Tertiary Education Minister Pete Hodgson today signalled ongoing support for the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) with the reappointment of Murray Strong as Crown Commissioner for a further six months, and two appointments to the Commissioner�s Advisory Committee.

Following a 12 month review of the Commissioner�s role, Mr Hodgson said there was still more to be done for WITT to meet the future skills needs of the Taranaki region.

�WITT is undertaking a five-year business plan to rebuild the institution, and it is important at this stage that Mr Strong continues the positive work,� Mr Hodgson said.

The five-year plan involves:
� the realignment of WITT�s education provision to better meet regional needs
� improving programming and resource use
� achieving better operating efficiencies
� making WITT more attractive to school-leavers and other learners.

�WITT is a key part of Taranaki�s economic and social infrastructure and it�s important that it be returned to a position where the community can have full confidence in it,� he said.

Pete Hodgson also announced the appointment of former South Taranaki Mayor Mary Bourke and well-known New Plymouth board director John Auld to the Commissioner�s Advisory Committee.

He said their appointments were an important step towards a renewed WITT Council, and came after consulting the Taranaki community and WITT stakeholders.