MITO
MITO is a New Zealand industry-owned training organisation delivering NZQA-approved apprenticeships and micro-credentials across automotive, transport, extractives, gas, and logistics industries, serving employers, learners, and secondary schools nationwide since 1970.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MITO does
MITO (MITO Limited) is a New Zealand industry training organisation (ITO) that delivers vocational education and apprenticeship programmes for the automotive, commercial road transport, extractives, drilling, gas, and logistics industries. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Wellington with a field team distributed nationwide, MITO transitioned from a business division of Te Pūkenga to an industry-owned entity on 1 January 2026, with seven sector associations (NZ Trucking Association, MTA, Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting NZ, Collision Repair Association, NZ Heavy Haulage Association, MinEx, Log Transport Safety Council) serving as shareholders.
The organisation's product portfolio comprises NZQA-approved qualifications at Levels 3-5 spanning automotive collision repair, refinishing, electrical engineering, and heavy automotive/plant and equipment; micro-credentials for secondary school students (StartUp®, ShiftUp®, RockUp®, Waka Tohu Tuatahi) that create a feeder pipeline into apprenticeships; and business skills qualifications such as First Line Management and a NZ Diploma in Business delivered with Careerforce. Supporting platforms include the MITO Online Portal (an eLearning management system providing study guides, videos, interactive simulations, assessments, and real-time progress reporting), the MITO Job Hub (a free employment marketplace), and the MITO Industry Summit and Awards. Curriculum is co-developed with industry partners such as I-CAR New Zealand to align with current workshop practices.
MITO operates a hybrid revenue model combining Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) government funding, per-learner programme fees ranging from $200+GST for school micro-credentials to $600-$1,200 for Level 3-5 qualifications, freemium entry micro-credentials, and scholarship partnerships (notably the Inspiring Futures Foundation distributing 182 scholarships in 2026 and 100 Matariki Scholarships). Distribution is primarily direct-to-employer via Training Advisors and to secondary schools via Vocational Careers Advisors, supported by ambassadors including rally drivers Hayden Paddon and Emma Gilmour, an industry events calendar, and digital channels (website, social media, eNewsletter, video series).
MITO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MITO
- Legal name
- MITO Limited
- Website
- https://mito.org.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- MITO is a New Zealand industry-owned training organisation delivering NZQA-approved apprenticeships and micro-credentials across automotive, transport, extractives, gas, and logistics industries, serving employers, learners, and secondary schools nationwide since 1970.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MITO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Education and Training
- NAICS
- Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Manufacturing (EDABALAP)
Keywords
Where MITO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
MITO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government-Funded Training: MITO receives government funding through the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) to support vocational education and training across automotive, transport, extractives, drilling, gas, and logistics industries. Training is provided to apprentices and learners with employer support.
- Programme Fees: MITO charges training fees for various programmes including Collision Repair Level 5 ($600), Automotive Electrical Engineering Level 5 ($682), First Line Management ($1,189), and other qualifications. Some programmes are free (Introduction to Automotive Engineering). Scholarships are available to support learners.
- School Programme Fees: Secondary school programmes such as StartUp charge $200+GST per student per year, covering eLearning theory, practical assessment, and support services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Annual | StartUp secondary school programme |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | First Line Management qualification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Collision Repair Level 5 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Automotive Electrical Engineering Level 5 |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Automotive Refinishing |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Plant and Equipment qualification |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Introduction to Automotive Engineering |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
MITO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MITO delivers NZQA-approved apprenticeships and workplace training programmes across the automotive, commercial road transport, extractives, drilling, gas, and logistics industries. Training combines on-the-job learning at employer sites with structured eLearning delivered through the MITO Online Portal, supported by Training Advisors and complemented by the MITO Job Hub job-matching service. Programmes span secondary school micro-credentials through to advanced technician qualifications at Levels 3, 4, and 5.
Product overview
MITO (MITO Limited) is a New Zealand industry training organization offering vocational education and apprenticeship programmes across automotive, commercial road transport, extractives, drilling, gas, and logistics industries. The portfolio consists of: NZQA-approved qualifications at Levels 3-5 in automotive specializations (collision repair, refinishing, electrical engineering, heavy automotive/plant equipment); micro-credential programmes for secondary school students (StartUp®, ShiftUp®, RockUp®, Waka Tohu Tuatahi); business skills qualifications (First Line Management Level 4); and complementary platforms including the Job Hub employment portal and MITO Connect employer-student events. Secondary school micro-credentials feed into apprenticeship pathways, while qualifications progress from entry-level through advanced technical and leadership levels. The organization operates as a 'by industry, for industry' training model with full national coverage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- StartUp®: Secondary school programme offering micro-credentials in automotive for Year 11-13 students
- ShiftUp®
- RockUp®
- Waka Tohu Tuatahi
Products and services
- StartUp® Ignition (Level 2) and StartUp® Accelerate (Level 3) Secondary school micro-credential programme introducing students to automotive trades, providing NCEA-recognised credits and a pathway into automotive apprenticeships. For senior secondary students and schools seeking trades exposure.
