3)
All money received by the Teaching Council or a former Council in payment of the specified fees is to be treated as having been lawfully paid to, and received by, the Teaching Council or the former Council.
Schedule 1 clause 74: inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 7(a) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
75 Recovery of unpaid 2015 fees
Any 2015 fee, or part of a 2015 fee, that applies to a person and that has not been paid before commencement—
(a)
is declared to be lawfully payable to the Teaching Council; and
(b)
may be recovered by the Teaching Council on and after commencement as if the 2015 fee had always been lawfully payable by the person.
Schedule 1 clause 75: inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 7(a) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
76 Payment of 2020 fees
(1)
This clause applies to a person who has paid a 2020 fee to the Teaching Council on or after 1 February 2021.
(2)
The payment must be treated on and after commencement as a part-payment of the appropriate 2015 fee payable by the person.
Schedule 1 clause 76: inserted, on 20 November 2021, by section 7(a) of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Part 4 Provisions relating to Education and Training Amendment Act 2022
Schedule 1 Part 4: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
General
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
77 Interpretation
In this Part—
1989 Act means the Education Act 1989
Amendment Act means the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022
commencement date means the date on which the Amendment Act (other than sections 44 and 45) comes into force
DRS means the student contract dispute resolution scheme established under section 536.
Schedule 1 clause 77: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Licensing of early childhood services
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
78 Transitional provision relating to applications for licences to operate early childhood services
Sections 17 to 18C do not apply to an application for a licence under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 made before the date those sections come into force and to which the requirements for the provision of information and evidence relating to the application specified in regulations have been met.
Schedule 1 clause 78: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Compulsory student services fees
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
79 Ministerial direction relating to compulsory student services fees
(1)
This clause applies to a direction relating to compulsory student services fees that was given by the Minister under section 227A of the 1989 Act, and that—
(a)
was continued in force under clause 15; and
(b)
is in force immediately before the commencement date.
(2)
Despite the repeal of sections 257 and 360 by sections 15 and 18 of the Amendment Act, the direction continues in force until 1 January 2024 (unless it is revoked earlier by the Minister).
Schedule 1 clause 79: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Training schemes
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
80 Existing training scheme approval to become micro-credential approval and accreditation
(1)
This clause applies to an institution that was granted approval to provide a training scheme under section 445 before the commencement date.
(2)
On and after the commencement date,—
(a)
the training scheme is to be treated as a micro-credential for the purposes of the Act; and
(b)
the institution must be treated as if NZQA has—
(i)
granted approval of the content of a micro-credential under section 445; and
(ii)
granted accreditation to the institution to provide the micro-credential under section 446A.
Schedule 1 clause 80: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Notices published by NZQA
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
81 Publication of saved notices by NZQA
NZQA may publish the following under section 459A:
(a)
a quality assurance improvement notice (or summary of a notice) issued under section 11C of the Industry Training and Apprenticeships Act 1992 and continued in force under clause 48:
(b)
a compliance notice (or summary of a notice) issued under section 11D of the Industry Training and Apprenticeships Act 1992 and continued in force under clause 48.
Schedule 1 clause 81: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Disciplinary functions
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
82 Transitional provision relating to Complaints Assessment Committee investigation and Disciplinary Tribunal review
(1)
The amendments made by sections 44 and 45 of the Amendment Act apply only to investigations commenced on or after the date on which those sections come into force.
(2)
Investigations commenced, and not finally determined before that date, continue as if those amendments had not been enacted.
Schedule 1 clause 82: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Dispute resolution
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
83 Transitional provision relating to application of DRS to domestic tertiary students’ contractual and financial disputes lodged before commencement date
(1)
Sections 536 to 538 as in force immediately before the Amendment Act apply to a relevant dispute but only if the dispute—
(a)
relates to circumstances, or an issue or event, that arose or occurred on or after 1 January 2022; and
(b)
is lodged on or after 1 January 2022 and before the commencement date.
(2)
In subclause (1), relevant dispute means a dispute between a domestic tertiary student (or a former or prospective domestic tertiary student) and a provider to which the DRS applied under section 536(2) prior to the commencement date.
Schedule 1 clause 83: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
84 Transitional provision relating to application of DRS to domestic tertiary students’ contractual and financial disputes lodged after commencement date
(1)
Sections 536 to 538 (as amended by the Amendment Act) apply to a relevant dispute that—
(a)
relates to circumstances, or an issue or event, that arose or occurred on or after 1 January 2022; and
(b)
is lodged on or after the commencement date.
(2)
In subclause (1), relevant dispute means a dispute between a domestic tertiary student (or a former or prospective domestic tertiary student) and a provider to which the DRS applies under section 536(2)(a) (as inserted by the Amendment Act).
Schedule 1 clause 84: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
85 Transitional provision relating to application of DRS to disputes about breach of code after commencement date
Sections 536 to 538 (as amended by the Amendment Act) apply to the dispute if—
(a)
it is a dispute to which the DRS applies under section 536(2)(b) (as inserted by the Amendment Act); and
(b)
it relates to circumstances, or an issue or event, that arose or occurred on or after the commencement date.
Schedule 1 clause 85: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Student accommodation
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
86 Transitional provision relating to good character assessment of employees in student accommodation
(1)
This clause applies in respect of every person who at the commencement date was an employee in student accommodation.
(2)
The provider or signatory provider that operates that student accommodation must ensure, within 3 years of the commencement date, that the provider or signatory provider has made an assessment in accordance with section 540A(3) of whether the person is of good character if the provider or signatory provider continues to employ the person.
Schedule 1 clause 86: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Regulations relating to early childhood services
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
87 Notices recognising qualifications made under regulations relating to early childhood services validly issued
(1)
This clause applies to a notice issued by the Secretary under—
(a)
regulations made under section 636(2)(h) made before the commencement date; or
(b)
regulations made under section 317 of the 1989 Act that are continued in force under clause 4(1).
(2)
A notice to which this clause applies is to be treated as being and having always been validly issued.
Schedule 1 clause 87: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Police vetting
Heading: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
88 Transitional provision relating to Police vetting
(1)
Subclauses (2) and (3) apply in respect of any person—
(a)
for whom a Police vet must be obtained by the service provider of a licensed early childhood service under clause 1 of Schedule 4; and
(b)
who has been appointed to a position, or has begun working, at the service concerned; and
(c)
for whom, at the commencement date, no Police vet had yet been obtained by the service provider.
(2)
The Police vet must be obtained in respect of a person to whom this clause applies before the person has, or is likely to have, unsupervised access to children at the service during normal opening hours.
(3)
The service provider must apply for the Police vet no later than 2 weeks after the person begins work at the service.
(4)
Subclauses (5) and (6) apply in respect of any person—
(a)
for whom a Police vet must be obtained by the board of a State school or the managers of a private school under clause 9 of Schedule 4; and
(b)
who has been appointed to a position, or has begun working, at the school concerned; and
(c)
for whom, at the commencement date, no Police vet had yet been obtained by the board or the managers.
(5)
The Police vet must be obtained in respect of a person to whom this clause applies before the person has, or is likely to have, unsupervised access to students at the school during normal school hours.
(6)
The board or managers must apply for the Police vet no later than 2 weeks after the person begins work at the school.
Schedule 1 clause 88: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 67(4)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Part 5 Provisions relating to Education and Training Amendment Act 2023
Schedule 1 Part 5: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Subpart 1—Provisions for Part 4A (wānanga)
Schedule 1 Part 5 subpart 1: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
89 Wānanga
(1)
Wānanga established under section 268—
(a)
are Crown entities for the purposes of section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 and their councils are boards for the purposes of that Act; and
(b)
are to be treated as if they were established as Crown entities under section 398E.
(2)
A wānanga that is reconstituted under clause 90(1) is to be treated as if it were established under section 398E as a category A wānanga.
(3)
A wānanga that is converted under clause 94(2) is to be treated as if it were established under section 398I as a category B wānanga.
(4)
(a)
applies to those wānanga except to the extent that this Act expressly provides otherwise; and
(b)
ceases to apply to those wānanga that are—
(i)
converted to category B wānanga under clause 94(2):
(ii)
established as category B wānanga under section 398I.
(5)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister given after receiving a recommendation from Te Tauihu o Ngā Wānanga, amend this Act or any other enactment by—
(a)
omitting from it the term “category A wānanga” and substituting some other term:
(b)
omitting from it the term “category B wānanga” and substituting some other term:
(c)
omitting from it the term “category C wānanga” and substituting some other term.
(6)
To avoid doubt, a wānanga does not cease to be an institution merely because a term used to refer to it is changed under subsection (5).
(7)
An order made under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 89: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Reconstitution of wānanga council
Heading: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
90 Wānanga council may be reconstituted
(1)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, reconstitute the council of a wānanga established under section 268.
(2)
Before making a recommendation to reconstitute the council of a wānanga under subclause (1), the Minister must—
(a)
consult the council of the wānanga being considered for reconstitution; and
(b)
consult iwi or Māori instrumental in the establishment of the wānanga; and
(c)
consult any other persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(d)
be satisfied that any additional functions and purposes of the wānanga that are specified under subclause (4)(a) are consistent with the characteristics of a wānanga set out in section 398D.
(3)
An order made under subclause (1) must—
(a)
revoke and replace any previous order determining the constitution of the council of the wānanga; and
(b)
state the name of the wānanga as reconstituted; and
(c)
make provision for determining the people who are to constitute the wānanga; and
(d)
set out the governance arrangements for the council of the wānanga, including the constitution of the council and the arrangements for the appointment, suspension, and removal of its members; and
(e)
set out the arrangements for conducting meetings of the council; and
(f)
specify the manner in which the policies of the wānanga are to be determined; and
(g)
provide for the establishment and membership of an academic committee to advise the council on matters relating to courses of study or training, awards, and other academic matters; and
(h)
provide for any other matters that are necessary or desirable—
(i)
for good governance of the wānanga:
(ii)
to clarify the arrangements for the administration of the wānanga; and
(i)
specify how the council is to engage with the Public Service Commissioner on the conditions of employment of the chief executive.
(4)
An order made under subclause (1) may—
(a)
specify any functions and purposes of the wānanga and the council that are in addition to any functions and purposes of an institution or its council set out in this Act:
(b)
impose conditions on the performance or exercise of the powers of the wānanga.
(5)
An order made under this clause is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 90: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
91 Initial membership of council of reconstituted wānanga
(1)
Before the date of reconstitution of the council of a wānanga, each person or body responsible for appointing or electing members to the reconstituted wānanga council may appoint or elect the number of members of the reconstituted wānanga council required by its constitution to be appointed or elected by that person or body.
(2)
The appointment or election of a member to a reconstituted wānanga council under subclause (1) takes effect on the later of—
(a)
the date on which the appointment or election occurs; and
(b)
the date of reconstitution.
(3)
If on the date of reconstitution a vacancy in the council of the wānanga as reconstituted exists, the person or body responsible for appointing or electing a person to that vacancy—
(a)
may, by written notice to any person who was a member of the council immediately before that day, authorise that person to act as a member of the council until the vacancy is filled; and
(b)
must appoint or elect a person to the vacancy within 3 months after the date of reconstitution.
(4)
The person or body responsible for appointing or electing a person to the vacancy must give a copy of every notice under subclause (3)(a) to the council of the wānanga as reconstituted.
(5)
A person authorised under subclause (3)(a) must for all purposes be treated as a member of the council concerned until the vacancy concerned is filled.
(6)
A council may, before the date of reconstitution, make the statutes under section 398H for the purpose of making appointments or conducting elections of members to the council of the wānanga as reconstituted.
Compare: 2009 No 70 s 19
Schedule 1 clause 91: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
92 Members of existing council go out of office
(1)
On the date of reconstitution of the council of a wānanga,—
(a)
all members of the council of the wānanga immediately before that date go out of office; and
(b)
all the people appointed or elected as members of the council before that date under clause 91 take up office.
(2)
Neither the Crown, the wānanga, nor the council of the wānanga is liable to make a payment to, or otherwise compensate, a person in respect of the person’s going out of office as a member of the council under this clause.
Compare: 2009 No 70 s 20
Schedule 1 clause 92: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
93 Reconstituted wānanga and council is same institution and council
On and after the date of reconstitution of the council of a wānanga,—
(a)
the wānanga is the same institution and Crown entity that existed immediately before that date; and
(b)
the council of the wānanga as reconstituted—
(i)
is the same body as the council of the wānanga concerned that existed immediately before that date; and
(ii)
has the same rights, duties, and obligations it then had under this Act together with any rights, duties, and obligations conferred in the order reconstituting the wānanga.
Compare: 2009 No 70 s 21
Schedule 1 clause 93: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Conversion of wānanga
Heading: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
94 Category A wānanga or category C wānanga may convert to category B wānanga
(1)
This clause applies to an institution that is—
(a)
a category A wānanga; or
(b)
a category C wānanga.
(2)
If this clause applies, the Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, convert the institution to a category B wānanga.
(3)
Before making a recommendation to convert an institution to a category B wānanga, the Minister must—
(a)
consult the council of the wānanga being considered for conversion; and
(b)
consult iwi or Māori instrumental in the establishment of the institution; and
(c)
consult other persons or bodies that the Minister thinks fit; and
(d)
be satisfied that the functions and purposes of the wānanga that are specified under subclause (4)(e) are consistent with the characteristics of a wānanga set out in section 398D; and
(e)
be satisfied that the accountability arrangements set out in subclause (4)(h) and (i) are sufficient for the effective governance and administration of the wānanga; and
(f)
be satisfied that iwi or Māori specified under subclause (4)(h) as the iwi or Māori to whom the wānanga is accountable—
(i)
accept responsibility for ensuring accountability of the wānanga and its council; and
(ii)
have access to the skills and resources reasonably necessary to ensure accountability of the wānanga and its council.
(4)
An order made under subclause (2) must—
(a)
revoke and replace any order establishing the wānanga; and
(b)
state the name of the wānanga; and
(c)
provide for determining the people who are to constitute the wānanga; and
(d)
set out the governance arrangements for the council of the wānanga, including the constitution of the council and the arrangements for the appointment, suspension, and removal of members; and
(e)
specify the functions, duties, and purposes of the wānanga and its council; and
(f)
set out the procedures for conducting the meetings of the council; and
(g)
specify the collective and individual duties of the members of the council and the manner in which members will be accountable for the performance of their duties; and
(h)
specify the iwi or Māori to whom the wānanga is accountable for the effective governance and administration of the wānanga, and the things for which the wānanga is accountable (for example, the progress made towards achieving the purposes of the wānanga); and
(i)
set out what the wānanga must do to ensure adequate accountability for the effective governance and administration of the wānanga, including—
(i)
requirements for the efficient and prudent financial management of the wānanga; and
(ii)
requirements for financial reporting and reporting on other matters, including (without limitation) requiring wānanga to prepare, in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice (within the meaning of section 8 of the Financial Reporting Act 2013),—
(A)
a statement of service performance; and
(B)
annual financial statements; and
(iii)
the means by which risk to the operation and long-term viability of the wānanga will be managed, including the range or type of interventions available to address risk; and
(iv)
requirements for planning the long-term strategic direction and objectives of the wānanga in the performance of its functions; and
(j)
provide for the appointment of a chief executive, including—
(i)
the functions and duties of the chief executive; and
(ii)
the delegation of any functions or duties of the chief executive; and
(k)
set out any requirements relating to the appointment of employees of the wānanga; and
(l)
set out the things that the wānanga must do to ensure the fair and proper treatment of employees in all aspects of their employment; and
(m)
require the wānanga to publish an annual report on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the wānanga; and
(n)
require the annual report of the wānanga to include (without limitation) a statement of—
(i)
the number of employees or former employees of the wānanga who, in their capacity as employees, received remuneration of $100,000 or more (including compensation or other benefits) in the year to which the report relates; and
(ii)
the number of those employees or former employees in each bracket of remuneration in $10,000 increments.
(5)
An order made under subclause (2) may—
(a)
set out, by way of preamble, the contextual background for the conversion of the institution to a category B wānanga, including any acknowledgements by the Crown:
(b)
specify the means by which the council of the wānanga is to engage with the people who constitute the wānanga, and the iwi or Māori that the wānanga is accountable to for its effective governance and administration:
(c)
impose conditions on the performance or exercise of the functions, duties, or powers of the wānanga or its council:
(d)
specify limits on the number of times that people may be appointed to the council:
(e)
specify the term of office of members of the council:
(f)
specify the manner in which policies of the wānanga are to be determined:
(g)
provide for the establishment and membership of an academic committee to advise the council on matters relating to courses of study or training, awards, and other academic matters:
(h)
provide for any other matters that are necessary or desirable to—
(i)
provide for good governance of the wānanga; or
(ii)
clarify the arrangements for the administration of the wānanga.
(6)
For the purposes of subclause (4)(n), employees includes the chief executive appointed by the council of the wānanga.
(7)
An order made under this clause is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 94: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
95 Members of council cease to hold office on close of day before date of conversion
(1)
If an order is made under clause 94(2), every member of the council of the relevant wānanga that is holding office immediately before the date of conversion ceases to hold office on the close of the day before that date.
(2)
Neither the Crown, the wānanga, nor the council of the wānanga is liable to make a payment to, or otherwise compensate, a person referred to in subclause (1) in respect of the loss of office.
Schedule 1 clause 95: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
96 Rights, assets, and liabilities of converted wānanga
(1)
This clause applies to all rights, assets, and liabilities that belong to a wānanga immediately before its date of conversion.
(2)
On and after the date of conversion,—
(a)
the rights, assets, and liabilities of the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga vest in the category B wānanga; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga in any enactment (other than this Act), instrument, agreement, deed, lease, application, notice, or other document before that date must be read as a reference to the category B wānanga.
(3)
In this clause, assets, liabilities, and rights have the same meanings as in section 10(6).
Schedule 1 clause 96: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
97 Same person for purposes of Inland Revenue Acts
For the purposes of the Inland Revenue Acts (as defined in section 3(1) of the Tax Administration Act 1994), a wānanga that is a category B wānanga must, on and from the date of conversion, be treated as the same person as the wānanga it replaces.
Schedule 1 clause 97: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
98 Employees of converted wānanga
(1)
On and after the date of conversion, every employee of the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga becomes an employee of the category B wānanga on the same terms and conditions that applied to the person immediately before they became an employee of the category B wānanga.
(2)
For the purposes of every enactment, law, determination, contract, and agreement relating to the employment of that employee,—
(a)
the employee’s employment agreement is to be treated as unbroken; and
(b)
the employee’s period of service with the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga, and every other period of service of the employee that is recognised by that wānanga as continuous service, is to be treated as a period of service with the category B wānanga.
(3)
To avoid doubt, the employment by a category B wānanga of an employee to whom this clause applies does not constitute new employment for the purposes of any service-related benefits, whether legislative or otherwise.
