The history of Wintec
1924 Hamilton Technical College is formally established to provide technical and trades training in the Waikato region.
1949 Daytime training for apprentices in motor engineering, plumbing and other trades begins.
1950s Technician training programmes in engineering and draughting are introduced, laying the foundation for future technical education in the region.
1968 College is split into two separate institutions: Waikato Technical Institute (now Wintec) and Fraser High School (named after Whampoa Fraser, Principal of Hamilton Technical College from 1925 to 1949). The institute offers a wide range of programmes within engineering, science, accountancy, business management, and building trades.
1970 Fraser High School relocates to Ellicott Road, Nawton, where it remains today (2024).
1985 Horticulture teaching begins at Hamilton Gardens.
1987 Name changes to The Waikato Polytechnic to reflect the widening of scope within our educational activities.
1990s Following Government tertiary reforms, the institute becomes a body corporate with a Chief Executive and Council. A range of degrees in nursing, midwifery, business, sport and exercise science, information technology and media arts are developed in response to changing employment needs.
1990 Satellite campuses open in Te Kūiti and Thames.
1992 First degree is offered (Bachelor of Business).
1994 The innovative Artechmobile is built and hits the road to provide mobile computer education to regional communities.
1999 Land is purchased on Avalon Drive to establish a campus with ample space for trades, sports and hospitality training.
2000 First postgraduate qualification is offered (Post Graduate Diploma Nursing).
2001 Name changes to the Waikato Institute of Technology and two years later, the modern Wintec brand is adopted.
2007 Award-winning Gallagher Hub opens and is adopted by students as their space for studying and recreation.
2009 Wintec wins three national tertiary education awards for its global role (particularly our partnership in China), innovation in support services (for our creative industries business incubator Soda Inc.) and relevant learning (for our Employer Partnership Groups). Wintec receives government funding to develop an agritechnology educational centre in the Waikato.
2010 Wintec opens a hub at its Avalon Campus, a central studying and social space for students, staff and visitors. Wintec House, the historical corner brick building on the Hamilton City Campus, is re-opened after a $17m refurbishment.
2011 The Avalon Campus in the north of Hamilton is renamed Wintec Rotokauri Campus. The name change reflects the changing configuration and growth of the Campus.
2012 Wintec opens Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa Marae on our Hamilton City Campus. Wintec receives the New Zealand Business Achievement Award from the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.
2013 Wintec and the Waikato Regional Diabetes Service gain recognition from the International Diabetes Federation for excellence in providing diabetes training to nurses. Wintec wins the Fletcher Construction Judges’ Choice Award from the Property Council for our campus modernisation programme. The Media Arts complex is refurbished, and a new multi-story office building, the PWC Centre, is constructed on the corner of the Hamilton City Campus, adjacent to Wintec House.
2014 Wintec celebrates 90 years since the first classes were taught at our heritage building Wintec House. Our state-of-the-art $25m engineering and trades building opens at the Rotokauri Campus.
2015 Jinhua Polytechnic Wintec International College in China opens. The first student accommodation complex on our Hamilton City Campus, Wintec Apartments, opens.
2016 International student numbers reach an all-time high. Nearly 1800 students enrolled in 2016, equating to 1009 equivalent full-time students. Rotokauri student hub and campus are redesigned and refurbished.
2017 Wintec wins the Global Design Factory Network and establishes New Zealand’s only Design Factory, Design Factory NZ. Ako: Teaching and learning directions provides a framework to embed principles and practises into Wintec future teaching deliveries.
2018 Wintec celebrates a 10-year collaborative relationship with Chengdu University. The Qindao Training Centre, a collaboration between Wintec and Qindao Training College, opens in China and Wintec opens a second international college in Guizhou, China.
2019 Wintec launches New Zealand’s first new physiotherapy school in 45 years and is the first ITP in New Zealand to offer an accredited Bachelor and a Master of Nursing Science programme. Wintec received the Innovation Award at the YWCA Equal Pay Awards.
2022 Wintec officially becomes part of the Te Pūkenga network as an early mover.
