The Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), formerly the Christchurch Technical College, was an institute of technology in Christchurch, New Zealand. It merged with Aoraki Polytechnic and became Ara Institute of Canterbury 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, 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 Christchurch, 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, in southeast Christchurch.
Alumni
Jennine Bailey – jazz singer, university music teacher
Ben Boyce – television personality
Denise Copland – artist
Corin Dann – broadcaster
Guy 'Dcypher' Ellis – graffiti artist
Naomi Ferguson – singer, actor, composer, teacher
Amelia Gain – entrepreneur
Clarke Gayford – broadcaster, partner of Jacinda Ardern, 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand Polly Harding – broadcaster Sam Harrison – artist and sculptor Miriama Kamo – journalist, children's author and television presenter Euan Macleod – artist Tim Main – artist, designer, sculptor Megan Mansell – broadcaster Mei Heron – journalist Matty McLean – television presenter Mike McRoberts – 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 – broadcaster Sam Wills – performing artist Wongi "Freak" Wilson – graffiti artist