Field Planning and Construction

Review of Construction Trade Skills New Zealand qualification

Reviewed qualification

Ref	Version	Qualification Title	Credits
2834	2	New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) with optional strands in Allied Trades, Carpentry and Joinery	60-120

Development/Review information

Qualification Developer	Construction and Specialist Trades Industry Skills Board
Reason for the review	Scheduled qualification review
Review date	October 2025
Outcome date	March 2026
Next review date	March 2031

Summary of development/review and consultation process

Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council, in collaboration with representatives from the construction industry, reviewed the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) with strands in Allied Trades, Carpentry, and Joinery from May 2025 to October 2025.

A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) comprising industry experts and qualification providers met through a combination of online and face-to-face meetings. The TAG provided recommendations that informed the qualification review, leading to amendments in the qualification content to better reflect current industry practice and training needs.

The wider construction industry was consulted again in October 2025 to gather final feedback on the proposed changes. Documents and updates relating to the review were published on the Waihanga Ara Rau website throughout the review period, and ongoing opportunities for industry feedback were provided.

Responsibility for this qualification was transferred from Waihanga Ara Rau to the Construction and Specialist Trades ISB to reflect the VET reforms.

Main changes resulting from the development/review process

· Qualification title changes to include the removal of elective strands and addition of optional strands- New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) with optional strands in Specialist Trades and Carpentry

· Allied trades reference replaced with Specialist Trades to align with industry terminology. Joinery elective strand removed and joinery included in new Specialist Trades optional strand.

· Strategic Purpose statement amended to reflect qualification changes

· Graduate profile outcome wording and indicative credits amended to reflect the skills and knowledge required. 

· Mandatory skill standards added to Graduate profile outcomes 1-4

· The scale of structural change required this qualification was replaced, and a new qualification was listed.

Development/Review outcome

Ref:	Version	Qualification Title	Outcome category	New qualification ID/version (as applicable)
2834	2	New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) with strands in Allied Trades, Carpentry and Joinery New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3) with optional strands in Specialist Trades and Carpentry	C-New replacement qualification	2834-3 To expire 5681-1

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
2834	3	New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills with strands in Allied Trades, Carpentry and Joinery	31 December 2029	31 December 2030

*only required for outcome category C or D

Any additional information, including Qualification Developer contact details.

It is the intention that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged should contact the qualification developer: 

Construction and Specialist Trades Industry Skills Board 

PO Box 445  

Wellington 6140  

Telephone: 04 909 0174  

Website: https://cstisb.nz

Email: Info@cstisb.nz