The Hair Industries Support Opportunities Trust
Funding opportunities are available for those passionate about the Hair Industries. Please see our criteria for eligibility and terms & conditions.
HISO will be open for applications in October.
News - HITO transition to HISO from Services Industry Skills Board approved!
See below for the media release from HITO:
HITO is pleased to announce that NZQA and the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) have approved HITO to transition its operations from the Services Industry Skills Board to Hairdressing Industry Support Opportunities (HISO), an independent charitable trust representing the hairdressing, barbering and beauty industries.
HITO will continue to offer work-based apprenticeship training in hairdressing, barbering and beauty as it has done for over 30 years. The transition will officially take place on 1 July 2026 and HITO would like to assure all stakeholders including employers, trainers, apprentices and secondary schools that there will be minimal disruption during this transition.
As part of the vocational education and training reforms, HITO transitioned from Te Pūkenga to the Services Industry Skills Board in January 2026, with a legislative requirement to transition from the Services Industry Skills Board before the end of 2027.
“HITO is delighted that it was able to get both NZQA and TEC approval required to transition prior to the 2027 deadline. We are extremely grateful to the Services Industry Skills Board for their support as gaining a permanent home for HITO means more certainty for apprenticeship training in these industries and for all our stakeholders, including our current employers and their apprentices,” says Kay Nelson, HITO Executive Director.
“Following the official transition period, we look forward to celebrating the transition with our stakeholders across the country in September,” says Ms. Nelson.
For more information, please contact Kay Nelson, Executive Director, HITO 04 499 1180 or kay@hito.org.nz
