As New Zealand’s largest tertiary education provider, Te Pūkenga works with employers and learners and brings together on-the-job, on campus, and online vocational education and training.

Te Pūkenga’s key functions include:

• improving outcomes for Māori and Māori communities in collaboration with Māori and iwi partners and stakeholders
• improving the consistency of vocational education and training
• meeting the needs of the regions of New Zealand and their learners, industries, employers and communities
• ensuring that every learner receives what they need to be successful, and to improve outcomes in the tertiary education system as a whole.

Te Pūkenga was previously called the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST).