Food and beverage students Leticia Wilson, Olivia Hansen and Sapphire Katene are fans of WITT. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
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.
It is one of four polytechs given until mid-2026 to prove its financial viability or face the consequences.
Food and beverage student Olivia Hansen said closing WITT would be short-sighted.
"Like for me, I don't want to go to university, so having WITT here is actually really good and I also think it's good for other people if they don't want to go to uni.
"They can stay at home and still study things that they want to. Yeah, I think it's good that we have it and it would [be] sad to see it get shut down."
Foundation skills student Present Wade said school wasn't really for him and he was enjoying WITT.
He thought it would be a pity if the institute ever closed.
"Yeah definitely, because I have plans to get all my qualifications and stuff here. I'd like to become an electrician."
Foundation skills students Preston Wade, centre left, and Zane Te Awhe, centre right, and their mates, say Witt has revived their interest in learning. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Classmate Zane Te Awhe said WITT got his education back on track.
"I'd feel pretty gutted because I don't have anything after this and I'll probably sit in my room because that's all I did before I came here.
"I didn't do anything. I didn't go to school. I didn't show up, and this place has revived my interest in education, for learning stuff.
"So yeah, if it were to shut down I'd be kind of devastated."
Nepalese student Dispana Thapa was studying for a degree in applied business management.
"The overall experience is pretty good. The education of our country ... it's kind of practical over here [by comparison] and I love that it's peaceful and the countryside, so that's why WITT was the right choice for me."
Business management student Dispana Thapa, right foreground, and her Nepalese classmates are enjoying their time at WITT. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
She said it would be sad if the polytech was unavailable in the future.
The dismantling of Te Pūkenga would initially see 10 polytechs revert to regional governance in January.
The others - including WITT - would remain within Te Pūkenga, with government support to strengthen their position ahead of decisions on their futures by mid-2026.
Operations lead at WITT Nicola Conley, who said she didn't expect to be transferring to autonomous control in January, was realistic about where the institute found itself.
"We're not ready to be in that list of 10 at the moment, but yesterday's announcement does give us an opportunity and a little more time to work towards viability.
"We're pulling out all measures to look for opportunities to potentially lease out part of our buildings and attract more students, so we can also end up being in that list."
Operations lead Nicola Conley hopes WITT will regain autonomous status later next year. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Conley said WITT, which had more than 1000 full-time equivalent students, had already reduced its deficit from a forecast $3.6 million to $2.6 million.
The institute was also going through a restructure designed to make even more savings - at the cost of about 30 positions.
Conley said the announcement would not affect day-to-day teaching and operations.
"We are working with staff and stakeholders and doing all we can to ensure WITT survives as a vital vocational education provider for Taranaki. We've been here for over 50 years, and we intend to continue."
Taranaki Chamber of Commerce chief executive Arun Chaudhari said the polytech was a vital cog in the region's economy and its closure was unthinkable.
"It would obviously cut off that supply of labour, but we're going down a really bad spiral of doom almost for WITT.
"We need to make sure the government realises this and corrects itself on investment in the regions."
Chaudhari said rather than spending $200 million to give the oil and gas sector a minor bump, the government would have been better to invest that money in education in Taranaki.
You'd get no argument from beauty therapy student Hannah Smith.
"I've been here for coming on four years. I know this place like the back of my hand. It's like a second home.
"I can't afford university like a lot of people can't and WITT gives me more opportunities than if I did go to university and put myself in even more debt than I am in now."
Beauty therapy student Hannah Smith would be heart broken if WITT were to close. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
WITT's demise would almost be personal for her.
"I'd be quite heartbroken because this is an amazing campus and seeing it used for something else would be such a waste."
Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds said the government was committed to maintaining high-quality vocational education in Taranaki.
WITT remained part of the vocational education network, and the government was focused on supporting it to find a model that ensured vocational education and training provision in Taranaki was viable and sustainable for the long term
"No decisions have been made, and we intend to have close engagement with local leadership, staff, and stakeholders to find a model that works for Taranaki."
Simmonds said the government was rebuilding a vocational education system that delivered - for students, for employers, and for the future of New Zealand.
"That means ensuring regions like Taranaki continue to have access to vocational education and training that supports strong communities and economic growth."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
