The University was founded in 1897 and teaching began in April 1899 with 115 students enrolled in the first year.
Early years
For the first few years, lectures took place in rented accommodation in the city while a debate raged over where the new University’s home should be built. Eventually, the College Council decided to build on ‘six vertical acres’ in Kelburn, the site of the Kelburn campus today.
Research
Research at the University began in 1899 following the arrival of the University’s four pioneering Professors—Thomas Easterfield, Hugh Mackenzie, Richard Maclaurin and John Rankine Brown.
Growth
In 1904, the first stage of what is today known as the Hunter Building was begun, and the building was opened in 1906 by the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Plunket.
A pattern of growth was quickly established. Student numbers rose from 254 in 1905 to over 700 in 1923, with three additions made to the building over this period. A reputation for fine teaching and research also grew, thanks to the efforts of early academics such as Professors ‘Tommy’ Hunter, J.C. Beaglehole and George von Zedlitz.
In 1961, the University of New Zealand system was dissolved, and on 1 January 1962, Victoria College became Victoria University of Wellington.
Expansion
The University incorporated the Wellington College of Education as the Faculty of Education on 1 January 2005. The following year, the New Zealand School of Music was established by Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University, a centre of musical excellence that combined the institutions’ music programmes.
Today
From a single campus in Kelburn with fewer than 260 students, Victoria University of Wellington has grown into a network of campuses, research centres, institutes and partnerships worldwide.
Campus plaques are located across the University offering insights to those who have contributed to the University since it was established in 1897.
Understanding our new logo
Our visual identity has continually evolved throughout our 120-year history, as you will see in the video at the end of the slide presentation below. Different elements of our name have taken prominence in our logo and branding in response to our changing footprint and role in Wellington city. In the slide presentation, you can explore the elements of our new visual identity, which celebrates Wellington, our connections to the city, and our bicultural heritage.
The new visual identity we are developing encapsulates exactly what we are: a globally minded university that values close involvement with the social, cultural, and economic life of its city and region or, put simply, a global–civic university with our marae at our heart.
The quality of our teaching and research are the equal of any of the top universities in the world and our graduates deserve to receive the recognition and opportunities that flow from studying at a world-class university.
A distinctive identity is essential to building an international reputation and the cornerstone of identity is place—in our case, the city of Wellington in Aotearoa New Zealand. For this reason, and to reflect the enduring partnership between our University and the capital city, we are creating new branding that will emphasise and celebrate the word Wellington. It will also prominently feature our new Māori name of Te Herenga Waka, which has been approved by the University Council.
Part of our branding refresh is the introduction of a new shield and crest, which also reflect our identity—symbolising the collective purpose of a university community, locating us in the harbour city of Wellington, and highlighting our long legacy dating back more than 120 years. We are also designing a new logo to be introduced from 2020.
Te Herenga Waka
The new Māori name approved by the University Council is Te Herenga Waka. This is also the name of our marae and means the mooring place of canoes.
With its fully carved and beautifully decorated wharenui, or meeting house, the first to be established in a New Zealand university, Te Herenga Waka has been at the heart of the University’s community for more than three decades.
We are proud of how our marae represents the iho, or essence, of our Māori identity at the University. The centrality of Te Herenga Waka as a place of teaching, learning, and connection makes the University unique. As well as providing a link to our ancestors, it ties us to all the iwi of Aotearoa and across the Pacific. Like the University, it is a place where people from around the country and beyond can ‘hitch their canoes’ and find shelter. When people are ready to leave the University, they can unhitch their canoe and sail off to new horizons, while still maintaining a deep connection to Te Herenga Waka.