(4)
An employee to whom this clause applies is not entitled to receive any payment or benefit from the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga or the category B wānanga on the grounds that—
(a)
the person’s position in the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga has ceased to exist; or
(b)
the person has ceased to be an employee of that wānanga because of the transfer to the category B wānanga.
(5)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employment protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
Schedule 1 clause 98: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
99 Superannuation schemes
(1)
(2)
For the purposes of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the person is to be treated as being employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be an employee of the category B wānanga.
(3)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of the category B wānanga were Government service.
(4)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(5)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of the category B wānanga is the controlling authority.
(6)
On and after the date of conversion, every reference to the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga as the employer in relation to any superannuation scheme must, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as a reference to the category B wānanga.
Schedule 1 clause 99: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
100 Students of converted wānanga
(1)
This clause applies to every student enrolled at a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga immediately before its date of conversion to a category B wānanga.
(2)
On and after the date of conversion, the student must be treated as having been enrolled at the category B wānanga.
(3)
A student who would, but for the conversion, have been entitled to be granted an award of the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga is entitled to be granted a like award of the category B wānanga.
Schedule 1 clause 100: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
101 Visas granted under Immigration Act 2009
(1)
This clause applies to a visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 in respect of—
(a)
a student, for the purposes of enrolment at a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga; or
(b)
a staff member of a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga.
(2)
On and after the date of conversion, any reference to the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga in a condition imposed on the visa must be read as a reference to the category B wānanga.
Schedule 1 clause 101: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
102 Existing NZQA approvals, accreditations, and consents
(1)
This clause applies to the following that were granted to a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga by NZQA under this Act and in effect immediately before its date of conversion to a category B wānanga:
(a)
an approval of a programme under section 439:
(b)
an accreditation to provide all or part of a programme under section 441:
(c)
an approval to provide a micro-credential under section 445:
(d)
a consent to assess against the standards listed in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards under section 449:
(e)
a consent to award a degree or a postgraduate qualification under section 454.
(2)
On and after the date of conversion,—
(a)
the approval, accreditation, or consent (including any conditions imposed on an approval, an accreditation, or a consent) must be treated as if it were granted to the category B wānanga; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga in the approval, accreditation, or consent must be read as a reference to the category B wānanga.
Schedule 1 clause 102: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
103 Existing funding paid by TEC under funding mechanism
(1)
This clause applies to funding (including any conditions imposed on the funding) payable by TEC to a wānanga—
(a)
in accordance with an approval granted under section 425(2); or
(b)
other than via a plan under section 428.
(2)
On and after the date of conversion,—
(a)
(b)
for the purposes of paragraph (a), every reference to the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga in an approval granted under section 425(2) must, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as a reference to the category B wānanga.
Schedule 1 clause 103: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
104 Other references to converted wānanga that were category A wānanga or category C wānanga
On and after the date of conversion, every reference to a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga in any enactment (other than this Act) or document must, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as a reference to the category B wānanga.
Schedule 1 clause 104: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
105 Existing proceedings and other matters
(1)
On and after the date of conversion,—
(a)
any proceedings by or against the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga may be continued or enforced by or against the category B wānanga without amendment to the proceedings; and
(b)
a matter or thing that would, but for this clause, have been completed by the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga may be completed by the category B wānanga; and
(c)
anything done, omitted to be done, or to be done, by or in relation to the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga is to be treated as having been done, omitted to be done, or to be done by or in relation to the category B wānanga.
(2)
In this clause, proceedings—
(a)
means civil and criminal proceedings; and
(b)
includes any enforcement or compliance action by TEC or NZQA.
Schedule 1 clause 105: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
106 Converted wānanga must provide final report to Minister
(1)
Despite section 45J of the Public Finance Act 1989,—
(a)
a wānanga that is a category B wānanga and that is converted from a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga must provide a final report to the Minister in relation to the wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga in accordance with section 45J(1) of that Act; and
(b)
the Minister may specify the contents of the final report and the date or dates by which the contents of the report must be provided.
(2)
Section 45L of the Public Finance Act 1989 does not apply to a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga and that is converted into a category B wānanga under clause 94(2).
(3)
The Minister must present a copy of the final report to the House of Representatives as soon as practicable after receiving it.
(4)
In this clause, Minister means the Minister responsible for the time being for administering this Part of this schedule.
Schedule 1 clause 106: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
107 Validation of pre-commencement actions and processes for appointments to councils of converted wānanga
(1)
This clause applies to any action or process undertaken by a wānanga that was a category A wānanga or category C wānanga before the date of conversion when appointing members to the council of the category B wānanga.
(2)
An appointment is valid if the action or process substantially complies with this Act and the provisions of the relevant Order in Council establishing the category B wānanga.
Schedule 1 clause 107: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
108 Membership of councils of category B wānanga reduced
(1)
The number of members of the council of a category B wānanga is reduced until the date on which each member referred to in the membership provisions of the relevant Order in Council is appointed to the council.
(2)
No action of the council of a category B wānanga is invalid just because any member referred to in subclause (1) has not been appointed to that council on the date of conversion.
Schedule 1 clause 108: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Subpart 2—Provision relating to election of board members who are parent representatives
Schedule 1 Part 5 subpart 2: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
109 Timing of mid-term elections of board members who are parent representatives
(1)
This clause applies to a board that has decided under clause 4 of Schedule 23 to adopt a staggered election cycle in relation to the election of board members who are parent representatives.
(2)
Despite clause 4(3) of Schedule 23, the board must hold the next mid-term election of those board members that falls due after the commencement of this clause in November 2023.
Schedule 1 clause 109: inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 37(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Part 6 Provisions relating to Education and Training Amendment Act 2024
Schedule 1 Part 6: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Subpart 1—Transitional provisions relating to repeal of network approval requirements
Schedule 1 Part 6 subpart 1: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
110 Interpretation
In this subpart,—
amendment Act means the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024
commencement means the date on which the amendment Act comes into force.
Schedule 1 clause 110: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
111 Approval conditions need not be met
(1)
This clause applies to an approval to apply for a licence granted under section 17 to which conditions imposed under section 17A apply (as those provisions read immediately before commencement).
(2)
The conditions no longer apply in relation to the approval on and after commencement.
Schedule 1 clause 111: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
112 Licence no longer subject to certain special conditions
(1)
This clause applies to a licence for an early childhood service to which 1 or more of the following special conditions imposed by the Secretary under regulation 22(5) of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008 apply (as it read immediately before commencement):
(a)
conditions that are a continuation of any conditions on the approval to apply for a licence imposed under section 17A:
(b)
conditions that are consistent with the approval to apply for a licence granted under section 17:
(c)
conditions imposed on an excluded early childhood service that relate to the type of excluded early childhood service.
(2)
The special conditions are treated as revoked on and after commencement.
Schedule 1 clause 112: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
113 Pending applications for approval
(1)
This clause applies to an application for approval to apply for a licence under section 17 made, but not determined, before commencement.
(2)
The Secretary must—
(a)
treat the application as if it had been withdrawn; and
(b)
refund to the applicant the prescribed fee paid in respect of the application.
Schedule 1 clause 113: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Subpart 2—Transitional provisions relating to converted schools
Schedule 1 Part 6 subpart 2: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
114 Interpretation
In this subpart,—
conversion date, in relation to a converted school, means the date on which the State school became a charter school
converted school means a former State school that has become a charter school in accordance with an approval granted to a sponsor under section 212I
sponsor has the meaning given in section 10(1).
Schedule 1 clause 114: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
115 Board dissolved
(1)
On the conversion date, the board of the converted school is dissolved.
(2)
Every member of the board of the converted school that is holding office immediately before the conversion date goes out of office on the close of the day before that date.
Schedule 1 clause 115: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
116 Integration agreement for State integrated school cancelled
(1)
This clause applies if a converted school was a State integrated school immediately before its conversion date.
(2)
On the conversion date, the integration agreement between the proprietor and the Crown relating to the State integrated school must be treated as if it were cancelled under clause 11 of Schedule 6.
Schedule 1 clause 116: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Rights, assets, and liabilities of converted school
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
117 Rights, assets, and liabilities of converted school
(1)
This clause applies to all rights, assets, and liabilities that belong to a converted school immediately before its conversion date.
(2)
On the conversion date, all rights, assets, and liabilities of the converted school vest in the Minister on behalf of the Crown.
(3)
Subclause (2) is subject to clauses 121 to 123.
(4)
In this clause, assets, liabilities, and rights have the same meanings as in section 10(6).
Schedule 1 clause 117: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
118 Property held in trust
(1)
This section applies to any property of a converted school that, immediately before the conversion date, was held in trust—
(a)
by the board of the State school; or
(b)
by any other person or body for the benefit of—
(i)
the converted school; or
(ii)
the students or former students of the converted school.
(2)
The property continues to be subject to the trust concerned, but the person or body in whom it is vested may apply to Public Trust to devise a scheme to modify the trust in light of the conversion of the State school concerned.
(3)
If satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made to meet the costs of doing so, Public Trust must, in consultation with the sponsor concerned, devise a scheme to modify any trust in respect of which Public Trust has received an application under this clause and notify the Solicitor-General of the scheme.
(4)
If Public Trust notifies the Solicitor-General of a scheme, the Solicitor-General may, by written notice to Public Trust,—
(a)
approve the scheme (as originally notified or with any amendments agreed by Public Trust after consultation with the board concerned); or
(b)
suggest amendments to it; or
(c)
direct that it should not proceed.
(5)
If the Solicitor-General directs that it should not proceed, the matter may be dealt with under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957.
(6)
If, within 90 days of being notified of a scheme, the Solicitor-General does not suggest amendments to it or direct that it should not proceed, the Solicitor-General is to be treated as having approved the scheme.
(7)
If the Solicitor-General approves a scheme notified under this clause, the trust concerned has effect accordingly.
(8)
The Solicitor-General may not approve a scheme under this clause unless satisfied that—
(a)
it modifies the trust concerned so as best to give effect to the intentions of the testator, settlor, or other person or body by whom or which the trust was established; and
(b)
subject to paragraph (a), it effects the minimum change necessary to enable the trust to operate successfully in light of conversion of the school concerned.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 156C
Schedule 1 clause 118: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Transfer of employees of converted school
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
119 Transfer of employees of converted school to charter school
(1)
On the conversion date, every employee of a converted school becomes an employee of the sponsor (a transferred employee)—
(a)
on terms and conditions of employment that are no less favourable overall to those that applied to the person immediately before they became an employee of the sponsor; and
(b)
as if those terms and conditions of employment were contained in an individual employment agreement agreed between the transferred employee and the sponsor.
(2)
The terms and conditions of employment referred to in subclause (1)(a) continue to apply in relation to the transferred employee until—
(a)
they are varied by agreement between the transferred employee and the sponsor; or
(b)
the transferred employee becomes bound by a collective agreement agreed between the sponsor and the union of which the transferred employee is a member.
(3)
A transferred employee is not entitled to receive any contractual notice or any payment, benefit, or compensation from the board of the converted school on the grounds that—
(a)
the person’s position in the converted school has ceased to exist; or
(b)
the person has ceased to be an employee of the board as a result of the person’s transfer to the charter school.
(4)
To avoid doubt, the employment of a transferred employee by the sponsor does not—
(a)
constitute new employment, including for the purposes of the Holidays Act 2003 or the KiwiSaver Act 2006 or any service-related entitlements or benefits (whether legislative or otherwise); or
(b)
treat that employee as a new employee for the purposes of the Employment Relations Act 2000.
(5)
In this clause, terms and conditions of employment that are no less favourable overall, in relation to the transferred employee’s employment at the converted school, is employment at a charter school that—
(a)
is in substantially the same position; and
(b)
is in the same general locality; and
(c)
is on terms that treat the period of service with the converted school (and any other period of service recognised by the converted school as continuous service) as if it were continuous service with the charter school; and
(d)
is on terms and conditions of employment that are no less favourable overall than those that applied to the transferred employee immediately before the person became an employee of the sponsor, including (without limitation) in relation to the employee’s overall remuneration and any service-related, redundancy, or superannuation conditions; and
(e)
is subject to any other modifications that are necessary to reflect—
(i)
the transferred employee’s terms and conditions of employment being treated as if they were contained in an individual employment agreement; and
(ii)
the transfer of employment from a State school to a charter school, for example, in relation to—
(A)
funding and payment of the transferred employee’s remuneration:
(B)
the eligibility of a transferred employee who holds a teaching position for any awards, grants, or associated leave:
(C)
a sponsor not being required to advertise any vacancy at the charter school in the Education Gazette.
(6)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employment protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
Schedule 1 clause 119: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
120 Transfer of employment information
(1)
This clause applies to information held by the board of a converted school, the Ministry, or Education Payroll Limited relating to a transferred employee’s employment with the converted school.
(2)
The information is to be treated as if it were held by the sponsor on and from the later of the following dates:
(a)
the date on which the charter school contract is entered into under section 212L; and
(b)
the date that is 3 months before the conversion date.
(3)
The transfer of information under subclause (2) does not constitute an action that is an interference with the privacy of an individual under section 69 of the Privacy Act 2020.
Schedule 1 clause 120: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
121 Transfer of rights, duties, and obligations relating to existing pay equity claims and settlements
(1)
This clause applies to any rights, duties, or obligations of the Secretary (acting under delegation from the Public Service Commissioner) or the board of a converted school in relation to—
(a)
any pay equity claims relating to the work of a transferred employee raised before the conversion date but not settled before that date:
(b)
any existing pay equity claim settlements entered into before the conversion date.
(2)
On and after the conversion date,—
(a)
the rights, duties, and obligations referred to in subclause (1) vest in the sponsor; and
(b)
the existing pay equity claim settlement in respect of teacher aides recorded in the Teacher Aide Pay Equity Settlement Agreement dated 12 February 2020 is to be treated as binding on the sponsor as if—
(i)
the sponsor were a party to the agreement; and
(ii)
all references in the agreement to the Secretary were references to the sponsor; and
(c)
every other existing pay equity claim settlement to which the board of the converted school was a party before the conversion date is to be treated as binding on the sponsor as if—
(i)
the sponsor were a party to the agreement; and
(ii)
all references in the agreement to the board were references to the sponsor.
(3)
In this clause, pay equity claim and pay equity claim settlement have the same meanings as in section 2(1) of the Equal Pay Act 1972.
Schedule 1 clause 121: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
122 Transfer of liabilities for holidays and leave taken before conversion date
(1)
This clause applies in relation to any holiday, sick leave, bereavement leave, or family violence leave—
(a)
provided under the Holidays Act 2003; and
(b)
taken by a transferred employee before the conversion date.
(2)
On and after the conversion date, any liabilities of the board of the converted school for holiday pay or leave pay in relation to the holidays and leave referred to in subclause (1) vest in the Minister on behalf of the Crown.
(3)
In this clause, holiday, holiday pay, and leave pay have the same meanings as in section 5(1) of the Holidays Act 2003.
Schedule 1 clause 122: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
123 Transfer of other rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of board relating to transferred employees
(1)
This clause applies to any other rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of the board of a converted school relating to a transferred employee that were in existence immediately before the conversion date.
(2)
On the conversion date, those rights, duties, liabilities, and obligations vest in the sponsor.
Schedule 1 clause 123: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Superannuation
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
124 Government Superannuation Fund
(1)
Any person who, immediately before becoming an employee of a sponsor, was a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund under Part 2 or 2A of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 is deemed, for the purpose of that Act, to be employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be employed at a charter school.
(2)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of the sponsor were Government service.
(3)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(4)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the sponsor is the controlling authority.
Schedule 1 clause 124: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Shared education services
Heading: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
125 Arrangements between State schools for shared education services
(1)
This clause applies if the board of a converted school was, before its conversion, a party to a written arrangement (for example, a memorandum of understanding), whether legally binding or not, with the boards of 1 or more other State schools regarding the sharing of education services, employees, or students.
(2)
On and after the conversion date,—
(a)
the sponsor is to be treated as if it were a party to the arrangement; and
(b)
all references in the arrangement to the board of the converted school must be treated as if they were references to the sponsor.
Schedule 1 clause 125: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 63(2)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Part 7 Provisions relating to Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025
Schedule 1 Part 7: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
126 Interpretation
(1)
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—
amendment Act means the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025
commencement means the date on which the amendment Act (except Parts 3 to 6 of Schedule 6) comes into force
NZIST means New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology continued as an institution under clause 128
Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology or Te Pūkenga means the institution continued under section 314 (as in force immediately before commencement) and in existence immediately before commencement
training activity means a programme, micro-credential, assessment against standards, or other activity provided or carried out by Te Pūkenga before commencement relating to the provision of any work-based training (as defined in section 10(1)).
(2)
A term used in this Part that is defined in section 10(1) or (6), but not in this Part, has the meaning given in section 10(1) or (6).
Schedule 1 clause 126: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 1—Transitional provisions relating to Te Pūkenga
Schedule 1 Subpart 1: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
127 Definitions for this subpart
(1)
In this subpart, unless the context otherwise requires,—
disestablishment date, in relation to NZIST, means the date specified in clause 147(1)(b) or specified by an order made under clause 147(2)
successor organisation,—
(a)
in relation to a programme, micro-credential, assessment against standards, or other activity provided by NZIST on or before the transfer date, means a tertiary education provider that on and after the transfer date is responsible for continuing the programme, micro-credential, assessment against standards, or other activity (or any part of the programme, micro-credential, assessment against standards, or other activity):
(b)
in relation to a training activity provided by NZIST on or before the transfer date, means an industry skills board that on and after the transfer date is responsible for continuing the training activity or any part of the training activity
transfer date,—
(a)
in relation to a programme, micro-credential, or other activity provided by NZIST, means the date (or dates) specified in the transition plan approved under clause 130 on which the programme or micro-credential transfers to the relevant successor organisation:
(b)
in relation to a training activity provided by NZIST, means the date (or dates) specified in the transition plan approved under clause 131 on which the training activity transfers to the relevant successor organisation
transition period, for NZIST, means the period starting on commencement and ending on the close of the day before the disestablishment date
transition plan, for NZIST, means a plan developed and approved under clause 130 or 131.
(2)
The modification of this Act by clause 129 does not affect the text of this Act, but requires it to be read as if amended in the manner indicated by that clause.
Schedule 1 clause 127: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Continuation, and renaming, of Te Pūkenga
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
128 Continuation, and renaming, of Te Pūkenga during transition period
(1)
Despite the amendments made by the amendment Act, Te Pūkenga continues in existence during the transition period and is renamed the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST).
(2)
During the transition period,—
(a)
Te Pūkenga’s council continues in existence as the council of NZIST; and
(b)
NZIST’s council may continue to operate even if the membership of the council no longer meets any 1 or more of the membership requirements specified in section 320(1)(a) to (d) (as in force before commencement); and
(c)
an elected member of NZIST’s council may continue to serve on the council even if the advisory committee that elected the member ceases to operate.
