National Careers System Strategy, Te Rautaki Pūnaha Aramahi ā-Motu
Updated 03 Nov 2025
The National Careers System Strategy sets the direction for New Zealand’s careers system and outlines the future state we want to move towards.
The careers systemTe pūnaha aramahi,
The careers system provides careers education, information, advice and guidance to support people to make effective work and learning decisions.
At the core of the careers system is a workforce that supports people to make decisions that fit their chosen pathways and aspirations. The workforce can include many different roles, for example:
- career advisers in schools
- vocational rehabilitation
- community and employment support
- transition services
- career practitioners in community or private practice.
An effective and high-quality careers system directly contributes to government priorities to build a skilled workforce and improve the efficiency of the labour market.
Collaborating with stakeholdersTe mahi ngātahi ki te hunga whai painga,
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) collaborated with many people in the careers system to develop the National Careers System Strategy (NCSS).
This collaborative approach involved:
- government agencies
- the careers workforce
- education providers
- businesses
- Māori and other community representatives.
Focus areasNgā wāhi arotahi,
People are at the heart of the strategy, with its vision focused on empowering people to understand themselves and their aspirations and to navigate career opportunities that fit throughout their lives.
From a practical standpoint the NCSS sets the direction for change across 3 focus areas, with the aim of building a lifelong, integrated careers system. These include:
- Strengthening connections – this will improve the leadership and visibility of the careers system.
- Supporting equitable access – this will ensure people find the help they need with their career decisions and transitions across life.
- Growing quality careers support – this will build the capability and diversity of those who deliver careers education, information, advice and guidance.
Roadmap for implementationMahere whakatinana,
The NCSS is supported by an Action Plan, which provides the roadmap for implementation. As a leader of the careers system and kaitiaki of the NCSS, the TEC is leading, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the NCSS Action Plan.