Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha (Māori) | |
 | |
Former names | Canterbury College |
|---|---|
| Motto | (Unofficial)Latin:Ergo tua rura manebunt (therefore the lands shall remain yours) |
| Type | Publicresearch university |
| Established | 1873; 152 years ago (1873) |
Academic affiliation | |
| Endowment | NZD $142 million (2022)[1] |
| Budget | NZD $417.7million (31 December 2020)[2] |
| Chancellor | Amy Adams |
| Vice-Chancellor | Cheryl de la Rey |
Academic staff | 867 (2020)[2] |
Administrative staff | 1,395 (2020)[2] |
| Students | 21,361 (March 2023)[2] |
| Undergraduates | 12,224 (2020)[2] |
| Postgraduates | 3,154 (2020)[2] |
| Location | , New Zealand 43°31′24″S172°34′55″E / 43.52333°S 172.58194°E /-43.52333; 172.58194 |
| Campus | Suburban andUrban 87 hectares (210 acres) |
| Language | English and Māori |
| Student Magazine | Canta |
| Colours | UC Murrey Red and UC Gold[3] |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | www |
 | |
 | |
TheUniversity of Canterbury (Māori:Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha) is apublic research university based inChristchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1873 asCanterbury College, the first constituent college of theUniversity of New Zealand. It is New Zealand'ssecond-oldest university, after theUniversity of Otago, which was founded four years earlier, in 1869.
Its original campus was in theChristchurch Central City, but in 1961 it became an independent university and began moving out of its originalneo-Gothic buildings, which were re-purposed as theChristchurch Arts Centre. The move was completed on 1 May 1975[6] and the university now operates its main campus in the Christchurch suburb ofIlam.
The university offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in, among others,Arts,Commerce, Education (physical education),Fine Arts,Forestry,Health Sciences,Law,Criminal Justice, Music,Social Work,Speech and Language Pathology,Sports Coaching andTeaching.
On 16 June 1873, the university was founded in the centre ofChristchurch as Canterbury College, the first constituent college of theUniversity of New Zealand and was funded by the thenCanterbury Provincial Council. It became the second institution in New Zealand providing tertiary-level education (following theUniversity of Otago, established in 1869), and the fourth inAustralasia.[7] It was founded on the basis of theOxbridge college system, but it differed from Oxbridge in that it admitted female students from its foundation. Its foundation professors arrived in 1874, namely,Charles Cook (Mathematics,University of Melbourne,St John's College, Cambridge),Alexander Bickerton (Chemistry and Physics,School of Mining, London), andJohn Macmillan Brown (University of Glasgow,Balliol College, Oxford).[8] A year later the first lectures began and in 1875 the first graduations took place. In 1880,Helen Connon was the first woman to graduate from the college, and in 1894,Āpirana Ngata became the firstMāori-born student to graduate with a degree.[9] The School of Art was founded in 1882, followed by the faculties of Arts, Science, Commerce, and Law in 1921, and Mental, Moral, and Social Sciences in 1924. The Students' Union, now known as the University of Canterbury Students Association, was founded in 1929 operating out of theArts Centre of Christchurch Old Student Union Building, and the first edition of the student magazineCanta was published in 1930. In 1933, the name changed from Canterbury College to Canterbury University College.
