Central Campus Otago Polytechnic

Today marks the final day of using the restaurant and kitchen facilities at our Town Campus — the original Central Otago Polytechnic site. The kitchen has been operating since 1988 and has played a key role in training chefs in the region for nearly four decades.
The facility supported up to 16 chefing students at a time, providing hands-on, industry-style training. Alongside cookery, students also built practical hospitality skills, including restaurant service, silver service, and front-of-house operations, preparing them for a wide range of roles in the industry.
At its peak, the chefing programme was highly popular, with up to four full classes of 16 students progressing through Levels 3 and 4. Entry was competitive, with students required to interview for a place. The on-site restaurant was also well supported by the local community, regularly hosting dining evenings and events that showcased student skills.
In more recent years, the campus has continued to support training through the Otago Secondary-Tertiary College (OSTC), delivering Level 2 Hospitality and Level 3 Cookery to school students.
Today also sees the final barista course delivered on this campus. Our lecturer Trish (pictured with students from todays course) will continue working across hospitality programmes, including OSTC, short courses, and the work-integrated cookery programme where students learn while they earn across New Zealand.
We acknowledge the many students, staff, and community members who have been part of this campus over the years and contributed to its long-standing role in hospitality and chef training in Central Otago.

A big congratulations to Yana from Foley Wines successfully completing her New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4) through our distance learning programme.

Yana, pictured on the left with her lecturer Rachel Petrie, has worked hard to build her knowledge and practical skills while balancing her studies with her role at Foley Wines. Her commitment to professional development, supported by her fantastic employers, is a great example of lifelong learning in action.
We’re proud to celebrate this achievement and wish Yana all the best as she continues to grow her career in the viticulture industry.

Thinking about studying with us or already enrolled for semester 2? Check out out 'Get Study Ready' event.

Whether you’re still trying to decide what to study, or you’ve already applied for your chosen programme, this event will help you take your next step.

Find out what it’s like to be an OP student, the different support services we offer and what to expect in each of our Semester 2 programmes.

This is a chance to ask questions and make sure you feel prepared on day one.

Get ready to start with us in Semester 2! 🤩

Whether you’re still trying to decide what to study, or you’ve already applied for your chosen programme, this event will help you take your next step.

Find out what it’s like to be an OP student, the different support services we offer and what to expect in each of our Semester 2 programmes.

PLUS, register for the event and go in the draw to win some prizes, including Prezzi cards and merch! 🤑

Find out more and register on our website: https://www.op.ac.nz/explore/events-and-important-dates/events/get-study-ready

🍇 Proud to be part of this collaboration

Awesome to see this Bannockburn-based Pinot Noir trial in the spotlight — bringing together Otago Polytechnic, Riversun Nursery and Bragato Research Institute. [centralapp.nz]
Projects like this show the value of industry and education working side by side, right here in Central Otago.

https://centralapp.nz/NewsStory/nine-year-bannockburn-vine-trial-delivers-verdict-on-pinot-noir-clones/6a1fac9eedccd3002d56b811

Nine-year Bannockburn vine trial delivers verdict on pinot noir clones A nine-year pinot noir clonal trial in Bannockburn reveals how seasonal variations impact wine quality, offering critical insights for Central Otago grape growers.

Mōkihi Reforestation Trust 10-year Celebration

The Mōkihi Reforestation Trust celebrated their 10-year anniversary on Saturday 16th May at the southern end of Richards Beach. Otago Polytechnic are proud to be one of their suppliers that has grown eco-sourced native plants for their plantings over the past 10 years.

After clearing the briar, broom and willows, the first trees were planted there in April 2016 by the trust and their volunteers. Planting has continued on the site over the years, and you can now see many well-established native trees including Sophora microphylla (kōwhai), Plagianthus regius (ribbonwoods), Olearia sp. (tree daisies) and Cordyline australis (cabbage trees).

