A major training organisation is calling for the Government to slow down as it moves to overhaul the vocational education sector.
It comes after the Government proposed the merger of 16 polytechnics into a single body, the Institute of Skills and Technology.
Laura Fergusson Trust rehabilitation coach, Mark Watson, is one of about 20,000 trainees looking after Kiwis in the health and wellbeing sectors while receiving on-the-job training from Careerforce.
"Thanks to Careerforce, I'm actually able to be here," he said.
Careerforce is concerned over the Government's vocation sector overhaul.
The training group's chief executive, Jane Wenman, said, "The rush that the Government have gone into with this, it really also feels like they're draining the harbour to save a sinking ship".
However, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says the Government would do more damage to the sector if they aren't quick to act.
"We know that we'll do damage to vocational education across the board if we don't move quickly because one of the key risks here is uncertainty," Mr Hipkins said.
Numerous polytechnics have been going under or going broke and kept on life support by the Government.
The Institute of Skills and Technology institute will take over the management of apprenticeship training from organisations like Careerforce, but Careerforce says they're not the problem.
"We would like the Government to just take a pause, focus on that polytech sector and then really give the opportunity for employers, workers and industry to come forward with what they need for industry training," Ms Wenman said.
However, Mr Hipkins argued, "If the system was working well, we wouldn't have critical shortages across a whole range of industries. We know we have only got 10-15 per cent of employers at best count, engaged in on-the-job training."
Mr Watson says further consultation with people in the vocational sector is needed.
"I just really think it would be beneficial for people such as myself to give an opinion."
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