Schedule 1 clause 128: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
129 Application of this Act to NZIST during transition period
(1)
This Act (as in force immediately before commencement) continues to apply to NZIST during the transition period—
(a)
as modified by this clause; and
(b)
with any other necessary modifications.
Functions of NZIST
(2)
Section 315 (as in force immediately before commencement) does not apply to NZIST.
(3)
Instead, NZIST’s functions during the transition period are as follows:
(a)
to maintain the delivery of programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, and other activities pending the transfer of those programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, or other activities to successor organisations:
(b)
to do all things necessary to transfer the programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, and other activities that have been allocated to successor organisations under a transition plan:
(c)
to do all other things that are necessary to prepare for NZIST’s disestablishment, including (without limitation)—
(i)
disposing of surplus assets and discharging the liabilities of NZIST:
(ii)
cancelling or closing down any programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, or other activities provided by NZIST that have not been allocated to a successor organisation under a transition plan or for which there is no successor organisation:
(d)
to carry out any other functions that are conferred by the Minister for the purpose of giving effect to this Part.
Duties of NZIST’s council
(4)
NZIST’s council has—
(a)
all the duties of a polytechnic’s council under section 281 (as amended by the amendment Act); and
(b)
the additional duties of a polytechnic set out in section 321 (as replaced by the amendment Act).
Duty to give effect to charter
(5)
Section 316 and Schedule 13 (as in force immediately before commencement) do not apply to NZIST.
Schedules
(6)
Schedules 14 and 15 (as in force immediately before commencement) do not apply to NZIST.
Schedule 1 clause 129: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Transfer of NZIST’s operations
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
130 Requirement to develop transition plan for programmes and micro-credentials
(1)
As soon as practicable after commencement, NZIST’s council must, in consultation with NZQA, develop a transition plan for approval by TEC that provides for the transfer of NZIST’s operations, including (without limitation)—
(a)
programmes, micro-credentials, or other activities provided by NZIST to 1 or more tertiary education providers; and
(b)
any specified rights, assets, liabilities, or agreements of NZIST relating to those programmes, micro-credentials, or other activities to 1 or more tertiary education providers.
(2)
The chief executive of TEC—
(a)
may issue guidance to NZIST on what must be contained in the transition plan; and
(b)
must consult NZIST when developing the guidance.
(3)
When approving a transition plan under this clause, TEC may, by giving written notice to NZIST, make any amendments to the plan that TEC considers reasonably necessary.
(4)
As soon as practicable after TEC has approved a transition plan, NZIST’s council must do all things necessary to give effect to the plan.
(5)
If NZIST fails or refuses to develop a transition plan, TEC may develop the transition plan and NZIST must give effect to that plan.
Schedule 1 clause 130: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
131 Requirement to develop transition plan for training activities
(1)
As soon as practicable after commencement, NZIST’s council must, in consultation with NZQA, develop a transition plan for approval by TEC that provides for the transfer of NZIST’s operations, including (without limitation)—
(a)
training activities provided by NZIST to 1 or more industry skills boards; and
(b)
any specified rights, assets, liabilities, or agreements of NZIST relating to those training activities to 1 or more industry skills boards.
(2)
A transition plan developed under subclause (1) may specify that the assets of NZIST to be transferred to an industry skills board for the purposes of providing training activities under clause 153—
(a)
may only be used by the industry skills board for those training activities; and
(b)
must be managed by the industry skills board in a way that ensures the assets are available for transfer to a tertiary education provider under clause 160.
(3)
The chief executive of TEC—
(a)
may issue guidance to NZIST on what must be contained in the transition plan; and
(b)
must consult NZIST when developing the guidance.
(4)
When approving a transition plan under this clause, TEC may, by giving written notice to NZIST, make any amendments to the plan that TEC considers reasonably necessary.
(5)
As soon as practicable after TEC has approved a transition plan, NZIST’s council must do all things necessary to give effect to the plan.
(6)
If NZIST fails or refuses to develop a transition plan, TEC may develop the transition plan and NZIST’s council must give effect to that plan.
Schedule 1 clause 131: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
132 Minister may exercise temporary power of direction in relation to NZIST
(1)
During the transition period, the Minister may, by written notice to NZIST’s council, give any directions that the Minister thinks are reasonably necessary to ensure that NZIST can deal effectively with matters relating to the allocation and transfer of programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, or other activities to a successor organisation as provided for in a transition plan.
(2)
The Minister must consult TEC, NZQA, and NZIST before giving a direction.
(3)
NZIST must comply with the direction.
(4)
A direction expires on the earlier of—
(a)
the expiry date specified in the direction; and
(b)
the end of the transition period.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 24
Schedule 1 clause 132: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
133 Transfer of programmes, micro-credentials, and training activities provided by NZIST
(1)
This clause applies to—
(a)
a programme, micro-credential, training activity, or other activity provided by NZIST that is allocated to a successor organisation in accordance with a transition plan approved under clause 130 or 131; and
(b)
any specified rights, assets, liabilities, or agreements of NZIST relating to those programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, and other activities of NZIST that are allocated to the successor organisation under the transition plan.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
the matters specified in subclause (1) vest in the successor organisation concerned; and
(b)
any reference to NZIST in any legislation (other than this Act), instrument, agreement, deed, lease, application, notice, or other document relating to the matters specified in subclause (1) must be read as a reference to the successor organisation concerned; and
(c)
any information or document held by NZIST relating to the matters specified in subclause (1) is held by the successor organisation concerned; and
(d)
all money payable to, or by, NZIST (including funding payable under this Act) in relation to the matters specified in subclause (1) becomes payable to, or by, the successor organisation concerned.
(3)
The transfer of information from NZIST to a successor organisation under this clause does not constitute an action that is a breach of information privacy principle 8 or 11 within the meaning of the Privacy Act 2020.
Schedule 1 clause 133: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
134 Existing approvals, accreditations, and consents
(1)
This clause applies to the following matters granted to, or treated as having been granted to, NZIST under subpart 2 of Part 5 before the transfer date of a programme, micro-credential, or training activity and in effect immediately before that date:
(a)
an approval of a programme under section 439:
(b)
an accreditation to provide all or part of a programme under section 441:
(c)
an approval of the content of a micro-credential under section 445:
(d)
an accreditation to provide a micro-credential under section 446A:
(e)
a consent to assess against the standards listed in the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards under section 449:
(f)
a consent to award a degree or a postgraduate qualification under section 454.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
the approval, accreditation, or consent (including any conditions imposed on an approval, accreditation, or consent) continues to apply and must be treated as if it were granted to the successor organisation to which the relevant programme or micro-credential or consent is transferred; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference in the approval, accreditation, or consent must be read as a reference to the successor organisation concerned.
Schedule 1 clause 134: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
135 Existing funding paid by TEC under funding mechanism
(1)
This clause applies to funding (including any conditions imposed on the funding) payable by TEC to NZIST in respect of a programme, micro-credential, training activity, other activity, or group of students or trainees—
(a)
in accordance with an approval granted under section 425(2); or
(b)
other than via a plan under section 428.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
TEC must treat the funding, unless it is earlier suspended, revoked, or withdrawn under clause 16 or 26 of Schedule 18, as if it were payable to the successor organisation to which the programme, micro-credential, training activity, or other activity, or group of students or trainees is transferred; and
(b)
for the purposes of paragraph (a), every reference to NZIST in an approval granted under section 425(2) must, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as a reference to the successor organisation concerned.
Schedule 1 clause 135: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
136 Transfers do not give rise to claims
Nothing effected or authorised by this subpart—
(a)
places NZIST, a successor organisation, or any other person in breach of contract or confidence, or makes any of them liable for a civil wrong; or
(b)
places NZIST, a successor organisation, or any other person in breach of any legislation, rule of law, or contractual provision that prohibits, restricts, or regulates the assignment or transfer of property or the disclosure of information; or
(c)
entitles a person to terminate or cancel a contract or an arrangement, or to accelerate the performance of an obligation, or to impose a penalty or an increased charge; or
(d)
releases a surety from an obligation; or
(e)
invalidates or discharges a contract or surety.
Compare: 2022 No 30 Schedule 1 cl 28
Schedule 1 clause 136: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
137 Existing proceedings and other matters
(1)
This clause applies in relation to a programme, micro-credential, training activity, or other activity provided by NZIST or an approval, accreditation, or consent held by NZIST that is transferred to a successor organisation.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
proceedings continued or enforced by or against NZIST in relation to a matter referred to in subclause (1) may instead be continued or enforced by or against the successor organisation without amendment to the proceedings; and
(b)
a matter or thing that would, but for this clause, have been completed by NZIST may instead be completed by the successor organisation concerned; and
(c)
anything done, or omitted to be done, or that is to be done, by or in relation to NZIST is to be treated as having been done, or having been omitted to be done, or having to be done, by or in relation to the successor organisation concerned.
(3)
In subclause (2)(a), proceedings—
(a)
means civil and criminal proceedings; and
(b)
includes any enforcement or compliance activities by TEC or NZQA.
Schedule 1 clause 137: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Transfer of NZIST employees to successor organisation
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
138 Duties to identify employees and provide employee information
(1)
NZIST’s council must—
(a)
identify the employees of NZIST whose positions may be required by a successor organisation to carry out the functions of the successor organisation; and
(b)
provide to the successor organisation the employee information about those employees that is reasonably necessary for the purpose of making offers of employment under clause 139(3).
(2)
In this clause, employee information, in relation to an employee of NZIST, includes (without limitation) information about—
(a)
the employee’s employment agreement, remuneration, accrued leave entitlements, superannuation scheme benefits, and any service-related benefits and entitlements:
(b)
any employment policies that are part of the employee’s conditions of employment.
Schedule 1 clause 138: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
139 Employment of NZIST employees by successor organisation
(1)
This clause applies if any programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, or other activities provided by NZIST are transferred to a successor organisation in accordance with a transition plan approved under clause 130 or 131.
(2)
The successor organisation concerned must identify the employees of NZIST—
(a)
whose duties overall are required by the successor organisation to carry out the organisation’s functions; and
(b)
whose positions will cease to exist as a result of the transfer of the programmes, micro-credentials, training activities, or other activities to the successor organisation.
(3)
An employee who is identified under subclause (2) may be offered equivalent employment by the successor organisation, being employment that is—
(a)
in substantially the same position; and
(b)
in the same general locality; and
(c)
on terms and conditions (including, without limitation, in relation to the employee’s overall remuneration and any service-related, redundancy, or superannuation conditions) that are no less favourable than those applying to the employee immediately before the date on which the offer of employment is made to the employee; and
(d)
on terms that treat the period of service with NZIST (and every other period of service recognised by NZIST as continuous service) as if it were continuous service with the successor organisation.
(4)
If the employee accepts an offer of employment under subclause (3), the employee’s employment by the successor organisation concerned is to be treated as continuous employment, including for the purposes of service-related entitlements, whether legislative or otherwise.
(5)
An employee of NZIST who is offered employment under subclause (3) by a successor organisation is not entitled to receive any contractual notice or any payment, benefit, or compensation from NZIST or the successor organisation on the grounds that—
(a)
the employee’s position in NZIST has ceased to exist, whether or not the employee accepts the offer; or
(b)
the person has ceased to be an employee of NZIST as a result of the person’s employment by the successor organisation.
(6)
To avoid doubt, the employment of an employee by the successor organisation concerned does not—
(a)
constitute new employment, including for the purposes of the Holidays Act 2003 or the KiwiSaver Act 2006 or any service-related entitlements or benefits (whether legislative or otherwise); or
(b)
treat that employee as a new employee for the purposes of the Employment Relations Act 2000.
(7)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employee protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
Schedule 1 clause 139: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
140 Transfer of other employment rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of NZIST on change of employer
(1)
This clause applies to any other rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of NZIST (including in relation to any holiday and leave entitlements under the Holidays Act 2003)—
(a)
relating to an employee who has become an employee of a successor organisation under clause 139; and
(b)
that were in existence immediately before the date on which the employee became an employee of the successor organisation.
(2)
The rights, duties, liabilities, and obligations referred to in subclause (1) vest in the successor organisation on the date on which the employee becomes an employee of the successor organisation.
Schedule 1 clause 140: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
141 Government Superannuation Fund
(1)
(2)
For the purposes of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the person is treated as being employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be an employee of the successor organisation.
(3)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of the successor organisation were Government service.
(4)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(5)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of the successor organisation is the controlling authority.
Schedule 1 clause 141: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Students and trainees of NZIST
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
142 Students and trainees of NZIST
(1)
This clause applies to every student or trainee enrolled at NZIST in a programme, micro-credential, or training activity immediately before the transfer date of the programme, micro-credential, or training activity to a successor organisation.
(2)
The student or trainee must be treated as having been enrolled at the successor organisation that is responsible for continuing the programme, micro-credential, or training activity on and after the transfer date.
(3)
A student or trainee who would, but for the transfer of a programme, micro-credential, or training activity to a successor organisation, have been entitled to be granted an award by NZIST is entitled to be granted the same or equivalent award of the successor organisation.
Schedule 1 clause 142: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
143 Existing training agreements
(1)
This clause applies to a training agreement and an apprenticeship training agreement that was in force immediately before the date on which responsibility for delivery or co-ordination of training activities under the agreement is transferred to a successor organisation.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
the training agreement and apprenticeship training agreement continues in force; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to NZIST in the training agreement and apprenticeship training agreement must be read as a reference to the successor organisation where the trainee is enrolled on and after that date.
(3)
Subclause (4) applies if the activities and responsibilities of the successor organisation in respect of the delivery or co-ordination of the training under the training agreement are to be changed.
(4)
As soon as is reasonably practicable after the transfer date, the successor organisation must—
(a)
consult the parties to the training agreement before amending the training agreement; and
(b)
if the parties agree, amend the training agreement and apprenticeship training agreement.
Schedule 1 clause 143: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Other matters relating to transfers
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
144 Visas granted under Immigration Act 2009
(1)
This clause applies to a visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 in respect of—
(a)
a student or trainee for the purposes of enrolment at NZIST; or
(b)
an employee of NZIST for the purposes of being employed by NZIST.
(2)
On and after the transfer date, any reference to NZIST in a condition imposed on the visa must be read as a reference to the successor organisation where the student or trainee is taken to be enrolled or where the employee’s employment is continued (as applicable).
Schedule 1 clause 144: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
145 Consequences of transfers for purposes of Inland Revenue Acts
(1)
This clause applies in relation to a matter that is transferred to a successor organisation in accordance with a transition plan approved under clause 130 or 131.
(2)
For the purposes of the Inland Revenue Acts (as defined in section 3(1) of the Tax Administration Act 1994), NZIST and the successor organisation are treated as the same person to the extent to which the matter is transferred to the successor organisation.
Schedule 1 clause 145: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
146 Transfer of contract for services to more than 1 successor organisation
(1)
This clause applies if a contract for services entered into by Te Pūkenga before commencement or by NZIST during the transition period is transferred to more than 1 successor organisation.
(2)
On and after the transfer date, the contract of service must be treated as if it had been entered into by each relevant successor organisation on terms that reflect that successor organisation’s use of the services.
Schedule 1 clause 146: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Disestablishment of NZIST
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
147 Disestablishment of NZIST
(1)
NZIST is disestablished on the earlier of the following dates:
(a)
the date specified by Order in Council made under subclause (2); and
(b)
the close of 31 March 2027.
(2)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister,—
(a)
specify the date on which NZIST is disestablished; and
(b)
provide for the distribution of residual assets and liabilities (including any liabilities for tax or redundancy payments) of NZIST.
(3)
An order made under this clause is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 147: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Consequences of disestablishment
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
148 Section 573 applies to NZIST
Section 573 (which sets out the effects of disestablishment of an institution) applies, with any necessary modifications, in relation to NZIST on its disestablishment date.
Schedule 1 clause 148: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
149 Council members cease to hold office
(1)
Every member of NZIST’s council holding office immediately before the disestablishment date ceases to hold office on the close of the day before that date.
(2)
Neither the Crown nor NZIST is liable to make a payment to, or otherwise compensate, a person referred to in subclause (1) in respect of the loss of office.
Schedule 1 clause 149: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
150 Taxes and duties of NZIST
Section 575 (which provides for the taxes and duties of a disestablished institution) applies, with any necessary modifications, in relation to any outstanding taxes or duties of NZIST on the disestablishment date.
Schedule 1 clause 150: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
151 Previous actions or decisions of NZIST not affected
The disestablishment of NZIST does not, by itself, affect any of the following matters:
(a)
any decision made, or anything done or omitted to be done, by NZIST in relation to the performance or exercise of its functions, powers, or duties under any legislation:
(b)
any proceedings commenced by or against NZIST:
(c)
any other matter or thing arising out of NZIST’s performance or exercise, or purported performance or exercise, of its functions, powers, or duties under any legislation.
Compare: 2022 No 30 Schedule 1 cl 10
Schedule 1 clause 151: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 2—Provision of work-based training by industry skills boards for temporary period
Schedule 1 subpart 2: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
152 Application of clauses 153 to 162
(1)
Clauses 153 to 162 apply during the period beginning on commencement and ending on the close of 31 December 2027.
(2)
The modification of this Act by clause 153 does not affect the text of this Act, but requires it to be read as if amended in the manner indicated by that clause.
Schedule 1 clause 152: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
153 Provision of training activities by industry skills boards
(1)
Section 367 (as replaced by the amendment Act) applies to an industry skills board as if the following paragraph and heading were inserted before the heading above paragraph (a):
Providing training activities
(aaa)
to provide the training activities allocated to the industry skills board in accordance with a transition plan approved under clause 131 of Schedule 1 pending the transfer of those activities to a tertiary education provider:
(2)
Subclause (1) applies despite section 372 (as replaced by the amendment Act).
Schedule 1 clause 153: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
154 Application of well-being and safety code of practice to industry skills board that provides training activities
A code of well-being and safety issued under section 534(1) applies to an industry skills board that provides training activities in accordance with clause 153 as if—
(a)
the industry skills board were a signatory provider to which the code applies; and
(b)
the students or trainees enrolled in the training activity were domestic tertiary students or international students in respect of whom the code applies.
Schedule 1 clause 154: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
155 Industry skills board to be treated as institution for purposes of certain provisions
Despite section 10(5)(a), an industry skills board that provides training activities is to be treated as an institution for the purposes of the sections specified in section 10(5)(a)(i) to (iii) during the period referred to in clause 152(1).
Schedule 1 clause 155: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
156 Industry skills board may charge fees for providing training activities
(1)
An industry skills board may, by notice, fix fees payable by trainees for training activities provided by the industry skills board.
(2)
A notice under subclause (1) may fix different fees payable by trainees, or a group or category of trainees, in relation to the training activities provided by the industry skills board.