- ShiftUp® (Level 2) Secondary school micro-credential programme providing students with exposure to the commercial road transport industry and NCEA-aligned credits at Level 2.
- RockUp® (Level 2) Secondary school micro-credential programme providing students with exposure to the extractives (mining and quarrying) industry and NCEA-aligned Level 2 credits.
- Waka Tohu Tuatahi Secondary school automotive programme designed to engage Māori and Pacific learners in automotive trades career pathways through culturally relevant content and micro-credentials.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Collision Repair (Level 3) NZQA-approved apprenticeship qualification at Level 3 covering foundational automotive collision repair skills. For apprentices and employers in the automotive collision repair sector.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Collision Repair (Non-Structural) (Level 4) NZQA-approved Level 4 apprenticeship qualification covering non-structural collision repair techniques for automotive technicians.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Collision Repair (Structural Repair) (Level 4) NZQA-approved Level 4 apprenticeship qualification covering structural repair techniques for automotive collision repair technicians.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Collision Repair (Advanced Industry Specialist) (Level 5) NZQA-approved Level 5 advanced apprenticeship qualification for collision repair industry specialists seeking senior technical roles.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Refinishing (Level 3) NZQA-approved Level 3 apprenticeship qualification covering foundational automotive refinishing (paint) skills.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Refinishing (Level 4) NZQA-approved Level 4 apprenticeship qualification covering advanced automotive refinishing (paint) skills for technicians.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Refinishing (Level 3 and 4) Combined NZQA-approved Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeship qualification package delivering the full automotive refinishing technician pathway.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Electrical Engineering (Level 3 and 4) Combined NZQA-approved Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeship qualification covering automotive electrical engineering for technicians.
- NZ Certificate in Automotive Electrical Engineering (Level 5) NZQA-approved Level 5 advanced apprenticeship qualification for senior automotive electrical engineering technicians.
- NZ Certificate in Heavy Automotive Engineering — Plant and Equipment (Level 3 and 4) Combined NZQA-approved Level 3 and Level 4 apprenticeship qualification for technicians working on heavy automotive plant and equipment.
- NZ Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4) NZQA-approved Level 4 qualification in first line management supporting industry team leaders and supervisors.
- Introduction to Automotive Engineering (free micro-credential) Free introductory micro-credential providing foundational exposure to automotive engineering concepts for prospective learners and schools.
- Customer Service Essentials (free micro-credential) Free micro-credential covering customer service fundamentals applicable across MITO's service industry verticals.
- MITO Job Hub Free online job matching platform connecting jobseekers with employers in the automotive, transport, and extractive industries.
- MITO Scholarships programme Scholarship programme providing financial support and resources to MITO apprentices across the automotive, transport, extractives, drilling, and gas industries.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 600 secondary school students participated in automotive industry bus tours in 2025 across 16 tours
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use MITO
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MITO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
MITO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- I-CAR New ZealandminorI-CAR New Zealand provided guidance and industry expertise during the development of MITO's updated suite of collision repair and refinishing programmes. Rick Lunn, Operations Manager at I-CAR New Zealand, contributed to ensuring programmes were industry relevant and aligned with real workshop practices.
- Industry Shareholding AssociationscoreMITO returned to industry ownership on 1 January 2026 with industry associations as shareholders. Shareholding associations include NZ Trucking Association, MTA (Motor Trade Association), Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting NZ, Collision Repair Association, NZ Heavy Haulage Association, MinEx, and Log Transport Safety Council. These associations drive industry-led vocational education and training.
- Inspiring Futures Foundation (IFF)coreMITO partners with the Inspiring Futures Foundation annually to deliver a comprehensive scholarship programme supporting learners across automotive, transport, extractives, drilling, gas, and logistics industries. The partnership provides various scholarship types including Business Skills, Advanced Technical, Electric Vehicle, KickStart, and targeted scholarships for Māori, Pacific Peoples, and women learners. In 2026, 182 individuals were awarded scholarships through this partnership.
- EVolocitycoreMITO sponsors EVolocity, an initiative that gives secondary school students across Aotearoa New Zealand the opportunity to design, build, and race their own electric vehicles. MITO Ambassadors Hayden Paddon and Emma Gilmour participate in EVolocity events. The partnership supports career pathway awareness in automotive and transport industries.
