Ara Institute of Canterbury

Ara Institute of Canterbury was established in 2016 through the merger of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology and Aoraki Polytechnic. Aoraki Polytechnic originally began teaching at its Timaru Campus in 1901, starting in a single room that offered evening classes for approximately 250 students across 15 subjects. Christchurch Polytechnic began in 1902, offering technical courses for high school students in arithmetic, geography, and drawing before expanding to daytime classes in 1948 following World War II.

Today, Ara Institute of Canterbury is one of New Zealand's most sought-after educational institutions. As an NZQA Category 1 provider, Ara enrols around 19,000 students annually, including 1,800 international students representing over 50 countries. Across six campuses throughout the South Island, Ara offers nationally recognized certificates, diplomas, degrees, and graduate qualifications across more than 150 study options.

To ensure students gain real-world experience, Ara provides an extensive range of industry workplace training, internships, apprenticeships, and commercial partnerships. It also caters to flexible learning through an expanding portfolio of online, blended delivery, and part-time study options.