The tertiary fees-free policy appears to be having a delayed impact

Student enrolments at most polytechs have jumped in the second half of the year.

The policy fell flat when it was introduced at the beginning of the year with the total number of tertiary students down 0.2 percent.

But six big polytechs are now reporting jumps of between thee and 57 percent in domestic enrolments in the second half-year which began last week.

Manukau Institute of Technology Chief Executive, Gus Gilmore, says it's a welcome reversal after declining enrolments over recent years.

The country's largest polytech, the financially troubled Unitec, has seen domestic enrolments jump by 11.6 percent.