Unitec Institute of Technology (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka) is a public vocational education provider based in Auckland, New Zealand. Unitec Institute of Technology diploma, Unitec Institute of Technology degree, Unitec Institute of Technology certificate. It is the country’s largest institute of technology, known for its applied, industry-focused programmes spanning trades, architecture, business, health, and creative arts.
As of 2026, Unitec is undergoing a significant structural change, having merged with Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) to form a single independent vocational education provider.
Established: 1976, as Carrington Technical Institute
Name Changes: Carrington Polytechnic (1987), Unitec Institute of Technology (1994)
Status: Public institute of technology / polytechnic
Location: Auckland, New Zealand (primary Mt Albert campus; additional Waitākere campus) #Unitec Institute of Technology diploma, #Unitec Institute of Technology certificate.
Student Population: Reported at over 20,000 in recent years, with a diverse learner profile including many mature and part-time students
Programme Range: 100+ programmes from certificate to master’s level
Quality Assurance: Programmes approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
Where to buy a Unitec Institute of Technology degree online?
Unitec’s origins trace back to 1976, when it was founded as Carrington Technical Institute on the Mt Albert site in Auckland. The campus occupies 55 hectares and includes a historic building that once housed the Carrington Hospital, a imposing Italianate-Romanesque structure from the 1860s. The institution was renamed Carrington Polytechnic in 1987 and adopted the name Unitec Institute of Technology in 1994. In 1999, Unitec applied for university status, but the government ruled in 2005 that it did not meet the academic criteria and would remain an institute of technology.
In 2020, Unitec became a subsidiary/business unit of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, the national polytechnic network. More recently, from 1 January 2026, Unitec merged with Manukau Institute of Technology to form a single independent vocational education provider. During the establishment phase, both the Unitec and MIT brands are being maintained, at least through the end of 2026.
