Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki

14/10/2026

🌱 We had a great morning yesterday at Most FM!
Our horticulture tutor Carl joined Bobi in the studio for a chat about all things horticulture. Bobi is also one of our WITT art students, making it a great opportunity to catch up, share some knowledge and have a bit of fun on air!

Carl brought along all kinds of tools and equipment to show Bobi, explaining what they’re used for and sharing his horticulture know-how. He also chatted about an upcoming pruning class.

In case you don't have time to watch the full video/sound snippet. Here the main points:

- Check out the Taranaki Sustainable Trails website to join Carl at his soil workshop "visual soil assessment" with 7 Nov 4-6PM
- Great facts shared by Carl:
🌿 59% of our species live below the ground
🌿 Only 11% live above ground
🌿 The rest of our species live in the sea!
- Wednesday 18 November Information Evening at WITT including a sausage sizzle...!
- And the the big news! We have a new fees-free Level 2 Sustainable Horticulture programme starting in February 2027! 🌿

If you enjoy gardening, want to learn how to grow your own fruit and vegetables, or are looking for a practical pathway into employment or further study, this could be a great place to start.

Here's what you need to know:
Starts 22 February 2027
full-time 17 weeks
Based in New Plymouth
Fees-free and open entry

🎧 Check out Carl's chat with Bobi and get a taste of the passion and practical learning behind horticulture at WITT!

Ready to grow your future?
Find out more: https://www.witt.ac.nz/.../new-fees-free-horticulture...

14/10/2026

🌱 We had a great morning yesterday at Most FM!

Our horticulture tutor Carl joined Bobi in the studio for a chat about all things horticulture. Bobi is also one of our WITT art students, making it a great opportunity to catch up, share some knowledge and have a bit of fun on air!

In case you don't have time to watch the full video/sound snippet. Here the main points:
- Check out the Sustainable Trails website to join Carl at his soil workshop "visual soil assessment" with 7 Nov 4-6PM

- Great facts shared by Carl:
🌿59% of our species live below the ground
🌿Only 11% live above ground
🌿The rest of our species live in the sea!

- Wednesday 18 November Information Evening at WITT including a sausage sizzle...!

Carl brought along all kinds of tools and equipment to show Bobi, explaining what they’re used for and sharing his horticulture know-how. He also chatted about an upcoming pruning class.

But the big news? We have a new fees-free Level 2 Sustainable Horticulture programme starting in February 2027! 🌿

If you enjoy gardening, want to learn how to grow your own fruit and vegetables, or are looking for a practical pathway into employment or further study, this could be a great place to start.

Here's what you need to know:

Starts 22 February 2027
17 weeks, full-time
Based in New Plymouth
Fees-free and open entry

🎧 Check out Carl's chat with Bobi and get a taste of the passion and practical learning behind horticulture at WITT!

Ready to grow your future?

Find out more: https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/new-fees-free-horticulture-confirms-growing-trend

13/10/2026

👷 Skills, teamwork and safety in action!

This Friday, 16 October, young tradies from across Taranaki will come together at WITT for the Taranaki Apprentice Challenge, testing their skills and highlighting the importance of health, safety and wellbeing on the job.

🎧 Love listening? Hear WITT’s Angela Ferguson speak about the challenge on the radio last week: https://on.soundcloud.com/xHrc2v7Prs3EAYQvqz

Read the full story on our website: https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/health-and-safety-focus-at-taranaki-apprentice-challenge

🎉 Pop on down to our campus and see the excitement for yourself!

29/09/2026

🎓 Last week, we invited high school students to get lost at WITT and find their future at our Taster Day.

They explored our campus, got hands-on with different study areas, checked out our facilities and got a feel for what life at WITT could look like.

They loved it. We loved having them here. ❤️

Prizedraw of the prezzy card done and dusted this morning with Bobi.
Check out who won! It's a student from Spotswood College Events 🫶

28/09/2026

🌱 As Taranaki’s horticulture industry grows, so does the need for skilled people.

Our new fees free New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2) – Sustainable Horticulture is a practical way to get started in horticulture and the wider primary industries.

