University of Auckland

Origins 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 four 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). 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. Making a name The University of New Zealand was dissolved in 1961, and the University of Auckland was empowered by the University of Auckland Act 1961. The university was gifted its Māori name, Waipapa Taumata Rau, by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in 2021. In 1966, lecturers Keith Sinclair and Bob Chapman established the University of Auckland Art Collection, beginning with the purchase of several paintings and drawings by Colin McCahon. The Collection is now managed by the Centre for Art Research, based at the Gus Fisher Gallery. Stage A of the Science building was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on 3 May. In 1975–81 Marie Clay and Patricia Bergquist, the first two female professors, were appointed. The North Shore Campus, established in 2001, was located in the suburb of Takapuna. It offered the Bachelor of Business and Information Management degree. The faculty was served by its own library. At the end of 2006, the campus was closed, and the degree relocated to the City campus. On 1 September 2004, the Auckland College of Education merged with the university's School of Education (previously part of the Arts Faculty) to form the Faculty of Education and Social Work. The faculty was based at the Epsom Campus of the former college, with an additional campus in Whangārei. Professor Stuart McCutcheon became vice-chancellor on 1 January 2005. He was previously the vice-chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington. He succeeded Dr John Hood (PhD, Hon. LLD), who was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford. On 16 March 2020, McCutcheon was succeeded by Professor Dawn Freshwater, the first female vice-chancellor in the university's history. The university opened a new business school in 2007, following the completion of the Information Commons. It has recently gained international accreditations for all its programmes and now completes the "Triple Crown" (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB). In 2009, the university embarked on a NZ$1 billion 10-year plan to redevelop and expand its facilities. The $240 million Grafton Campus upgrade was completed in 2011. In May 2013, the university purchased a site for new 5.2-hectare campus on a former Lion Breweries site adjacent to the major business area in Newmarket. The Faculty of Engineering and the School of Chemical Sciences moved into the new faculties in 2015. The NZ$280 million new Engineering Building was completed in 2019. In 2017, work started on the building of a new $116m medical school building in Grafton Campus. In 2019, work began on the redevelopment of the University Recreation Centre in the City Campus. The new recreation centre, Hiwa, opened in 2024. The University of Auckland has also built multiple student accommodation buildings, and it became the largest provider of student accommodation in New Zealand. == Organisation and administration ==

Governance The head of the university is the chancellor, currently Cecilia Tarrant. However, this position is only titular. The chief executive of the university is the vice-chancellor, currently Professor Dawn Freshwater, who is the university's sixth vice-chancellor, and the first woman to hold the role. List of chancellors Since 1957, when Auckland University College became the University of Auckland, the university has had 13 chancellors. Previously, the college council had been headed by a president (from 1923), or a chairman (1883–1923). Faculties and schools The university is made up of a number of faculties and schools. List of faculties and schools • Faculty of Arts and Education • Business School • Faculty of Engineering and Design • Auckland Law School • Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences • Faculty of Science Research institutes • Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) • Liggins Institute • Public Policy Institute (PPI) Auckland University Press Auckland University Press is a publisher established in 1966, owned and operated by the University of Auckland. Coat of arms The University of Auckland's arms (crest) were granted by letters patent on 15 February 1962, and are recorded in the College of Arms, London, England. ==Strategic initiatives==