(3)
However, a fee fixed under subclause (1) must not exceed the corresponding amount that was being charged by Te Pūkenga as at 31 December 2025 for providing the relevant training activity.
(4)
Fees fixed under this clause are payable in the manner prescribed in the notice and are recoverable as a debt due to the industry skills board.
(5)
A fee payable by a trainee may be refunded or waived in accordance with any criteria set out in the notice.
(6)
A notice made under this clause is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in accordance with the Legislation (Publication) Regulations 2021 | LA19 s 74(1)(aa) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 156: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
157 Industry skills board’s use of fee income for training activities
(1)
Before the transfer of training activities under clause 160, any income from fees paid by trainees to an industry skills board in accordance with a fee notice issued under clause 156 may only be used to provide the training activities to those trainees.
(2)
To avoid doubt, the income from fees paid to the industry skills board may be used for payment of actual and reasonable costs incurred—
(a)
for the governance and management of the training activities; or
(b)
as a direct result of compliance obligations, reporting requirements, or other legal obligations relating to the provision of the training activities.
Schedule 1 clause 157: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
158 Enrolment of new trainees in training activities
(1)
An industry skills board may enrol new trainees in a training activity unless TEC determines by notice in writing to the industry skills board that new trainees may not be enrolled in the training activity.
(2)
A determination under subclause (1) may relate to any 1 or more trainees or class of trainees specified in the notice.
(3)
In making a determination, TEC must take into account the availability of the training activity to the trainee or trainees to whom the proposed determination relates.
Schedule 1 clause 158: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
159 Requirement to develop transition plan for transfer of training activities to tertiary education providers
(1)
An industry skills board must, in consultation with NZQA, develop a transition plan for approval by TEC that provides for the transfer of—
(a)
training activities provided by the industry skills board and trainees enrolled in those training activities to 1 or more tertiary education providers; and
(b)
any specified rights, assets, liabilities, or agreements of the industry skills board relating to those training activities to 1 or more tertiary education providers.
(2)
The chief executive of TEC—
(a)
may issue guidance to an industry skills board on what must be contained in a transition plan; and
(b)
must consult the industry skills board when developing the guidance.
(3)
When approving a transition plan, TEC may, by giving written notice to the industry skills board, make any amendments to the plan that TEC considers reasonably necessary.
(4)
As soon as practicable after TEC has approved a transition plan, the industry skills board must do all things necessary to give effect to the plan.
(5)
If the industry skills board fails or refuses to develop a transition plan, TEC may develop the transition plan and the industry skills board must give effect to that plan.
Schedule 1 clause 159: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
160 Transfer of training activities
(1)
During the period beginning on 1 July 2027 and ending with the close of 31 December 2027, an industry skills board must give effect to a transition plan approved under clause 159 for the transfer of training activities to a tertiary education provider.
(2)
However, an industry skills board may develop and give effect to a transition plan approved under clause 159 before 1 July 2027 with the written approval of TEC.
(3)
On and after the date of transfer specified in the transition plan approved under clause 159,—
(a)
the training activities, rights, assets, liabilities, and agreements specified in the transition plan vest in the tertiary education provider concerned; and
(b)
any reference to the industry skills board in any legislation (other than this Act), instrument, agreement, deed, lease, application, notice, or other document relating to the training activities, rights, assets, liabilities, and agreements must be read as a reference to the tertiary education provider concerned; and
(c)
any information or document held by the industry skills board relating to the training activities, rights, assets, liabilities, and agreements is held by the tertiary education provider concerned; and
(d)
all money payable to, or by, the industry skills board (including funding payable under this Act) in relation to the training activities, rights, assets, liabilities, and agreements becomes payable to, or by, the tertiary education provider concerned.
(4)
To the extent that any training activity provided by an industry skills board has not been transferred in accordance with a transition plan approved under clause 159 by the close of 31 December 2027, the industry skills board must cease to provide the training activity.
Schedule 1 clause 160: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
161 Trainees of industry skills board
(1)
This clause applies to every trainee enrolled at an industry skills board in a training activity immediately before the date on which that training activity is transferred to a tertiary education provider.
(2)
The trainee must be treated as being enrolled at the tertiary education provider that is responsible for continuing the training activity on and after the transfer date.
(3)
A trainee who would, but for the transfer of the training activity to a tertiary education provider, have been entitled to be granted an award by the industry skills board is entitled to be granted the same or equivalent award of the tertiary education provider.
Schedule 1 clause 161: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
162 Transfer of training agreements
(1)
This clause applies to a training agreement and an apprenticeship training agreement that were in force immediately before the date on which responsibility for delivery or co-ordination of training activities under the agreements is transferred to a tertiary education provider.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
the training agreement and apprenticeship training agreement continue in force; and
(b)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to the industry skills board in the training agreement and apprenticeship training agreement must be read as a reference to the tertiary education provider where the trainee is enrolled on and after that date.
(3)
As soon as is reasonably practicable after the transfer date, the tertiary education provider must—
(a)
consult the parties to the training agreement before amending the training agreement; and
(b)
if the parties agree, amend the training agreement and apprenticeship training agreement.
Schedule 1 clause 162: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
163 Transfers do not give rise to claims
Nothing effected or authorised by this subpart—
(a)
places an industry skills board, tertiary education provider, or any other person in breach of contract or confidence, or makes any of them liable for a civil wrong; or
(b)
places an industry skills board, tertiary education provider, or any other person in breach of any legislation, rule of law, or contractual provision that prohibits, restricts, or regulates the assignment or transfer of property or the disclosure of information; or
(c)
entitles a person to terminate or cancel a contract or an arrangement, or to accelerate the performance of an obligation, or to impose a penalty or an increased charge; or
(d)
releases a surety from an obligation; or
(e)
invalidates or discharges a contract or surety.
Compare: 2022 No 30 Schedule 1 cl 28
Schedule 1 clause 163: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
164 Consequences of transfers for purposes of Inland Revenue Acts
(1)
This clause applies in relation to a matter that is transferred to a tertiary education provider in accordance with a transition plan approved under clause 159.
(2)
For the purposes of the Inland Revenue Acts (as defined in section 3(1) of the Tax Administration Act 1994), the relevant industry skills board and the tertiary education provider are treated as the same person to the extent to which the matter is transferred to that tertiary education provider.
Schedule 1 clause 164: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Transfer of industry skills board’s employees to tertiary education providers
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
165 Duties to identify employees and provide employee information
(1)
An industry skills board must—
(a)
identify the employees of the industry skills board whose positions may be required by a tertiary education provider to carry out its function in providing training activities; and
(b)
provide to the tertiary education provider the employee information about those employees that is reasonably necessary for the purpose of making offers of employment under clause 166(3).
(2)
In this clause, employee information, in relation to an employee of an industry skills board, includes (without limitation) information about—
(a)
the employee’s employment agreement, remuneration, accrued leave entitlements, superannuation scheme benefits, and any service-related benefits and entitlements:
(b)
any employment policies that are part of the employee’s conditions of employment.
Schedule 1 clause 165: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
166 Employment of industry skills board employees by tertiary education provider
(1)
This clause applies if training activities provided by an industry skills board are transferred to a tertiary education provider.
(2)
The tertiary education provider concerned must identify the employees of the industry skills board—
(a)
whose duties overall are required by the provider to carry out its function in providing the training activities; and
(b)
whose positions will cease to exist as a result of the transfer of the training activities to the tertiary education provider.
(3)
An employee who is identified under subclause (2) may be offered equivalent employment by the tertiary education provider, being employment that is—
(a)
in substantially the same position; and
(b)
in the same general locality; and
(c)
on terms and conditions (including, without limitation, in relation to the employee’s overall remuneration and any service-related, redundancy, or superannuation conditions) that are no less favourable than those applying to the employee immediately before the date on which the offer of employment is made to the employee; and
(d)
on terms that treat the period of service with the industry skills board (and every other period of service recognised by the industry skills board as continuous service) as if it were continuous service with the tertiary education provider.
(4)
If the employee accepts an offer of employment under subclause (3), the employee’s employment by the provider concerned is to be treated as continuous employment, including for the purposes of service-related entitlements, whether legislative or otherwise.
(5)
An employee of an industry skills board who is offered employment under subclause (3) by a tertiary education provider is not entitled to receive any contractual notice or any payment, benefit, or compensation from the industry skills board or the tertiary education provider on the grounds that—
(a)
the employee’s position in the industry skills board has ceased to exist, whether or not the employee accepts the offer; or
(b)
the person has ceased to be an employee of the industry skills board as a result of the person’s employment by the tertiary education provider.
(6)
To avoid doubt, the employment of an employee by the tertiary education provider concerned does not—
(a)
constitute new employment, including for the purposes of the Holidays Act 2003 or the KiwiSaver Act 2006 or any service-related entitlements or benefits (whether legislative or otherwise); or
(b)
treat that employee as a new employee for the purposes of the Employment Relations Act 2000.
(7)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employee protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
Schedule 1 clause 166: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
167 Transfer of other employment rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of industry skills board on change of employer
(1)
This clause applies to any other rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of an industry skills board (including in relation to any holiday and leave entitlements under the Holidays Act 2003)—
(a)
relating to an employee who has become an employee of a tertiary education provider under clause 166; and
(b)
that were in existence immediately before the date on which the employee became an employee of the tertiary education provider.
(2)
The rights, duties, liabilities, and obligations referred to in subclause (1) vest in the provider on the date on which the employee becomes an employee of the tertiary education provider.
Schedule 1 clause 167: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
168 Government Superannuation Fund
(1)
(2)
For the purposes of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the person is treated as being employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be an employee of the tertiary education provider.
(3)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of the tertiary education provider were Government service.
(4)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(5)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of the tertiary education provider is the controlling authority.
Schedule 1 clause 168: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 3—Transitional provisions relating to WDCs
Schedule 1 subpart 3: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
169 Interpretation
In this subpart,—
disestablishment date, in relation to a WDC, means the date specified in clause 183(1)(b) or specified for the WDC by an order made under clause 183(2)
transfer date, in relation to a function of a WDC, means the date (or dates) specified in the WDC’s transition plan on which its functions in relation to the specified industries covered by the WDC are transferred to 1 or more industry skills boards
transition period, in relation to a WDC, means the period starting on commencement and ending on the close of the day before the WDC’s disestablishment date
transition plan, for a WDC, means a plan developed and approved under clause 172
workforce development council or WDC means a workforce development council established under section 363 (as in force immediately before commencement) and in existence immediately before commencement.
Schedule 1 clause 169: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Continuation of WDCs
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
170 Continuation of WDCs
Despite the amendments made by the amendment Act, a WDC continues in existence during the relevant transition period for the WDC.
Schedule 1 clause 170: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
171 Application of legislation to WDC during transition period
(1)
During the transition period, subpart 6 of Part 4, Schedules 16 and 17, and any other provision of this Act or secondary legislation made under this Act or any other legislation relating to WDCs (as in force immediately before commencement) continue to apply to or in respect of a WDC as if the amendment Act had not been enacted.
(2)
Without limiting subclause (1), the following secondary legislation continues in force in respect of the relevant WDC until the WDC’s disestablishment date and is then revoked:
Schedule 1 clause 171: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Transfer of functions
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
172 Requirement to develop transition plan relating to WDC’s functions
(1)
As soon as practicable after commencement, a WDC must, in consultation with NZQA, develop a transition plan for approval by TEC that provides for the allocation and transfer of the WDC’s functions in relation to—
(a)
any of the specified industries covered by the WDC to an industry skills board or NZQA that, on and after the transfer date, is to be responsible for carrying out those functions; and
(b)
any specified rights, assets, liabilities, and agreements of the WDC.
(2)
For the purposes of this clause, the functions that may be transferred to an industry skills board are—
(a)
skills and workforce leadership for the specified industries:
(b)
developing, setting, and maintaining skill standards:
(c)
developing, setting, and maintaining capstone assessments for specified industries:
(d)
developing and maintaining industry qualifications:
(e)
developing and maintaining micro-credentials:
(f)
developing and maintaining national curricula for national qualifications for which it is the standard-setting body:
(g)
endorsing programmes and moderating standards and capstone assessments offered by providers for which it is the standard-setting body.
(3)
The chief executive of TEC—
(a)
may issue guidance to a WDC on what must be contained in the transition plan; and
(b)
must consult WDCs when developing the guidance.
(4)
When approving a transition plan, TEC may, by giving written notice to the WDC, make any amendments to the plan that it considers reasonably necessary.
(5)
As soon as practicable after TEC has approved a transition plan, the WDC must do all things necessary to give effect to the plan.
(6)
If a WDC fails or refuses to develop a transition plan, TEC may, after consulting NZQA, develop the transition plan for the WDC and the WDC must implement and maintain that plan.
Schedule 1 clause 172: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
173 Minister may exercise temporary power of direction in relation to WDC
(1)
During the transition period, the Minister may, by written notice to a WDC, give any directions the Minister thinks reasonably necessary to ensure that the WDC can deal effectively with matters relating to the allocation and transfer of functions to an industry skills board or NZQA.
(2)
The Minister must consult TEC, NZQA, and the WDC concerned before giving a direction.
(3)
The WDC must comply with the direction.
(4)
A direction expires on the earlier of—
(a)
the expiry date specified in the direction; and
(b)
the end of the transition period relating to the WDC.
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 1 cl 24
Schedule 1 clause 173: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
174 Transfer of rights, assets, and liabilities of WDC
(1)
This clause applies to all rights, assets, and liabilities of a WDC that are allocated to an industry skills board or NZQA in accordance with the WDC’s transition plan.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
the rights, assets, and liabilities vest (as the case requires) in the industry skills board concerned or NZQA; and
(b)
any information or document held by a WDC that relates to the functions or activities allocated in the WDC’s transition plan to an industry skills board or NZQA is held by the industry skills board or NZQA (as the case may be); and
(c)
all money payable to, or by, a WDC (including funding payable under this Act) in relation to the functions or activities allocated in the WDC’s transition plan to an industry skills board or NZQA becomes payable to, or by, the industry skills board or NZQA (as the case may be); and
(d)
unless the context otherwise requires, every reference to the WDC in any legislation (other than this Act), instrument, agreement, deed, lease, application, notice, or other document before that date must be read as a reference to that industry skills board or NZQA.
Schedule 1 clause 174: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
175 Consequences of transfer for purposes of Inland Revenue Acts
(1)
This clause applies in relation to a function of a WDC that is transferred to an industry skills board in accordance with the WDC’s transition plan.
(2)
For the purposes of the Inland Revenue Acts (as defined in section 3(1) of the Tax Administration Act 1994), a WDC and the industry skills board must be treated as the same person to the extent that the function is transferred to the industry skills board.
Schedule 1 clause 175: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
176 Transfers do not give rise to claims
Nothing effected by this Part or any other provision of this Act—
(a)
places the Crown, a WDC, an industry skills board, NZQA, or any other person in breach of contract or confidence, or makes any of them liable for a civil wrong; or
(b)
places any of those persons or any other person in breach of any legislation, rule of law, or contractual provision prohibiting, restricting, or regulating the assignment or transfer of property or the disclosure of information; or
(c)
entitles a person to terminate or cancel a contract or an arrangement, or to accelerate the performance of an obligation, or to impose a penalty or an increased charge; or
(d)
releases a surety from an obligation; or
(e)
invalidates or discharges a contract or surety.
Schedule 1 clause 176: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
177 Existing proceedings and other matters
(1)
This clause applies in respect of any functions or activities allocated to an industry skills board or NZQA in accordance with a WDC’s transition plan.
(2)
On and after the transfer date,—
(a)
proceedings continued or enforced by or against the WDC may instead be continued or enforced by or against the industry skills board concerned or NZQA without amendment to the proceedings; and
(b)
a matter or thing that would, but for this clause, have been completed by the WDC may instead be completed by that industry skills board or NZQA; and
(c)
anything done, or omitted to be done, or that is to be done, by or in relation to the WDC is to be treated as having been done, or having been omitted to be done, or having to be done, by or in relation to that industry skills board or NZQA.
(3)
In subclause (2)(a), proceedings—
(a)
means civil and criminal proceedings; and
(b)
includes any enforcement or compliance activities by TEC or NZQA.
Schedule 1 clause 177: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Transfer of WDC employees
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
178 Duties to identify employees and provide employee information
(1)
A WDC must—
(a)
identify the employees of the WDC whose positions may be required by an industry skills board or NZQA to carry out its functions; and
(b)
provide to the industry skills board and NZQA the employee information about those employees that is reasonably necessary for the purpose of making offers of employment under clause 179(3).
(2)
In this clause, employee information, in relation to an employee of a WDC, includes (without limitation) information about—
(a)
the employee’s employment agreement, remuneration, accrued leave entitlements, superannuation scheme benefits, and any service-related benefits and entitlements:
(b)
any employment policies that are part of the employee’s conditions of employment.
Schedule 1 clause 178: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
179 Employment of WDC employees by industry skills board or NZQA
(1)
This clause applies if the functions or activities of a WDC are transferred, in accordance with the WDC’s transition plan, to—
(a)
an industry skills board that is to be responsible for carrying out those functions or providing the activities on and after the transfer date; or
(b)
NZQA, in the case of any standards-setting function for a specified industry that is currently performed by the WDC and that will, on and after the transfer date, be performed by NZQA.
(2)
The industry skills board concerned or the chief executive of NZQA (as the case may be) must identify the employees of the WDC—
(a)
whose duties overall are required by the industry skills board or NZQA to carry out those functions or provide those activities; and
(b)
whose positions will cease to exist as a result of the transfer of the WDC’s functions and activities to the industry skills board or NZQA.
(3)
An employee who is identified under subclause (2) may be offered equivalent employment by the corresponding industry skills board or NZQA, being employment that is—
(a)
in substantially the same position; and
(b)
in the same general locality; and
(c)
on terms and conditions (including, without limitation, in relation to the employee’s overall remuneration and any service-related, redundancy, or superannuation conditions) that are no less favourable than those applying to the employee immediately before the date on which the offer of employment is made to the employee; and
(d)
on terms that treat the period of service with the WDC (and every other period of service recognised by the WDC as continuous service) as if it were continuous service with the industry skills board or NZQA.
(4)
If the employee accepts an offer of employment under subclause (3), the employee’s employment by the industry skills board or NZQA is to be treated as continuous employment, including for the purposes of service-related entitlements, whether legislative or otherwise.
(5)
An employee of a WDC who is offered employment by an industry skills board or NZQA is not entitled to receive any payment or other benefit on the grounds that—
(a)
the employee’s position in the WDC has ceased to exist, whether or not the employee accepts the offer; or
(b)
the person has ceased to be an employee of the WDC as a result of the person’s employment by the industry skills board or NZQA.
