Ara Institute of Canterbury

Ara institute of Canterbury was established in 2016. It was formed by the merger of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology and Aoraki Polytechnic. Aoraki Polytechnic started its teaching courses at its Timaru Campus in 1901. It all started with a room where they provided evening classes and catering for about 250 students in 15 subjects. Christchurch started in 1902 which offered technical courses for high school students in arithmetic, geography and drawing. Post World War II, public education expanded and daytime classes started in the institute from 1948.

The Ara Institute of Canterbury is one of New Zealand's most sought-after educational institutions. Annually, around 19,000 students enroll at Ara, including 1,800 international students from over 50 countries. As a NZQA Category 1 institution, Ara offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses across more than 150 study options.

To guarantee the students have real world experience, Ara offers an ever increasing array of workplace training openings, internships, apprenticeships and partnerships with industry. Furthermore, to fulfill the need for flexible study options, it offers an expanding scope of online, blended delivery and part-time programmes. Ara Institute of Canterbury has six campuses throughout the South Island. It offers nationally recognised and exceptional certificates, diplomas, degrees and graduate qualifications.