Innovation and entrepreneurship In 2018, the university opened the Unleash Space (Māori: Kura Matahuna), a co-working area dedicated to entrepreneurial-minded students and staff featuring a maker space for designing and constructing prototypes. The University of Auckland ranked first in the 2023 Survey of Commercialisation Outcomes from Public Research (SCOPR) for the most active startup and spinout companies, with 47 recorded. The university hosts several initiatives to promote innovation and entrepreneurship: • The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), an academic entity that aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship within the university. Under the leadership of director Darsel Keane and academic director Rod McNaughton, the Centre provides free co-curricular learning opportunities for students and staff. Since its founding in 2003, the Centre has supported over two hundred unique ventures and thousands of individuals Zenno Astronautics, Tectonus, Auror, Halter, Wayve, Kitea Health, Hectre, Alimetry and Spalk. • The Newmarket Innovation Precinct, a co-working space and research and development community for deep-tech start-ups and businesses, based in the Faculty of Engineering and Design. • UniServices, a wholly owned university subsidiary that manages the University of Auckland’s Investors’ Fund, a contestable evergreen $41m seed/pre-seed fund, along with two investment committees: Momentum, a student-led investment committee programme, and Return on Science, a national research commercialisation programme. • MedTech-iQ Aotearoa, New Zealand's national innovation hub for medical technology, hosted by the university’s Auckland Bioengineering Institute. • New Zealand Product Accelerator (NZPA), a government-funded research network of researchers and industry partners based at the iniversity's Newmarket Campus. NZPA manages the National Testing Register, a comprehensive catalogue of over 700 pieces of testing equipment and facilities available for commercial testing. • Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women, a research centre focused on generating research and creating outreach activities to support women in entrepreneurship. The Centre was launched with the support of philanthropic funding from businesswoman Theresa Gattung. ==Campuses and facilities== Campuses The University of Auckland has a number of campuses in Auckland, and one in Whangārei in the Northland Region. From the start of the first semester of 2010, the university banned smoking on any of its property, including inside and outside buildings in areas that were once designated as smoking areas. City Campus The City Campus in the Auckland CBD has the majority of the students and faculties. It covers 16 hectares and has a range of amenities including cafes, health services, libraries, childcare facilities and a recreation centre. Grafton Campus The Grafton Campus, established in 1968, is opposite Auckland City Hospital in the suburb of Grafton, close to the City Campus. The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is based here, along with the Eye Clinic. The university has built an engineering research space and a civil structures hall. This new campus houses the Faculties of Engineering and Science. • The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences also has several satellite campuses and research facilities including the Waitemata Health Campus (which services North Shore Hospital and Waitakere Hospital), the Freemasons' Department of Geriatric Medicine at North Shore Hospital, the South Auckland Clinical Campus at Middlemore Hospital, and the Waikato Clinical School. The Epsom Campus, located in Epsom, Auckland, was the main teacher training campus, offering programmes in teacher education and social services. It had been the Auckland College of Education's main campus, until the college merged with the university's School of Education in September 2004 to form the Faculty of Education and Social Work. There were plans to close down the Epsom Campus in 2020 and relocate the Faculty of Education and Social Work to the City Campus. Later, the closure of the Epsom Campus was postponed to late 2023, with teaching resuming at the City Campus's refurbished Building 201 in early 2024. Overseas campuses and facilities The University of Auckland Innovation Institute China (UOAIIC) UOAIIC was established by the University of Auckland and UniServices, the commercialisation arm and knowledge transfer company of the University of Auckland, in 2017 in the Chinese city of Hangzhou. The Institute occupies a 2800m² physical space in the Hangzhou Qiantang New Area. UOAIIC is led by Dr Yuan Li. It organises annual conferences and meetings for the university to seek commercial opportunities for its research in China. Aulin College Aulin College, based in Harbin, China, was set up by the University of Auckland and the Northeast Forestry University (NEFU) of China in 2019. The name 'Aulin' is a combination of the word "Au" (from the name "Auckland") and "Lin", which is the Chinese word for farming and agriculture. In September 2019, Aulin College had its first intake of undergraduate students. Aulin College offers Bachelor's and master's degrees in Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Technology. Graduates will receive degrees from both the University of Auckland