Mytona and Westlake Boys High School partner to empower New Zealand’s future Game Developers
28 August 2025

As New Zealand’s game development sector continues to expand, collaboration between industry and education is becoming more important than ever. A new partnership between Mytona and Westlake Boys High School is helping to strengthen this connection.

Together, they have launched one of the country’s first fully sponsored, structured game development programmes at secondary school level, giving young talent a pathway into the creative tech sector.

“We’re excited to partner with Mytona to bring real-world software and game development experience into Westlake Boys,” adds Simon O’Brien, who leads the course at the school. “This collaboration allows our students to showcase their creativity, build real-world skills, and learn from industry professionals,  turning their interests into meaningful opportunities with future pathways.” The after-school programme saw strong demand, with more than 130 students registering and 27 selected for the pilot cohort. Students are introduced to fundamentals such as coding, game design, art, and animation, while also receiving direct mentorship from Mytona’s developers.

What makes the programme unique is the real-world connection. Students meet with industry professionals, take part in interactive sessions, and learn first-hand how games are created. In a recent exchange, they heard directly from two Westlake Boys alumni now at Mytona, Wade Kirkland (Finance Director, class of 1995) and Joseph Choi (Game Designer, class of 2009),  who shared their career journeys and the success of games like Cooking Diary and Seekers Notes.

“In addition to our core mission to make iconic games, Mytona is driven by an important goal, to share our knowledge with young talent, to inspire and educate, and in doing so, bring added value to the community.

Westlake Boys already has significant experience in game development education. After meeting with the school’s leadership, we learned that students have been creating their own games for several years, developing their skills through hands-on practice and laying a strong foundation for game development within the school. We truly value this practical approach and the enthusiasm shown by both students and teachers. We believe that our support, both financial and expert, can help these students fully unlock their creative and technical potential.

After spending more time with the students, our team was impressed by their motivation and genuine passion, keen minds and passionate spirits! This resonates deeply with our own approach to creating games. Together, WBHS and Mytona are building a meaningful pathway from the classroom to the global games industry,” said Sasha Baisheva, Executive Director of Mytona. From 2026, Westlake Boys plans to integrate the programme into its official curriculum, highlighting the strong response and potential of the pilot phase.

This initiative reflects the shared mission of both the NZ Game Developers Association and its members: to inspire the next generation, grow homegrown talent, and build a thriving, globally competitive game development industry in New Zealand.