Central Campus Otago Polytechnic

Central Campus Otago Polytechnic Our students also create amazing projects for the community, including a vibrant But for a student, the region has far more to offer! Learn it here. Love it here.

Otago Polytech Central Campus offers practical, real-world courses in Groundskeeping, Horticulture, Bike Mechanics, Beekeeping, and more – all in the heart of Central Otago. Central Otago is rightly famous for its mountains, rivers and lakes – not to mention the high-adrenaline adventures that go hand-in-hand with the landscape. There is plenty of work, places to socialise, opportunities to partic

ipate in sports and activities and a great community of locals. Central campus is in Cromwell, a township of around 4,000 permanent residents that swells to 7,000 during the peak summer season. The town has beautiful stone buildings and heritage sites, but also offers modern services, supermarkets, shops, cafes and sports facilities. Located on the banks of Lake Dunstan, Central is home to our Hospitality, Viticulture, High Country Farming, Horticulture, Sports Turf Management and Stonemasonry programmes. From Cromwell, a 45-minute drive will take you to both Wanaka, the base of Central's snow and sport programmes and to Queenstown, a lively resort town that hums with activity and provides a gateway to all the adventure you could possibly want!

Day Two of our Level 3 Beauty Therapy model sessions was another great success!With a new group of students and a new gr...
03/09/2026

Day Two of our Level 3 Beauty Therapy model sessions was another great success!

With a new group of students and a new group of models, our learners had another opportunity to put their classroom knowledge into practice and build their confidence working with real clients.

Today's models, aged 38+, gave students the chance to explore techniques specifically suited to mature skin, focusing on creating fresh, natural-looking results.

A big thank you to everyone who volunteered to be a model and support our students' learning journey. We appreciate your time, enthusiasm, and willingness to help our future beauty professionals develop their skills.

Otago Secondary Tertiary College

Our Level 3 Beauty Therapy students welcomed a group of wonderful models to campus today to practise and refine the tech...
02/09/2026

Our Level 3 Beauty Therapy students welcomed a group of wonderful models to campus today to practise and refine the techniques they've been learning in class.

It was fantastic to see our students putting their skills to the test in a real-world setting and growing in confidence along the way. With our models aged 38+, students had the opportunity to learn how to adapt their techniques to create a beautiful, natural look for mature skin.

As Beauty Tutor Emily says, "Less is more" when working with mature skin, and the results were absolutely stunning.

A huge thank you to all our models who generously gave their time and supported our students' learning. We loved having you on campus and would love to see you again next year!

OP Horticulture student Luke St John has represented Central Otago in the national finals of the Young Grower of the Yea...
31/08/2026

OP Horticulture student Luke St John has represented Central Otago in the national finals of the Young Grower of the Year competition.
Impressively, it’s the second time Luke has made the national finals, after taking out the regional title for Central Otago twice now.

The 24-year-old is the Trainee Orchard Manager at Fortune Fruit in Cromwell, and is currently studying for his New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4) at our Central Campus.

Luke and six other regional finalists competed in a series of practical and theoretical horticulture modules in Cromwell, putting their skills and knowledge to the test. They also participated in a panel discussion and delivered speeches at an awards dinner on Friday evening.

Luke received a $1,500 professional development grant in recognition of his skills and achievements, and the national title went to James Blair from Pukekohe.

The Young Grower competition, organised by Horticulture New Zealand, is open to commercial fruit or vegetable growers up to the age of 30. The event celebrates the success of young people in the industry and aims to encourage others to consider careers in horticulture.

Luke says one of the things he loves most about horticulture is the variety of work throughout the seasons.

“You’re not stuck doing the same thing all year round. Things change a lot throughout the growing year and you’re constantly doing something new.”

At work, his responsibilities include staff training and supervision, spraying, machinery operation, pruning and overseeing day-to-day operations.

Congratulations, Luke, on being one of the top young growers in Aotearoa!

Our OSTC Level 3 Beauty students are looking for models with mature skin (approximately 38+ years) to help them practise...
21/08/2026

Our OSTC Level 3 Beauty students are looking for models with mature skin (approximately 38+ years) to help them practise makeup application as part of their training.

Models are needed on the afternoons of Tuesday 2 September and Wednesday 3 September. We have two classes across the two days and are looking for several volunteers to support our students' learning.

As a thank you, a light afternoon tea will be provided.

If you would like to help out and support our aspiring beauty professionals, please get in touch with Emily, the lecturer for this class.

We would love to hear from you!

21/08/2026

🌱 Propagation Course - 2 Spots Just Opened!

Due to two cancellations, we now have 2 spaces available in our upcoming one-day Propagation Course on Friday 28th of August.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn practical propagation techniques and grow your gardening skills.

