New Zealand Government Launches University Reforms

Wellington — On September 2, 2025, the Minister for Universities, Dr. Shane Reti, announced a wide-ranging package of reforms to strengthen New Zealand’s higher education sector and ensure it is better aligned with the country’s future skills, research, and innovation needs.

The reforms include the introduction of a new Tertiary Education Strategy (TES), developed jointly with Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds, to connect university teaching and research more closely with national priorities. A University Strategy Group will also be established, bringing together government, universities, industry, and international experts to provide guidance and foster collaboration.

In a significant change to research funding, the government will replace the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) with the new Tertiary Research Excellence Fund (TREF). The TREF aims to be more streamlined, cost-effective, and impactful in supporting high-quality research.

The reforms will also improve the regulatory framework for quality assurance, particularly in programme approvals, and make it easier for students to move between institutions. Alongside these changes, a new governance code will be introduced to set clear standards for university leadership, supported by monitoring and intervention tools to strengthen accountability and oversight.

Dr. Reti thanked the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, for its role in shaping the reforms. He said the next phase will involve consultation with universities, students, community groups, and industry stakeholders before detailed implementation plans are rolled out.

Source: Ministry of Education NZ