By Rhonda Bartle

1877 - Education Act lays the foundations for state education in New Zealand, free and secular

1895 - Elementary Technical Instruction Act establishes technical classes in state schools

1905 - Technical Colleges (Secondary) established, including New Plymouth Technical School in old Central School buildings

1906 - New Plymouth Technical School occupies new premises in Liardet Street

1927 - New Plymouth Technical School combines with New Plymouth Boys' High School - a New Zealand first

1948 - Trade Certification Act establishes guidelines for trade training and qualification standards

1949 - Trade Certification Board established to monitor trade training and qualification Standards

1955 - New Zealand Certificate of Engineering implemented - another New Zealand first

1960 - Central Institute of Technology and Technical Correspondence Institute established

1969 - National Development Conference recommends Area institutes

1972 - Taranaki Polytechnic constituted as a technical institute and continues in Liardet St

1976 - Main workshop block in Bell Street opens

1978 - Blocks A & B containing teaching and administration facilities opens

1979 - Authority for Advanced Vocational Awards replaces the Technician's Certification Authority

1981 - Nursing Training begins at Taranaki Polytechnic

2001 - Taranaki Polytechnic is rebranded Western Institute of Technology in Taranaki (WITT)