The University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau

The University of Auckland was established in 1883 as a constituent college of the University of New Zealand and became an autonomous university under the University of Auckland Act 1961. It is governed by this Act and the Education and Training Act 2020 and its amendments.

The University’s governing body is the Council. Under the Act, its functions include appointing the Vice-Chancellor, undertaking long-term planning, adopting and managing the Investment Plan, and setting institutional policies.

Section 281 of the Act outlines additional Council responsibilities: striving for excellence in education, training, and research; acknowledging the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi); and promoting participation from the communities it serves, especially under-represented groups.

In 2025, the University had 39,183 Equivalent Full-Time Students (EFTS) and 6,250 Full-Time Equivalent Staff (FTE) and occupied 112 premises, 83 of which are owned by the University. The University also owns or has responsibility for six natural reserves.

The University and Auckland UniServices Limited (AUL) primarily provide teaching and research services.