{{Short description|New Zealand tertiary organisation}} {{For|the former secondary school|Christchurch Technical High School}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox university | name = Ara Institute of Canterbury | native_name = | image_name = Ara Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand 14.jpg | image_size = | caption = | latin_name = | motto = Ara rau, taumata rau | mottoeng = Many pathways, many opportunities | established = 2016 | closed = | type = [[Public university|Public]] | students = 6290 [[EFTS]] (2023)<ref>Provider Summary: Enrolments, EFTS https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/__data/assets/excel_doc/0017/62513/provider_summary_tables-2023.xlsx</ref> | city = [[Christchurch]] | country = New Zealand | coor = {{coord|-43.538259|172.643189|display=inline,title|type:edu}} | campus = [[Urban area|Urban]] | former_names = Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, CPIT, Christchurch Technical College, Aoraki Polytechnic | website = {{url|http://www.ara.ac.nz/}} | logo = [[File:Ara_Institute_of_Canterbury.png|100px]] }} '''Ara Institute of Canterbury''', often simply referred to as '''Ara''', is an [[institute of technology]] in [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]], New Zealand. It was formed in 2016 from the merger of [[Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology]] (CPIT) and [[Aoraki Polytechnic]].
==Curriculum and programs== Ara specialises in applied tertiary training. Subject choices include business, engineering, architecture, nursing, creative arts, hospitality, sport, nutrition, health promotion, computing, science, languages, outdoor education, and broadcasting. Programmes range from Level 1 to Level 9. The institute works closely with industry to ensure students have relevant skills for employment, and have a wide range of work placement opportunities.
Each year around 14,000 students enrol at Ara, including many international students. Ara is internationally recognised and has one of the best English language training centres in New Zealand. Over 50 countries are represented among staff and students at Ara.
==History== Previously known as CPIT or Christchurch Polytech, Ara was created in 2016 when CPIT and Aoraki Polytechnic merged. Ara is the Māori word for path or journey.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ara — Te Aka Māori Dictionary |url=https://maoridictionary.co.nz/word/334 |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=ara - Te Aka Māori Dictionary |language=en}}</ref>
On 1 April 2020, Ara became a subsidiary of [[Te Pūkenga]] (the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology) alongside the 15 other institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs) in the country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenny |first1=Lee |title=Wanted: 'Sophisticated' leader to head NZ's mega polytech |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/116969565/wanted-sophisticated-leader-to-head-nzs-mega-polytech |accessdate=2 March 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=29 October 2019}}</ref>
In July 2025, the Vocational Education Minister [[Penny Simmonds]] announced that the Government would return Ara Institute and nine other polytechnics to regional governance by 1 January 2026.<ref>{{cite news |title=Te Pūkenga: Government restores regional governance for 10 polytechnics, unwinds merger |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/te-pukenga-government-restores-regional-governance-for-10-polytechnics-unwinds-merger/PTO27FLB3VBTNJVYWLIGJIU35Q/ |access-date=16 July 2025 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=14 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250716234012/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/te-pukenga-government-restores-regional-governance-for-10-polytechnics-unwinds-merger/PTO27FLB3VBTNJVYWLIGJIU35Q/ |archive-date=16 July 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Simmonds |first1=Penny |title=Regional governance will return to ten polytechnics |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/regional-governance-will-return-ten-polytechnics |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=[[New Zealand Government]] |access-date=16 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250715030923/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/regional-governance-will-return-ten-polytechnics |archive-date=15 July 2025 |date=14 July 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On 1 January 2026, Ara Institute exited the mega polytechnic to become an independent entity again.<ref name="About Us">{{cite web |title=About Us|url=https://www.nzist.ac.nz/about |access-date=9 May 2026 |publisher=New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology|date=18 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260226112324/https://www.nzist.ac.nz/about |archive-date=26 February 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-February 2026, the Government allocated NZ$80.8 million to Te Ara to cover the polytechnic's spending expenditures for the first three months of the transition period.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gerritsen |first1=John |title=Newly-independent polytechnics given $325m from former owner |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587126/newly-independent-polytechnics-given-325m-from-former-owner |access-date=19 February 2026 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=18 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260217172530/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587126/newly-independent-polytechnics-given-325m-from-former-owner |archive-date=17 February 2026}}</ref>
==Campus== Ara has six campuses in Canterbury and North Otago (three in [[Christchurch]] and one each in [[Ashburton, New Zealand|Ashburton]], [[Timaru]] and [[Oamaru]]), making it the largest tertiary institute in the South Island.
=== Buildings on the City campus, Madras Street, Christchurch ===
* Kahukura – This block built for architecture and engineering studies was completed in June 2017 and is named after the Māori for a chief's cloak.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 August 2017|title=Ara's $34 million Kahukura building officially opened|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/95630847/aras-34-million-kahukura-building-officially-opened|access-date=14 July 2021|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ara Institute's Kahukura building|url=https://hawkins.co.nz/projects/ara-institutes-kahukura-building|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2021|website=hawkins.co.nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819013413/http://hawkins.co.nz:80/projects/ara-institutes-kahukura-building |archive-date=19 August 2018 }}</ref> *Te Kei – This two-storey building housing executive and administrative staff was completed in 2018 and is named after the Māori for the bow of the canoe.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Te Kei|url=https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/national/award-detail/7538|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2021|website=NZ Institute of Architects|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216015838/https://nzia.co.nz/awards/national/award-detail/7538 |archive-date=16 February 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Te Kei Executive Administration|url=https://www.inovo.nz/projects/te-kei-administration|access-date=14 July 2021|website=Inovo Projects|language=en-NZ}}</ref> * Te Puna Wānaka – This is the centre for Māori, Pacific and indigenous studies which was built in 1996. A year long refurbishment to address damage caused by the [[2011 Christchurch earthquake]] was completed for its reopening on 7 July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 July 2021|title=Christchurch's 'anchor point' for Māori culture reopens after year-long refurbishment|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/125749129/christchurchs-anchor-point-for-mori-culture-reopens-after-yearlong-refurbishment|access-date=14 July 2021|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref>
== Faculty and alumni == {{see also|Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology#Alumni|Aoraki Polytechnic#Alumni}}
*[[Miranda Easten]] – country music singer-songwriter *[[Cathy Andrew]] - Nurse and Nursing Academic *[[Amanda Murphy (rugby union)|Amanda Murphy]] - Rugby Union Black Fern and Strength and Conditioning Coach *James Sandilands - Olympic Sport Performance Coach (Athletics)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.ara.ac.nz}}
{{Vocational education in New Zealand}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ara Institute of Canterbury}} [[Category:Educational institutions established in 2016]] [[Category:Education in the Canterbury Region]] [[Category:Organisations based in Christchurch]] [[Category:Vocational education in New Zealand]] [[Category:2016 establishments in New Zealand]] [[Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions]]