One hundred and thirty full time enrolments are needed in 2026 in order for the Otago Polytechnic’s Central Campus to “stand on its own”.

At a meeting in Cromwell on Monday night, stakeholders were told if that target was not reached, the campus would move to a federated model likely to be supported by the Open Polytechnic. 

Close to 35 people attended the meeting to give input into the long term future of the Cromwell and Wānaka sites. 

Attendees heard from new Central Campus director John Christie, members of the senior leadership team, including executive director Megan Potiki and deputy executive director operations Max Sims.

Representatives from the Central Lakes Trust, Business South Central Otago, Horticulture NZ, Central Otago District Council staff attended the meeting as well as principals and teachers from Dunstan High and Cromwell College, experienced horticulturalists and viticulturalists and interested community members.

Central Campus executive director Megan Potiki said the decline in enrolments had occurred over a few years and it was going to be a “difficult road” ahead.

“There is not one viable Polytechnic [across the country] at the moment… We don’t want to go into a federation model. We want to stand on our own….We want to make Otago Polytech work,” she said.

Low enrolments have resulted in the Central Campus award winning brewing and stonemasonry courses being discontinued. 

The final second year of stonemasonry is being taught this year and all teaching will cease from 2026. 

The polytechnic’s facility in central Cromwell and on-campus accommodation, originally opened in 1987, is proposed to be sold - a decision again connected to low utilisation and shrinking enrolments. 

Deputy executive director operations Max Sims said the polytechnic needed to meet the Public Works Act requirements, involving Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) before anything would be sold.

Many attendees indicated they felt if the accommodation was sold, the campus would be unable to get back into offering accommodation in the future.

“Our goal is not to cut and slash… but to make a sustainable campus based on sustainable practices," Max said.

He added he did not anticipate anything changing on the town campus site in 2025. 

Speakers said the turnout was “exceptional” and demonstrated the care people had for their community. 

Attendee’s comments centred on shortages of accommodation and early childhood education as issues for Cromwell and suggested the Central Campus could be working closely with horticulture, viticulture and other industries to come up with solutions to fill beds while student numbers were low and at the same time collaborate to attract students and make the pathways to employment clear.

If you want to submit your thoughts on the future of Central Campus email: [email protected]

The Central App will keep readers updated on Otago Polytechnic’s Central Campus’ future as decisions are made. 

Read more: New director for polytech’s Central Campus

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