and NEFU. Libraries wall remnant and the General Library on the City Campus (June 2012) The University of Auckland Library system consists of the General Library and four specialist libraries: the Davis Law Library, Leigh Marine Laboratory Library, the Philson Library (Medical and Health Sciences), and the Sylvia Ashton-Warner Library (Education and Social Work) on the Tai Tokerau campus. In mid-2018, Vice-Chancellor McCutcheon announced that the university would be closing its Fine Arts, Architecture and Planning, and Music and Dance Libraries. Their collections were merged into the General Library's collections. Student accommodation The University of Auckland provides a range of accommodation options for students. Several hundred live in Residential Halls and Apartments, which provide, food, accommodation, and social and welfare services alongside self-catered, private residences. The university ceased leasing Railway Campus in November 2008. The university has four residential halls including Grafton Hall, O'Rorke Hall, University Hall–Towers, and Waipārūrū Hall. These halls are full-catered and are aimed at first–year university students. In addition, the university runs nine self-catered student residences including Te Tirohanga o te Tōangaroa, Carlaw Park Student Village, Grafton Student Flats, 55 Symonds, University Hall–Towers, UniLodge Auckland, UniLodge on Whitaker, Waikohanga House, and the Goldie Estate Homestead on Waiheke Island. These halls and student residences are located in the Auckland CBD area near the university. Hiwa Recreation Centre A new recreational centre, named Hiwa, opened in the city campus in November 2024. It replaced the old recreation centre that was built in 1978, when the university had approximately 10,000 students studying on city campus. Hiwa was built at a cost of NZ$320 million. Vice-Chancellor Dawn Freshwater and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop officially opened the building on 21 February 2025. Art Collection Established in 1966 by Keith Sinclair and Bob Chapman, the Art Collection is one of the university's most valuable and cherished assets. However, its most poignant value lies in its use as a resource for teaching, learning and research. Available on loan to departments and faculties on all campuses, the Collection has been built up over forty years to include major works by significant artists such as Frances Hodgkins, Colin McCahon, Luise Fong, Billy Apple and Ralph Hotere. Outcomes from postgraduate research on the Collection have included a thesis on its own history as an entity, monograph exhibitions on individual artists, and surveys of the impact of the evolution of the Collection on Auckland's dealer galleries, resulting in the exhibitions and publications Vuletic and His Circle (about the Petar/James Gallery) in 2003 and New Vision Gallery in 2008. ==Academic profile==

Admission and costs All universities in New Zealand require domestic students to achieve, at a minimum, NZQA University Entrance (UE) to be eligible to enrol. International students must achieve an equivalent, approved qualification from their home country or an approved Foundation programme provider in New Zealand. International students whose first language is not English will also need to provide proof of their English proficiency. All students who did not complete their high school education or equivalent in English are required to provide a valid IELTS score (minimum of 6.0) or equivalent. The University of Auckland imposes a minimum rank score requirement for each programme offered, an entry requirement calculated based on the applicant's academic performance in secondary school or an equivalent approved qualification. Select programmes will require prior completion or concurrent enrolment in another programme. In the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (published 2025), the university attained a position of #65 (1st nationally). In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 (published 2025), the university attained a tied position of #156 (1st nationally). In the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities, the university attained a position of #201-300 (1st nationally). In the 2025–2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, the university attained a tied position of #198 (1st nationally). In the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024, the university attained a position of #223 (1st nationally). ==Student life==

Students' association The Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) is the representative body of students, formed in 1891. AUSA publicises student issues, administers student facilities, and assists affiliated student clubs and societies. AUSA produces the student magazine Craccum, and runs the radio station 95bFM. The name of the alumni association is the University of Auckland Society. Student demographics ==Controversies==

