2026 MITO/Inspiring Futures Foundation scholarship recipients announced

16 Feb

MITO, together with the Inspiring Futures Foundation (IFF), is excited to share that 182 individuals have been awarded a 2026 scholarship.

Each year, this partnership helps motivated people take their next step—whether they’re new to the trades, recently qualified, or experienced workers looking to upskill.

MITO’s scholarship programme supports businesses by helping their teams grow and develop, strengthening our industries for the years ahead.

“Every year, we’re amazed by the drive and determination shown by our scholarship applicants,” says Verna Niao, Chief Executive of MITO.

“Their dedication to learning is exactly what keeps our industries moving forward. I’m excited to see how they continue to grow, and we’re proud to support them in their journey.”

Louise Sixton, Trust Convenor of the IFF, adds, “The Trustees of the Inspiring Futures Foundation are proud to once again support the MITO scholarship programme. These scholarships open doors for motivated learners across the country, and we congratulate every recipient on their fantastic achievement.”

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The 2026 scholarship recipients are as follows:

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The MITO Janet Lane MNZM scholarship is awarded to:

Harry Shaw, Truck Tech Solutions. Read more about Harry's scholarship win here.

The MITO Clyde Cunningham QSM Memorial scholarship (Hawke’s Bay region) is awarded to:

Alexander Michael Jones, Bay Ford Napier

The MITO Duncan “Sandy” Fraser Memorial scholarship (Wellington region) is awarded to:

Pacey Johnston, Scania NZ

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The MITO Business Skills scholarship is awarded to:

Abby Boniface, Rick Armstrong Motors
Adam Clatworthy, Heagney Bros Ltd
Adam Ryland, Roy Turner Automotive Ltd
Aluth Duwage Lahiru Samanga, Continental Cars – Audi
Alyse Ludlow, Booths Logistics Ltd
Andrew Fredrick Jacobus Page, August Panel & Spray Ltd
Austin Pepperell, Giltrap Agrizone Ltd – Cambridge
Ben Love, Brandt – Forestry Hastings
Blake Lars Mickleson, RS Automotive
Bruce Alexander McIntyre, H. W. Richardson Driver Training
Calum Ottey Mackay, Kaiapoi Automotive Services Limited
Chieh Lo, Booths Logistics
Dane Thomson-Procter, Access Specialties Ltd
Daniel Bernard Hunter, AB Equipment Limited
Danielle Amanda Couchman, Big Daves Mechanical Services
Demi Harland, Booths Logistics
Dionne Gainard Davie, Transport Services
Emily Jane Dyson, Qualitat European Motors
Grant McRae Goodwin, Giltrap Motors – North Shore
Hadley James Brown, MIMICO
Hannah Rattray, Booths Logistics
Henry Michael Mallett, Tandem Smash Repairs
Jack Bridgman, Hawkes Bay Toyota Hastings
James Murray Graeme Booth, Road Metals Co Ltd – Rolleston Quarry
Jennifer Brogan, Booths Logistics
Jordan Aaron Henderson, Elite Transport Refinishers
Jordan Connor Marshall, Icon Logistics
Jordon Mackie, Drummond & Etheridge Ltd – Blenheim
Joseph Holmes, Team Global Express
Kelly Dyason, Booths Logistics
Kendra Thomson, Team Global Express
Kerry Suter, Tasman Autos Ltd
Lauren Natasha Morris, Tractor Repairs & Spares Ltd
Leon Justin Birchall, Wirtgen Group NZ
Lichen Rose Sumaoang – Betinol, Pacificomm Group Ltd
Luke James Balsillie, MIMICO
Luke Raymond Hadland, Hadland Truck Services
Mac McCall, Booths Logistics
Mathew Gray, Booths Logistics
Melissa Thornton, AB Equipment Limited
Michael James Woodham, Aztec Forestry Transport Developments Limited
Michael Rio Urbano Bondoc, Komatsu - Whangarei
Michelle Julie Segetin, Aztec Forestry Transport Developments Limited
Mitch Mudgway, AB Equipment Limited
Paul Maxwell Squire, Aztec Forestry Transport Developments Limited
Peter Bredesen, New Zealand Defence Force
Pheonix O'Loughlin, Booths Logistics
Philip John Gasnier, Southpac Trucks
Pranay Ramlugan, Brendan Foot Supersite
Rasitha Imbulana, Mercedes Benz Christchurch
Renee Catherine Beasley, Lockheed Martin New Zealand
Richard John Jones, AB Equipment Ltd
Robert Breach, Team Global Express
Ronald Arnott, Booths Logistics
Samual Lawrence Hammond, Lockheed Martin New Zealand
Shané Engelbrecht, Lexus of Auckland City
Shane Turner, AB Equipment Limited
Stephen Alan Whitehead, H. W. Richardson Driver Training
Stephen Barker, JJ Limited – Mosgiel
Stephen Smith, Booths Logistics Ltd
Tara Annette Schuster, Transport Services
Thorne Daniel Du Plessis, Kingsford Motor Bodies (2016) Limited
Troy Harris, Booths Logistics
William Shortus, AB Equipment Limited

The MITO Business Skills – Māori scholarship is awarded to:

Isabella Pierce, All Auto Electrical
Matthew Clarke, Farmgard Ltd
Rana Albert, Booths Logistics
Sarah-Jane Taylor, Southern Automobiles Invercargill
Selwyn James Kirikino, Williams & Wilshier Transport Ltd
Sheldon Stevenson, Booths Logistics
Tania Hetaraka, Booths Logistics
Valda-Anne Ihipera Shadbolt, Team Global Express

The MITO Business Skills – Pacific Peoples scholarship is awarded to:

