Field: Planning and Construction

Review of Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlaying New Zealand Qualifications

Reviewed qualifications

Ref	Version	Qualification Title	Credits
2661	2	New Zealand Certificate in Drainlaying (Level 4)	140
2662	2	New Zealand Certificate in Gasfitting (Level 4)	235
2663	2	New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing (Level 4)	250

Review information

Qualification Developer	Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council
Reason for the review	Early review
Review date	April 2024
Outcome date	31 July 2024
Next review date	31 July 2029

Summary of review and consultation process

Waihanga Ara Rau WDC has completed an early review of these qualifications.

In late 2021 the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying industry expressed concerns that current arrangements for training and assessment were creating significant barriers to the timely completion and progress of learners.

At the request of industry, and with the support of the Tertiary Education Commission, Waihanga Ara Rau undertook a programme framework review between September 2022 and March 2023.

The recommendations of this review were endorsed by a Strategic Reference Group comprised of plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades industry representatives in April 2023. In 2023 the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Board (PGDB) also reviewed their competencies.

The programme framework review, the review of PGD Board competencies and a related unit standards review triggered an early qualification review at industry’s request to ensure that the qualifications remain fit-for-purpose.

The qualifications were reviewed and approved by industry subject-matter experts and education providers drawn from strategic reference group and technical reference group comprised of representatives from the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades via online and face-to-face hui.

Following the review process completed with reference group members, online consultation was held to invite feedback on the amended qualifications. This included a dedicated webpage, social media, drop-in webinars and circulation via industry mailing lists and newsletters.

Main changes resulting from the review process

· General refinements were made to the qualification documents for clarity and to refer to current information and terminology.

· Strategic Purpose statement was amended for accuracy.

· Graduate profile outcomes (GPOs) were reworded to be more specific and to align with the updated Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (PGD) Board competencies.

· The credit weighting of GPOs were adjusted to better reflect the intended learning and assessment requirements, and their weighting within the qualifications.

· Conditions relating to the GPOs were removed.

· Other requirements for the qualification and General conditions for programme sections were amended for accuracy and to include the WDC programme endorsement considerations.

· The last date of assessment for version 1 of the qualification was extended to 31 December 2028 to ensure learners are not disadvantaged. Learners who do not complete by the 31 December 2028 will transition to version 3. The last date of entry for version 1 is expected to be by 31 March 2025.

· The last date of assessment for version 2 of the qualification was set to 31 December 2024, as there are no learners enrolled in programmes leading to this version of the qualification.  

New Zealand Certificate in Drainlaying [Ref: 2661-3]

· The overall credit value of the qualification was reduced from 140 to 125 -135 credits.

· An optional strand in Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Installation was added to the qualification.

New Zealand Certificate in Gasfitting [Ref: 2662-3]

· The overall credit value of the qualification was reduced from 235 to 220 credits.

New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing [Ref: 2663-3]

· The overall credit value of the qualification was reduced from 250 to 210 credits.

Review outcome

Ref:	Version	Reviewed qualification	Outcome category	New qualification details/version (if applicable)
2661	2	New Zealand Certificate in Drainlaying (Level 4) New Zealand Certificate in Drainlaying (Level 4) with an optional strand in Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Installation	B-New version of qualification	2661-3
2662	2	New Zealand Certificate in Gasfitting (Level 4)	B-New version of qualification	2662-3
2663	2	New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing (Level 4)	B-New version of qualification	2663-3

Qualification review outcome categories

Outcome	Result	Category
Minor changes to the qualification	Qualification version number and ID (Ref) remain the same New review date is required	A
Moderate changes to the qualification	New qualification version number ID (Ref) remains the same New review date is required	B
Significant changes to the qualification	New replacement qualification with a new ID (Ref) The existing qualification will expire	C
The qualification is no longer required by industry	The qualification will expire with no replacement	D

Transition information

Ref:	Version	Qualification Title	Last date of entry*	Last date of assessment
2661	1 2	New Zealand Certificate in Drainlaying (Level 4)	30/05/2025 n/a*	31/12/2028 31/12/2024
2662	1 2	New Zealand Certificate in Gasfitting (Level 4)	30/05/2025 n/a*	31/12/2028 31/12/2024
2663	1 2	New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing (Level 4)	30/05/2025 n/a*	31/12/2028 31/12/2024

*only required for outcome category C or D

Any additional information, including Qualification Developer contact details

It is the intention that no learner should be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.

Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the qualification developer:

Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council

PO Box 445

Wellington

Phone: 04 909 0174

Email:     qualifications@waihangaararau.nz

Website: www.waihanga.nz