NZQA as Code Administrator

Information about our approach, priorities and key focus areas as the administrator of the Code

Our role as the Code Administrator

NZQA is the Code Administrator of the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code).

What we do

As Code Administrator we:

  • provide advice and guidance to providers and learners
  • approve applications to become a Code Signatory 
  • monitor provider compliance with the Code.

Sometimes we also need to:

  • investigate complaints and referrals about Code breaches
  • take appropriate action to address proven breaches by providers.

How we do it

As we quality assure The Code, our approach will include:

  • tailoring our approach to suit the different needs and operating environments of providers and learners
  • providing capability building activities and developing guidance
  • codesigning learner-led workshops to support learners to know The Code.

Related links

Becoming a signatory to the Tertiary and International Learners Code

Student complaints about an education provider

Our priorities

The 2024 Code Administration Plan

This plan outlines our approach, priorities and activities

Download the Plan

Engaging with providers and learners

Responding to ongoing provider needs and engaging with learners

Go to our comms toolkit

Building capability

Supporting providers through published guidance, forums, and workshops

Find out about Code workshops

Monitor and review

Supporting self-review and undertaking monitoring and investigations

Using our self-review tool kit

Our key focus areas

We will focus on:

The cornerstones of the Code

  • Wellbeing and safety
  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • Learner voice
  • Whole-of-provider approach

Student accommodation

Ensuring student accommodation meets the Code requirements and provides a positive and supportive environment for learners who live there

Building capability

Building capability in areas we know providers and learners are concerned about, including:

  • Pastoral care of offshore and workplace-based learners
  • Code-appropriate support for learners’ mental health
  • International student pastoral care including as borders re-open

Publishing self-review reports (tertiary providers)

Ensuring tertiary providers have published:

  • Strategic goals and plans for supporting the wellbeing and safety of learners
  • Self-review reports on the quality of learner wellbeing and safety practices
  • 2022 complaints and critical incident data in 2023 self-review reports.

Delegation to Universities New Zealand (UNZ)

NZQA expects to delegate some of its monitoring responsibilities to the New Zealand Vice Chancellors Committee (NZVCC) which is currently trading as Universities New Zealand (UNZ).

UNZ will carry out its delegated responsibilities through a sub-delegation to the Committee of University Student Pastoral Care (CUSPaC).

UNZ findings reports

Read the UNZ findings reports below to find out how universities are performing against the Code.

Questions about the Code?