Source: Whitireia and WelTec
Lower Hutt is set to become a hub for creative learning in 2026, with Whitireia and WelTec offering their Animation, Digital Media and Design and Screen Production (Film) programmes at the Petone campus.
From Trimester 1 2026, ākonga (students) will be able to undertake new creative study close to home, marking a significant expansion of creative education opportunities in the Lower Hutt community.
“We’re excited to see Petone become a new hub for creative learning” says Brenda Saris, Kaiwhakahaere Hōtaka (Programme Manager) Digital Media and Design at Whitireia and WelTec.
“By offering Animation, Digital Media and Design and Screen Production (Film) in Petone, we’re making creative study more accessible for Hutt locals, while also opening the door to fresh collaborations with local industries, businesses, and community groups,” says Saris.
The move also creates opportunities for exciting new collaborations with other programmes based at the Petone campus, such as Animation or Digital Media and Design ākonga in working alongside Information Technology ākonga.
For current Digital Media and Design ākonga and Naenae local Brant, the shift to Petone feels like a natural fit.
“It’s really cool that the move to Petone gives locals more ways to get involved in creative study,” says Brant. “It’s a great chance to learn close to home, get hands-on experience, and be part of the creative scene here in the Hutt Valley.”
Mary-Claire Proctor, Head of School of Innovation, Design and Technology at Whitireia and WelTec, says having these programmes based in Petone is a great opportunity for businesses and organisations in the Hutt Valley to connect with upcoming talent.
“We’re excited to see the opportunities it will bring for our ākonga, for local industry, and for the Lower Hutt community as a whole,” says Mary-Claire. “It’s a great chance for ākonga and businesses to grow together in Hutt Valley’s creative scene.”
More information about Animation and Digital Media and Design
Learn real skills to bring your concepts, characters, creatures or worlds to life. Come and learn from tutors who will teach you about animation, game, graphic and screen design (film and visual effects). Whether you’re creating captivating animations or imaginative illustrations, designing gameplay experiences, or shaping visual narratives, there’s a world of creativity waiting for you.
See Animation and Digital Media and Design programmes here:
More information about Screen Production (Film)
This hands-on programme introduces ākonga to industry-based practices and processes. Learn from industry practitioners and gain skills in off-set and on-set crew roles, including directing, camera, lighting, and production management. If you want to write and produce great stories and create engaging digital content for this evolving industry, this is the programme for you.