- CareerforcecoreMITO has partnered with Careerforce to offer the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Leadership and Management) Level 5 programme. This partnership extends work-based learning leadership development to automotive and logistics industries, with Careerforce providing leadership coaches to support learners through their qualification.
- Secondary SchoolscoreMITO partners with secondary schools throughout New Zealand to deliver StartUp micro-credentials through the Gateway Programme, funded by TEC. Schools serve as delivery partners, providing facilities and student enrolment while MITO provides curriculum, eLearning resources, and workplace placement coordination.
- Collision Repair Association (CRA)coreMITO sponsors the CRA Apprentice of the Year Awards, including the Golden Gun Award (refinishing) and Golden Hammer Award (collision repair). The CRA represents collision repair businesses and works with MITO on industry training standards and recognition.
- MITO Ambassadors (Hayden Paddon and Emma Gilmour)coreMITO Ambassadors Hayden Paddon and Emma Gilmour are New Zealand rally legends who support MITO events, inspire future workers, and provide opportunities such as joining their rally crew. They participate in MITO Hot Seat events and promote careers in automotive and transport industries.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MITO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Competenz: New Zealand industry training organisation covering engineering, manufacturing, and forestry sectors with the same work-based apprenticeship and NZQA-qualification model. Directly comparable as another NZ ITO operating under similar TEC funding and industry-shareholder governance structures.
- BCITO: New Zealand's Building and Construction ITO, delivering apprenticeships and NZQA qualifications through employer-led on-the-job training. Closely mirrors MITO's apprenticeship delivery model and target employer segments (SMEs hiring apprentices).
- Careerforce: NZ ITO for the health, disability, aged-care, and social services workforce. Directly comparable ITO model and also an explicit MITO partner for the NZ Diploma in Business (Leadership and Management) Level 5.
- Connexis: NZ ITO for the infrastructure, civil, energy, and water industries. Operates the same industry-owned, work-based apprenticeship model that MITO uses for transport, extractives, and gas — making it a near-twin peer in structure and delivery.
- The Skills Organisation: Formerly ServiceIQ, this NZ ITO delivers work-based training and qualifications across service sectors using a similar industry-shareholder and apprenticeship model to MITO.
- Primary Industry Training Organisation (Primary ITO): NZ ITO delivering apprenticeships and qualifications across agriculture, horticulture, and primary sector trades. Comparable as a sector-specific ITO with on-job learning, eLearning portal, and NZQA credentials for rural and trade-based industries.
Regional players
- TAFE NSW: Australia's largest vocational education provider, offering automotive, transport, and trades apprenticeships with a comparable blended on-the-job and classroom model. Relevant cross-Tasman benchmark for MITO's training delivery and funding model.
- Motor Trade Association (MTA) New Zealand: Industry association that is both an MITO shareholder and a wider automotive industry representative body. Comparable as a peer in shaping automotive training standards and employer engagement across New Zealand workshops and dealerships.
Emerging players
- EVolocity: NZ STEM education programme (sponsored by MITO) in which secondary students design, build, and race electric vehicles. Adjacent emerging player in the same EV-talent pipeline MITO is cultivating.
Broad incumbents
- Te Pūkenga: New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology — the national network of which MITO was a business division until 1 January 2026. Operates as a broad incumbent in vocational education across all of MITO's industries, now overlapping as a peer following MITO's exit.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MITO social profiles
Digital presenceMITO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MITO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
MITO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MITO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MITO
What does MITO do?
MITO delivers NZQA-approved apprenticeships and workplace training programmes across the automotive, commercial road transport, extractives, drilling, gas, and logistics industries. Training combines on-the-job learning at employer sites with structured eLearning delivered through the MITO Online Portal, supported by Training Advisors and complemented by the MITO Job Hub job-matching service. Programmes span secondary school micro-credentials through to advanced technician qualifications at Levels 3, 4, and 5.
Is MITO a public or private company?
MITO is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was MITO founded?
MITO was founded in 1970. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is MITO based?
MITO is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does MITO make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government-Funded Training is the primary driver. The others are programme Fees and school Programme Fees.
Who are MITO's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Competenz, BCITO, Careerforce, Connexis, The Skills Organisation and Primary Industry Training Organisation (Primary ITO). Regional players are TAFE NSW and Motor Trade Association (MTA) New Zealand. EVolocity is listed as an emerging player. Te Pūkenga is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does MITO have an API?
No public API is recorded for MITO.
What industry is MITO in?
MITO's product category is Vocational Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs, with a secondary code of EDABALAP, Industrial Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 611513 and its SIC code is 8200.