About 210 people also graduated in absentia.
Polytechnic marketing and communications group manager Mike Waddell said the graduation was "an incredibly rewarding event" which acknowledged not only the graduates themselves but also the parents and all others who had supported them.
Gary Taiaroa, chief executive of Enabling, an information technology firm, gave the graduation address. He urged graduates to continue to show initiative and to be prepared to take some risks in their careers.
He also praised the high level of skills developed through Otago Polytechnic learning and said he had long been actively employing graduates from the polytechnic. He also offered a polytechnic-related internship.
Mr Waddell said growing numbers of polytechnic graduands were deciding to graduate in person.
It was pleasing that students were realising where employment opportunities lay and were alertly seeking relevant skills, including in trades areas, he said.