College House, a student dormitory that maintains its old tradition by adopting the Oxbridge college system, broke away fromChrist's College in 1957 and relocated to the Ilam suburb of Christchurch in 1966 as ahall of residence at the University of Canterbury.[10] In 1957 the name changed again to the University of Canterbury.[11]
Until 1961, the university formed part of theUniversity of New Zealand (UNZ), and issued degrees in its name. That year saw the dissolution of the federal system of tertiary education in New Zealand, and the University of Canterbury became an independent University awarding its own degrees. Upon the UNZ's demise,Canterbury Agricultural College became a constituent college of the University of Canterbury, asLincoln College.[12] Lincoln College became independent in 1990 as a full university in its own right and is now known asLincoln University.[13]
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Relocation to Ilam campus
Over the period from 1961 to 1974, the university campus relocated from the centre of the city to its much larger current site in the suburb of Ilam. 1973 saw the university celebrate its centenary, during which theneo-Gothic buildings of the old campus were gifted to the City of Christchurch, which became the site of theChristchurch Arts Centre, a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch.[14] 1974 also marked the opening of the James Hight Library, which at the time, was New Zealand's largest university building. Ilam's three university halls of residence were renamed University Hall in 1974, and the student dormitory was used as theAthletes Village dormitory for the1974 British Commonwealth Games hosted in Christchurch.[15]
In 2004, the university underwent restructuring into four Colleges and a School of Law, administering a number of schools and departments (though a number of departments have involvement in cross-teaching in numerous academic faculties). For many years the university worked closely with the Christchurch College of Education, leading to a full merger in 2007, establishing a fifth College.[16]
On 4 September 2010 at 4:35 am local time an earthquake struck the South Island of New Zealand with a moment magnitude of 7.1 several aftershocks followed the main event, the strongest of which was a magnitude 6.3 shock known as the Christchurch earthquake that occurred nearly six months later on 22 February 2011.[17] Although there was no serious injuries to staff or students on campus and only minor damage to buildings, the initial quake closed the university for a week, and the library was shut for months while shelves were repaired and half a million books placed back on shelves.[18] TheStudent Volunteer Army was a group of around 10,000 university students and others who worked over a period of months to help clean up liquefaction.[19]
In the months following the earthquake, the university lost 25 per cent of its first-year students and 8 per cent of continuing students. The number of international students, who pay much higher fees and were a major source of revenue, dropped by 30 per cent.[20][21] In October 2011, staff were encouraged to take voluntary redundancies.[22] As well in September 2011, plans were announced to demolish some University buildings that were damaged from an earthquake.[23]
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By 2013, the university had lost 22 per cent of its students.[24] However, a record number of 886 PhD students were enrolled at the University of Canterbury as of 2013.[25] Other New Zealand universities, apparently defying an informal agreement, launched billboard and print advertising campaigns in the earthquake-ravaged city to recruit University of Canterbury students who were finding it difficult to study there.[26] In 2013 the New Zealand Government also agreed to provide $260m to support the university's rebuild programme.[27]
Student numbers were steadily on the rise, with a 4.5% increase in students enrolled from 2013 to 2016. International numbers also increased, nearing pre-earthquake figures at 1,134 enrolled in 2016.[28]
In March 2016, Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr said inThe Press newspaper: "In 2014, [students] wanted to leave Christchurch and went to Wellington, Otago and into the workforce. Now we're retaining Christchurch school leavers and we're getting our fair share of provincial students, as well as attracting greater numbers from the Auckland region." "Living on or near the UC campus, and having a lifestyle that can take you from lectures to skifields in 90 minutes or the beach in 20 minutes, is much more appealing and affordable than living in Auckland."[29]
In January 2017, the University of Canterbury released its campus master plan – 50 building and landscape projects proposed over three stages by 2045, the cost could exceed $2bn.[30] In a comment toThe Press, Rod Carr said that the plans were proof the university was moving away from the falling enrolments post-earthquake.[30]
The University of Canterbury celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023.[31] In the same year the university experienced a surge in enrolments, reaching a record high of 21,361 students by late March, compared to 20,223 at the same period in the previous year. Among these figures, UC counted 19,975 domestic students, witnessing a substantial increase from the preceding year's count. Concurrently, the international student body also expanded to 1,393, marking a rise from 1,098 in the prior year. This growth in enrolment stands in contrast to a decline in domestic student numbers across all five North Island universities during this period.[32] According to a spokesperson for the university, in 2023 every affiliated hall was "at 100% occupancy" and "may be a record-breaker for highest number of enrolments".[33]
The University of Canterbury has three campuses spread throughout the city of Christchurch:
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The university also maintains additional small campuses inNelson,Tauranga andTimaru, and teaching centres inGreymouth,New Plymouth,Rotorua and Timaru. The university has staff in regional information offices in Nelson, Timaru, andAuckland.
