Ara Institute of Canterbury was announced on March 30 as Canterbury’s new vocational educational provider, in dawn services at campuses in Christchurch and Timaru.

Ara, meaning arise or pathway in te Reo Māori, is the ambitious next stage in the history of CPIT and Timaru’s Aoraki Polytechnic after the two institutes received ministerial approval to formally join together this year.

Ara Institute of Canterbury currently has 5,574 (equivalent fulltime) students enrolled and is looking to provide vocational tertiary training to more learners in Canterbury and beyond in the future. The new logo represents the upward journey of learning.

“Our intention is to continue working with industry partners and our communities to adapt to the needs of the region and of modern learners,” Chair Jenn Bestwick said. “Both CPIT and Aoraki Polytechnic can be very proud of what they have achieved and the thousands of graduates who are contributing to their industries locally and overseas. But the world is changing and together we can achieve even more; our new name signals we have stepped into an exciting new future together.”

For more information: www.ara.ac.nz