University of Auckland
University of Auckland
Main page
2233739

University of Auckland

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
What are your thoughts?
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
University of Auckland

The University of Auckland (UoA; Waipapa Taumata Rau) is a public research university in Auckland, New Zealand. It was established in 1883 as Auckland University College, a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, following the passage of the Auckland University College Act 1882. In its early years the college operated from a disused courthouse and jail. The University’s Māori name, Waipapa Taumata Rau, was gifted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in 2021.

As of the mid-2020s, the University is widely reported as the largest in New Zealand by enrolment, with a student population of around 44,000. Teaching and research are centred on three main campuses in central Auckland: City (the historic core), Grafton (home to the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences), and Newmarket (acquired in 2013 on the former Lion Breweries site).

The university teaches and conducts research across six faculties, alongside institutes and centres; the City Campus hosts the majority of students and faculties.

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). 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.

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.

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.

The University of New Zealand was dissolved in 1961 and the University of Auckland was empowered by the University of Auckland Act 1961.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.