Field   Computing and Information Technology

Review of Information Technology New Zealand Qualifications

Reviewed qualifications

Ref

Version

Qualification Title

Credits

2594

2

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Essentials (Level 4)

60

2595

2

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology (Level 5)

60

2596

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support (Level 5)

120

2597

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 5)

120

2598

2

New Zealand Diploma in Web Development and Design (Level 5)

120

2599

3

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Practitioner (Level 6) with strands in Server Administration, Network Administration, Information Technology Security, and Software Testing

40

2603

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 6) with strands in Business Analysis, User Experience, IT Project Management, Information Systems Innovation, and Data Analysis

120

2604

2

New Zealand Diploma in Software Development (Level 6)

240

3837

2

New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity (Level 6)

120

3849

1

New Zealand Diploma in Software Testing (Level 6)

120

4129

1

New Zealand Diploma in IT Infrastructure (Level 6) with strands in Networking, and Systems Administration

120

4663

1

New Zealand Certificate in Applied Software Development (Level 6)

80

 

Review information

Qualification Developer

Toi Mai Workforce Development Council

Reason for the review

Five yearly review

Review date

October 2025

Outcome date

December 2025

Next review date

December 2030

 

Summary of development/review and consultation process

This suite of Information Technology qualifications was reviewed by Toi Mai Workforce Development Council as part of the five-year review cycle. The review was informed by Te Wao Toi Whanui, the Workforce Development Plan for Enabling Technologies, which was built around extensive engagement with industry stakeholders and analysis of workforce data, and other feedback from both industry and education providers.

The review was overseen by specialist advisory and working groups convened in November 2024, comprising stakeholders with skills in qualification, programme, and assessment development. The groups met multiple times from March to May 2025, to discuss key feedback from industry and education providers and to make draft amendments to the suite. The proposed changes were distributed for consultation online and through established networks. Consultation feedback was integrated into the final versions as appropriate.

 

 

 

Main changes resulting from the development/review process

Changes across all qualifications

  • Qualification award and Evidence statements for assuring consistency updated to reflect current processes.
  • General conditions for programme updated for consistency across the suite. 
  • Qualification outcome and general conditions specifying required content have been removed to allow better flexibility for programmes.

 

Specific changes

 

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Essentials (Level 4) [Ref: 2594]

  • Strategic purpose statement and graduate profile outcomes (GPOs) amended to emphasise foundational focus of qualification.

 

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology (Level 5) [Ref: 2595]   

  • Strategic purpose statement,  GPOs and credits updated to align with the core of the new qualification New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology with strands (Level 5) [Ref: 5567]. 

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support (Level 5) [Ref: 2596] New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 5) [Ref: 2597]

New Zealand Diploma in Web Development (Level 5) [Ref: 2598]

replaced by:

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology with strands in Infrastructure and Technical Support, Software Development, and Applied Digital Technologies (Level 5) [Ref: 5567]

·       Replacement stranded qualification developed to support consistent core training across introductory-level programmes, while also supporting appropriate pathways into both employment and further study.

·       New GPOs developed to reflect industry standard terminology across both core and strands.

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Practitioner (Level 6) with strands in Server Administration, Network Administration, Information Technology Security, and Software Testing [Ref: 2599] replaced by:

New Zealand Certificate in Applied Digital Technology (Level 6) [Ref: 5568]

  • The new qualification supports industry placements, largely targeting recent graduates who wish to enhance their employment prospects.

New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 6) with strands in Business Analysis, User Experience, IT Project Management, Information Systems Innovation, and Data Analysis [Ref: 2603]    

  • To be expired following stakeholder feedback and evidence of no usage.

New Zealand Diploma in Software Development (Level 6) [Ref: 2604]

replaced by:

New Zealand Diploma in Software Development (Level 6) [Ref: 5575]  

  • The new qualification has reduced credits from 240 to 120 to enable a clear pathway from the New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology (Level 5) strand in Software Development [Ref: 5567]. The strategic purpose statement, GPOs and credit distribution were updated to support this pathway.

New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity (Level 6) [Ref: 3837] 

  • No specific changes.

New Zealand Diploma in Software Testing (Level 6) [Ref: 3849]  

  • To be expired following stakeholder feedback and evidence of no usage.

