Polytech semester kicks off with mud run

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic fitness student Shay Stevens, 20, took part in the annual mud run yesterday. Photo / John Borren

Animal care, automotive technology, fitness and horticulture are some of the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's most popular courses in 2015.

The polytech started its academic year on Monday with about 5500 students expected to be taking part in a course when enrolment numbers are finalised.

The most popular programmes this year were animal care, business studies, cookery and hospitality, early childhood education, fitness and legal executive.

Image 1 of 8: Student Shay Stevens during the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic mud run. Photo/John Borren.

Many of these courses are the first steps towards higher qualifications.

Getting into the thick of things were new fitness students Shay Stevens, 20, and Chakaya Taui, 18.

The two students took part in the polytech's annual mud run, where newbie fitness students are taken through a gruelling set of team bonding activities at low tide on Tauranga Harbour.

Shay, who moved to Te Puna from Auckland to study, was enticed to join the fitness course after hearing glowing recommendations about it from a friend who worked at the polytech.

"I told her I wanted to study but I wanted to get away from Auckland because there's too many people I know there, too many distractions."

The only programme the polytech has stopped delivering this year was the Certificate in Relaxation Massage, a once popular course that the Tertiary Education Commission put a stop to, as it required all polytechnic level courses to lead into further study.