Restructuring measures 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. 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. 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. 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 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. Today, the University of Auckland Foundation has a Responsible Investment Policy. 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 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. Siouxsie Wiles v University of Auckland In January 2022 Siouxsie Wiles and Shaun Hendy filed claims with the Employment Relations Authority against the University of Auckland. They alleged that the university did not protect them from harassment for their COVID-19 commentary advocacy for vaccination. In October 2022, Hendy resolved the dispute after leaving the university. Wiles started the hearing in early November 2023, and at the end of three week hearing, Judge Holden reserved her decision. On 8 July 2024, the Employment Court ruled in Wiles' favour. The court also ruled that the university did not breach her academic freedom. The university was ordered to pay Wiles NZ$20,000 in damages. 2024 student accommodation rent strike In 2024, a group of students residing in University of Auckland accommodation initiated "rent strike" on 1 May 2024, following an 8% increase in accommodation costs for the academic year. 2024 course review In August 2024, the university's leadership notified academics across the institution that a "course optimisation" was in progress. This would reduce the number of courses offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and was met with outcry by faculty members. The senate, a group of senior faculty who advise the University Council, voted to pause the ongoing curriculum redesign that had prompted the proposed changes. There were also objections from students and Tertiary Education Union members, who formed a group protesting the changes. ==Notable people==

Notable alumni Alumni recognition programmes The University of Auckland celebrates the achievements of its graduates through dedicated alumni recognition programmes. Each year, it hosts the Distinguished Alumni Awards to honour graduates who have made outstanding contributions in their fields. The university also runs a biennial "40 Under 40" initiative, which recognises forty alumni aged forty and under, for their leadership, innovation, and service across a range of disciplines. Academia • Alexandra Brewis Slade, anthropologist • Margaret Brimble, organic chemist • Dianne Brunton, ecology academic, professor at Massey University • Jemma Field, historian • Colleen M. Flood, professor at University of Ottawa and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada • Rom Harré, Oxford philosopher • Christian Hartinger, inorganic chemist • Harry Hawthorn, Canadian anthropologist • John Hood, former vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford • Susan Kemp, social work academic • Charlotte Macdonald, historian • Diane M. Mackie, social psychologist • Constant Mews, authority on medieval religious thought • Snejina Michailova, full professor at the University of Auckland • Susan Moller Okin, philosopher • Janis Paterson, academic developmental psychologist, founding director of the longitudinal Pacific Islands Families Study • Peter C. B. Phillip • Elizabeth Rata, professor of education • Papaarangi Mary-Jane Reid, public health academic • Graham Smith, academic • Terry Sturm, professor of English • Rory Sweetman, historian • Ronald Syme, pre-eminent New Zealand classicist of the 20th century • Tarisi Vunidilo, Fijian archaeologist and curator • Rorden Wilkinson, political economist • David Wills, translator of Jacques Derrida Art • Louie Bretaña, artist • Vidyamala Burch, writer and mindfulness teacher • Saraid de Silva, writer • Luise Fong, artist and educator • Gill Gatfield, sculptor • Ian George, artist • Bob Kerr, artist and author • Rachael McKenna, photographer • Reuben Paterson, artist • Cheryll Sotheran, founder of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa • Benjamin Work, artist Business • Vincent Cheng, chairman of HSBC • Shayne Elliott (born 1963/64), New Zealand banker • Paul Huljich, CEO of Best Corporation, author • Ross Keenan (born 1943), businessperson • Jane Taylor, chair of New Zealand Post and Landcare Research Film and television • Philippa Boyens, Academy Award-winning screenwriter • Niki Caro, film director, producer and screenwriter. • Jacqueline Feather, screenwriter • Lucy Lawless, actress • Karl Rock, YouTuber • Yasmine Ryan (ca. 1983–2017), journalist • Antony Starr, actor • Christine Tan, CNBC news anchor Music • Marcus Chang, Taiwanese singer-songwriter and actor • Gary Chaw, singer-songwriter • Gareth Farr, composer • Tim Finn, musician • Jeffrey Grice, pianist • David