The lifting and rigging industry in New Zealand is set to receive formal recognition, with three specialist roles accepted for inclusion in the country’s National Occupation List (NOL).
The roles now recognised are:
- Lifting Equipment Technician
- Lifting Equipment Engineer
- Load Lifting Rigger (Rope Fabrication)
The inclusion follows a proposal made by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) to Stats NZ. It marks what the association describes as a major milestone for the industry, acknowledging the technical complexity and safety-critical importance of lifting work across multiple sectors.
LEEA said the goal is to incorporate the roles into a mid-year NOL update. If this update does not proceed, the roles will be formally included in the 1 January 2026 release.
“This is a landmark moment for the lifting industry in New Zealand,” said Justin Boehm, Regional Manager – Australia & New Zealand, LEEA. “It validates the professionalism and critical safety work our members undertake daily, often behind the scenes but at the heart of infrastructure, construction, and industrial activity.”
Benefits for Industry
According to LEEA, the recognition delivers long-term benefits for employers, educators, and industry stakeholders. These include:
- Helping attract and retain talent by raising the visibility of vocational career paths in lifting and rigging.
- Clarifying qualification standards through alignment with the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
- Supporting workforce planning by providing accurate occupation codes for industry growth, immigration, and workforce strategy.
- Strengthening the professional identity of lifting specialists and reinforcing their role in safety and compliance.
- Elevating the industry’s standing by placing lifting and rigging work alongside other nationally recognised trades.
Emma Jeffery, LEEA Appointed Representative – New Zealand, said the decision was about more than classification. “Formal recognition of these roles will help address workforce challenges, improve access to skills-based immigration pathways, and rightly position lifting professionals as the qualified, safety-critical specialists they are,” she said. “This progress is about visibility, credibility, and respect—for the work, and for the people doing it.”
Next Steps
LEEA will continue to work closely with Stats NZ and other agencies to support implementation. Members will be notified once the official publication date for the updated NOL is confirmed.