diff --git a/test-network-k8s/docs/TEST_NETWORK.md b/test-network-k8s/docs/TEST_NETWORK.md
index 6f534114cd..63a9a8577b 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/docs/TEST_NETWORK.md
+++ b/test-network-k8s/docs/TEST_NETWORK.md
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ from a public container registry, copying the external builders into the target
 ```yaml
       initContainers:
         - name: fabric-ccs-builder
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ccs-builder
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ccs-builder
           command: [sh, -c]
           args: ["cp /go/bin/* /var/hyperledger/fabric/chaincode/ccs-builder/bin/"]
           volumeMounts:
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-admin-cli.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-admin-cli.yaml
index ad32646beb..85c81343f7 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-admin-cli.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-admin-cli.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-tools:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-tools:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CFG_PATH
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-ecert-ca.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-ecert-ca.yaml
index 094e9671db..4e1960f506 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-ecert-ca.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-ecert-ca.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CA_SERVER_CA_NAME
               value: "org0-ecert-ca"
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer1.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer1.yaml
index f5c3c702f1..ce70b59ac9 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer1.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer1.yaml
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-orderer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
-          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-orderer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
                 name: org0-orderer1-env
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer2.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer2.yaml
index 9a7188f984..0314416d45 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer2.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer2.yaml
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-orderer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
-          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-orderer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
                 name: org0-orderer2-env
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer3.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer3.yaml
index b9aa143100..cbca3739f6 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer3.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-orderer3.yaml
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-orderer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
-          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-orderer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
                 name: org0-orderer3-env
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-tls-ca.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-tls-ca.yaml
index abc6237bf5..0ae21a2524 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-tls-ca.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org0/org0-tls-ca.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CA_SERVER_CA_NAME
               value: "org0-tls-ca"
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-admin-cli.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-admin-cli.yaml
index cfd0c03f60..8086e73290 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-admin-cli.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-admin-cli.yaml
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-tools:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
-          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-tools:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CFG_PATH
               value: /var/hyperledger/fabric/config
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-ecert-ca.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-ecert-ca.yaml
index 2f5529264f..c4a9f4e63e 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-ecert-ca.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-ecert-ca.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CA_SERVER_CA_NAME
               value: "org1-ecert-ca"
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer1.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer1.yaml
index d9a29f8c91..cb879f026e 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer1.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer1.yaml
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
-          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
                 name: org1-peer1-config
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ spec:
       # load the external chaincode builder into the peer image prior to peer launch.
       initContainers:
         - name: fabric-ccs-builder
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ccs-builder
-          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          image: ghcr.io/hyperledgendary/fabric-ccs-builder
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           command: [sh, -c]
           args: ["cp /go/bin/* /var/hyperledger/fabric/chaincode/ccs-builder/bin/"]
           volumeMounts:
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer2.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer2.yaml
index 6d739499ad..a0e994265a 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer2.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-peer2.yaml
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
-          imagePullPolicy: Always
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
                 name: org1-peer2-config
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-tls-ca.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-tls-ca.yaml
index d112049801..a16da69136 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-tls-ca.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org1/org1-tls-ca.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CA_SERVER_CA_NAME
               value: "org1-tls-ca"
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-admin-cli.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-admin-cli.yaml
index b39edfaf68..6839455a3c 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-admin-cli.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-admin-cli.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-tools:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-tools:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CFG_PATH
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-ecert-ca.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-ecert-ca.yaml
index b6c4a50d18..216b53be75 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-ecert-ca.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-ecert-ca.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CA_SERVER_CA_NAME
               value: "org2-ecert-ca"
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer1.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer1.yaml
index 609bcaf5de..b77bd70d78 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer1.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer1.yaml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ spec:
       # load the external chaincode builder into the peer image prior to peer launch.
       initContainers:
         - name: fabric-ccs-builder
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ccs-builder
+          image: ghcr.io/hyperledgendary/fabric-ccs-builder
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           command: [sh, -c]
           args: ["cp /go/bin/* /var/hyperledger/fabric/chaincode/ccs-builder/bin/"]
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer2.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer2.yaml
index 871e9ca6ff..e68363c98f 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer2.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-peer2.yaml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-peer:{{FABRIC_VERSION}}
           imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           envFrom:
             - configMapRef:
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-tls-ca.yaml b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-tls-ca.yaml
index e77fe95661..53ec23dbde 100644
--- a/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-tls-ca.yaml
+++ b/test-network-k8s/kube/org2/org2-tls-ca.yaml
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ spec:
     spec:
       containers:
         - name: main
-          image: {{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          image: {{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}}/fabric-ca:{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}}
+          imagePullPolicy: IfNotPresent
           env:
             - name: FABRIC_CA_SERVER_CA_NAME
               value: "org2-tls-ca"
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/network b/test-network-k8s/network
index ee046cd30e..f0f34a770c 100755
--- a/test-network-k8s/network
+++ b/test-network-k8s/network
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ set -o errexit
 
 FABRIC_VERSION=${TEST_NETWORK_FABRIC_VERSION:-2.3.2}
 FABRIC_CA_VERSION=${TEST_NETWORK_FABRIC_CA_VERSION:-1.5.2}
-LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY=localhost:5000
 FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY=${TEST_NETWORK_FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY:-hyperledger}
 NETWORK_NAME=${TEST_NETWORK_NAME:-test-network}
 CLUSTER_NAME=${TEST_NETWORK_KIND_CLUSTER_NAME:-kind}
@@ -32,6 +31,7 @@ LOG_FILE=${TEST_NETWORK_LOG_FILE:-network.log}
 DEBUG_FILE=${TEST_NETWORK_DEBUG_FILE:-network-debug.log}
 LOCAL_REGISTRY_NAME=${TEST_NETWORK_LOCAL_REGISTRY_NAME:-kind-registry}
 LOCAL_REGISTRY_PORT=${TEST_NETWORK_LOCAL_REGISTRY_PORT:-5000}
+STAGE_DOCKER_IMAGES=${TEST_NETWORK_STAGE_DOCKER_IMAGES:-false}
 NGINX_HTTP_PORT=${TEST_NETWORK_INGRESS_HTTP_PORT:-80}
 NGINX_HTTPS_PORT=${TEST_NETWORK_INGRESS_HTTPS_PORT:-443}
 CHAINCODE_NAME=${TEST_NETWORK_CHAINCODE_NAME:-asset-transfer-basic}
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ if [ "${MODE}" == "kind" ]; then
   kind_init
   log "🏁 - Cluster is ready."