Marquis Cedric Arona-Tupou, Lockheed Martin New Zealand
Salman Khan, CAL Isuzu

The MITO Alumni Advanced Technical scholarship is awarded to:

Christopher James Logan, Liebherr New Zealand
Connor McFetridge, Lyttelton Port Company
Curtis Lee Dunkley, Edwards Panel & Paint
Jake Robert John Hovenden, Tractor Repairs and Spares
Javier Westerink, Northern Collision Centre
Jonathan Ward, Blackwell Motors Ltd
Karl Davin William Harrison, Sparks Auto Electric
Kyle Jacob Mikkelson, Commercial Vehicle Centre
Nicholas Denton-Giles, Birkenhead Super Shoppe
Stanislav Yermolenko, Winger Motors Hamilton
Travis James Dinan, Regional Ford

The MITO Alumni Advanced Technical – Māori scholarship is awarded to:

Brenden Piripi Taiaroa, Deakin Trucks

The MITO Alumni Advanced Technical – Women scholarship is awarded to:

Kate Elizabeth Vandermeer, Drummond & Etheridge
Emma Shahida Anderson, North Harbour Mazda

The MITO New Start Advanced Technical scholarship is awarded to:

Jaun Smit, Deakin Trucks Isuzu
Phillip Herbst, AutoCity Panel & Paint
Wallambage Pushpajeewa Malinga Silva, Tasman Auto Electrics

The MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle scholarship is awarded to:

Bryden Dion Soper, Tranzit Group
Callum Eric Thomas Whyte, Neil Park Motors/Auto Super Shoppe Botany
Chi Feng, Etrucks Ltd
Daniel Joseph Faets, Hillside Automotive Services
Dylan Robert Bennett, Diesel Specialists Ltd
Ethan David Oliver, Auto Super Shoppe Birkenhead
Joseph Axl Olszewski, Tranzit Group
Julio De Sousa, Autohaus
Patrick McGahan, Fieldair Engineering
Phillip Andrew Downs, Tranzit Group
Rinu Abraham, Crown Equipment Limited
Stephen Gray, Tranzit Group
Tanzeel Hussain, Tony Allen Auto Services
Troy Matthew Shotter, Tranzit Group

The MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle – Māori scholarship is awarded to:

Iranui Hunt, Tranzit Group
Nathan Joshua Osborne, Tauranga Motor Company Ltd
Oliver Norman, Mercedes Benz Christchurch

The MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle – Pacific Peoples scholarship is awarded to:

Bartoria Selwyn Patolo Tuisea, Tranzit Group
Isaiah Thomas Letoa, WD Motors Ltd
Wally Hillary, Elite Service Centre (2007) Ltd

The MITO Alumni Electric Vehicle – Women scholarship is awarded to:

Hannah Marie Bashford, Tasman Toyota
Lily Davies, Go Bus Transport

The MITO New Start Electric Vehicle scholarship is awarded to:

Darshana Namal Karunarathne, Ilam Toyota
Krishna Chand, Landex 2008 Limited
Priyantha Hema Kumara, Ingham Motor Group
Shashank Reddy Gunna, Auto Super Shoppe Enterprise
Stevanus Petrus Muller, Tranzit Group

The MITO KickStart scholarship is awarded to:

Aaron John Caldwell, Hollands Suzuki Cars
Ahmad Sahil Farhat, Bakerfield Place Panelbeaters
Alexander Bray, Southern Motorcycles Ltd
Andre Alexander Monks, Motordrome Tyre & Auto Services
Anthony Stewart Munnings, Cranefields Automotive and Tyres Limited
Anton Pennell, The Lakes Automotive Ltd
Arnov Ashvir Verma, Tai Bob’s Auto & Tyres Ltd
Ashley Morrison, Allen’s Auto Services
Ashton Thomas Timms-Mooney, Wanganui Exhaust and Service Centre
Caelan Dowdall, Prestige International
Coby Bruce Mitchell, Ingham Mitsubishi
Conner Norman Nash, Sparks Auto Electric
David John McRae, de Brouwer Log Haulage Limited
Declan Robinson, Power Farming West Coast
Dylan Brent Horne, Capital Smart
Dylan Michael Thomas, Russell Keeler Automotive
Ethen Jon Gilbert, Lake Side Paint and Panel
Ezra Gage-Brown, Collins Automotive Ltd
Grant Mantel, TerraCat
Jack William Lowe, Frews Transport
James Chisnall, Sawyers Arms Automotive
Jonte Connor Strowger, Southern Screenworks Ltd
Kane William Kennedy, The Honda Shop
Leon Shepherd, Prestige Collision Repair
Levi Ivor Wilson, Winton Motorcycles
Liam Eion Thomas Farrell, Isaac Construction
Logan Lindsay James, Barry Armstrong Motors
Lyric Jvarn Dunnett, Captial Coast Harley-Davidson
Madilyn Anne Harmer, Power Farming
Max MacDonald, Cromwell Service and Repair
Max Samuel Ballard, K-Tech Automotive LTD
Miguel Enrique Gutierrez Deveraturda, Hamilton Cylinder Head & Engine Reconditioning
Nichoals Peter Harris, Kaitaia Tractors Limited
Nicholas William Maddren, Power Farming Ashburton
Niko Keith Harford Kimura, Auto Super Shoppe Eurotech
Oscar Green, Snells Beach Motors
Oscar Zheng Hea, Surge Autotech
Phillip John Cowie, Parks Garage Limited
Riley Aiden Price, James Marshall Motorsport
Riley Satherley-Shea, CLAAS Harvest Centre - Southland
Ryan Alex Mackay, AB Equipment Limited
Sean Takumi Griffin, Tasman Toyota
Sebastian Hickman, CLAAS Harvest Centre - Invercargill
Taine Nathaniel Minifie, Wairarapa Mitsubishi