(6)
The employment of an employee by the industry skills board or NZQA does not—
(a)
constitute new employment, including for the purposes of the Holidays Act 2003 or the KiwiSaver Act 2006 or any service-related entitlements or benefits (whether legislative or otherwise); or
(b)
treat that employee as a new employee for the purposes of the Employment Relations Act 2000.
(7)
This clause overrides—
(a)
Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act 2000; and
(b)
any employee protection provision in any relevant employment agreement.
Schedule 1 clause 179: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
180 Transfer of employment rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of WDC on change of employer
(1)
This clause applies in relation to any rights, duties, liabilities, or obligations of a WDC (including in relation to any holiday and leave entitlements under the Holidays Act 2003)—
(a)
relating to an employee who has become an employee of an industry skills board or NZQA under clause 179; and
(b)
that were in existence immediately before the date on which the employee became an employee of the industry skills board or NZQA.
(2)
The rights, duties, liabilities, and obligations referred to in subclause (1) vest in the industry skills board or NZQA (as the case may be) on the date on which the employee becomes an employee of the industry skills board or NZQA.
Schedule 1 clause 180: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
181 Government Superannuation Fund
(1)
(2)
For the purposes of the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the person is treated as being employed in the Government service as long as the person continues to be an employee of the industry skills board or NZQA.
(3)
The Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956 applies to the person in all respects as if the person’s service as an employee of the industry skills board or NZQA were Government service.
(4)
Subclause (1) does not entitle a person to become a contributor to the Government Superannuation Fund if the person has ceased to be a contributor.
(5)
For the purpose of applying the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956, the chief executive of the industry skills board or NZQA (as the case may be) is the controlling authority.
Schedule 1 clause 181: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
182 Visas granted under Immigration Act 2009
(1)
This clause applies to a visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 in respect of a person who—
(a)
was an employee of a WDC; and
(b)
has accepted an offer of employment from the chief executive of an industry skills board or NZQA under clause 179(3).
(2)
Any reference to the WDC in a condition imposed on the visa must be read as a reference to the industry skills board or NZQA (as the case may be) on and after the date on which the person becomes an employee of the industry skills board or NZQA.
Schedule 1 clause 182: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Disestablishment of WDCs
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
183 Disestablishment of WDCs
(1)
A WDC is disestablished on the earlier of the following dates:
(a)
the date specified by Order in Council made under subclause (2); and
(b)
the close of 31 December 2026.
(2)
The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister,—
(a)
specify the date on which a WDC is disestablished; and
(b)
provide for the distribution of residual assets and liabilities (including any liabilities for tax or redundancy payments) of the WDC.
(3)
An order made under this clause is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | PCO must publish it on the legislation website and notify it in the Gazette | LA19 s 69(1)(c) | ||
| Presentation | The Minister must present it to the House of Representatives | LA19 s 114 | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 1 clause 183: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Consequences of disestablishment
Heading: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
184 Council members cease to hold office
(1)
Every member of a WDC’s council holding office immediately before the disestablishment date ceases to hold office on the close of the day before that date.
(2)
Neither the Crown nor the WDC is liable to make a payment to, or otherwise compensate, a person referred to in subclause (1) in respect of the loss of office.
Schedule 1 clause 184: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
185 Previous actions or decisions of WDC not affected
The disestablishment of a WDC does not, by itself, affect any of the following matters:
(a)
any decision made, or anything done or omitted to be done, by the WDC in relation to the performance or exercise of its functions, powers, or duties under any legislation:
(b)
any proceedings commenced by or against the WDC:
(c)
any other matter or thing arising out of the WDC’s performance or exercise, or purported performance or exercise, of its functions, powers, or duties under any legislation.
Compare: 2022 No 30 Schedule 1 cl 10
Schedule 1 clause 185: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
186 Final report of WDC
(1)
A WDC must provide the Minister with a final report in respect of its operations for the period—
(a)
commencing at the start of the financial year in which the WDC is disestablished; and
(b)
ending on the WDC’s disestablishment date.
(2)
The final report must—
(a)
be prepared in accordance with the annual reporting requirements set out in the Order in Council that established the WDC; and
(b)
be provided not later than 3 months after the disestablishment date.
(3)
The Minister may transfer some or all of the responsibility for providing the final report to another party if satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so.
Schedule 1 clause 186: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 4—Transitional provisions relating to establishment of council of polytechnic
Schedule 1 subpart 4: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
187 Validation of pre-commencement actions and processes
(1)
This clause applies to any action or process undertaken by the Minister before commencement when appointing members to the first council of a polytechnic.
(2)
An appointment is valid if the action or process substantially complies with this Act.
Schedule 1 clause 187: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
188 Membership of first council of polytechnic reduced
(1)
The number of first council members of a polytechnic is proportionately reduced until the date on which each member referred to in section 317 (as replaced by the amendment Act) is appointed to the council.
(2)
No action of a polytechnic’s council is invalid merely because any member referred to in subclause (1) has not been appointed to the polytechnic’s council on its establishment date.
Schedule 1 clause 188: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 5—Transitional provisions relating to establishment of industry skills boards
Schedule 1 subpart 5: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
189 Members of first industry skills board
(1)
The members of a first industry skills board are as follows:
(a)
2 members appointed by the Minister; and
(b)
6 members subsequently appointed by the members referred to in paragraph (a).
(2)
For the purpose of appointing members under subclause (1)(b), the chief executive of TEC must—
(a)
invite nominations and expressions of interest for appointment to the board (including, where appropriate, from industry bodies, employers, employees, and iwi partners from the specified industries covered by the board); and
(b)
recommend to the members appointed by the Minister under subclause (1)(a) from the list of nominations and expressions of interest received by the chief executive those persons that the chief executive considers are suitable for appointment, having regard to the matters set out in section 365 (as replaced by the amendment Act).
(3)
The members appointed under subclause (1)(a) must consider the recommendations received from the chief executive of TEC and appoint as members of the board those persons who are best suited for appointment as a member, having regard to the matters set out in section 365 (as replaced by the amendment Act).
(4)
Members appointed under subclause (1)(b) must be appointed as soon as practicable, but no later than 31 March 2026.
Schedule 1 clause 189: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
190 Validation of pre-commencement actions and processes regarding appointments to industry skills board
An appointment of a member to an industry skills board by the Minister is valid if the action or process for appointment undertaken before the commencement date substantially complies with the membership requirements of this Act.
Schedule 1 clause 190: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
191 Membership of industry skills board reduced until all appointments made
(1)
The number of members and the quorum required for a meeting under clause 13(3) of Schedule 13 are proportionately reduced until the date on which each member referred to in section 363 (as replaced by the amendment Act) is appointed to the industry skills board.
(2)
No action of an industry skills board is invalid merely because a member has not been appointed to the board on its establishment date.
Schedule 1 clause 191: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
192 First annual report for industry skills board
(1)
The Minister may exempt an industry skills board that is established during the last 4 months of a financial year from the obligation to provide an annual report for that financial year.
(2)
An industry skills board that is exempted under subclause (1) must, after the end of the industry skills board’s first full financial year, provide an annual report that covers the period from the date on which it is established until the end of its first full financial year.
(3)
To avoid doubt, the annual report referred to in subclause (2) must contain the information that is required to be included in the industry skills board’s annual report, except that the information must be in respect of the period referred to in that subclause.
Schedule 1 clause 192: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Subpart 6—Miscellaneous
Schedule 1 subpart 6: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
193 Apprenticeship training code
(1)
This clause applies to an apprenticeship training code issued under section 378 (as it read immediately before commencement) and in force immediately before commencement.
(2)
The apprenticeship training code continues in force on and after commencement and must be treated as if it were issued under section 384 (as replaced by the amendment Act).
Schedule 1 clause 193: inserted, on 22 October 2025, by section 33(a) of the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 56).
Part 8 Provisions relating to Education and Training Amendment Act 2025
Schedule 1 Part 8: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
194 Interpretation
In this Part,—
amendment Act means the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025
commencement date means the date on which the amendment Act comes into force.
Schedule 1 clause 194: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Attendance management plans
Heading: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
195 Requirement to have attendance management plan
(1)
A board (other than the board of a distance school) is not required to have an attendance management plan under section 137A for its school until the first day after 25 January 2026 on which the school is open for instruction.
(2)
The board of a distance school is not required to have an attendance management plan until 20 July 2026.
Schedule 1 clause 195: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Statement on freedom of expression
Heading: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
196 Requirement to adopt statement on freedom of expression
The council of a university is not required to adopt a statement on freedom of expression under section 281A for the university until 6 months after the commencement date.
Schedule 1 clause 196: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
National student numbers
Heading: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
197 Validation of national student numbers assigned to or used in relation to researchers
(1)
This clause applies to a national student number assigned to, or used in relation to, a researcher before the commencement date.
(2)
The assignment or use of the national student number is valid and declared to be, and to always have been, lawful.
(3)
In this clause, researcher means an individual who is, or was, employed or engaged by a tertiary education organisation and carries out, or carried out, research or research-led teaching.
Schedule 1 clause 197: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Teaching Council membership
Heading: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
198 End of teacher educator’s term of office
(1)
This clause applies to the member of the Teaching Council holding office under section 475(1)(b)(iv) immediately before the commencement date.
(2)
The member’s term of office ends on the commencement date.
Schedule 1 clause 198: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
199 Initial appointment of additional member under section 475(1)(a)
(1)
This clause applies to the first appointment by the Minister of the additional member of the Teaching Council under section 475(1)(a) (as amended by the amendment Act).
(2)
The Minister need not comply with section 476(3) when appointing the member.
Schedule 1 clause 199: inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 28(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Part 9 Provisions relating to Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025
Schedule 1 Part 9: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 13(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
200 Interpretation
In this Part,—
amendment Act means the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025
commencement date means the date on which the amendment Act comes into force
Director of Regulation function means a function, duty, or power of the Secretary under this Act that becomes a function, duty, or power of the Director of Regulation on and after the commencement date.
Schedule 1 clause 200: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 13(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
201 Effect of transfer of functions to Director of Regulation on matters, documents, and decisions
(1)
This clause applies if, before the commencement date,—
(a)
a person has applied to the Secretary and the application relates to a Director of Regulation function, for example, a licence to operate an early childhood service, but the application has not been considered; or
(b)
the Secretary has commenced a matter or process in relation to a Director of Regulation function, for example, an investigation into a service provider’s non-compliance with their licence, but the investigation has not been completed; or
(c)
a person has appealed to the District Court against, or applied for judicial review of, a decision or direction of the Secretary in relation to early childhood education.
(2)
The Director of Regulation, in place of the Secretary, must consider the application or complete the matter or process on or after the commencement date.
(3)
If subclause (1)(c) applies, the Director, in place of the Secretary, is treated as a respondent to the appeal or application for judicial review on and after the commencement date.
(4)
A document or notice given by the Secretary under this Act is treated as a document or notice given by the Director of Regulation if—
(a)
it relates to a Director of Regulation function; and
(b)
it was given before the commencement date.
(5)
The transfer of a Director of Regulation function to the Director of Regulation does not, of itself, affect—
(a)
a decision made, or anything done or omitted to be done, by the Secretary in relation to the Director of Regulation function before the commencement date; or
(b)
any other matter or thing arising out of the Secretary performing the Director of Regulation function before the commencement date.
(6)
In this section, applied for judicial review means—
(a)
to have applied for review of the decision or direction under the Judicial Review Procedure Act 2016; or
(b)
to have instituted proceedings seeking any writ or order of, or in the nature of, mandamus, prohibition, or certiorari, or a declaration or injunction, in respect of that decision or direction.
Schedule 1 clause 201: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 13(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
202 Personal information
Personal information that was held by the Secretary before the commencement date when performing a Director of Regulation function is to be treated on and after the commencement date as having been held by the Director of Regulation.
Schedule 1 clause 202: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 13(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
203 References to Secretary
(1)
On and after the commencement date, a reference to the Secretary in any legislation (other than this Act), notice, instrument, contract, or other document must, in relation to a Director of Regulation function, be read as a reference to the Director of Regulation.
(2)
This clause applies unless the context otherwise requires.
Schedule 1 clause 203: inserted, on 23 February 2026, by section 13(a) of the Education and Training (Early Childhood Education Reform) Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 70).
Schedule 2 Special institutions
Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ
Central Regional Health School
Halswell Residential College
Kimi Ora School
Ko Taku Reo—Deaf Education New Zealand
Northern Health School
Salisbury School
Southern Health School
Westbridge Residential School
Schedule 2: amended, on 1 August 2022, by section 68 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Compare: 1989 No 80 Schedule 5
Schedule 2A Free kindergarten associations
Schedule 2A: inserted, on 1 August 2022, by section 69 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Ashburton Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Auckland Kindergarten Association
Canterbury Westland Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Central North Island Kindergarten Trust
Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Dannevirke Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Dunedin Kindergartens Incorporated
Geraldine District Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Gisborne Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
He Whanau Manaaki o Tararua Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Heretaunga Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Hutt City Kindergartens Association Incorporated
Marlborough Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Napier Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Nelson District Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Northern Auckland Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Northland Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Oamaru Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Ruahine Kindergarten Association Incorporated
South Canterbury Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
South Otago Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Southland Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Taranaki Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Tauranga Regional Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Te Aroha Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Waikato Kindergarten Association
Waimate Free Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Westport Kindergarten Association Incorporated
Schedule 3 Teacher registration, practising certificates, and other matters
ss 10(1), 96, 479(1)(d), (e), (l), 481(1), 486(1)(h), 499(6), 504(4), 509(3), 614(3)
Contents
1 Applications for registration as teachers
Any person may apply to the Teaching Council for registration as a teacher.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 352
2 Registration of applicants as teachers
The Teaching Council must register an applicant under clause 1 if satisfied that the applicant—
(a)
is of good character; and
(b)
is fit to be a teacher; and
(c)
is satisfactorily trained to teach; and
(d)
meets the criteria for teacher registration established under section 479(1)(e); and
(e)
either—
(i)
has not been convicted of a specified offence as defined in section 23(1) of the Children’s Act 2014; or
(ii)
has been granted an exemption under section 35 of the Children’s Act 2014 in respect of every conviction for a specified offence as defined in section 23(1) of that Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 353
3 Determining whether training satisfactory
(1)
In determining whether a person is satisfactorily trained to teach, the Teaching Council may take into account any relevant matters.
(2)
In determining whether a person is satisfactorily trained to teach, the Teaching Council must take into account—
(a)
the person’s qualifications; and
(b)
whether the person has satisfactorily completed training recognised by the Teaching Council as suitable for people who want to teach.
(3)
Subclause (2) does not limit subclause (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 354
4 Determining good character and fitness to be teacher
(1)
For the purpose of determining whether a person is of good character and fit to be a teacher, the Teaching Council must obtain a Police vet of the person.
(2)
Subclause (1) does not limit any other matters that the Teaching Council may take into account in determining character and fitness to be a teacher.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 355
5 Appeals against decisions of Teaching Council
(1)
A person who is dissatisfied with all or any part of a decision of the Teaching Council under clause 2, 6, or 10 (whether a decision to act or a decision to refuse to act) may, within 28 days after receiving notice of the decision from the Teaching Council or any longer period the court, on application made before or after the end of the period, allows, appeal to the District Court against the decision.
(2)
The court must hear the appeal as soon as practicable, and may confirm, reverse, or modify the decision concerned, or may refer the matter back to the Teaching Council in accordance with rules of court, or may give any decision that the Teaching Council could have given.
(3)
Nothing in this clause gives the court power to review any part of the Teaching Council’s decision that the appellant has not appealed against.
(4)
Subject to any order of the court, every decision of the Teaching Council continues in force and has effect pending the determination of an appeal against it.
(5)
On any appeal under this clause, the court may order the Teaching Council or the appellant to pay the costs incurred by the other party in respect of the appeal.
(6)
The Teaching Council or the appellant may, with the leave of the High Court or the Court of Appeal, appeal to the Court of Appeal on a question of law against any decision made by the District Court on an appeal under this clause.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 356
6 Cancellation of registration as teacher
(1)
The Teaching Council must cancel a person’s registration if—
(a)
the Teaching Council is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the person no longer satisfies the requirements for registration as a teacher (as set out in clause 2); or
(b)
the Teaching Council is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the registration was granted by mistake or obtained by fraud; or
(c)
the Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered, under section 500, that the registration be cancelled; or
(d)
the Competence Authority has ordered, under section 508, that the registration be cancelled.
(2)
The Teaching Council may not cancel a person’s registration under subclause (1)(a) or (b) without first—
(a)
taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the person is given notice of the reasons for the proposed cancellation; and
(b)
giving the person a reasonable opportunity to make submissions and be heard, either in person or by counsel or other representative, on the proposed cancellation.
(3)
The fact that a person’s registration has been cancelled does not prevent the person from again being registered.
(4)
The Teaching Council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that employers are informed of, and may make public on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Teaching Council, the name of every person whose registration is cancelled under this clause.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 357
7 Voluntary deregistration
The Teaching Council must deregister a person if—
(a)
the Teaching Council receives a written request from the person seeking deregistration; and
(b)
the Teaching Council is satisfied that the person is not the subject of any of the following:
(i)
a mandatory report under any of sections 489 to 493:
(ii)
a complaint made under section 495(2) or section 506(2):
(iii)
a matter referred to the Complaints Assessment Committee under section 496(2):
(iv)
a matter referred to the Disciplinary Tribunal under section 497(5).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 358
Schedule 3 clause 7(b): replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
8 Teaching Council to keep register of people registered as teachers
(1)
The Teaching Council must keep a register of people who are registered as teachers.
(2)
If the Teaching Council is satisfied that any of the information contained in the register is incorrect, the Teaching Council must ensure that the information is corrected.
(3)
The Teaching Council may annotate the register following—
(a)
an interim suspension under section 498; or
(b)
an action by a disciplinary body under section 497 or 500; or
(c)
an action by the Competence Authority under section 508; or
(d)
a cancellation of a person’s registration under clause 6(1)(a) or (b); or
(e)
a voluntary deregistration under clause 7; or
(f)
a conviction of a teacher in the circumstances described in subclause (5); or
(g)
an agreement between a teacher and the Teaching Council (due to a report or complaint that is about or involves the teacher’s possible serious misconduct) that the teacher will not teach until the agreement is ended.
(4)
If the register is annotated following an agreement not to teach in accordance with subclause (3)(g) or an interim suspension, the annotation must be removed or corrected as soon as practicable after the agreement is ended or the matter is concluded (as specified in section 499(6)).
