Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) has partnered with Taranaki Rugby, in a move that will support a
number of players to pursue their sporting career while also prioritising their education.
The partnership will see a number of scholarships granted to Taranaki Rugby players who are looking to further their
tertiary education. Scholarship recipient Kusitano Drauna (18) is enrolled to study engineering and Chloe Sampson (17)
is studying Exercise.
WITT Chief Executive Officer John Snook says the decision to back Taranaki Rugby was based on many strong synergies
between the two organisations, both playing a key part in nurturing the next generation of our community.
“Like WITT, Taranaki Rugby is deeply rooted in the Taranaki community. We are really invested in supporting Taranaki
people to be their best, so we saw this partnership with Taranaki Rugby as a real opportunity.
“WITT is all about providing our community with opportunities to learn and upskill. Our scholarships remove some of the
financial barriers to study, allowing us to support emerging athletes to succeed in their academic and sporting
pursuits.”
WITT students will also have the opportunity to complete industry projects with Taranaki Rugby as part of their studies.
Taranaki Rugby Chief Executive Officer Laurence Corlett was delighted to welcome WITT to its family of partners and was
excited about a handful of Taranaki Rugby’s up and coming players being able to study on scholarships at WITT while
chasing their rugby dream.
“It’s great to be partnering with WITT - locals supporting locals. It is invaluable for us to develop our people on and
off the field and our relationship with WITT is a great example of holistic player development.”
WITT is the largest tertiary provider in Taranaki, delivering industry-relevant training to students at all stages of
the learning journey. From degrees and diplomas to certificates and short courses, WITT offers study options that meet
the needs of learners, businesses and communities in the region.
WITT qualifications and courses reflect the region’s economic strengths and New Zealand’s employment needs with over 150
industry experiences tutors having strong links to the community paving the way for greater job opportunities for
students.