NZQF timeline
The New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) was established in July 2010 as a single unified framework for all New Zealand qualifications. It replaced the National Qualifications Framework and the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.
The NZQF is consistent with other mature national qualifications frameworks around the world.
Qualification frameworks have evolved to assist with the recognition and comparison of qualifications. This has become more important with increased global labour movement. A common goal is for qualifications – within and across nations - to be able to be compared on the basis of common learning outcomes, irrespective of how, when or where the learning was achieved.
The NZQF employs the language of learning outcomes systematically across all the levels of the framework. Learning outcomes enable the relationships and linkages between levels to be made explicit.
New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to lifelong learning and maintaining a comprehensive national qualifications framework. The National Qualifications Framework, developed in 1992, was one of the first qualifications frameworks to be developed. Since then, many other countries have developed national frameworks.
Background information on the policy evolution in New Zealand from the 1980s to 2008 is contained in the Timeline 1980s-2008.
Information about the review that led to the establishment of the NZQF is found under Targeted Review of Qualifications.