 
+elif [ "${MODE}" == "load-images" ]; then
+  log "Loading images to KIND:"
+  load_docker_images
+  log "🏁 - Images loaded."
+
 elif [ "${MODE}" == "unkind" ]; then
   log "Deleting cluster \"${CLUSTER_NAME}\":"
   kind_unkind
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/scripts/fabric_CAs.sh b/test-network-k8s/scripts/fabric_CAs.sh
index 0a1679478a..a0ee760f34 100755
--- a/test-network-k8s/scripts/fabric_CAs.sh
+++ b/test-network-k8s/scripts/fabric_CAs.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 function launch_CA() {
   local yaml=$1
   cat ${yaml} \
-    | sed 's,{{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}},'${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}',g' \
+    | sed 's,{{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}},'${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}',g' \
     | sed 's,{{FABRIC_CA_VERSION}},'${FABRIC_CA_VERSION}',g' \
     | kubectl -n $NS apply -f -
 }
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/scripts/kind.sh b/test-network-k8s/scripts/kind.sh
index 203d7b9c68..a6fb1fd6f2 100755
--- a/test-network-k8s/scripts/kind.sh
+++ b/test-network-k8s/scripts/kind.sh
@@ -18,23 +18,17 @@ function pull_docker_images() {
   pop_fn
 }
 
-function push_images_to_local() {
-  push_fn "Push docker images to local image repository"
-
-  docker tag ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ca:$FABRIC_CA_VERSION ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ca:$FABRIC_CA_VERSION
-  docker push ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ca:$FABRIC_CA_VERSION
-  docker tag ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-orderer:$FABRIC_VERSION ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-orderer:$FABRIC_VERSION
-  docker push ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-orderer:$FABRIC_VERSION
-  docker tag ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-peer:$FABRIC_VERSION ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-peer:$FABRIC_VERSION
-  docker push ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-peer:$FABRIC_VERSION
-  docker tag ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-tools:$FABRIC_VERSION ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-tools:$FABRIC_VERSION
-  docker push ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-tools:$FABRIC_VERSION
-  docker tag ghcr.io/hyperledgendary/fabric-ccs-builder:latest ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ccs-builder:latest
-  docker push ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ccs-builder:latest
-  docker tag ghcr.io/hyperledgendary/fabric-ccaas-asset-transfer-basic:latest ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ccaas-asset-transfer-basic:latest
-  docker push ${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ccaas-asset-transfer-basic:latest
-
-  pop_fn
+function load_docker_images() {
+  push_fn "Loading docker images to KIND control plane"
+
+  kind load docker-image ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-ca:$FABRIC_CA_VERSION
+  kind load docker-image ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-orderer:$FABRIC_VERSION
+  kind load docker-image ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-peer:$FABRIC_VERSION
+  kind load docker-image ${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}/fabric-tools:$FABRIC_VERSION
+  kind load docker-image ghcr.io/hyperledgendary/fabric-ccs-builder:latest
+  kind load docker-image ghcr.io/hyperledgendary/fabric-ccaas-asset-transfer-basic:latest
+  
+  pop_fn 
 }
 
 function apply_nginx_ingress() {
@@ -143,8 +137,10 @@ function kind_init() {
   apply_nginx_ingress
   launch_docker_registry
 
-  pull_docker_images
-  push_images_to_local
+  if [ "${STAGE_DOCKER_IMAGES}" == true ]; then
+    pull_docker_images 
+    load_docker_images 
+  fi 
 }
 
 function kind_unkind() {
diff --git a/test-network-k8s/scripts/test_network.sh b/test-network-k8s/scripts/test_network.sh
index da0dbb9a62..992cd98376 100755
--- a/test-network-k8s/scripts/test_network.sh
+++ b/test-network-k8s/scripts/test_network.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 function launch() {
   local yaml=$1
   cat ${yaml} \
-    | sed 's,{{LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}},'${LOCAL_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}',g' \
+    | sed 's,{{FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}},'${FABRIC_CONTAINER_REGISTRY}',g' \
     | sed 's,{{FABRIC_VERSION}},'${FABRIC_VERSION}',g' \
     | kubectl -n $NS apply -f -
 }