(5)
For the purposes of subclause (3)(f), the circumstances are that the teacher—
(a)
has been convicted of a specified offence as defined in section 23(1) of the Children’s Act 2014; and
(b)
has not been granted an exemption under section 35 of that Act in respect of that conviction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 359
Schedule 3 clause 8(3)(d): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 8(3)(e): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 8(3)(f): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 8(3)(g): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 8(4): replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 8(5): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
9 Matching of register information and information about payment of teacher salaries at payrolled schools
(1)
The purpose of this clause is to facilitate the exchange of information between the Ministry and the Teaching Council for the purposes of enabling—
(a)
the Teaching Council, in relation to any person employed in a teaching position, to identify—
(i)
the person’s employer; and
(ii)
the person’s registration status; and
(iii)
the status and currency of the person’s practising certificate; and
(b)
the Ministry, in relation to regular teachers and relieving teachers in receipt of salaries at payrolled schools, to identify their salary entitlement or eligibility (if any) for an allowance on the basis of their registration or practising certificate (if any).
(2)
For the purpose set out in subclause (1)(a), the Teaching Council may, in accordance with arrangements under the Privacy Act 2020 previously agreed between the Secretary and the Teaching Council,—
(a)
require the Secretary to supply any or all of the following information about any or all regular teachers and relieving teachers in receipt of salaries at payrolled schools:
(i)
surname:
(ii)
first name:
(iii)
date of birth:
(iv)
gender:
(v)
address:
(vi)
the school at which a teacher is employed:
(vii)
payroll number:
(viii)
registration number:
(ix)
number of half-days employed in a teaching position in any calendar year; and
(b)
compare the information supplied under paragraph (a) with the information contained in the register.
(3)
For the purpose set out in subclause (1)(b), the Secretary may, in accordance with arrangements under the Privacy Act 2020 previously agreed between the Secretary and the Teaching Council,—
(a)
require the Teaching Council to supply any or all of the following information about any or all people registered as teachers:
(i)
surname:
(ii)
first name:
(iii)
date of birth:
(iv)
gender:
(v)
address:
(vi)
the school at which a teacher is employed:
(vii)
registration number:
(viii)
registration or practising certificate expiry date:
(ix)
registration or practising certificate classification; and
(b)
compare the information supplied under paragraph (a) with the information held by the Ministry about regular teachers and relieving teachers in receipt of salaries at payrolled schools.
(4)
On or after 1 December 2020, no information may be supplied under this clause except under—
(a)
(b)
an approved information sharing agreement entered into under subpart 1 of Part 7 of the Privacy Act 2020.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 360
Schedule 3 clause 9(2): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 667(3)(b).
Schedule 3 clause 9(3): amended, on 1 December 2020, by section 667(3)(c).
Schedule 3 clause 9(4): inserted, on 1 December 2020, by section 667(4).
10 Practising certificates
(1)
Any person may apply to the Teaching Council, on a form provided by the Teaching Council, for a practising certificate.
(2)
The Teaching Council must issue a practising certificate to every applicant who—
(a)
is registered as a teacher; and
(b)
has had a satisfactory Police vet within the past 3 years; and
(c)
meets the standards and criteria for the issue of practising certificates maintained by the Teaching Council under section 479(1)(j).
(3)
A teacher’s practising certificate must show clearly that the teacher is registered.
(4)
Unless it is sooner cancelled or expires,—
(a)
a practising certificate issued to a teacher who already holds a current practising certificate expires—
(i)
on the third anniversary of the day on which the certificate already held expires; or
(ii)
at any earlier time that the Teaching Council specifies, by notice, in respect of any or all kinds of practising certificate (see subclause (8A):
(b)
a practising certificate issued to a teacher who does not already hold a current practising certificate expires—
(i)
on the third anniversary of the day it is issued; or
(ii)
at any earlier time that the Teaching Council decides in accordance with the standards and criteria maintained under section 479(1)(j).
(5)
A practising certificate expires when its holder’s registration is cancelled.
(6)
If a teacher applies to renew their practising certificate, the Teaching Council may issue a renewed practising certificate—
(a)
if it is satisfied that the teacher—
(i)
has satisfactory recent teaching experience; and
(ii)
has had a satisfactory Police vet within the past 3 years; and
(iii)
has completed satisfactory professional development during the past 3 years; and
(iv)
meets the standards and criteria maintained under section 479(1)(j); or
(b)
if it is satisfied that the teacher—
(i)
has met the requirements for a refresh process specified under rules made under section 486; and
(ii)
has had a satisfactory Police vet within the past 3 years; and
(iii)
meets the standards and criteria maintained under section 479(1)(j).
(7)
This subclause applies to a renewed practising certificate issued to a person if—
(a)
the practising certificate the person already holds when the renewed certificate is issued is suspended under section 498; or
(b)
the person does not already hold a practising certificate when the renewed certificate is issued, but—
(i)
the practising certificate the person last held was suspended under section 498 when it expired; and
(ii)
the suspension was not due to expire until a time after the issue of the renewed certificate.
(8)
A renewed practising certificate to which subclause (7) applies must be treated as being suspended under section 498, and its suspension expires when the suspension of the previous practising certificate held by its holder would have expired.
(8A)
A notice under subclause (4)(a)(ii) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).
(9)
In this clause, satisfactory recent teaching experience, in relation to any person at any time, means either of the following, satisfactorily completed by the person during the 5 years before that time:
(a)
an uninterrupted period of employment of 2 years (or some shorter period or periods approved by the Teaching Council for the person) in a teaching position or teaching positions; or
(b)
a period of employment of 2 years (or some shorter period or periods approved by the Teaching Council for the person) in a position (or positions) that (or each of which) in the Teaching Council’s opinion was equivalent to a teaching position in an educational institution in New Zealand approved by the Teaching Council for the purposes of this schedule.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 361
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
11 Cancellation of practising certificate
(1)
The Teaching Council must cancel a person’s practising certificate if—
(a)
the Teaching Council is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the person no longer satisfies the requirements for holding a practising certificate (as set out in clause 10(2)); or
(b)
the Teaching Council is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the practising certificate was issued by mistake or obtained by fraud; or
(c)
the Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered, under section 500(1)(g), that the practising certificate be cancelled; or
(d)
the Competence Authority has ordered, under section 508, that the practising certificate be cancelled.
(2)
The Teaching Council may not cancel a person’s practising certificate under subclause (1)(a) or (b) without first—
(a)
taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the person is given notice of the reasons for the proposed cancellation; and
(b)
giving the person a reasonable opportunity to make submissions and be heard, either in person or by counsel or other representative, on the proposed cancellation.
(3)
The fact that a person’s practising certificate has been cancelled does not prevent the person from again holding a practising certificate.
(4)
The Teaching Council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that employers are informed of, and may make public on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Teaching Council, the name of every person whose practising certificate is cancelled under this clause.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 362
12 Determining whether employment satisfactorily completed
(1)
In determining whether a period of employment was satisfactorily completed by a person, the Teaching Council may take into account any relevant matters.
(2)
In determining whether a period of employment at a school, early childhood service, or other educational institution in New Zealand was satisfactorily completed by a person, the Teaching Council may take into account—
(a)
the views of the professional leader of the school, early childhood service, or other educational institution; or
(b)
if the person was the professional leader of a school, early childhood service, or other educational institution, the views of the person’s employer.
(3)
Subclause (2) does not limit subclause (1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 363
13 Fees and costs for registration and practising certificates
[Repealed]Schedule 3 clause 13: repealed, on 20 November 2021, by section 6 of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Limited authority to teach
14 Purpose of limited authority to teach
(1)
The purpose of granting a limited authority to teach is to enable employers to have access to skills that are in short supply and to enable those with specialist skills but who may not have a teaching qualification to teach.
(2)
Despite subclause (1), a sponsor may employ a person in a charter school who has been granted a limited authority to teach under clause 16(1A).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 365
Schedule 3 clause 14(2): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 64(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
15 Applications for limited authority to teach
Any person may apply to the Teaching Council for a limited authority to teach.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 366(1)
16 Limited authority to teach
(1)
The Teaching Council must grant a limited authority to teach if it considers that the applicant is of a suitable disposition and—
(a)
the applicant has the skills and experience appropriate to advance the learning of a student or group of students; or
(b)
the applicant has skills that are in short supply.
(1A)
Despite subclause (1), the Teaching Council must grant a limited authority to teach if—
(a)
the application relates to teaching in 1 or more charter schools; and
(b)
the Teaching Council considers that the applicant—
(i)
is of a suitable disposition: and
(ii)
has the skills and experience appropriate to advance the learning of a student or group of students.
(2)
A person who has previously been authorised may be authorised again, whether before or after the expiry or cancellation of the previous authorisation.
(3)
In this clause, suitable disposition, in relation to an applicant, means the applicant—
(a)
is of good character and fit to hold a limited authority to teach; and
(b)
either—
(i)
has not been convicted of a specified offence as defined in section 23(1) of the Children’s Act 2014; or
(ii)
has been granted an exemption under section 35 of the Children’s Act 2014 in respect of every conviction for a specified offence as defined in section 23(1) of that Act.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 366
Schedule 3 clause 16(1A): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 64(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
17 Cancellation of limited authority to teach
(1)
The Teaching Council must cancel a person’s limited authority to teach if—
(a)
the Teaching Council is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the person no longer satisfies the requirements for holding a limited authority to teach (as set out in clause 16(1) or (1A)); or
(b)
the Teaching Council is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the authorisation was granted by mistake or obtained by fraud; or
(c)
the Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered, under section 500(1)(g), that the limited authority to teach be cancelled; or
(d)
the Competence Authority has ordered, under section 508, that the limited authority to teach be cancelled.
(2)
The Teaching Council may not cancel a person’s limited authority to teach under subclause (1)(a) or (b) without first—
(a)
taking all reasonable steps to ensure that the person is given notice of the reasons for the proposed cancellation; and
(b)
giving the person a reasonable opportunity to make submissions and be heard, either in person or by counsel or other representative, on the proposed cancellation.
(3)
The fact that a person’s limited authority to teach has been cancelled does not prevent the person from again being given a limited authority to teach.
(4)
The Teaching Council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that employers are informed of, and may make public on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Teaching Council, the name of every person whose limited authority to teach is cancelled—
(a)
under this clause; or
(b)
as a result of the Teaching Council refusing to grant a limited authority to teach on the ground that the person is not of good character or is not fit to hold a limited authority to teach.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 367
Schedule 3 clause 17(1)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 64(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
18 Determining character or fitness to hold limited authority to teach
(1)
In determining whether a person is of good character or is fit to hold a limited authority to teach, the Teaching Council—
(a)
must take into account and give due weight to—
(i)
any relevant skills and experience of the applicant; and
(ii)
any other relevant matters; and
(b)
if the applicant is currently employed as the professional leader of a school, early childhood service, or other educational institution, must take into account and give due weight to the views of the applicant’s employer; and
(c)
if the applicant is currently employed at a school, early childhood service, or other educational institution, but not as its professional leader, must take into account and give due weight to the views of the professional leader of the school, service, or institution.
(2)
For the purpose of determining whether a person is of good character and fit to hold a limited authority to teach, the Teaching Council must obtain a Police vet of the person.
(3)
Subclause (1) does not limit any other matters that the Teaching Council may take into account in determining good character and fitness to hold a limited authority to teach.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 368
19 Appeals against decisions
(1)
Any person who is dissatisfied with all or any part of a decision of the Teaching Council under clause 18 (whether a decision to act or a decision to refuse to act) may, within 28 days of receiving notice of the decision from the Teaching Council or any longer period the court (on application made before or after the end of the period) allows, appeal against the decision to the District Court.
(2)
Clause 5(2) to (6) applies to every appeal under subclause (1) of this clause as if it were an appeal under clause 5(1).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 369
20 Period of authorisation
(1)
A person’s authorisation expires after 3 years.
(2)
Despite subclause (1), the Teaching Council may grant the authorisation for a period of less than 3 years.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 370
21 Teaching Council to keep list of persons who have limited authority to teach
(1)
For the purposes of this schedule, the Teaching Council must keep a list of persons who have a limited authority to teach.
(2)
If the Teaching Council is satisfied that any of the information contained in the list is incorrect, the Teaching Council must ensure that the information is corrected.
(3)
The Teaching Council may annotate the list following—
(a)
an interim suspension under section 498(2); or
(b)
an action by a disciplinary body under section 497 or 500; or
(c)
an action by the Competence Authority under section 508; or
(d)
a cancellation of a person’s limited authority to teach under clause 17(1)(a) or (b); or
(e)
a conviction of a holder of a limited authority to teach in the circumstances described in subclause (5); or
(f)
an agreement between a holder of a limited authority to teach and the Teaching Council (due to a report or complaint that is about or involves the person’s possible serious misconduct) that the person will not teach until the agreement is ended.
(4)
If the list is annotated following an agreement not to teach in accordance with subclause (3)(f) or an interim suspension, the annotation must be removed or corrected as soon as practicable after the agreement is ended or the matter is concluded (as specified in section 499(6)).
(5)
For the purposes of subclause (3)(e), the circumstances are that the person—
(a)
has been convicted of a specified offence as defined in section 23(1) of the Children’s Act 2014; and
(b)
has not been granted an exemption under section 35 of that Act in respect of that conviction.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 371
Schedule 3 clause 21(3)(d): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 21(3)(e): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 21(3)(f): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 21(4): replaced, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
Schedule 3 clause 21(5): inserted, on 19 November 2025, by section 29(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
22 Fees and costs for granting limited authority to teach
[Repealed]Schedule 3 clause 22: repealed, on 20 November 2021, by section 6 of the Education and Training (Teaching Council Fees, Levies, and Costs) Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 47).
Miscellaneous provisions
23 Teaching Council may disclose certain information
If the management of an early childhood service that is not an early childhood education and care service asks the Teaching Council for information about a person who is a prospective employee, the Teaching Council may—
(a)
make any inquiry about the person that it might have made if the person had applied for registration as a teacher; and
(b)
disclose to the management any information it holds or has obtained about the person.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 373
Schedule 4 Police vetting
Preliminary
Heading: inserted, on 16 December 2021, by section 13 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
1AAA Application of certain provisions
(1)
The Police vetting requirements in clauses 1, 2, 9, and 10 apply in respect of a person who, in the course of their work for the service provider or school, does not fall within the definition of a children’s worker in section 23(1) of the Children’s Act 2014 and, as a result, is not required to be safety checked under Part 3 of that Act.
(2)
To avoid doubt, nothing in this schedule limits Part 3 of the Children’s Act 2014 or regulations made under that Act in relation to the safety checking of children’s workers.
Schedule 4 clause 1AAA: inserted, on 16 December 2021, by section 13 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Police vetting in respect of licensed early childhood services
Heading: inserted, on 16 December 2021, by section 13 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
1 Police vetting of non-teaching and unregistered employees at licensed early childhood services
(1)
The service provider of a licensed early childhood service must obtain a Police vet of every person—
(a)
whom the service provider appoints, or intends to appoint, to a position at the early childhood service; and
(b)
who is to work at the service during normal opening hours; and
(c)
who is not—
(i)
a registered teacher who holds a current practising certificate; or
(ii)
a holder of a limited authority to teach.
(2)
The service provider must—
(a)
obtain the Police vet required by subclause (1) before the person begins work at the early childhood service; and
(b)
consider the information contained in the Police vet to assess whether the person would pose a risk to the safety of children if the person were to carry out work at the service.
(3)
In carrying out an assessment under subclause (2)(b), the service provider must take into account any guidelines on risk assessments issued by the Ministry.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319D
Schedule 4 clause 1(1)(c): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 70(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Schedule 4 clause 1(2): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Schedule 4 clause 1(3): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
2 Police vetting of contractors and their employees who work at licensed early childhood services
(1)
The service provider of a licensed early childhood service must obtain a Police vet of every contractor, or employee of a contractor, who has, or is likely to have, unsupervised access to children at the service during normal opening hours.
(1A)
The service provider must—
(a)
obtain the Police vet required by subclause (1) before the contractor, or employee of a contractor, has, or is likely to have, unsupervised access to children at the service; and
(b)
consider the information contained in the Police vet to assess whether the contractor, or employee of a contractor, would pose a risk to the safety of children if they had unsupervised access to children at the service.
(1B)
In carrying out an assessment under subclause (1A)(b), the service provider must take into account any guidelines on risk assessments issued by the Ministry.
(2)
In this clause, contractor means a person who works at a licensed early childhood service under a contract for services.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319E
Schedule 4 clause 2(1A): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Schedule 4 clause 2(1B): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
3 Police vet must be obtained before person has unsupervised access to children
[Repealed]Schedule 4 clause 3: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 70(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
4 Procedures relating to Police vets under clause 1 or 2
The service provider of a licensed early childhood service that applies for a Police vet of a person under clause 1 or 2—
(a)
must ensure that strict confidentiality is observed for Police vets; and
(b)
may not take adverse action in relation to the person who is the subject of a Police vet until—
(i)
the person has validated the information contained in the vet; or
(ii)
the person has been given a reasonable opportunity to validate the information, but has failed to do so within a reasonable period.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319FA
5 Police vetting of adult members of household where licensed home-based education and care service provided
(1)
The service provider of a licensed home-based education and care service must obtain a Police vet of every adult who lives in a home—
(a)
where the service is being provided; and
(b)
where at least 1 child to whom the service is being provided does not live in the home.
(2)
In this clause, adult means a person who is aged 17 years or over.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319FB
6 When Police vet under clause 5 must be obtained
(1)
The service provider must—
(a)
obtain the Police vet required by clause 5,—
(i)
in the case of a home to be used as a licensed home-based education and care service, before the home is used as a licensed home-based education and care service:
(ii)
in the case of a home that is being used as a licensed home-based education and care service, before the adult begins to live in the home; and
(b)
consider the information contained in the Police vet to assess whether the person would pose a risk to the safety of children to whom the service is provided.
(1A)
In carrying out an assessment under subclause (1)(b), the service provider must take into account any guidelines on risk assessments issued by the Ministry.
(2)
The Police vet must be obtained even if the person is unlikely to be present when the licensed home-based education and care service is provided.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319FC
Schedule 4 clause 6(1): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Schedule 4 clause 6(1A): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
7 Procedures relating to Police vets under clause 5
The service provider of a licensed home-based education and care service that applies for a Police vet of a person under clause 5—
(a)
must ensure that strict confidentiality is observed for Police vets; and
(b)
may not take adverse action in relation to the person who is the subject of a Police vet until—
(i)
the person has validated the information contained in the vet; or
(ii)
the person has been given a reasonable opportunity to validate the information, but has failed to do so within a reasonable period.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319FD
8 Further Police vets to be obtained every 3 years
(1)
(2)
A further Police vet required under subclause (1) must be obtained on or about every third anniversary of any Police vet that has been previously conducted on the person.
(3)
The requirement for a further Police vet under this clause does not apply to a person on whom a Police vet under clause 1 or 2 would not be required if the person were about to be appointed to a position at the licensed early childhood service or to work at the service at the time that the further Police vet would otherwise be required.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 319FE
Schedule 4 clause 8(1)(a): amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Police vetting in respect of primary and secondary schools
9 Police vetting of non-teaching and unregistered employees at schools
(1)
The board of a State school, the sponsor, and the managers of a private school must obtain a Police vet of every person—
(a)
whom the board, the sponsor, or the managers appoints, or intends to appoint, to a position at the school; and
(b)
who is to work at the school during normal school hours; and
(c)
who is not—
(i)
a registered teacher who holds a current practising certificate; or
(ii)
a holder of a limited authority to teach.
