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Sport, recreation and cultural organisations – activities and places that foster the social, physical and mental wellbeing of the people of Aotearoa.

The qualification-to-career pipeline across the variety of Toi Ora industries is currently failing this workforce.

In the exercise industry, for example, personal trainer graduates enter the industry lacking the skills needed to succeed, and 58% of them fail in their first working year.

Toi Mai has made great strides in tackling these challenges, bringing industry bodies together to collaboratively develop a fit-for-purpose qualifications landscape for the sector.

What’s new

  • Toi Mai has release two draft workforce development plans: Torona Pakiakatia for Māori and Pacific conservators and curators, and Torona Kaupekatia for libraries and archives. The draft plans are now undergoing public consultation until 10 August 2025. Find the plans and how to provide feedback here: 2025 workforce development plans

 

  • Toi Mai has developed new exercise education products to stop the churn and burn in the personal trainer (PT) sector, with too many PT graduates lacking the skills needed to succeed, and 58% failing in their first year. Find out more: Updated quals to stem personal trainer churn

 

Toi Mai had the pleasure of chatting with exercise industry leader and co-founder of Revl gym, Gerry Salmon, to hear his whakaaro on the future of the industry:

Toi Mai develops and maintains skills standards, micro-credentials and qualifications for the sports, recreation and cultural organisation sectors. See every relevant qualification, including new qualifications and those under review.

New Exercise skill standards

Toi Mai has developed new exercise standards to help stop the churn and burn in the personal trainer workforce. Find out more in the following video:

Reviews and developments

In collaboration with conservation organisations, local government, iwi, hapū and community groups, we recently developed a new micro-credential and two skill standards for Conservation: Conservation micro-credentials and skill standards

Following public consultation on the proposed expiry of an outdoor first aid unit standard, we drafted a new replacement skill standard tailored to the outdoor sector: Outdoor First Aid unit standard review

We recently sought feedback on three new micro-credentials relating to Outdoor Management and Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC): Outdoor Management and EOTC micro-credentials

We are expiring a series of sport and recreation qualifications: Sport and recreation qualifications expiry; and seeking feedback on a review of others: Sport and recreation qualifications review

Latest Toi Ora News

Report opens the book on library workforce issues
21/07/25

Report opens the book on library workforce issues

A shortage of Māori and Pacific librarians, low pay, high turnover for new entrants and limited career advancement opportunities are...
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Great need for more Māori and Pacific conservators and curators
21/07/25

Great need for more Māori and Pacific conservators and curators

Aotearoa needs to invest in training more indigenous conservators and curators to preserve and care for the thousands of nationally...
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Addressing cultural practitioner shortage
24/04/25

Addressing cultural practitioner shortage

Addressing the severe shortage of cultural practitioners, including Māori and Pacific conservators and curators, is the focus of a new...
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Updated quals to stem personal trainer churn
25/04/25

Updated quals to stem personal trainer churn

Toi Mai has developed new exercise education products to reduce the churn and burn in the personal trainer (PT) sector,...
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Working out the challenges in the exercise industry
11/07/24

Working out the challenges in the exercise industry

Realigning workforce qualifications with practical skills, developing a financially-sustainable business model, and convening stakeholders over challenges and opportunities, will contribute...
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Feedback critical to shaping the future of vocational education
27/06/24

Feedback critical to shaping the future of vocational education

Stakeholder feedback is being sought on four new Workforce Development Plans (WDPs) and one Industry Development Plan (IDP) released today...
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The COVID-19 Recovery Baseline Engagement and Data (BED) Project
28/10/22

The COVID-19 Recovery Baseline Engagement and Data (BED) Project

Toi Mai is proud to release its first Tertiary Education Commission WDC/TITO COVID-19 Response Projects Fund project report: The COVID-19...
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