Creative Arts qualifications

NZQA’s Qualification Developer responsibilities have been transferred to Toi Mai Workforce Development Council.

New versions of qualifications in Creative Arts (at levels 2-6, excluding university qualifications) were published on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework in September 2021, following a scheduled review in 2020.

For a summary of the review main changes refer below to 2020 review of NZ Creative Arts qualifications.

Learners currently enrolled in programmes leading to version 1 of these qualifications may either complete the requirements by 31 December 2023 or transfer to version 2 of the qualification.

Programmes leading to the version 2 qualifications will need to be changed to meet the new qualification requirements. This requires NZQA approval. Please refer to Changes to programme approvals.

The next review of New Zealand Creative Arts qualifications is scheduled for August 2026.

To find out more, click on the blue arrows below.

Find a qualification

Browse the links below or search by qualification reference number or title.

Qualification Developer
New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 2) [Ref: 2625] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 3) [Ref: 2626] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 4) [Ref: 2627] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 3) [Ref: 2628] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 4) [Ref: 2629] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Fashion (Level 4) [Ref: 2630] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Jewellery (Level 4) [Ref: 2631] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing Jewellery (Level 4) [Ref: 2632]  Jewellery Industry Registration Board of New Zealand
New Zealand Certificate in Watch and Clock Making (Level 4) [Ref: 2633]  Jewellery Industry Registration Board of New Zealand
New Zealand Diploma in Animation (Level 5) [Ref: 2634] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Animation (Level 6) [Ref: 2635] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 5) [Ref: 2636] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 6) [Ref: 2637] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 5) [Ref: 2638] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Digital Media and Design (Level 6) [Ref: 2639] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Fashion Design (Level 6) [Ref: 2640] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Fashion (Level 5) [Ref: 2641] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council

New Zealand Diploma in Graphic Design (Level 5) [Ref: 2642]
The qualification will expire with no replacement

Toi Mai Workforce Development Council

New Zealand Diploma in Graphic Design (Level 6) [Ref: 2643]
The qualification will expire with no replacement

Toi Mai Workforce Development Council

New Zealand Diploma in User Interface Design (Level 5) [Ref: 2644]
The qualification will expire with no replacement

Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Web Design and Production (Level 6) [Ref: 2645] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Jewellery (Level 5) [Ref: 2646] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Jewellery (Level 6) [Ref: 2647] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Photography (Level 5) [Ref: 2648] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Photography (Level 6) [Ref: 2649] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (Level 5) [Ref: 2867] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (Level 6) [Ref: 2868] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council
New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4) [Ref: 2869] Toi Mai Workforce Development Council

2020 review of NZ Creative Arts qualifications

In 2020, NZQA National Qualifications Services facilitated the review of 26 New Zealand Creative Arts qualifications, in collaboration with and on behalf of Creative Arts programme owners, the alliance of New Zealand’s creative industries and individuals who expressed an interest in the qualifications and their review.

Stakeholders were kept informed and invited to contribute at all stages of the review.  Consultation with creative industries was facilitated through the WeCreate Working Group - https://wecreate.org.nz/#1.

Research indicated that the needs analysis (PDF, 1.9MB), which informed the initial development of these qualifications, remains current.

Main changes

The review identified anomalies in the qualifications to ensure clarity, consistency and coherence.

Strategic purpose statements / Te rautaki o te tohu have been refreshed and connect the application of creative arts knowledge and skills to a wider range of industries.

The general conditions for programmes / Ngā tikanga whānui o te hōtaka articulate commitment to ngā kaupapa o te Tiriti o Waitangi (the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi), and learning that reflects Te Ao Māori, the perspectives of Pacific peoples, and the cultural and individual educational needs of ākonga/learners. They also include those essential programme conditions that are necessitated by regulatory or legislative requirements.

Graduate Profile Outcomes (GPOs) / Ngā hua have all been refreshed and are more fully descriptive. The credits / Ngā whiwhinga have been rationalised. Specific conditions / Ngā tikanga that relate to individual graduate outcomes are not included.

Evidence requirements for assuring consistency / Ngā taunaki hei whakaū i te tauritenga now focus on analysis of systems and processes, interpretation of data against the GPOs and application of the insights and knowledge gained.

These changes strengthen the intent of the Version 1 qualifications.

Note: New Zealand Diplomas in Graphic Design (Level 5 and Level 6) and the New Zealand Diploma in User Interface Design (Level 5) were discontinued due to there being no approved programmes and no intent indicated that they would be used in the future,

For further information see the Change report for the review of Creative Arts New Zealand Qualifications.

2018 Extension of planned review date

Feedback was sought in March and April 2018 on a proposal to extend the planned review date for 26 Creative Arts qualifications.

Consultation closed on 16 April 2018, and versions 1 of the qualifications were republished in May to extend the qualification review date to 31 July 2020.

Mandatory review of Creative Arts 2015

To find out how Creative Arts qualifications were reviewed and developed, visit the Mandatory review of Creative Arts qualifications review page.

Contact

For enquiries or information about Creative Arts qualifications, where Toi Mai Workforce Development Council is now the listed qualification developer, please contact Qualifications@toimai.nz.

 
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