Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code 2021

Tertiary pastoral care — NZ compliance guide

What every tertiary provider must do under the Pastoral Care Code 2021 — and how NZQA audits compliance.

The Pastoral Care Code 2021 applies to all tertiary providers in New Zealand. It sets minimum obligations for learner wellbeing, accommodation, mental health support, and pastoral care systems. International learner providers have additional obligations on top of these. NZQA audits compliance — non-compliance can result in conditions on registration.

Pastoral care obligations
Pastoral Care Code

Full Code guide

All provider obligations: wellbeing, accommodation, critical incidents, complaints.

Read guide →
Clauses 20–22

International students

Additional obligations for providers enrolling international learners.

Read guide →
Also on Workstep
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Privacy Act

Student health information

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Mental health support

Wellbeing obligations

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NZQA audit

What auditors look for

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iStudent Complaints

International learner complaints

Give your student support staff instant access to your pastoral care procedures

Workstep lets your RAs and student advisors ask pastoral care questions and get answers from your procedures and the Code — at any hour.

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