WITT Taranaki

A fob watch, notebook, pen, jellybeans, tote bag and welcome information were contained in gift boxes handed to first year Bachelor of Nursing students at WITT from Southern Cross Health Trust this week 😃👩‍🔬

“It’s a generous gesture from Southern Cross and a real boost for our new and returning nursing students,” says Helen Lelean, Head of Nursing and Health at WITT 🫶🙏

The Trust is also covering the cost of student nurse shoes and uniforms for all first years and has also provided a total of six scholarships for student nurses in Years 1,2 and 3 this year. They will also benefit from free flu vaccinations in March. WITT is one of several campuses across Aotearoa being supported by scholarships for student nurses from Southern Cross Health Trust.

Caption: Lisa Moorby (Southern Cross – Learning and Development manager) and Helen Lelean (WITT – Head of Nursing) with some of the 75 first year nursing students who received gift boxes.

An epic trip by helicopter into the rugged wilderness of Fiordland to do pest control work was how a group of WITT graduates concluded their year in 2025 🚁

Pest Operations tutor Dan Waterson was in The MOST FM studio this week to tell Breakfast host Crez about the memorable December trip and how inspirational and life-changing it was for the students…🤩

For Dan and three pest ops grads it was the ultimate in extreme conservation mahi. We’re talking carrying 25kg backpacks up steep terrain to clear and re-set traplines for predators (rats, stoats, possums) in the Wapiti Block of Fiordland National Park 🥾😲

Three days and four nights of hard-out physical challenges to ensure the most inaccessible areas of our natural environment are protected as much as possible from the damage to native flora and fauna from introduced pests. It was ‘next level’ from even the toughest landscapes around Taranaki where pest ops students head out on field trips to apply what they learn in class, Dan says 🥵👍

River crossings, steep climbs, camping out in the midst of the 175,000-hectare area known as the Wapiti block – home to the Wapiti herd of North American elk gifted to New Zealand in 1905 by American President Theodore Roosevelt 🦌

Dan had been there two years early for professional development. General manager of the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation Roy Sloan (who led the recent expedition) agreed with Dan that it would be a great experience to get some of the WITT grads into the area 🌴⛺️

Dan hopes to take another group at the end of this year – such a great incentive and opportunity if you love being out in nature and want to help preserve it 🙂🫶

If you’re curious about the NZ Certificate in Pest Operations, find out more…
https://www.witt.ac.nz/study/environmental/

Calling all WITT students - if you use public transport to get around - check out the latest updates on new and improved local bus routes, starting 7 April 🚌🙂

Welcome to all our new and returning students – hundreds of you! - who turned up on a beautiful sunny Monday for two pōwhiri at our treasured Te Piere o Te Rangi space 😃🌞💚

It’s a big day for everyone – the start of an exciting journey 🚶‍♀️‍➡️🚶‍➡️
New knowledge and skills, new friendships and personal growth await…🙂🧠⚡️💡and plenty of coffee ☕☕☕☕☕

As WITT leader Nicola Conley told students at the pōwhiri: ‘Be creative and innovative problem-solvers and keep on learning after you’ve finished your programme of study.’ 👷‍♀️👩‍⚕️👩‍🍳🧑‍💻🧑‍🔧🧑‍🎨

‘This region needs you and the skills and knowledge you’ll gain. The world’s changing and we need to stay current.’

She also reminded everyone to ask for help when you need it. WITT has awesome, kind and experienced kaimahi who provide learning and pastoral support to all students 🙂🫶👍

🎉 Welcome WITT students!

We’re celebrating the start of term with FREE Mr Whippy ice cream 🍦

📍 Outside Te Piere (F Block)
🗓 Tuesday 24 Feb
⏰ 12pm–1pm

Swing by, grab a cone and kick off the year the sweet way 😎

For those following us on the old page - 🚌 🚌 🚌 🚌

🚌 Kia ora ākonga
It’s been wonderful welcoming some of you to campus this week, and we know many more of you will officially start next week! We’re really looking forward to the year ahead and seeing everyone on campus. 📚✨

A quick reminder about bus travel: Free travel is only on the Connector bus between Hāwera and New Plymouth.

All other buses — including Citylink, Waitara, school and Coastal services — you need to pay for (cash or Bee Card).
Please check you’re catching the right bus before you travel to avoid any issues.
Ngā mihi 💙

🎓 As we wrap up an incredible day of celebration, you can revisit the special moments anytime.

The full livestream recordings are still available at the links below — perfect for sharing with friends and whānau who couldn’t be there in person or if you want to look back at your special moment.

🔗 Morning ceremony livestream link: https://vimeo.com/event/5717997
🔗 Afternoon ceremony livestream link: https://vimeo.com/event/5717998

Huge congratulations to all of WITT'S talented, hardworking graduates on your awesome achievements and the mahi and dedication it took to reach your goal 👏😀👩‍🎓👨‍🎓

Graduation Day is where we all get to celebrate together - with friends, whānau, tutors and support staff, and the community! 🫶

Our venue this year is CityWest Church in a packed auditorium.

Our printed programmes are doubling as hand-powered fans as folks try to stay cool on this humid February day 🥵

Inspiring words from our student speakers Kate Dawkins (Beauty Therapy) and Vanessa Erkes (Art and Design). Both highlighted life-changing challenges and growth - personal and professional through their study journeys. Supportive WITT staff and forging lifelong friendships with classmates are all part of the learning experience 🫂

And memorable messages from guest speaker Daniel Fuemana (former WITT Director of Schools) - about overcoming big hurdles, social stigmas and barriers. He encourages everyone to 'dream big', to believe in yourself and achieve 💪

Here's a taste with a few of our smiling grads! 😊🥳🌟

Graduation Parade Update

Due to rain, today’s Graduation Parade will unfortunately not be going ahead, as regalia cannot get wet.

We know many of our graduands and their whānau were looking forward to this moment, and we are very sorry for the disappointment.

We look forward to celebrating together at the ceremony and making it a special day for all our graduates.

Thank you for your understanding

Shout out to 🙌

With the Awakino Gorge currently closed and courier services unable to get through, our incredible print partners at TGM quite literally went the extra mile — making the drive to Taumarunui to ensure our graduation programme booklets arrived on time.

And as their photo shows, even a roadblock of sheep couldn’t slow them down! 🐑

We’re incredibly grateful for their flexibility, commitment, and willingness to make it happen so our graduates can be celebrated properly tomorrow. This kind of partnership makes all the difference.

Thank you, TGM! 👏