Background to the Changes (He Kōrero Whakamārama)
Waihanga Ara Rau, the standard-setting body for New Zealand’s Construction and Infrastructure sectors, has updated its Training and Assessment Guidance for high-risk safety courses. These changes reflect extensive consultation with industry stakeholders and are aligned with NZQA’s Aromatawai (assessment principles) to ensure fair, meaningful, and practical learning.
Why Things Are Changing (Ngā Take Matua mō te Panonitanga)
Feedback from industry was clear:
“We need more time on the tools.”
As a result, the new approach focuses on:
- More time spent on practical skills and scenarios
- Deepening understanding of why safety procedures matter
- Supporting workers to go home safely to their whānau
When Will These Changes Begin? (Te Rā Whakahāngai)
The revised crane training requirements will come into effect from:
- 1 September 2025
These updates aim to improve training quality, consistency, and on-site safety across Aotearoa.
What’s Changing? (Ngā Paerewa Kua Whakahoungia)
The following unit standards will now be delivered as standalone one-day courses:
- US 30072 – Slinging Regular Loads
- US 3800 – Overhead Gantry Crane
- US 16617 – Truck Loader Crane
These changes are industry-wide and apply to all training providers.
ACT Safety fully supports this review and remains committed to delivering high-quality, holistic training that promotes both worker wellbeing and organisational safety. We’re also exploring new, innovative course options, which we’ll share as they become available.
New Experience Requirements (Ngā Whakaritenga mō te Whakaū Mātauranga)
To have these unit standards added to your NZQA Record of Achievement, learners must now complete verified on-the-job experience through an Attestation Document, which ACT Safety is currently developing.
Minimum experience required for attestation:
|
Unit Standard |
Hours OR Lifts Required |
|
US 3800 |
50 hours or 25 lifts |
|
US 16617 |
80 hours or 40 lifts |
This ensures learners are confident, capable, and safe when working in real-life conditions.
Alternative Training Options (Ngā Kōwhiringa Whakangungu Anō)
ACT Safety also offers customised non-unit standard training for:
- Slinging Regular Loads
- Overhead Gantry Cranes
- Truck Loader Cranes
These courses are ideal for building competency and logbook experience prior to formal unit standard assessment.
The Benefits (Ngā Painga)
- These changes are designed to ensure your team is:
- Trained to a higher safety standard
- Better prepared for real-world environments
- Supported with verified and relevant training
Want to Learn More? (Mō Ētahi Atu Kōrero)
You can read the full Waihanga Ara Rau report here:
Short-Course-Guidance-Document_FINAL_5-6-25.pdf
If you have any questions about how these changes affect your team or future training, we’re here to help:
0800 270 959
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