The polytechnic's council this month voted to increase domestic fees by the maximum allowable 4% for next year, except for ''priority trades'' courses, which include carpentry and other trades programmes.
In contrast, it voted not to increase international fees, except in the popular nursing and bachelor of applied management programmes, which were raised 4%.
This decision was made in the interests of staying competitive in what the council was told was a ''difficult environment'' for international students.
However, before the fees were set there was debate over the fairness of raising domestic fees but not international fees.
Council members also took aim at the Government for giving the polytechnic ''no choice'' but to raise domestic fees by the maximum allowable amount.
Council member Rebecca Williams said she struggled with increasing the burden on domestic students while keeping international fees at the same level.
She was critical of the Government for making fee rises the ''default'' option, through a lack of funding, and said there needed to be public debate over how tertiary education was funded.
Fellow council member Chris Staynes understood the concerns over fairness, but stressed the polytechnic needed to stay competitive to raise the number of its international students.
''I agree with the comments that it seems inequitable to be increasing the fees for our local students and not internationals, but ... [all international students bring] added income.''
Susie Johnstone said there was a ''great deal of sympathy'' for domestic students having to pay more, but the polytechnic needed to raise fees to meet rising costs and inflation.
Chief operating officer Philip Cullen said the decision not to increase fees for ''priority trades'' was part of an effort to get more students enrolling in the courses.
''The Government has put a lot of effort and money into trades around New Zealand and unfortunately we have struggled to get enough take-up in this area.''
In recommending against increases for most international courses, communications director Mike Waddell said the polytechnic was more expensive than most of its competitors. The city's location made it pricier to study here, he said.
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association president Rebecca Swindells said the 4% fee rises were ''unfair on students'' and a zero fee rise would have been the best option.
''Students are already in enough debt as it is.''
The polytechnic was in a ''good space'' financially and should have worked harder to keep fee rises down, she said.
