S/C/N/931  
11 March  2019 
(19-1462) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade in Services  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III:3 OF THE GENERAL  
AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES  
The following notification from the delegation of New Zealand , dated 8 March  2019, is being 
circulated to the members of the Council for Trade in Services.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  MEMBER NOTIFYING:  
New Zealand  
2  NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO:  
Article III:3 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services  
3  DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE : 
29 August 2011  
 
3.1  Duration:  
Indefinite  
 
4  AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE MEASURE : 
New Zealand Qualifications Authority  
5  DESCRIPTION OF THE MEASURE : 
Education Amendment Act 2011  
 
The Education Amendment Act 2011 amended the Education Act 1989  
 
The Amendment Act established the New  Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) under 
section  248 of the Education Act 1989. The NZQF was first established by NZQA as a single unified 
framework on 1 July 2010 under the former section 253 (1)(c) of the Act an d received full statutory 
recognition in the Amendment Act 2011.  
 
The NZQF is a framework based on outcomes, described in terms of knowledge, skills and attributes, 
and their application. The New Zealand Qualifications Authority administers the NZQF, whic h is the 
definitive source for accurate information about all quality assured qualifications.  
 
The Amendment Act 2011 also gave full statutory recognition to the Directory of Assessment 
Standards (DAS) and introduced into legislation the concepts of train ing schemes, programmes and 
consents to assess against standards.  
 
Prior to the 2011 Amendments a “course” encompassed two elements – a qualification and a 
programme of study training. The Amendment Act 2011 recognised the qualification as separate and 
distinct from the programme of study or training.  S/C/N/931   
 
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  The Amendment Act 2011 created a stronger regulatory and enforcement framework, in particular, 
in relation to managing PTEs (Private Training Establishment), which have some new obligations. 
This includes ra ising the threshold for PTE registration (i.e. a PTE can only be registered if NZQA is 
satisfied that each governing member is a fit and proper person), giving NZQA powers of entry to 
premises in cases of non -compliance and introducing new targeted offence s.  
 
The Amendment Act 2011 also established NZQA’s authority to set the overarching statutory rules 
for quality assurance of qualifications and the tertiary education organisations that provide them 
(section 253 of the Education Act 1989). The Rules inclu de: 
 
Assessment and examination rules  
 
• Assessment (including Examination) Rules for Schools with Consent to Assess 2018  
• Assessment (including Examination) Rules for Tertiary Education Organisations with 
 Consent to Assess Entering Candidates for Achiev ement Standards 2018  
• Assessment (including Examination) Rules for Home -Schooled students 2018  
 
Private Training Establishment and Industry Training Organisation rules  
 
• Private Training Establishment Registration Rules 2018  
• Annual Fee Rules 2015  
• PTE Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2012  
• Student Fee Protection Rules 2013  
• Industry Training Organisation Prescribed Quality Assurance Requirements 2015  
 
External Evaluation and Review rules  
 
• Quality Assurance (including External Evaluation and Rev iew) Rules 2016  
 
New Zealand Qualification Framework rules  
 
• NZQF Qualification Listing and Operational Rules 2016  
• NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2018  
• NZQF Offshore Programme Delivery Rules 2012  
• NZQF Industry Training Programme Appr oval Rules 2012  
 
Standards and Assessment rules  
 
• Directory of Assessment Standards Listing and Operational Rules 2011  
• Consent to Assess Against Standards on the Directory of Assessment Standards Rules 2011  
 
Training Scheme Rules  
 
• Training Scheme Rule s 2012  
 
6  MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY AFFECTED, IF ANY : 
None 
7  TEXT AVAILABLE FROM : 
www.legislation.govt.nz  
New Zealand Qualifications Authority  
125 The Terrace  
PO Box 160, Wellington 6140  
 
Website: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz   
 
Tel: +64 463 3000Fax +64 463 3112  
 
Email: internationalunit@nzqa.govt.nz   
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