CPIT provided full-time and part-time education in technologies and trades.

In New Zealand's ranking, the Performance Based Research Fund, based on the scientific output of all employees, CPIT ranked 4th among all institutes of technologies in New Zealand.

It offered a comprehensive range of programmes, which covered almost all subject areas.

CPIT specialised in Music Arts, Visual Art & Design, Nursing, Applied Management (Business), Engineering, Applied Science, Education, Information Technology, and Architecture.

CPIT's Sullivan Avenue campus (CPIT Trades Campus) was on the corner of Sullivan Avenue and Ensors Road Opawa, in southeast Christchurch.