Ara Institute of Canterbury

Ara Institute of Canterbury

Former names	Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, CPIT, Christchurch Technical College, Aoraki Polytechnic
Motto	Ara rau, taumata rau
Motto in English	Many pathways, many opportunities
Type	Public
Established	2016
Students	6290 EFTS (2023)[1]
Location	Christchurch , New Zealand 43°32′18″S 172°38′35″E / 43.538259°S 172.643189°E / -43.538259; 172.643189
Campus	Urban
Website	www.ara.ac.nz

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.

Ara specialises in applied tertiary training. Subject choices include business, engineering, architecture, nursing, creative arts, hospitality, 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.

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.^[2]