The Open Polytechnic is the specialist national provider of open and distance learning (ODL) and a major educator of people in the workplace. Our primary functions are to support Government economic and social transformation goals and make a key contribution to business and industry by providing flexible access to vocational learning.

Our mission statement reflects this: ‘we strive to support vocational lifelong learning and national development goals through innovation and excellence in open flexible education’.

The Open Polytechnic began life as the Technical Correspondence School in 1946, providing resettlement training for returned servicemen and women following World War II. In 1963, it became the Technical Correspondence Institute (TCI) and began offering national training in trades subjects.

As part of wider education reforms, the institution was renamed The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand in 1990, becoming the specialist national provider of open and distance learning at tertiary level.

The following years were a period of profound transformation, with many new programmes and courses introduced in response to market demand. The Open Polytechnic also adopted internationally proven models for distance learning course design, student support and quality control. In a new phase, Open Polytechnic is now developing an expanding range of online courses and services.