(2)
The board, the sponsor, or managers must—
(a)
obtain the Police vet required by subclause (1) before the person begins work at the school; and
(b)
consider the information contained in the Police vet to assess whether the person would pose a risk to the safety of children if the person were to carry out work at the school.
(3)
In carrying out an assessment under subclause (2)(b), the board, the sponsor, or managers must take into account any guidelines on risk assessments issued by the Ministry.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78C
Schedule 4 clause 9(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(1)(a) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Schedule 4 clause 9(1)(a): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(1)(b) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Schedule 4 clause 9(1)(c): replaced, on 1 August 2022, by section 70(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
Schedule 4 clause 9(2): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Schedule 4 clause 9(2): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Schedule 4 clause 9(3): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Schedule 4 clause 9(3): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
10 Police vetting of contractors and their employees who work at schools
(1)
The board of a State school, the sponsor, and the managers of a private school must obtain a Police vet of every contractor, or employee of a contractor, who has, or is likely to have, unsupervised access to students at the school during normal school hours.
(1A)
The board, the sponsor, or managers must—
(a)
obtain the Police vet required by subclause (1) before the contractor, or employee of a contractor, has, or is likely to have, unsupervised access to children at the school; and
(b)
consider the information contained in the Police vet to assess whether the contractor, or employee of a contractor, would pose a risk to the safety of children if they had unsupervised access to children at the school.
(1B)
In carrying out an assessment under subclause (1A)(b), the board, the sponsor, or managers must take into account any guidelines on risk assessments issued by the Ministry.
(2)
In this clause, contractor means a person who works at a school under a contract for services.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78CA
Schedule 4 clause 10(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(3) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Schedule 4 clause 10(1A): replaced, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Schedule 4 clause 10(1A): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Schedule 4 clause 10(1B): inserted, on 23 August 2023, by section 38(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2023 (2023 No 45).
Schedule 4 clause 10(1B): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(4) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
11 Police vet must be obtained before person has unsupervised access to students
[Repealed]Schedule 4 clause 11: repealed, on 1 August 2022, by section 70(8) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 38).
12 Further Police vets to be obtained every 3 years
(1)
(2)
A further Police vet required under subclause (1) must be obtained on or about every third anniversary of any Police vet that has been previously conducted on the person.
(3)
The requirement for a further Police vet under this clause does not apply to a person on whom a Police vet under clause 9 or 10 would not be required if the person were about to be appointed to a position at the school or to work at the school at the time that the further Police vet would otherwise be required.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78CC
Schedule 4 clause 12(1): amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
13 Procedures relating to Police vets under clause 9 or 10
The board of a State school, the sponsor, or the managers of a private school that applies for a Police vet of a person under clause 9 or 10—
(a)
must ensure that strict confidentiality is observed for Police vets; and
(b)
may not take adverse action in relation to a person who is the subject of a Police vet until—
(i)
the person has validated the information contained in the vet; or
(ii)
the person has been given a reasonable opportunity to validate the information, but has failed to do so within a reasonable period.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 78CD
Schedule 4 clause 13 heading: amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Schedule 4 clause 13: amended, on 1 October 2024, by section 65(5) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
Schedule 4 clause 13: amended, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Relationship with Children’s Act 2014[Repealed]
Heading: repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
14 Relationship with Children’s Act 2014
[Repealed]Schedule 4 clause 14: repealed, on 16 December 2021, by section 14 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 58).
Schedule 5 Communities of learning for State schools
Schedule 5 heading: amended, on 19 November 2025, by section 30(1) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
1 Community of learning approved by Minister
(1)
The Minister may approve a community of learning for the purpose of the community entering into an agreement under clause 2.
(2)
A community of learning must consist of a group of 2 or more State schools but may also include 1 or more of the following:
(a)
licensed early childhood services:
(b)
certified playgroups:
(c)
tertiary education organisations:
(d)
charter schools.
(3)
The Minister may approve a community of learning only if the Minister is satisfied that—
(a)
the purpose of the group is to come together for the purpose of raising achievement of children and young people; and
(b)
the membership of the group that is to form the community is appropriate, having regard to that purpose.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 71C
Schedule 5 clause 1(2)(d): inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 66 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
2 Secretary may enter into agreement with community of learning
(1)
The Secretary and the members of a community of learning approved by the Minister may enter into a community of learning agreement.
(2)
The matters that a community of learning agreement may provide for include (without limitation) 1 or more of the following:
(a)
the activities that the community of learning is to undertake:
(b)
the commitments of individual members of the group in carrying out the activities:
(c)
any resources that may be provided to carry out the activities:
(d)
any data collection requirements related to the activities:
(3)
Each member is jointly and severally liable for the obligations and responsibilities of the community of learning set out in the agreement.
(4)
A member that proposes to withdraw from a community of learning agreement must give the Secretary notice in writing of the withdrawal.
(5)
The Secretary must, by notice in the Gazette, list the members of each community of learning that have entered into a community of learning agreement with the Secretary and update the list to record any changes to membership of the community.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 72
3 Community of learning that has agreement with Secretary must also prepare plan
(1)
A community of learning that has a community of learning agreement with the Secretary must—
(a)
prepare and maintain a plan to cover a period agreed to by the Secretary; and
(b)
provide the Secretary with a copy of the plan.
(2)
[Repealed](3)
A community of learning that changes a plan provided to the Secretary must provide the Secretary with a copy of the changed plan as soon as practicable.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 73
Schedule 5 clause 3(2): repealed, on 19 November 2025, by section 30(2) of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 65).
4 Report to Secretary by community of learning
A community of learning that has a community of learning agreement with the Secretary must report annually to the Secretary regarding—
(a)
its performance and progress in relation to the activities it has agreed to undertake; and
(b)
the use of any resources provided to or by the community of learning in accordance with the agreement to carry out the activities.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 74
5 Performance review of community of learning
The Chief Review Officer may review the performance of a community of learning.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 75
Schedule 6 State integrated schools
ss 10(1), (9)(a), 161(2)(b), 162(5), 163(6), 199(9), 211(2), 212
Contents
Conditional integration
1 Preservation of special character of State integrated schools
(1)
A State integrated school on integration continues to have the right to reflect, through its teaching and conduct, the education with a special character provided by it.
(2)
Integration must not jeopardise the special character of a State integrated school.
(3)
Subject to the integration agreement, the proprietor of a State integrated school—
(a)
continues to have the responsibility of supervising the maintenance and preservation of the education with a special character provided by the school:
(b)
continues to have the right to determine what is necessary to preserve and safeguard the special character of the education provided by the school and described in the integration agreement.
(4)
If, in the proprietor’s opinion, the special character of the school as defined and described in the integration agreement has been or is likely to be jeopardised, or the education with a special character provided by the school as defined and described in the integration agreement is no longer preserved and safeguarded, the proprietor may invoke the powers conferred on the proprietor by this schedule.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 416
Procedure for establishing, disestablishing, merging, and closing State integrated schools
2 Application to negotiate integration
(1)
If the Minister accepts an application to negotiate integration, the applicant and the Minister may enter into negotiations for an integration agreement under clause 5.
(2)
If the Minister declines the application, the applicant may make a fresh application.
(3)
Without limiting the factors that the Minister may consider, the Minister must, in considering an application, consider the nature, character, and capacity of the existing network of schools.
(4)
The Minister may, in the Minister’s absolute discretion,—
(a)
accept applications to enter into negotiations for integration under this schedule; and
(b)
after giving any notice to the public that the Minister thinks fit, decide not to consider applications from particular areas.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 418
3 Applications relating to proposed schools
If a person who proposes to establish a school with the intention that it become a State integrated school makes an application under clause 2, this schedule applies to the application and to any subsequent negotiations and agreements before integration as if—
(a)
the applicant were a proprietor; and
(b)
the school were a private school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 419
4 Negotiation of integration agreements
(1)
(2)
During the negotiations, the Minister may consult any interested persons or groups that the Minister thinks fit.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 420
5 Integration agreements
(1)
The Minister may approve the establishment of a private school as a State integrated school.
(2)
The Minister must signify their approval by entering into an integration agreement with the proprietor.
(3)
No proprietor is competent to execute an integration agreement unless the proprietor is constituted as a body corporate.
(4)
It is a condition of every integration agreement that no person employed at the school and paid for their services in whole or in part out of money appropriated by Parliament may be—
(a)
paid by the proprietor or the proprietor’s agents any remuneration additional to that provided for by this Act; or
(b)
granted or permitted any condition of service more favourable than that permitted in the case of a person employed in a State school.
(5)
The Minister’s power to enter into integration agreements may not be delegated.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 421
6 Other matters that may be included in integration agreements
(1)
Without restricting the provisions that may be included in an integration agreement, an integration agreement may include provisions for 1 or more of the following matters:
(a)
specifying the land and buildings that constitute the school to which the integration agreement refers:
(b)
specifying any part of the land or buildings owned or leased by the proprietor and used by the school before integration that do not constitute part of the school:
(c)
describing the education with a special character for which the school is or was originally established:
(d)
prescribing the religious or philosophical instruction and observances that are to form part of the school programme after integration:
(e)
providing for the determination of the maximum number of students who may be enrolled at the school:
(f)
permitting limitation of the number of children not given preference of enrolment under clause 26 who are required to be enrolled if places are available:
(g)
any other particular matter that is relevant to the education with a special character for which the school was originally established:
(h)
any other matter that is not contrary to this schedule.
(2)
Despite anything in subclause (1)(e), when determining the basis of the limitation under subclause (1)(f), regard must be had only to the necessity of preserving and safeguarding the education with a special character that the school provides.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 422
7 Integration agreements: machinery matters
(1)
Any proprietor may enter into integration agreements for the integration of more than 1 school.
(2)
There must be a separate integration agreement for each school that is to become a State integrated school.
(3)
If the Minister and the proprietor agree, the terms of an integration agreement may be varied by a supplementary agreement.
(4)
Despite clause 5(5), the Minister’s power to enter into a supplementary agreement may be delegated under clause 5 of Schedule 6 of the Public Service Act 2020.
(5)
An integration agreement is, for all purposes, a binding agreement between the proprietor and the Crown.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 423
Schedule 6 clause 7(4): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
8 Effective date of integration agreement
(1)
Every integration agreement must specify an effective date.
(2)
A State integrated school’s board must take office on the effective date.
(3)
If the requirements of this clause are not met, the Minister may give notice to the proprietor of a new effective date as the Minister thinks fit, and the integration agreement must be interpreted accordingly.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 424
9 Notification of integration agreement
The Minister must give notice in the Gazette of an integration agreement, and the Secretary must retain a copy of every integration agreement and make it available for inspection without charge by any member of the public on an Internet site maintained by or on behalf of the Secretary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 425
10 Minister may require information to be provided
(1)
This clause applies if—
(a)
a proprietor or a potential proprietor has applied to integrate a school; or
(b)
the Minister holds reasonable concerns about the ability of a proprietor or potential proprietor to meet any obligation under an integration agreement or under this schedule; or
(c)
a proprietor or potential proprietor has submitted a specific funding request to the Minister or the Secretary.
(2)
If this clause applies, the Minister may require the relevant proprietor or potential proprietor to provide 1 or more of the following:
(a)
all of the information needed to assess the financial and managerial capacity of the proprietor or potential proprietor:
(b)
any other information that the Minister considers relevant to assessing—
(i)
an application to integrate a school; or
(ii)
any concerns about the ability of a proprietor or potential proprietor to meet any obligation under an integration agreement or under this schedule; or
(iii)
any funding request that a proprietor or potential proprietor has submitted.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 426
11 Cancellation of integration agreement
(1)
(2)
On the cancellation of an integration agreement,—
(a)
the school ceases to be a State integrated school; and
(b)
the respective rights and obligations of the parties that arise owing to the integration agreement cease to have effect; and
(c)
in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, the school is to be treated as provisionally registered as a private school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 427
12 Cancellation by Minister
The Minister may cancel an integration agreement under clause 11(1)(a) if—
(a)
it appears to the Minister on reasonable grounds that the proprietor or the board of the State integrated school is not sufficiently carrying out its functions and obligations under this Act or under the integration agreement; and
(b)
the Minister has consulted the proprietor, the board, and other interested persons or groups as the Minister thinks fit.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 428
13 Cancellation by proprietor
(1)
A proprietor may give notice to the Minister of an intention to cancel an integration agreement under clause 11(1)(b) if—
(a)
it appears to the proprietor on reasonable grounds that—
(i)
the special character of the State integrated school has been or is likely to be jeopardised; or
(ii)
the Minister or any board is not carrying out their functions and obligations under this Act or the integration agreement; and
(b)
the proprietor has consulted the Minister, the board, and any other interested persons or groups as the proprietor thinks fit.
(2)
The notice of intention to cancel takes effect as a cancellation of the integration agreement under clause 11(1)(b) on the date that is 4 months after the date of the notice.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 429
14 Cancellation by agreement between parties
The Minister and the proprietor may cancel an integration agreement under clause 11(1)(c) by mutual agreement, after consultation with other interested persons or groups as they think fit.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 430
15 Mergers
(1)
A State integrated school may merge with another State integrated school (together, the merging schools) if—
(a)
each school has the same proprietor; and
(b)
each school has the same or a similar special character; and
(c)
the proprietor has consulted the Minister; and
(d)
the Minister determines that the schools may merge.
(2)
Before determining whether the State integrated schools may merge, the Minister must—
(a)
be satisfied that—
(i)
the proprietor has made reasonable efforts to consult its adult students or the parents of its full-time students (other than adult students) about the proposed merger; and
(ii)
the consultation that has taken place for each school is adequate in the circumstances; and
(iii)
the creation of a single school by the proposed merger (the continuing school) is appropriate in the circumstances; and
(b)
consult the boards of all the other schools whose rolls might, in the Minister’s opinion, be affected by the proposed merger.
(3)
If the Minister determines that the State integrated schools may merge, the proprietor must apply under clause 2 to negotiate an integration agreement for the school that is to be created by the merger.
(4)
If an integration agreement is negotiated, the Minister must give notice of the merger in the Gazette.
(5)
The notice takes effect on a day specified in the notice and has effect as follows:
(a)
the merging schools are part of the continuing school:
(b)
if the continuing school and each merging school are not already administered by a single board,—
(i)
the board of each merging school is dissolved; and
(ii)
all rights, assets, liabilities, and debts of each merging school are vested in the board of the continuing school:
(c)
the continuing school is a school of the classification specified in the notice and provides education for the student year levels specified in the notice.
(6)
The notice does not affect the name of the continuing school.
(7)
Before a notice given under subclause (4) takes effect, the Minister must give notice in the Gazette of whether,—
(a)
during the period between a date specified in the notice and the date on which new board members take office, the board of the continuing school is to be—
(i)
the board of the continuing school plus at least 1 co-opted board member representing each of the merging schools; or
(ii)
a board appointed by the Minister; or
(b)
the board of the continuing school is to have an alternative constitution approved under clause 4 of Schedule 22.
(8)
The board of the continuing school must have no more than 4 members appointed by the proprietor.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 431
16 Closure of State integrated school
If it appears to the Minister that for the reason set out in clause 12(a) a State integrated school should be closed, the Minister may, after the consultation referred to in clause 12(b), disestablish and close the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 432
18 Disposal of assets on cancellation of integration agreement or closing of State integrated school
(1)
This clause applies if capital expenditure or expenses appropriated by Parliament have been used to meet all or part of the cost of supplying a State integrated school with furniture, equipment, or other chattels and the integration agreement for that school is cancelled or the school is closed.
(2)
The Secretary may dispose of the furniture, equipment, or other chattels at the Secretary’s sole discretion, whether by sale or otherwise, and the disposition has effect as if the Secretary were the owner.
(3)
However, any sale must be by way of public auction or public tender.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 434
19 Repayment of moneys advanced
(1)
This clause applies if—
(a)
capital expenditure or expenses appropriated by Parliament have been advanced otherwise than by way of loan to be used to meet all or part of the cost of erecting any building or supplying or installing any fixture as part of a State integrated school; and
(b)
the integration agreement for that school is cancelled, or the school is closed.
(2)
The current value of the contribution to the building or fixture from the money appropriated must be assessed by the Minister.
(3)
The amount assessed is to be treated as a debt due by the proprietor to the Crown and is a charge on the land of the State integrated school.
(4)
That charge may be registered without the payment of a fee against the land under any enactment.
(5)
However, the Minister may, with the agreement of the Minister of Finance, approve the writing off of all or part of the debt.
(6)
For the purposes of registration under any other enactment, the Secretary may sign the notice of the charge and the release of the charge.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 435
20 Moneys to be paid into Crown Bank Account
(1)
In the case of any sale made under clause 18(2), the money received must be paid into a Crown Bank Account.
(2)
In the event of the cancellation of an integration agreement, or the closing of a State integrated school, any unspent money granted to the school’s board under this Act or regulations made under this Act or under any other Act must be paid into a Crown Bank Account.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 436
21 Certain assets remain vested in proprietors
(1)
If an integration agreement is cancelled, or a State integrated school is closed, any land, buildings, chattels, and other interests relating to the school that are vested in the proprietor remain vested in the proprietor.
(2)
This clause is subject to clauses 18 to 20.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 437
22 Restriction on cancellation of integration agreement or closure of State integrated schools
No integration agreement may be cancelled in accordance with clause 11, and (despite anything in section 199) no State integrated school may be closed under clause 16, solely on the ground that adequate capacity for the students exists in an adjacent State school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 438
23 Compensation
If an integration agreement is cancelled, or a State integrated school is closed, no compensation of any kind is due or payable to the proprietor.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 439
Administration
24 Administration of State integrated schools
(1)
Except as provided in this schedule, this Act and every other enactment relating to the education of the people of New Zealand in State schools apply to a State integrated school.
(2)
(3)
(4)
To give effect to subclause (3), the board of a State integrated school must provide for adequate consultation between the board and the proprietor of that school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 440
25 Free education
Every student enrolled at a State integrated school must be given free education on the same terms and in accordance with the same conditions as students enrolled at a State school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 441
26 Preference of enrolment
The children of parents who have a particular or general philosophical or religious connection with a State integrated school must be preferred to other children for enrolment at the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 442
27 Participation in general school programmes
By enrolling a student at a State integrated school, a parent is taken to have accepted as a condition of enrolment that the student is to participate in the general school programme that gives the school its special character.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 443
28 Instruction of students
(1)
Each State integrated school must instruct its students in accordance with the curricula and syllabuses prescribed under this Act or any regulations made under this Act.
