University of New Zealand

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University of New Zealand
New Zealand University shield

Motto: Sapere aude (Have courage to be wise)
Established: 1870, dissolved 1961
Location: Campuses all over New Zealand, senate located in Wellington, New Zealand

The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand. By the time it was dissolved into four independent universities and two associated agricultural colleges in 1961, it comprised the University of Otago, University of Canterbury, University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, Canterbury Agricultural College and Massey Agricultural College.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The University of New Zealand Act set up the University in 1870.[1]

The University of Otago negotiated to keep its title of "university" when it joined the University of New Zealand in 1874, however, it agreed to award degrees of the University of New Zealand.[1] The colleges in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington were known as "university colleges" rather than "universities" throughout most of the history of the University of New Zealand, ie Canterbury University College, Auckland University College and Victoria University College.

The Universities Act of 1961 dissolved the university and granted degree-conferring powers to the constituent Colleges.[1] The New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee assumed certain administrative functions exercised by the University Grants Committee[2] which in turn assumed some functions of the University of New Zealand on its demise.[1]

[edit] Entrance to the University

The University used to set its own entrance examination and also used to award scholarships to financially assist study.[3][4] When the university was dissolved matters concerning entrance to New Zealand universities became the responsibility of the Universities Entrance Board, a subcommittee of the University Grants Committee.[1] The Universities Entrance Board was in turn amalgamated into the New Zealand Qualifications Authority in 1990.[5]

[edit] Other use of the name

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, founded in 1984, used The University of New Zealand as an English translation of its name, although it had no connection with the former University. After objections from bodies such as the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee (the heads of the universities) and the Ministry of Education over illegal use of a protected word (in this case, university) and thus possible misleading advertising,[6] the effective co-branding of the wānanga was phased out. The institution is formally registered as a wānanga, one of four types of Crown-owned tertiary institutions under New Zealand law — the others being universities, colleges of education and polytechnics.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Education, University–University of New Zealand". Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. (1966). Ed. McLintock, A. H.. Retrieved on 2006-06-21. 
  2. ^ About NZVCC (English). New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee. Retrieved on 2006-06-21.
  3. ^ Thomas, W.; Beeby, C. E.; Oram, M. H. [1939]. Entrance to the University. New Zealand Council for Educational Research, 25. Dewey 378.931. “The Entrance or Matriculation Examination has been a 'standard' examination given by the University to make certain that its entrants are ready, in its opinion, to pass into the University.” 
  4. ^ Parton, Hugh [1979]. The University of New Zealand. University Grants Committee, New Zealand, 85, 98. ISBN 0-19-647973-8. “A universal matriculation examination conducted by the University was a natural part of its external examination system and was introduced in 1879… While it was the entrance examination of the University which influenced most strongly the curriculum of the secondary schools… the entrance scholarships which the Senate established in its earlier years had at least as great an influence.” 
  5. ^ Breaking new ground (English). QA News: Ten Years On—The Work of The Qualifications Authority (October 2000). Retrieved on 2006-06-21.
  6. ^ Milne, Jonathan. "Wananga faces lecture over university claims", New Zealand Herald, 2005-01-23. Retrieved on 2006-03-21. 

[edit] External links