Otago Polytechnic Plant Nursery Manager Kathryn Sutherland said, “what Mōkihi Reforestation Trust has achieved in the past years is a credit to the Trust and the volunteers for their hard work, they have spent many hours planting and looking after the eco-sourced natives. It is wonderful to see the biodiversity returning to the site, and well worth a visit to walk around the plantings to see the New Zealand natives that once grew many years ago in the Cromwell region and now been returned to the area by all the hard work of Mōkihi Reforestation Trust and their volunteers”.

Super Special
Carex secta
Purei
Now on 2.50 each were $5.00
Ideal for wet, damp areas around ponds, water ways or water features.
Contact Otago Polytechnic Central Campus
0800 765 9276

Central Campus Otago Polytechnic Otago Polytech Central Campus offers practical, real-world courses in Groundskeeping, Horticulture, Bike Mechanics, Beekeeping, and more – all in the heart of Central Otago. Our students also create amazing projects for the community, including a vibrant

🍇 Intro to Winegrape Pruning – 4 Day Short Course
Learn the basics of pruning, vine health, and vineyard skills in this practical, hands-on course.
Perfect for beginners, vineyard workers, or anyone keen to get into viticulture
👉 Find out more & sign up: https://www.op.ac.nz/programmes/short-courses/grape-pruning

New Zealand’s most planted red variety is also one of its most site-sensitive, so the question for growers and winemakers has never been as simple as, “Pinot Noir, yes or no?” but “which clone, on which site, for which style?”

That question is at the heart of a recent Pinot Noir clonal trial led by Riversun Nursery and Otago Polytechnic , with Bragato Research Institute. The project set out to give growers and winemakers clearer, evidence-based insights by combining phenological data, wine analysis, and sensory evaluation across the 2024 and 2025 Central Otago vintages.

The findings show vintage drives most of the wine-to-wine variation, yet meaningful and repeatable clonal signals emerge in ripeness, colour intensity and phenolic makeup—insights that translate directly to clonal selection and crop load decisions in cool climate New Zealand.

Read more: https://bri.co.nz/2026/05/27/pinot-noir-clonal-trial/

These results, plus the subsequent genomics data that has been incorporated into the trial to help us understand which genes and processes are responsible for each clone's differences, will be presented at the upcoming Grape Days Central Otago on 16 June 2022.

Get your ticket here: https://www.nzwine.com/en/initiativesevents/grape-days-2026/ 🍇

Celebrating Central Otago’s Young Growers 🌱
Today, our Central Campus hosted the Regional Young Grower of the Year Competition for Central Otago, bringing together talented up-and-coming growers to showcase their skills across a range of industry challenges. The event highlights the strength and future of horticulture in the region. Thank you to Horticentre Group WaterForce Fruitfed Supplies Farmlands Cromwell St John Central Otago Agricentre South Sport Central Summerfruit NZ for sponsoring the challenges and supporting the event.

Competitors put their knowledge and practical abilities to the test throughout the day—fuelled, of course, by a classic sausage sizzle and a much-needed coffee to keep everyone going. It was great to see both a current student and a former student representing our horticulture programmes.

This competition celebrates the next generation of growers, and we’re excited to also be hosting the National Final later this year right here on campus. Winners from today’s event will be announced tonight.

Studying horticulture with us — either full-time on campus or via distance work-based learning — can help you build the skills for a successful career. Career pathways include:

Orchard or vineyard management
Nursery production
Landscape design and maintenance
Crop advising and agronomy

Less well-known pathways include:

Plant breeding and research
Biosecurity and plant health
Horticultural technology and innovation
Supply chain and export coordination

🌿 Enrolments are open now for our July mid-year intake.
Visit our website to learn more and start growing your future.
https://www.op.ac.nz/programmes/nzqa/new-zealand-certificate-in-horticulture-nursery-production-level-3-and-fruit-production-level-4
https://www.op.ac.nz/programmes/nzqa/new-zealand-certificate-in-horticulture-production-fruit-production-level-4-work-based
Otago Polytechnic