Auckland University College

The University of Auckland

Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau
Coat of arms of the University of Auckland
Motto	Latin: Ingenio et labore
Motto in English	By natural ability and hard work
Type	Public
Established	1883; 134 years ago
Chancellor	Ian Parton
Vice-Chancellor	Stuart McCutcheon
Academic staff	2,183 (FTE, 2015)
Administrative staff	2,892 (FTE, 2015)
Students	33,050 (EFTS, 2015)
Undergraduates	25,754 (EFTS, 2015)
Postgraduates	7,717 (EFTS, 2015)
Location	Auckland, New Zealand
Campus	Multiple
Affiliations	ACU, APAIE, APRU, Universitas 21, WUN
Website	www.auckland.ac.nz

The University of Auckland (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau) is the largest university in New Zealand, located in the country's largest city, Auckland. It is the highest-ranked university in the country, being ranked 81st worldwide in the 2016/17 QS World University Rankings. Established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, the university is made up of eight faculties over six campuses. It has a head count of more than 40,000 students, and more than 30,000 equivalent full-time students.

The University of Auckland began as a constituent 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 George Francis Walker, 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. From 1905 onwards, an increasing number of students enrolled in commerce studies.

The University conducted little research until the 1930s, when there was a spike in interest in academic research during the 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.