Date: Friday 28th August
Duration: One day 9am - 3pm
Investment: $100

If you would like to book one of these spots, email Bruce - [email protected]

Roof shout time!Our Carpentry OSTC students have been hard at work this term, developing their practical building skills...
19/08/2026

Roof shout time!

Our Carpentry OSTC students have been hard at work this term, developing their practical building skills and making great progress on their shed project.

This week marked an exciting milestone as the roof was installed on their impressive 3m-high shed. There's still plenty to finish, but it's fantastic to see the project taking shape.

The completed sheds will be available for purchase in October. Watch this space for more information!
Otago Secondary Tertiary College

Passionate about Carpentry and Building Industry Connections?We're on the lookout for a Carpentry Training Advisor - Bus...
12/08/2026

Passionate about Carpentry and Building Industry Connections?
We're on the lookout for a Carpentry Training Advisor - Business Development to join our Central Campus team in Cromwell!

This exciting role is all about building strong industry relationships, supporting apprentices and employers, and helping create pathways for the next generation of skilled carpenters. You'll play a key role in connecting people, growing partnerships, and supporting career success across the region.

If you're driven, relationship-focused, and passionate about making a difference in vocational education and training, we'd love to hear from you.

👉 Apply now: https://nz.seek.com/otago-polytech-jobs/in-Cromwell-Otago?jobId=93918696&type=standard

The Cromwell College Withiel Food Cart Yellow Coffee Cart is on Campus Every Tuesday from 10.00am to 1.00pm!This fantast...
10/08/2026

The Cromwell College Withiel Food Cart Yellow Coffee Cart is on Campus Every Tuesday from 10.00am to 1.00pm!

This fantastic initiative gives Cromwell College students hands-on hospitality and barista experience while building confidence, workplace skills, and connections with their community. The programme has become a real success story for local rangatahi, helping students explore future pathways and gain industry-relevant experience.

For our campus students, it's also a great opportunity to connect with younger students who may be considering the Otago Secondary Tertiary College programme in the future. Building those connections and sharing experiences helps strengthen the pathway from school into further training and trades careers.

And let's be honest... it's also the perfect excuse to grab a delicious coffee, a tasty Sanga’s Pies, or a sweet treat from The Cookie Dealer!

If you'd like to support these amazing students, you're very welcome to stop by between 10.00am and 1.00pm.

📍 Enter via the Pitch & Putt entrance to Central Otago Campus on Bannockburn Road (opposite The Pines).
Park under the trees and take a short walk over to the golf course.

⛳ Why not even enjoy a round of golf while you're there?

Come along, support local students, and enjoy a great coffee and treat every Tuesday!

Busy weeks in the orchard for our Horticulture students!Over the last few weeks, our Level 3 and 4 New Zealand Certifica...
09/08/2026

Busy weeks in the orchard for our Horticulture students!
Over the last few weeks, our Level 3 and 4 New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture students have been busy developing practical skills both in and out of the classroom.

Communication is a key skill in any workplace, and our students have been putting it into practice. They kicked things off with a fun marshmallow and spaghetti tower challenge completed in silence, testing their teamwork, problem-solving abilities, and non-verbal communication skills.

Taking their learning into a real-world setting, our on-campus students then worked alongside our one-day-a-week propagation students in the orchard. They shared their knowledge by teaching correct raspberry pruning techniques and worked together to dig up suckers (new spreading upright shoots) from our ‘Waiau’ raspberry plants. These were then carefully potted up and will be available for sale at our Giant Labour Weekend Plant Sale.

The teamwork didn't stop there. Students have also been hard at work preparing the orchard for spring's new growth, helping ensure our plants are healthy, productive, and ready for the season ahead.

It has been fantastic to see students actively involved, sharing knowledge, building confidence, and working together towards common goals while gaining valuable industry skills.

OSTC Open Day welcomed 150 future trades studentsLast week, we9 welcomed around 150 students from Cromwell College, Duns...
03/08/2026

OSTC Open Day welcomed 150 future trades students

Last week, we9 welcomed around 150 students from Cromwell College, Dunstan High School, Mount Aspiring College, Wakatipu High School, and Te Kura to our OSTC Open Day.

Students had the opportunity to explore the trade pathways available in 2027 through a series of interactive 15-minute sessions led by our tutors. The sessions showcased what students can expect from our programmes in Beauty Therapy, Automotive Engineering, Hospitality, Horticulture, and Carpentry.

A huge thank you to our tutors for creating engaging, hands-on experiences that gave students a real taste of each trade area.

The day finished with a sausage sizzle and plenty of conversations about future study and career opportunities. It was fantastic to see so many students actively participating, asking questions, and exploring their options for the future.

We're excited to welcome the next group of OSTC students in 2027 and look forward to seeing many familiar faces return next year.

Address

11 Bannockburn Road, RD2
Cromwell
9384

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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