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EIT’s Head of School, Trades and Technology Todd Rogers, and EIT Automotive Tutor, Scott Cunningham, present Napier Port staff with graduation certificates. Ten Napier Port Fleet Services team members have earned their Level 5 electric vehicle qualification through EIT, building the specialist skills needed to support the Port’s growing battery-electric fleet.

(Left to right front) EIT Director of Māori, Robin Fabish, EIT CEO Lucy Laitinen, EIT Maraenui Regional Centre Coordinator, Azure King, (back) Eru Time, R.J. Dixon-Keil. The unveiling of the newly named “te ahi kōmau a Māui”, the fire within poupou at Maraeunui Learning Centre. Carvings unveiled at EIT’s Wairoa and Maraenui Learning Centres tell two stories of Māui, and add two more links to a series connecting the institute’s campuses across the North Island.

EIT graduate Aaron Coxhead has been named one of New Zealand’s top young winemakers after placing second in his first national final. The 28-year-old Graduate Diploma in Wine Science graduate was announced runner-up in the 2026 New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year competition last Thursday, following the national final in Martinborough. Aaron said he was “pretty stoked” with the result.

(Left to right) Ryan Hambleton, CE, Sport Hawke’s Bay CE, Mackenzie Speers, Sue Smith, General Manager, Sport Hawke’s Bay General Manager, Aniela Apperley, Tim Motu, Sport Development Advisor, Sport Hawke’s Bay, Emily Brun Last week Sport Hawke’s Bay and EIT celebrated the three recipients of the 2026 Sport Hawke’s Bay EIT Sport Scholarship.

Noel Faletutulu with her husband and six children, at the Margaret Hetley Scholarship ceremony. Bachelor of Accounting student Noel Faletutulu began her learning journey at EIT in 2009, fresh out of Sacred Heart High School in Napier, enrolling in the very first year of EIT’s Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education). After a year of study, though, Noel found she wasn’t in the right headspace to keep going.

By Lucy Laitinen Before this year, I hadn’t fully appreciated how important our education partnerships with China are, not just for our institution, but for Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand. Two visits to China over the past two months have changed my perspective.

EIT’s close partnerships with local industry are helping Hawke’s Bay businesses access the skilled graduates they need. Technology company Hawke’s Bay Technologies has been relying on EIT graduates for more than a decade as its workforce has grown. Managing Director Duncan Wallace says one of the strengths of the relationship is EIT’s willingness to listen to industry and adapt to the changing needs of the technology sector.

Ellie Harding knew she wanted to work in healthcare and after three years studying nursing at EIT, the 21-year-old is now working in the emergency department at Hawke’s Bay Hospital. “I wanted to become a nurse because I wanted to make a difference,” Ellie said. “I always wanted to work in healthcare.” The former Taradale High School student came straight to EIT after finishing school and said studying locally allowed her to stay connected to her community while preparing for a career in nursing.

Muriël Klavers arrived in Hawke’s Bay planning to stay for just three months, but nearly seven years later, the EIT graduate now calls the region home. Originally from the Netherlands, Muriël graduated from EIT with a Master of Digital Business in 2022 and now works as a People and Capability Business Partner at Napier City Council.

Three new courses have been added to EIT’s joint winemaking programme with China’s Qilu University of Technology (QLUT), as the partnership marked its eighth graduation in Jinan. EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen attended the June 16 graduation ceremony during her first visit to the QLUT campus. She also signed an addendum to the partnership agreement, adding Academic Wine English, Wine Industry Sustainability, and Global Wine Business and Marketing to the curriculum EIT delivers in China.