2026 MITO/Inspiring Futures Foundation scholarship recipients announced
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.”
The 2026 scholarship recipients are as follows.
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
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
The MITO KickStart – Māori scholarship is awarded to:
- Caleb Tohu, Clements Contractors Limited
- Hiria Grant, One Stop Servicing and Repairs
- Jade Manaia Paenga, Performance Panel and Paint
- James Andrew Lightbourne, Webbline Agriculture ltd
- Jayden Herewini, Newdane Motors
- Lukan Grant-Knap, Emmetts Truck Services
- Malakai William Russell Eade, Automotive Solutions Cambridge
- Nixon Daniel Lott, Drummond & Etheridge Ltd
- Zhoel Campbell, Gisborne Honda
The MITO KickStart – Pacific Peoples scholarship is awarded to:
- Nathan Ivar Lamberg, Overbridge Service Centre
- Nixon John Beare, Ingham Motor Company
The MITO KickStart – Women scholarship is awarded to:
- Alyssa Anne Hills, Agricentre Ltd
- Brooke Katalin Kennedy, Honda Store Christchurch
- Jasmyne Whitney Squire, Tranzit Group
- Kassidy Grace Anderson, Showgrounds Auto Ltd
- Katie King, The Honda Shop
- Laura Akyilmaz Ureta, Experience Motorcycles