The Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), formerly the Christchurch Technical College, was an

institute of technology An institute of technology (also referred to as technological university, technical university, university of technology, polytechnic university) is an institution of tertiary education that specializes in engineering, technology, applied science ...

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

, New Zealand. It merged with

Aoraki Polytechnic Aoraki Polytechnic was a public New Zealand tertiary education institution. Aoraki Polytechnic's main campus was based in central Timaru, South Canterbury, South Island. It also had campuses offering a variety of programmes in Ashburton, Oam ...

and became

Ara Institute of Canterbury Ara Institute of Canterbury, often simply referred to as Ara, is an institute of technology in Canterbury, New Zealand. It was formed in 2016 from the merger of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) and Aoraki Polytechnic. A ...

in 2016. CPIT provided full-time and part-time education in technologies and trades. It was the largest polytechnic and institute of technology in the South Island (25,000 students) and one of the leading institutions of its kind in the country. In New Zealand's ranking, the

Performance Based Research Fund The Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) was a New Zealand tertiary education funding process, assessing the research performance of tertiary education organisations (TEOs) and then funding them on the basis of their performance. The PBRF provid ...

, based on the scientific output of all employees, CPIT ranked 4th among all institutes of technologies in New Zealand. It offered a comprehensive range of programmes, which covered almost all subject areas. CPIT specialised in Music Arts, Visual Art & Design, Nursing, Applied Management (Business), Engineering, Applied Science, Education, Information Technology, and Architecture. CPIT hosted New Zealand's only school for radio journalism and communication, the New Zealand School of Broadcasting. It had a student population from more than 50 countries.

Campus

CPIT had a centrally located campus within the CBD on Madras Street (Madras Street Campus) just to the south of Cathedral Square in

, New Zealand. The city campus was located five minutes walk from the city centre. The majority of programmes were taught here. CPIT's Sullivan Avenue campus (CPIT Trades Campus) was on the corner of Sullivan Avenue and Ensors Road

Opawa Opawa (; ) is an inner residential suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located approximately south-east of the city centre. Prior to European settlement, much of the area consisted of marshlands and mixed-use vegetation. By the 185 ...

, in southeast Christchurch.

Alumni

* Jennine Bailey – jazz singer, university music teacher *

Ben Boyce Ben Boyce is a New Zealand television and radio personality and comedian best known as the host of TV shows '' Pulp Sport'', '' Wanna-Ben'' and '' Jono and Ben'' on TV3. Biography Boyce is a graduate of the New Zealand Broadcasting School at ...

– television personality *Denise Copland – artist *Corin Dann – broadcaster *Guy 'Dcypher' Ellis – graffiti artist *Naomi Ferguson – singer, actor, composer, teacher *Amelia Gain – entrepreneur *

Clarke Gayford Clarke Timothy Gayford (born October 1976) is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster, presenter of the fishing documentary show ''Fish of the Day''. He is the husband of Jacinda Ardern, who served as prime minister of New Zealand from Oct ...

– broadcaster, partner of

Jacinda Ardern Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was ...

, 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand * Polly Harding – broadcaster *Sam Harrison – artist and sculptor *

Miriama Kamo Miriama Jennet Kamo (born 19 October 1973) is a New Zealand journalist, children's author and television presenter. She currently presents TVNZ's Māori language, Māori current affairs programme Marae (TV series), ''Marae'' and presented the cu ...

– journalist, children's author and television presenter *

Euan Macleod Euan Macleod (born 1956) is a New Zealand-born artist. Macleod was born in Christchurch, New Zealand and moved to Sydney, Australia in 1981, where he lives and works. He received a Certificate in Graphic Design from Christchurch Technical Colle ...

– artist *Tim Main – artist, designer, sculptor *

Megan Mansell Megan Mansell (née Annear; born 24 July 1990) is a New Zealand broadcaster. She is a co-host on ''The Edge Breakfast with Clint, Meg & Dan''. Early life Mansell was born on 24 July 1990 in Lower Hutt. She studied at the New Zealand Broadcasti ...

– broadcaster *Mei Heron – journalist * Matty McLean – television presenter *

Mike McRoberts Mike McRoberts (born 1966) is a New Zealand television journalist and news anchor. He presented ''Newshub Live at 6pm'' on Three from 2005 until its last broadcast on 5 July 2024. McRoberts is the Te Ao Māori Editor at the National Business R ...

– broadcaster *Fiona Pears – violinist, composer *Oliver Perkins – artist *Chris Reddington – sculptor, composer, musician *Ben Reid – printmaker *Rebecca Smallridge – artist *Bevan Smith – chef * Deon Swiggs – politician *

Jack Tame Jack Renfrey Tame (born March 1987) is a New Zealand television and radio journalist and presenter. He is the host of TVNZ’s political show Q+A, and a presenter at ''Newstalk ZB''. Early life Tame was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, the s ...

– broadcaster * Sam Wills – performing artist *Wongi "Freak" Wilson – graffiti artist

References

External links

Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christchurch Polytechnic Institute Of Technology Universities and colleges established in 1906 Buildings and structures in Christchurch Education in Christchurch Organisations based in Christchurch Vocational education in New Zealand Christchurch Central City 1906 establishments in New Zealand Universities and colleges in New Zealand 2016 disestablishments in New Zealand