Field Engineering and Related Technologies

Review of Engineering New Zealand qualification  

Reviewed qualification

Ref	Version	Qualification Title	Credits
2612	3	New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) with strands in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Fire Engineering.	240

Development/Review information

Qualification Developer	Vocational Engineering Education New Zealand Incorporated (VEENZ)
Reason for the review	Scheduled review
Review date	August 2025
Outcome date	July 2026
Next review date	December 2031

Summary of review and consultation process

The review of the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) was undertaken to ensure the qualification remains current, fit for purpose, and aligned with contemporary engineering practice, industry expectations, and regulatory requirements.

A research activity was carried out initially to determine the main stakeholders in the review. An Industry Focus Group was established in August 2025 comprising representatives from each engineering strand, providers, WDCs, and ISBs. A full-day workshop was held in Wellington in September 2025 to consider research findings, discuss the purpose and structure of the qualification, and identify areas requiring change. Following the workshop, draft qualification changes were discussed through regular meetings. Consultation confirmed continued support for the existing qualification structure and strands.

The draft qualification was reviewed by the VEE.NZ Quality Assurance Committee before public consultation was undertaken. Feedback was considered and incorporated where appropriate. The revised draft was subsequently reviewed by the Quality Assurance Committee and shared with industry and provider groups for final feedback.

The review confirmed that the qualification purpose, level, credits, pathways, and strand structure remain fit for purpose and continue to meet industry needs. Changes were therefore limited to the Graduate Profile Outcomes and associated qualification conditions to improve clarity, consistency, and alignment across all engineering disciplines.

Since the previous review, the Qualification developer responsible for the Qualification has changed name from the New Zealand Board for Engineering Diplomas (NZBED) to Vocational Engineering Education New Zealand Incorporated (VEE.NZ). VEE.NZ is responsible for maintaining the qualification on behalf of the engineering education sector.

Main changes resulting from the review process

Graduate Profile:

· GPO3 for all strands has been removed from the graduate profile outcomes and put into the General Conditions for the programme so that it is embedded across the qualification

· GPO5 for all strands has been modified and now includes knowledge of limits of work

· repositioned the definition for well-defined engineering problems into general conditions.

Employment, Cultural, Community Pathway:

· updated to list a range of jobs available to graduates and a link to the Tahutū Career Navigator.

General conditions for programme:

· updated programme entry requirements

§ added programmes must ensure that learners apply relevant health and safety, environmental, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, and comply with all current legislation, regulations, and industry or regulatory body requirements.

§ added link to the Dubin Accord Attributes.

Conditions relating to the Graduate Profile:

· Learning and Assessment information for each strand has been removed from this section and incorporated into the course descriptors in the programme document.

Qualification Award statement updated.

Evidence requirements for consistency removed.

Review outcome

Ref:	Version	Qualification Title	Outcome category	New qualification ID/version (as applicable)
2612	3	New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) with strands in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Fire Engineering.	B-New version of qualification	2612-4

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
2612	3	New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) with strands in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Fire Engineering.	N/A	30 June 2028

*only required for outcome category C or D

Any additional information, including Qualification Developer contact details.

The Qualification Developer may be contacted at:

Vocational Engineering Education New Zealand Incorporated 

Email address: Contact@vee.nz

Website: www.vee.nz

Telephone: 0273 299 540