Over 17 weeks, you’ll develop hands-on skills in plant care, growing fruit and vegetables, w**d management, safe working practices and more. You’ll also build the teamwork, communication and self-management skills employers value.

With horticulture continuing to grow in Taranaki, there’s increasing demand for people with practical skills and a passion for working outdoors, growing food and caring for our environment. 🌿

Read more about the new programme and the growing opportunities in Taranaki in our latest news story:
https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/new-fees-free-horticulture-confirms-growing-trend

Fees Free | 17 weeks | Full-time | Open entry
📅 Starts 22 February 2027
📍 New Plymouth

Ready to grow your skills? Find out more about the programme and enrol:
https://www.witt.ac.nz/study/primary-industries/food-and-fibre-production/new-zealand-certificate-in-primary-industry-skills-level-2

27/09/2026

🏋️‍♀️ Want to turn your passion for fitness into a career? Our Exercise Level 4 programme is changing for 2027.

We’re bringing two qualifications together into one full-year programme, giving you the skills to work with clients one-on-one and lead group fitness sessions.

You’ll still get the foundations you need in anatomy, physiology, exercise programming, nutrition and health and wellbeing – but now you’ll also develop the skills and confidence to plan and lead engaging group fitness classes.

Because being a great fitness professional isn’t just about knowing how to train one person. It’s also about knowing how to connect with, motivate and lead a group.

🎓 One year. Two qualifications. More ways to put your skills into practice.

The programme can prepare you for roles including personal trainer, exercise consultant, group fitness instructor and small-team training instructor. Whether you’re looking to work in a gym, fitness centre, group exercise environment or build your own client base.

📅 Starts 22 February 2027
📍 WITT New Plymouth
⏱️ 1 year full-time

🎙️ Hear Kieran chat with Bobi on The MOST FM about what’s changing and why this programme is preparing students for more opportunities in the fitness industry. https://soundcloud.com/wittaranaki/witt-interviews-kieran-23-09

👉 Ready to get moving? Explore the 2027 programme and enrol now: https://www.witt.ac.nz/study/exercise-and-sport/exercise-and-sport/certificate-in-exercise-level-4

24/09/2026

🎓 Today and tomorrow we’re celebrating our Trade Academy and 3+2 students! 🔨✨

It’s been fantastic having these high school students as part of the WITT campus community throughout the year. They’ve shown great commitment, put in the mahi and worked hard to complete their courses and now it’s time to celebrate their achievements!

Over these two days, whānau and friends are joining us on campus to recognise their success at our prizegiving ceremonies. We’ll be celebrating our top students and those who have achieved something outstanding along the way. 🥳

We’re also incredibly grateful to our amazing Taranaki industry supporters who have sponsored prizes for our students:

🔧 Euromarc – Mechanical Engineering
🎣 Hunting & Fishing New Zealand – Conservation
💄 Beauty Gallery - Professional Beauty Supplies – Beauty & Makeup
💇 Wella– Hairdressing
🛠️ The ToolShed Mitre 10 New Zealand &
🌱 Farm Source Ltd – Conservation & Agriculture
🍽️ Rice Rice Baby Bidfood New Plymouth – Hospitality
🚗 The NAPA Network– Automotive
🎨 Gordon Harris The Art & Graphic Store – Creative Arts

Your support helps us recognise and celebrate the next generation of Taranaki talent, and we’re so grateful to have such strong industry connections behind our students. 🙌

To all our Trade Academy and 3+2 students: Congratulations! We’ll miss having you around campus, but hopefully it won’t be goodbye for long. We’d love to see some of you back at WITT for a full-time programme next year or in the years ahead! 🎉

24/09/2026

🎓 Today and tomorrow we’re celebrating our Trade Academy and 3+2 students! 🔨✨

It’s been fantastic having these high school students as part of the WITT campus community throughout the year. They’ve shown great commitment, put in the mahi and worked hard to complete their courses and now it’s time to celebrate their achievements!