New Zealand Diploma in IT Infrastructure (Level 6) with strands in Networking, and Systems Administration [Ref: 4129]

  • Strand title and references through the qualification changed from “Systems Administration” to “Cloud-Based Systems Administration” to more explicitly reflect cloud content
  • Minor changes to the Strategic purpose statement and GPOs to reflect cloud content and industry standard terminology.

New Zealand Certificate in Applied Software Development (Level 6) [Ref: 4663] 

·         No specific changes.   

 

Development/Review outcome

Ref:

Version

Qualification Title

Outcome category

New qualification ID/version

(as applicable)

2594

2

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Essentials (Level 4)

B-New version of qualification

2594-3

2595

2

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology (Level 5)

B-New version of qualification

2595-3

2596

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support (Level 5)

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology (Level 5) with strands in Infrastructure and Technical Support, Software Development, and Applied Digital Technologies.

C-New replacement qualification

2596-3

To Expire

5567-1

2597

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 5)

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology (Level 5) with strands in Infrastructure and Technical Support, Software Development, and Applied Digital Technologies.

C-New replacement qualification

2597-3

To Expire

5567-1

2598

2

New Zealand Diploma in Web Development and Design (Level 5)

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology (Level 5) with strands in Infrastructure and Technical Support, Software Development, and Applied Digital Technologies.

C-New replacement qualification

2598-3

To Expire

5567-1

2599

3

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Practitioner (Level 6) with strands in Server Administration, Network Administration, Information Technology Security, and Software Testing

New Zealand Certificate in Applied Digital Technology (Level 6)

C-New replacement qualification

2599-4

To Expire

 

 

 

5568-1

2603

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 6) with strands in Business Analysis, User Experience, IT Project Management, Information Systems Innovation, and Data Analysis

D-Qualification will expire with no replacement

2603-3

To Expire

2604

2

New Zealand Diploma in Software Development (Level 6)

New Zealand Diploma in Software Development (Level 6)

C-New replacement qualification

2604-3

To Expire

5575-1

3837

2

New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity (Level 6)

B-New version of qualification

3837-3

3849

1

New Zealand Diploma in Software Testing (Level 6)

D-Qualification will expire with no replacement

3849-2

To Expire

4129

1

New Zealand Diploma in IT Infrastructure (Level 6) with strands in Networking, and Systems Administration

New Zealand Diploma in IT Infrastructure (Level 6) with strands in Networking, and Cloud-Based Systems Administration

B-New version of qualification

4129-2

4663

1

New Zealand Certificate in Applied Software Development (Level 6)

B-New version of qualification

4663-2

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.

Ref/ID remains the same.

New review date is required.

B

Significant changes to the qualification

New replacement qualification with a new Ref/ID

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

2594

2

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Essentials (Level 4)

N/A

31/12/2027

2595

2

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology (Level 5)

N/A

31/12/2027

2596

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support (Level 5)

31/12/2027

31/12/2028

2597

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 5)

31/12/2027

31/12/2028

2598

2

New Zealand Diploma in Web Development and Design (Level 5)

31/12/2027

31/12/2028

2599

3

New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology Practitioner (Level 6) with strands in Server Administration, Network Administration, Information Technology Security, and Software Testing

31/12/2026

31/12/2027

2603

2

New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 6) with strands in Business Analysis, User Experience, IT Project Management, Information Systems Innovation, and Data Analysis

31/12/2026

31/12/2027

2604

2

New Zealand Diploma in Software Development (Level 6)

31/12/2026

31/12/2028

3837

2

New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity (Level 6)

N/A

31/12/2027

3849

1

New Zealand Diploma in Software Testing (Level 6)

31/12/2026

31/12/2027

4129

1

New Zealand Diploma in IT Infrastructure (Level 6) with strands in Networking, and Systems Administration

N/A

31/12/2027

4663

1

New Zealand Certificate in Applied Software Development (Level 6)

N/A

31/12/2027

*only required for outcome category C or D

 

Any additional information, including Qualification Developer contact details.

It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to Toi Mai Workforce Development Council at the address below. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Toi Mai Workforce Development Council

PO Box 445

Wellington 6140

Email:  qualifications@toimai.nz

Web:    www.toimai.nz

Phone: 04 909 0316