Students at Taranaki's largest tertiary education provider are stunned it is threatened with closure. As the government unwinds Te Pūkenga, the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki - known as WITT - has been given a year to shape-up or face merger or even closure.
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As the New Zealand government begins dismantling Te Pūkenga, Taranaki’s Western Institute of Technology (WITT) finds itself on shaky ground. One of four polytechnics given until mid-2026 to prove financial sustainability, WITT could face closure or merger if it doesn’t meet key viability targets.
For students, the potential closure is deeply personal.
Foundation skills student Zane Te Awhe shared how WITT helped him regain control of his life.
“I didn’t go to school. I didn’t show up. This place revived my interest in learning. If it shuts down, I’ll be gutted. I’ll just sit in my room again — that’s what I did before.”
His classmate, Preston Wade, echoed the sentiment:
“School wasn’t really for me, but WITT gave me a path. I want to get qualified and become an electrician. Losing WITT would be a big blow.”
Nepalese student Dispana Thapa, pursuing a degree in applied business management, praised the hands-on education model:
“Compared to back home, this is much more practical. The peace, the countryside — WITT was the perfect choice for me.”
Olivia Hansen, studying food and beverage, said closing WITT would be short-sighted:
“Not everyone wants to go to university. WITT gives people like me the chance to stay home and still study something meaningful. Its closure would be a huge loss.”
Beauty therapy student Hannah Smith, who has been at WITT for four years, called it her “second home”:
“I can’t afford university. WITT gave me a chance I wouldn’t get elsewhere — without even more student debt.”
WITT currently serves over 1,000 full-time equivalent students. Despite reducing its projected deficit from $3.6 million to $2.6 million, it is undergoing a cost-cutting restructure that could eliminate up to 30 staff positions.
Operations lead Nicola Conley admitted that WITT isn’t ready to move to autonomous governance yet:
“We’re not in the top 10 list [of ready polytechs], but this gives us time to work toward it. We’re exploring options like leasing out buildings and growing student numbers.”
She assured students that teaching and daily operations will continue as normal, and emphasized WITT’s long-standing role in the region:
“We’ve served Taranaki for over 50 years and intend to keep doing so.”
Taranaki Chamber of Commerce CEO Arun Chaudhari warned that closing WITT would damage the region’s economic fabric:
“WITT is a key supplier of skilled labor. Closing it would send us into a downward spiral. Instead of spending $200 million on oil and gas, the government should invest in education here.”
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