University of Auckland
The University of Auckland (UoA; Māori: Waipapa Taumata Rau) is a public research university based in Auckland, New Zealand. The institution was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand. Originally it was housed in a disused courthouse. Today, the University of Auckland is New Zealand's largest university by enrollment, hosting about 40,000 students on five Auckland campuses.[1] The City Campus, in the Auckland central business district, has the bulk of the students and faculties. There are eight faculties, including a law school, as well as three associated research institutes.
"Auckland University" redirects here. Not to be confused with Auckland University of Technology.Motto
By natural ability and hard work
1883[1]
NZD $1.281 billion (31 December 2021)[3]
Cecilia Tarrant[4]
2,402 (FTE, 2019)[5]
3,567 (FTE, 2019)[5]
34,521 (EFTS, 2019)[5]
25,200 (EFTS, 2019)[5]
8,630 (EFTS, 2019)[5]
Urban,
City Campus: 16 ha (40 acres)
Total: 40 ha (99 acres)
Auckland Dark Blue and White
ACU, APAIE, APRU, Universitas 21, WUN
History[edit]
Origins[edit]
The University of Auckland began as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, founded on 23 May 1883 as Auckland University College. Stewardship of the university during its establishment period was the responsibility of John Chapman Andrew (Vice Chancellor of the University of New Zealand 1885–1903). Housed in a disused courthouse and jail, it started out with 95 students and 4 teaching staff: Frederick Douglas Brown, professor of chemistry (London and Oxford); Algernon Phillips Withiel Thomas, professor of natural sciences (Oxford); Thomas George Tucker, professor of classics (Cambridge); and William Steadman Aldis, professor of mathematics (Cambridge).[a][8] By 1901, student numbers had risen to 156; the majority of these students were training towards being law clerks or teachers and were enrolled part-time.
Development of a research culture[edit]
The university conducted little research until the 1930s, when there was a spike in interest in academic research during the Great Depression. At this point, the college's executive council issued several resolutions in favour of academic freedom after the controversial dismissal of John Beaglehole (allegedly for a letter to a newspaper where he publicly defended the right of communists to distribute their literature), which helped encourage the college's growth.
In 1934, four new professors joined the college: Arthur Sewell (English), H.G. Forder (Mathematics), C.G. Cooper (Classics) and James Rutherford (History). The combination of new talent, and academic freedom saw Auckland University College flourish through to the 1950s.[1]
In 1950, the Elam School of Fine Arts was brought into the University of Auckland. Archie Fisher, who had been appointed principal of the Elam School of Fine Arts was instrumental in having it brought in the University of Auckland.
Coat of arms[edit]
The blazon of the arms of the University of Auckland is: Azure between three mullets argent an open Book proper edged and bound Or with seven Clasps on either side Or, on a chief wavy also argent three Kiwis proper.[39][1] A "mullet" is a five pointed star; when there are three they are depicted with two above and one below. Their colour is silver ("argent"). "Proper" indicates that the specified item is to be shown in its natural colours – for the book, this would be black and white. The edge ("edged") and binding of the book is in gold ("Or") and is bound with seven clasps on either side. A "chief" is a broad strip at the top of the shield.
The university's motto is Ingenio et labore which may be translated from Latin as "By natural ability and hard work."[1]
University rankings
201–300 (2022)
65 (2025)
139 (2023)
Controversies[edit]
Restructuring measures[edit]
In April 2016, Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon announced that University of Auckland would be selling off its Epsom and Tamaki campuses in order to consolidate education and services at the city, Grafton, and Newmarket campuses. The Epsom Campus is the site of the University of Auckland's education faculty while the Tamaki campus hosts elements of the medical and science faculties as well as the School of Population Health.[99][100]
In mid-June 2018, McCutcheon announced that the university would be closing down and merging its specialist fine arts, architecture, and music and dance libraries into the City Campus' General Library. In addition, the university would cut 100 support jobs. The Vice-Chancellor claimed that these cutbacks would save between NZ$3 million and $4 million a year.[59][60][61] This announcement triggered criticism and several protests from arts faculty and students. Students objected to the closure of the Elam Fine Arts Library on the grounds that it would make it harder to access study materials. Thousands of dissenters circulated a petition protesting the Vice-Chancellor's restructuring policies. Protests were also held in April, May, and June 2018.[101][102][60]
Fossil fuel divestment controversy[edit]
In April 2017, more than 100 students from the Auckland University Medical Students Association marched demanding the removal of coal, oil and gas from the university's investment portfolio. In May 2017, 14 people from student group Fossil Fuel UoA occupied the Clocktower, urging current Vice Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon to issue a statement in support of divestment from fossil fuels.[103] After twelve hours, they were forcibly removed by police. The following day over two hundred students and staff marched to demand divestment from fossil fuels[104] and more than 240 members of staff from 8 faculties signed an open letter supporting divestment to the Boards of the University of Auckland Foundation and School of Medicine Foundation.[105] Today, the University of Auckland Foundation has a Responsible Investment Policy.[106] The foundation has now effectively eliminated fossil fuels from its investment portfolio. As at 31 December 2021, only 0.005% (31 December 2020 0.49%) of the foundation's investments were held in companies deriving revenue from fossil fuels.
Vice Chancellor's house[edit]
In early December 2020, the Auditor-General's Office released its report criticising the University of Auckland's decision to purchase a NZ$5 million house in Auckland's Parnell suburb for Vice Chancellor Dawn Freshwater, ruling that the university had not been able to show a "justifiable business purpose" for purchasing the house apart from Freshwater's personal benefit. The purchase of the house had been criticised as frivolous by student unions. In October 2020, Vice Chancellor Freshwater had recommended that the university's board sell the house to pay off debt and because COVID-19 social distancing restrictions had made it impossible to host functions there.[107][108]
