Established in 1978, Waiariki is one of the largest tertiary institutes outside the university centres.
Originally developed as a centre for adult and trades education, Waiariki has been offering quality vocational studies for 30 years. Waiariki has a student population of around 9,000 full- and part-time students, of which 200 of these are from overseas. Waiariki began to offer bachelor degree programmes in the early 1990s.
Waiariki has strong links to local and national training and governmental bodies ensuring students obtain relevant and job-ready qualifications when they graduate.
Waiariki is known for its high level of student support and prides itself on ensuring that the needs of its students are met with the provision of our excellent services and facilities. The institution offers a small classroom environment, maximizing individual attention and learning. Tutorial support is also available in many forms.
Technical education in Rotorua began in 1939 with the establishment of the Rotorua High School (now Rotorua Boys' High School) Technical Department.
In the early 1960s, Rotorua Boys' High School separated out its engineering, carpentry and secretarial night classes. The secretarial classes were transferred to Rotorua Girls' High School.
In 1968, Rotorua Girls' High School formed its secretarial classes into the "Rotorua Girls' High School Business College".
In 1972, Rotorua Boys' High School formed its technical classes (automotive engineering and carpentry) into the "Rotorua Boys' High School Technical Institute Division (TID)".
In 1976, the Rotorua High Schools' Board of Governors (which oversaw the five Rotorua high schools before the advent "Tomorrow's Schools" in 1989) merged the TID and Business College into the autonomous "Rotorua High Schools' Board Senior Technical Division".
On 1 April, 1978, the Waiariki Community College was established and it was officially opened by the Minister of Education, the Hon. L.W. Gandar, on 21 June, 1978. Waiariki changed its name to 'polytechnic' in 1987, and 'institute of technology' in 1998.
- Rotorua High School Technical Department, 1939.
- Rotorua Girls' High School Business College, 1968.
- Rotorua Boys' High School Technical Institute Division, 1972.
- Rotorua High Schools' Board Senior Technical Division, 1976.
- Waiariki Community College, 1978.
Waiariki Institute of Technology is a tertiary education facility (or Polytechnic) in the Waiariki Rohe (Bay of Plenty). We have 