Griffiths, composer, singer, lecturer • Anthony Jennings, harpsichordist, organist, choral and orchestral director • Ashley Lawrence, conductor • Marya Martin, flautist • Douglas Mews, early music specialist • Shirley Setia, singer and actress • Wilma Smith, Fijian-born concert violinist and music teacher • Derek Williams, composer, arranger, conductor, lecturer Politics and law • Jan Beagle, under-secretary-general of the United Nations • Simon Bridges, former opposition leader, former leader of the New Zealand National Party • Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand, former administrator of the United Nations Development Programme • Colin Craig, businessman and leader of the Conservative Party of New Zealand • Jennifer Curtin, public policy • Sian Elias, New Zealand chief justice 1999–2019 • Jeanette Fitzsimons, New Zealand politician and environmentalist • Lowell Goddard, judge • Jonathan Hunt, former speaker of the House of Representatives, Order of New Zealand • Sir Kenneth James Keith, New Zealand judge appointed to the International Court of Justice • David Lange, former prime minister of New Zealand • Viliami Latu, Tongan minister of police • Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, prime minister of Samoa • Leslie Munro, former New Zealand's permanent representative to the United Nations, former president of the Trusteeship Council, former president of the United Nations General Assembly, three times president of the Security Council • Shai Navot, former leader of The Opportunities Party • Winston Peters, politician and leader of the NZ First party • Anthony Randerson, New Zealand Chief High Court judge 2004–2010; current judge of the New Zealand Court of Appeal • Mike Rann, former premier of South Australia, and future Australian high commissioner to the United Kingdom • Anand Satyanand, governor general, New Zealand 2006–2011 • Peter Thomson, Fijian diplomat, Fiji's former permanent representative to the United Nations, former president of the General Assembly of the United Nations • Taufa Vakatale, former deputy prime minister of Fiji • Vangelis Vitalis, diplomat • Helen Winkelmann, New Zealand chief justice 2019–present • Carlos Cheung, New Zealand Member of Parliament Science and technology • Penelope Brothers, chemist • Howard Carmichael, physicist • Helen Danesh-Meyer, ophthalmology academic • Sir Richard Faull, neuroscientist • Lynnette Ferguson • Crispin Gardiner, physicist • Ross Ihaka, statistician • Sir Vaughan Jones, Fields medallist • Sir Harold Marshall, acoustician and architect • Stephen Parke, physicist • Richard John Pentreath, British marine scientist • William Sage Rapson, chemist • Daniel Frank Walls, physicist • Jennifer Mary Weller, anaesthesiology academic • Anne Wyllie, microbial disease epidemiologist Sports • Jo Aleh (born 1986), sailor, national champion, world champion, and Olympic champion • Russell Coutts (born 1962), yachtsman • Richard de Groen (born 1962), Test cricketer and Olympic and Commonwealth Games administrator • Mahé Drysdale (born 1978), Australian-born New Zealand rower, mayor of Tauranga, 2024–present • Michael Jones (born 1965), rugby player and coach • Jerome Kaino (born 1983), American Samoan-born New Zealand rugby player • Eliza McCartney (born 1996), New Zealand Olympic pole vaulter • Jean Spencer (born 1940), United Kingdom-born New Zealand Olympic gymnast Notable faculty from the Department of Anthropology Until his death in 2009, the longest serving staff member was emeritus professor of Prehistory, Roger Curtis Green, BA BSc (New Mexico), PhD (Harv.), FRSNZ, MANAS. He had been on the staff from 1961 to 1966, and from 1973 onwards. The longest serving, non-'retired' staff member is Bernard Brown, ONZM, LLB (Hons) (Leeds), LLM (Sing.). He has been a full-time senior lecturer in the faculty of law 1962-65 and 1969 onwards. William Phillips, the influential economist largely famed for his Phillips curve, taught at the university from 1969 until his death in 1975. The programming language R, widely used by statisticians and data scientists, was developed at the university by Robert Gentleman and Ross Ihaka in the 1990s. According to the Association of University Staff of New Zealand (AUS) in 2007, New Zealand universities, including the University of Auckland, had been taking a more litigious approach to managing their staff in recent years and engaged lawyers and employment advocates to handle even minor matters. The University of Auckland "paid out more than $780,000 in 2006 to settle problems it listed as including personal grievances and disputes". For example, Paul Buchanan, a popular, world-renowned lecturer on international relations and security, was summarily dismissed in 2007 because a student to whom he sent an email complained that she found his comments about her performance in his class to be offensive. but this was just a formality == Notes ==