(2)
However, the general school programme must reflect the education with a special character provided by the State integrated school, and religious and other examples may be used to reinforce teaching throughout the school day.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 444
Enrolment, conditions of attendance, and instruction of students at State integrated schools
29 Religious instruction and observances
(1)
Subject to clause 28, if religious instruction and observances form part of the education with a special character provided by a State integrated school, these must continue to form part of the general school programme in accordance with the terms and conditions prescribed in the integration agreement relating to that school.
(2)
If religious instruction and observances form part of the education with a special character provided by a State integrated school, that school—
(a)
must be responsive to the sensitivities of students and parents of different religious or philosophical affiliations; and
(b)
may not require a student of a different religious or philosophical affiliation to participate in religious observances and religious instruction concerned with particular observances if a parent of the student states that they do not wish that student to participate.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 445
30 Attendance dues
(1)
The proprietor of a State integrated school may, if the integration agreement for the school provides, enter into an agreement with the parents or other persons accepting responsibility for the education of a child that provides that the parents or other persons must pay attendance dues as a condition of the child’s enrolment at the school.
(2)
The dues must be established for the State integrated school or group of State integrated schools at the rates, and subject to any conditions, approved by the Minister by notice.
(3)
Revenue received by the proprietor from attendance dues must be used solely for the following:
(a)
paying, in respect of the school or group of schools in respect of which it is received, for improvements to the State integrated school or schools’ buildings and associated facilities that are required by any integration agreement or integration agreements under clause 39(2)(c):
(b)
any capital works that may be required by the Minister under clause 39(2)(d):
(c)
meeting debts, mortgages, liens, or other charges associated with the land and the buildings that constitute the premises of the State integrated school or schools.
(4)
No revenue received by the proprietor from attendance dues may be used to provide or improve the State integrated school buildings and associated facilities to a standard higher than that approved by the Secretary as appropriate for a comparable State school.
(5)
A notice approved by the Minister under subclause (2) is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements), unless it applies only to 1 or more named State integrated schools.
(6)
If a notice is not secondary legislation, the Minister must publish it in the Gazette.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 447
| Legislation Act 2019 requirements for secondary legislation made under this clause | ||||
| Publication | The maker must publish it in the Gazette | LA19 ss 73, 74(1)(a), Sch 1 cl 14 | ||
| Presentation | It is not required to be presented to the House of Representatives because a transitional exemption applies under Schedule 1 of the Legislation Act 2019 | LA19 s 114, Sch 1 cl 32(1)(a) | ||
| Disallowance | It may be disallowed by the House of Representatives | LA19 ss 115, 116 | ||
| This note is not part of the Act. | ||||
Schedule 6 clause 30(2): amended, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Schedule 6 clause 30(5): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
Schedule 6 clause 30(6): inserted, on 28 October 2021, by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).
31 Withdrawal and reinstatement of right to charge attendance dues
(1)
Should any proprietor use any revenue from attendance dues for any purpose other than one permitted by clause 30, the Minister may, despite anything in the integration agreement, by notice in the Gazette, withdraw the right to charge attendance dues, and while the withdrawal continues, the board must permit the attendance of children without the payment of attendance dues.
(2)
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, cancel any withdrawal.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 448
32 Failure to pay attendance dues
(1)
If a parent, or other person who has accepted the responsibility for the education of a child, has entered into an agreement to pay attendance dues and fails to make a payment, the payment is recoverable from the parent or other person in any court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the proprietor.
(2)
In addition, a failure to make payment constitutes grounds for the principal of the State integrated school to suspend the child from attendance at that school and to remove the child’s name from the school register.
(3)
However, no child may be suspended and have their name removed from the school register until arrangements have been made to the satisfaction of the Secretary for the child to be enrolled at some other school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 449
33 Accounts for attendance dues
(1)
Each proprietor who is permitted to charge attendance dues must keep accounts in a manner approved by the Secretary showing—
(a)
the total amount of attendance dues received; and
(b)
how the attendance dues have been spent.
(2)
The accounts must be—
(a)
balanced at a date each year approved by the Secretary; and
(b)
audited by a qualified auditor (within the meaning of section 35 of the Financial Reporting Act 2013).
(3)
The proprietor must send a copy of the accounts, together with the auditor’s report on them, to the Secretary by a date to be approved by the Secretary.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 450
34 Financial contributions
(1)
In addition to the power to collect attendance dues under clause 30, the proprietor of a State integrated school may—
(a)
conduct fund-raising activities within the school; and
(b)
inform the parents of the financial obligations of the proprietor in the prospectus and in other ways; and
(c)
request the parents of students attending the school to make regular financial contributions to the proprietor for the benefit of the proprietor in meeting any debt, mortgage, lien, or other charge associated with the land and buildings that constitute the school premises or are associated with the school.
(2)
Financial contributions other than attendance dues must be made on a voluntary basis, and no student may be refused enrolment because of the unwillingness of the parents to contribute in this way.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 451
35 Restrictions on fund-raising
None of the following may take part during normal school hours in a school activity directed to raising funds for the benefit of the proprietor in meeting any debt, mortgage, lien, or other charge associated with the land and buildings that constitute the school premises or are associated with the school:
(a)
a board of a State integrated school:
(b)
the principal or a member of the staff (whether employed or retained as a teacher or in any other capacity):
(c)
a student of the school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 452
36 Accounts of money raised under clause 34
The proprietor must—
(a)
keep accounts of money raised by it and by a board, principal, staff member, or student under clause 34; and
(b)
have the accounts audited by a qualified auditor (within the meaning of section 35 of the Financial Reporting Act 2013) at least once in every period of 12 months; and
(c)
make a copy of the accounts and of the auditor’s report on them available on request to the parents of students attending the State integrated school and to other contributors.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 453
37 Fund-raising
(1)
The board, the principal, staff members, and students of a State integrated school may take part in fund-raising activities in the same manner and for the same purposes for the benefit of the students of the school that are permitted in the case of State schools.
(2)
This clause is subject to clause 34.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 454
38 Use of school office
The school office of a State integrated school may be used for the purpose of communication between the proprietor of the school and the parents of students enrolled at the school, and for other purposes related to the benefit of the school and the students.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 455
39 Powers and responsibilities of proprietors
(1)
The proprietor of a State integrated school must exercise its powers under an integration agreement in a manner that is consistent with clause 1.
(2)
Subject to subclause (1), the proprietor of a State integrated school—
(a)
owns, holds upon trust, or leases the land and buildings that are specified in the integration agreement as constituting the school premises; and
(b)
must accept and meet the liability for all mortgages, liens, and other charges upon the land and buildings; and
(c)
must plan, pay for, and implement, over the period that may be specified in the integration agreement, the improvements to the school buildings and associated facilities that are required in accordance with the integration agreement to bring the buildings and associated facilities up to the minimum standard laid down by the Secretary for State schools; and
(d)
must plan, implement, and pay for the capital works that are approved or required by the Minister, with a view to replacing, improving, or enlarging the school, its buildings, and its associated facilities to maintain the school, its buildings, and its associated facilities at the minimum standard laid down by the Secretary for comparable State schools; and
(e)
may own, hold on trust, or lease and control, and may maintain, any land, buildings, and associated facilities that, although not part of the school in terms of the integration agreement, are regarded by the proprietor as appropriate to maintain the special character of the school; and
(f)
may, in conjunction with the board, provide for the accommodation of students living away from home; and
(g)
must insure all the buildings, chattels, and other assets owned, held on trust, or leased by the proprietor for the purposes of the school against risks normally insured against; and
(h)
must arrange with its insurers that the benefit of the indemnity under the insurance policy extends to the Minister for the buildings, chattels, and other assets paid for in whole or in part by a loan or grant made out of money appropriated by Parliament; and
(i)
must, together with the proprietor’s agents and licensees, have at all reasonable times access to the school to ensure that the special character of the school is being maintained.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 456
40 Decision-making criteria for proprietors
(1)
When making a decision under this schedule, a proprietor must take into account—
(a)
the ability of the proprietor’s State integrated school or schools to continue to provide the level of education required; and
(b)
the average per student cost of the continued operation of the proprietor’s State integrated school or schools relative to the average per student cost for other State schools; and
(c)
the extent to which the proprietor’s State integrated school or schools provide for students whose needs are not met by other State schools; and
(d)
the ability of the proprietor to meet any obligations regarding the proprietor’s State integrated school or schools over the next 7 years.
(2)
A proprietor must assess the proprietor’s compliance with subclause (1) at intervals of no more than 5 years.
(3)
However, the Secretary may direct a proprietor to carry out an assessment if the Secretary considers it appropriate in the circumstances.
(4)
The proprietor must, as soon as practicable,—
(a)
complete any assessment begun under subclause (2) or (3); and
(b)
provide the Secretary with a copy of the assessment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 457
41 Consequences of failure to arrange insurance
Despite clause 39(2)(h), if the proprietor has not arranged with the proprietor’s insurers for the benefit of any insurance policy to extend to the Minister,—
(a)
no money appropriated by Parliament may be used to pay any part of the cost of repairing or replacing any buildings, chattels, or other assets that have been destroyed or damaged from any cause whatsoever; and
(b)
any additional charges by way of premium made by the insurer for the extension of the benefit of any insurance policy to the Minister may not be met out of money appropriated by Parliament.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 458
42 Proprietors not to question curriculum or teaching methods
The right of access specified in clause 39(2)(i) does not give a proprietor the right to question the curriculum or the teaching methods adopted by the teachers, both of which are, subject to this Act, controlled by the principal of the State integrated school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 459
43 Leases of land
(1)
The proprietor of a State integrated school must obtain the prior consent of the Minister before entering into a lease relating to land that is used, or to be used, for the school.
(2)
If the proprietor fails to obtain the prior consent of the Minister to a lease, the lease is not affected but the Minister may cancel the integration agreement under clause 12.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 460
44 Assistance to proprietors
(1)
The Minister may, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, approve the granting of loans from capital expenditure that may be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose to the proprietor of a State integrated school.
(2)
The loans are to be made for the purposes and subject to the terms and conditions, including the writing off of any amount repayable, that the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance, determines.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 461
45 Proprietors unable to meet obligations
(1)
If the proprietor of a State integrated school is unable to meet its financial or other commitments under the integration agreement, the proprietor must notify the Minister.
(2)
If the Minister is notified, the Minister may, after any consultation with the proprietor that the Minister thinks necessary,—
(a)
cancel the integration agreement in accordance with clause 12; or
(b)
close the State integrated school under clause 16; or
(c)
arrange for the acquisition by the Crown, in accordance with the Public Works Act 1981, of any land, buildings, and chattels relating to the State integrated school that are owned or leased by the proprietor and that the Minister thinks fit for the purpose of establishing a State school.
(3)
When the Minister acts in accordance with subclause (2)(a) or (b), the provisions of this Act relating to the cancellation of an integration agreement or to the closure of a State integrated school apply.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 462
Appointment and employment of teachers
46 Requirements in respect of appointments of teachers
(1)
The board of a State integrated school must appoint teachers in that school in accordance with the Public Service Act 2020.
(2)
When a board delegates to a committee the power to appoint a teacher or to recommend the appointment of a teacher, that committee must contain at least 1 of the persons appointed to the board by the proprietor.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 463
Schedule 6 clause 46(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
47 Religious instruction: appointments to special positions relating to character of State integrated school
Where religious instruction forms part of the special character of a State integrated school,—
(a)
if provided for by the integration agreement, an advertisement for the position of principal of that school must state that a willingness and an ability to take part in religious instruction appropriate to that school are conditions of appointment:
(b)
if provided for by the integration agreement, the board must—
(i)
designate a position at that school as director of religious studies; and
(ii)
state in any advertisement for that position that a willingness and an ability to take part in religious instruction appropriate to that school are conditions of appointment (a director of religious studies must be a member of the normal staffing entitlement of the school, as established by regulations made under this Act); and
(iii)
ensure the carrying out of the teaching duties, if any, that may be provided for in the integration agreement:
(c)
the board must—
(i)
designate any other proportion of teaching positions in that school that may be provided for in the integration agreement as positions of importance carrying a responsibility for religious instruction; and
(ii)
state in advertisements for the positions that a willingness and an ability to take part in religious instruction appropriate to that school are conditions of appointment:
(d)
the board must state in any advertisement for a position at that school that a willingness and an ability to take part in religious instruction appropriate to that school are conditions of appointment if—
(i)
that school is a primary school; and
(ii)
the person holding the position of deputy principal of that school or a position of assistant principal at that school has responsibility for supervising the junior classes at that school; and
(iii)
the terms of the integration agreement of that school specify those conditions of appointment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 464
48 Effect of religious instruction requirements in advertisements
If, in accordance with clause 47, an advertisement for a position states a requirement that a willingness and an ability to take part in religious instruction are conditions of appointment, any person appointed to that position must accept that requirement as a condition of appointment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 465
49 Restrictions on requirement for teacher to take part in religious instruction
(1)
The appointment of a teacher to a position in a State integrated school may not be conditional on the willingness and ability of that teacher to take part in religious instruction, and no appointed teacher may be required to take part.
(2)
Subclause (1) is subject to clause 47.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 466
50 Other special positions
(1)
If an integration agreement records that any teaching position in the State integrated school concerned is a special position that requires particular capabilities on the part of the teacher holding it, an advertisement for that position must require an appointee to possess those capabilities as a condition of appointment.
(2)
Without limiting subclause (1), if any integration agreement relating to a State integrated primary school requires the person holding a position as assistant principal at that school (being a position with responsibility for supervising senior classes at that school) to maintain programmes and activities that reflect the special character of that school, an advertisement for that position must require an appointee to maintain those programmes and activities as a condition of appointment.
(3)
If, in accordance with subclause (1) or (2), an advertisement for a position makes any requirement a condition of appointment to that position, any person appointed to that position must accept that requirement as a condition of appointment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 467
52 Requirements in respect of appointments
(1)
Before appointing any person to a position in a State integrated primary school specified in clause 47 or 50, the board must consult the proprietor, who must report to the board the names of those applicants (if any) who, in terms of the special character of the school or in terms of the advertisement calling for applicants with particular capabilities, are acceptable for appointment.
(2)
On receipt of the report under subclause (1), the board may consider for appointment only those applicants who are stated in the report to be acceptable for appointment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 469
53 Employment for special purposes
(1)
With the consent of the board, a retired teacher may undertake, in a State integrated school, voluntary tasks relating to the beliefs and instruction that are the foundation of that school’s special character.
(2)
If religious instruction forms part of the education with a special character provided by a State integrated school, the proprietor of that school may employ any person, whether as a chaplain or otherwise, for duties relating to that instruction.
(3)
The salary of a person employed under subclause (2) may not be paid by the board or be in any way a charge on money appropriated by Parliament.
(4)
The proprietor must notify the board of the name of any person employed under subclause (2).
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 470
54 Appointment of teachers on integration
(1)
If an integration agreement is implemented in respect of a private school in accordance with clauses 5 and 8,—
(a)
the contract of service of every teacher at that school is to be treated as being terminated from the effective date of integration; and
(b)
each of those teachers, if the teacher so wishes, is to be treated as being in the employment of the board of the State integrated school until the teacher is formally appointed to a teaching position under subclause (4), and subclause (6) applies accordingly from the effective date of integration; and
(c)
each teaching position at that school must, within 60 days after the effective date of integration, be advertised as required by the Public Service Act 2020.
(2)
The advertisement must state that the teacher appointed to the position as at the effective date of integration, if the teacher so wishes, has an absolute right of appointment to that position irrespective of the qualifications of any other applicant.
(3)
The teacher previously appointed to the position advertised under subclause (1) must, if the teacher wishes to continue in that appointment, apply in the manner prescribed by the Public Service Act 2020 for appointment to that position.
(4)
A teacher who applies must be appointed to the position.
(5)
A teacher who does not so apply is to be treated as having relinquished the position.
(6)
A teacher who is appointed to a teaching position must—
(a)
be paid out of expenses appropriated by Parliament for the purpose the same salary that a teacher with comparable service and qualifications would be paid for a comparable teaching position in a State school; and
(b)
continue to be paid no less than the same salary, and to be accorded the same status, as the teacher received or was accorded on the day before the effective date of integration.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 471
Schedule 6 clause 54(1)(c): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Schedule 6 clause 54(3): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
55 Other employees
(1)
The contract of service of every person employed in a State integrated school other than as a teacher is to be treated as being terminated from the effective date of integration.
(2)
If the position in which that person was employed has a parallel or close parallel in a State school, that person may—
(a)
be re-employed by the board in a parallel position; and
(b)
be paid out of expenses appropriated by Parliament for the purpose the same salary as that person would be paid for comparable service in a State school.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 472
56 No compensation for termination of employment
When a contract of employment of a teacher is treated as being terminated under clause 54(1)(a), or when the contract of employment of a person other than a teacher is treated as being terminated under clause 55, no compensation of any kind is payable to the teacher or to any person employed otherwise than as a teacher in respect of the termination of the contract of employment.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 473
General provisions
57 Grants to private schools before integration
Any obligation or other commitment entered into by the managers of a private school before the integration of that school as a condition of a grant under this Act binds the proprietor of that school, whether or not the obligation or commitment is specified in the integration agreement.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 474
58 Relationship between this schedule and other Parts of Act and other enactments
(1)
If this schedule deals with the same subject matter as, or similar subject matter to, any other provisions of this Act, the Public Service Act 2020, or any regulations made under either of those Acts or under any enactment repealed by either of those Acts,—
(a)
express provisions in this schedule prevail in respect of State integrated schools; but
(b)
this schedule must be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the provisions of this Act or any other enactments concerned whenever this construction is appropriate and reasonable.
(2)
Subject to clauses 1 and 2, if any matter concerning State integrated schools is not dealt with by express provision in this schedule, the appropriate provisions of this Act, the Public Service Act 2020, and any regulations made under any of those provisions or under any enactment repealed by this Act or the Public Service Act 2020 apply.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 475
Schedule 6 clause 58(1): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Schedule 6 clause 58(2): amended, on 7 August 2020, by section 135 of the Public Service Act 2020 (2020 No 40).
Schedule 6A Further provisions applying to Authorisation Board
Schedule 6A: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 67 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
1 Resignation or discharge of members
(1)
A member of the Authorisation Board may resign by giving written notice to the Minister and to the Authorisation Board.
(2)
The Minister may, at the Minister’s discretion, discharge the member by giving written notice to the member and to the Authorisation Board.
Schedule 6A clause 1: inserted, on 1 October 2024, by section 67 of the Education and Training Amendment Act 2024 (2024 No 40).
2 Actions of Authorisation Board not affected by informality in membership
The powers of the Authorisation Board are not affected by—
(a)
any vacancy in its membership; or
(b)
the discovery of any error or defect in appointment of a member; or
(c)
the fact that a person continued to act as a board member after the person’s office as a member became vacant.