Over these two days, whānau and friends are joining us on campus to recognise their success at our prizegiving ceremonies. We’ll be celebrating our top students and those who have achieved something outstanding along the way. 🥳

We’re also incredibly grateful to our amazing Taranaki industry supporters who have sponsored prizes for our students:

🔧 Euromarc – Mechanical Engineering
🎣 Hunting & Fishing New Zealand – Conservation
💄 Beauty Gallery – Beauty & Makeup
💇 Wella– Hairdressing
🛠️ The ToolShed Mitre 10 &
🌱 Farm Source Ltd – Conservation & Agriculture
🍽️ Rice Rice Baby & Bidfood – Hospitality
🚗 The NAPA Network– Automotive
🎨 Gordon Harris The Art & Graphic Store – Creative Arts

Your support helps us recognise and celebrate the next generation of Taranaki talent, and we’re so grateful to have such strong industry connections behind our students. 🙌

To all our Trade Academy and 3+2 students: Congratulations! We’ll miss having you around campus, but hopefully it won’t be goodbye for long. We’d love to see some of you back at WITT for a full-time programme next year or in the years ahead! 🎉

23/09/2026

Moving to New Plymouth from his home in Punjab – a northern Indian state one fifth the size of New Zealand with 30+ million people – was a giant leap into the unknown for WITT graduate Suhail Walia ✈️🏔️

His bravery paid off…👏

Suhail graduated with a Diploma of Construction Management (Quantity Surveying strand) from WITT in 2025. With this qual, he’s building a new life while overseeing the building of hundreds of residential homes in Auckland 🏘️🏠🏗️

His new job with Parnell-based Craft Wolf Construction, is a dream come true, he says. And from day one on the job, he was pleased to find that course material from his WITT studies was instantly relevant, confirming the decision to enrol on the recommendation of an education agent in India was the right one 🌟

Read more…
https://www.witt.ac.nz/news/punjab-to-parnell-witt-grad-builds-new-life-and-new-homes-2

21/09/2026

📣 Ngāti Mutunga whānau funding support is available! If you’re a Ngāti Mutunga member planning to study at WITT, this could be an opportunity to help with some of the additional costs that come with education or training.

Applications close 5pm, Friday 23 October 2026.

At WITT, our team is here to help you understand the funding and scholarship options available and check which ones you may be eligible for. Applying early gives you more time to explore the opportunities that could help support your study.

👉 See the original post below for full eligibility and application details.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Second Funding Round of our Other Training and Employment Subsidy Grants.

These grants provide support to whānau for additional costs associated with education, training for employment, or pre-requisites required to start employment.

Opening Date: 12:00pm, Friday 18 September 2026
Closing Date: 5:00pm, Friday 23 October 2026

Funding available:
- Education: up to $250.00
- Training for Employment: up to $250.00
- Pre-requisites for Starting Employment: up to $250.00

Applicants must be able to whakapapa to Ngāti Mutunga and be registered with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga, either in their own name or recorded under their parent(s). Members aged 18 years and over are encouraged to register in their own name.

Grant Conditions
- Applicants are unable to receive this grant as well as another TRoNM Education grant within a financial year.
- A successful applicant in Round 1 is unable to apply for Round 2.
- Priority is given to first-time applicants each year.
- Funding is available to both full-time and part-time students.
- Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to re-apply in subsequent rounds.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

Required Documentation
- Bank Verification – confirmation of bank account number.
- Ngāti Mutunga Registration – evidence of registration with TRoNM, either under your own name or recorded under your parent(s). This is the confirmation email you would have received from the - Registration Officer when your or your parent’s registration was validated.
- Statement of Intent – a statement explaining why you are applying for this grant. Include relevant information such as your school, workplace, event, or team you are involved with, and how the funding will support your education, training, or participation.
- Supporting Documents – evidence that helps verify the costs or expenses you are requesting funding for. This could include quotes, invoices, sports fee statements, receipts, or other relevant documentation.

Completed applications must be submitted to [email protected] by 5:00pm, Friday 23 October 2026.

For further information regarding eligibility and the application process, please visit our website:
https://www.ngatimutunga.iwi.nz/education-grants/other-training-and-employment-subsidy-grants/