Welcome to the Assessor Newsletter

Inputting learner results:

14 December - This is the last day to register results to ensure they are exported to NZQA on the final run of 2025.

Distribution of certificates:

15 December - Last certificate run of 2025. Please ensure results for a completing trainee are submitted by Sunday, 7th December, to ensure they are awarded and included in the final certificate run for 2025. (If this date is missed, they will be added into the first certificate run for 2026, 12th January.)

Careerforce holiday shutdown period:

24 December - Careerforce closes.
05 January - Careerforce reopens at 8 am.

Just a quick note to clarify our position on accessing Aka Toi from overseas.

Careerforce won’t be opening up international access to Aka Toi for assessment purposes. This is to prevent creating vulnerabilities in our cybersecurity systems, which we take seriously.

If an assessor is on leave, they’re on leave—and that’s okay. Learner expectations can be managed appropriately by the workplace, employer, or assessor.

If needed, we can consider providing temporary support from a staff assessor to help cover the necessary tasks.

Thanks for your understanding and for continuing to support our learners in a way that keeps everyone safe and supported.

We appreciate the mahi you do to support learners through their assessment journey. To ensure smooth moderation and timely granting of unit standards, we’d like to highlight a few common issues we’ve been encountering with submitted samples:

Common Issues with Moderation Samples

Incomplete Tasks: Some samples are missing completed tasks required by the unit standard. Please ensure all tasks are fully completed before submission.
Integrated Assessments: When submitting integrated samples, all unit standards involved must be completed. Partial submissions cannot be moderated.
Missing Observation Forms: Observation forms are essential for many unit standards. If they’re required, they must be included in the sample.
Aka Toi Submissions: If assessments are completed on Aka Toi, observation forms must also be uploaded there. Without them, the unit cannot be assessed or granted.

What You Can Do

Double-check that all tasks and unit standards are completed.
Include all required documentation, especially observation forms.
Upload observation forms to Aka Toi when assessments are completed there.

Our moderation team has looked at over 1,800 samples so far this year and has agreed with the assessors' judgement over 80% of the time - this is an excellent result! Assessment practices continue to improve, and assessments are becoming more consistent as time goes on. This helps us ensure that Aotearoa | New Zealand's most vulnerable are being supported with respect, dignity, and competence.

Your attention to these details helps us maintain the integrity of the assessment process and ensures learners receive timely recognition for their achievements.