Source: Tertiary Education Commission
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Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2025 (PDF 2.3 MB)
Foreword from the Board Chair and Chief Executive
The tertiary education and careers system is a significant contributor to economic growth and increased living standards. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) seeks to raise the achievement of the system to generate positive outcomes for both learners and employers, bringing about a thriving economy and society.
The TEC remained flexible and effective throughout 2024/25, as our focus remained firmly on delivering the Government’s Priority Work Programme, while continuing to deliver our core functions to a high standard. As part of the Cabinet reshuffle at the beginning of 2025, the Tertiary portfolio was split and we adapted to deliver our amended work programme for our two ministers.
A key focus for the year has been the redesign of the vocational education and training system. This is a significant policy objective for the Government and is the highest priority for the TEC.
Our key focus areas during the year included the disestablishment of Te Pūkenga and the Workforce Development Councils, the establishment of regional institutes of technology and polytechnics, and the establishment of Industry Skills Boards. This is no small task, and we have focused our efforts and resources to enable a smooth transition to the new vocational education system, while ensuring we minimised disruption for learners and providers.
During the year, we also prioritised support for the Government’s other priority initiatives, including moving Fees Free policy from first-year to final-year study. The policy change was completed during the year and will be implemented for the 2026 academic year.
We also supported the University Advisory Group (UAG) review, and in the coming year, we will implement any changes that ministers recommend to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the sector, including the development of the Tertiary Research Excellence Fund (TREF).
We have been working closely with the Ministry of Education on developing a new Tertiary Education Strategy, and we look forward to giving effect to it through our continued focus on delivering value for New Zealand through a high-performing tertiary education and careers system.
We continued to deliver our core functions to a high standard, with a focus on efficiency and effectiveness through all our work.
Through our stewardship and monitoring role, we actively foster the relationship between communities, providers and learners. We continue to focus on driving continuous improvement into the system to ensure that it delivers educational outcomes for all tertiary learners, to contribute to New Zealand’s economic prosperity.
We achieved a big milestone during the year with the completion of the Tahatū Career Navigator rollout to all secondary schools. From September 2025, it will be available nationwide, offering an interactive experience designed to help all New Zealanders make informed career decisions at any stage of life.
This year we welcomed four new Board members, which brought different perspectives on issues and complemented the existing Board direction. We acknowledge and thank departing Commissioners Wayne Ngata and Vivien Sutherland Bridgwater for their invaluable contributions as members of the Board. Wayne joined us in November 2019 and acted as Board Chair from March 2024, until stepping down in March 2025.
We acknowledge and thank the wider sector for their participation and collaboration towards achieving the outcomes we seek for all New Zealanders. We also thank our staff and Board for their efforts across 2024/25.
Dr Alan Bollard and Tim Fowler
Highlights
In 2024/25
we spent over $3.9 billion investing in tertiary education and supporting the tertiary education and careers systems.
we funded:
eight universities
198 TEC-funded private training establishments
three wānanga
Te Pūkenga, and
525 other organisations (including other tertiary education providers, Workforce Development Councils, adult and community providers, secondary schools and area schools), and
we made 25,434 payments to tertiary education organisations.
In the 2024 calendar year, there were 443,490 TEC-funded learners enrolled in Te Pūkenga, universities, wānanga, and private training establishments. These learners included 112,960 work-based learners and 337,720 provider-based learners.
In 2024/25:
we had a strong focus on implementing the Government’s priorities
we focused on implementing the Government’s proposed change to the VET system – this included three consultations and engagement with over 350 industry representatives
we implemented the new Fees Free policy – moving from first-year to final-year study from 2026
we continued to deliver our statutory functions to a high standard, while keeping a relentless focus on value for money, and
we reduced compliance costs for providers in a number of areas.