The UC Library was first established at Canterbury College in 1879. Today there are three libraries on campus each covering different subject areas.[37]
Central library
The Central Library (Māori:Te Puna Mātauraka o Waitaha)[37] – is housed in the Puaka–James Hight Building that is designed in thebrutalist style architecture. In 1974, the old city campus library moved to the Ilam campus and was housed in the newly constructed James Hight building, originally named after former Canterbury professorJames Hight.[38] The building was renamed Puaka-James Hight in 2014, after the brightest star in the clusterMatariki, to reflect the growing strength of UC's relationship with Ngāi Tahu and the mana of Te Ao Māori at the heart of the university's campus.[39] The University of Canterbury Central Library is the largest university library in New Zealand.[40] The Central Library has collections of over 2 million physical items including books, archives, journals and a miscellany of other items that support research and teaching in Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Commerce, Music, Fine Arts and Antarctic Studies.[41]
EPS library
The EPS Library (Engineering and Physical Sciences Library,Māori:Kā Puna Pūkahataka me te Pūtaiao)[37] supports research and teaching in Engineering, Forestry and Sciences.[37] With the move to the Ilam campus, the Library was split. First the Engineering Library, and later the Physical Sciences Library, moving to the new campus however the old Physical Sciences Library closed and its collections moved to the Engineering Library now called the EPS Library.
Macmillian Brown library
TheMacmillan Brown Library (Māori:Te Puna Rakahau o Macmillan Brown)[37] is a research library, archive, and art gallery that specialises in collecting items related to New Zealand andPacific Islands history.[43][44] It holds over 100,000 published items including books, audio-visual recordings, and various manuscripts, photographs, works of art, architectural drawings and ephemera. The Macmillan Brown Library's art collection also has over 5,000 works, making it one of the largest collections in theCanterbury Region.[45] Some notable items in its collections include copies of Māori Land Court Records, official and government documents from various Pacific Islands states, trade union records, and the personal papers of variousMembers of Parliament and government ministers. The library is named afterJohn Macmillan Brown, a prominent Canterbury academic who helped found the library, allocated a large proportion of his fortune to the Macmillan Brown Library.[43][44]
The university has ten student residences throughout its Ilam and Dovedale campuses: five fully-catered halls of residence exclusively for first-year undergraduate students: Arcady, College House, Rochester and Rutherford, Tupuānuku and University Hall; and five other self-catered student accommodation houses which are home to both undergraduate and postgraduate students: Sonoda Christchurch Campus, Hayashi, Kirkwood Avenue, Waimairi Village and Ilam Apartments. The largest, Ilam Apartments, houses 831 students during the academic year.[46] Some of the halls at UC have storied histories; Tupuānuku is named for the star of the same name that is connected to food grown in the ground in the cluster Matariki inMāori Mythology;[47] Rochester and Rutherford is named for former alumni Ernest Rutherford andJohn Fisher Bishop of Rochester; while Arcady, previously Bishop Julius Hall, was founded by the first Archbishop of New Zealand,Churchill Julius;[48] additionally,College House is the oldest residential college in New Zealand.[49][50]
The University also has a new hall, Tupuārangi, planned for completion in 2026. At Tupuārangi, every room will have its own ensuite.[51]
The University of Canterbury has the most field stations of any New Zealand university.[52] The Field Facilities Centre[53] administers four of these field stations:
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The university and its project partners also operate an additional field station in the Nigerian Montane Forests Project;[58] this field station stands on the Ngel Nyaki forest edge in Nigeria.
The Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences runs its own field laboratories:
The Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences also has involvement in theSouthern African Large Telescope[64] and is a member of the IceCube collaboration which is installing a neutrino telescope at the South Pole.[65][66]
The University of Canterbury Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities opened in May 2017, and showcases the James Logie Memorial Collection, a collection ofGreek,Roman,Egyptian andNear Eastern artefacts in New Zealand.[67] The Teece Museum is run as a part of the faculty of Arts. The museum is named for University of Canterbury Alumni ProfessorDavid Teece and his wife Leigh Teece, who donated a substantial amount of money to the city for earthquake recovery. The money was used by the university to install the classics and music school in the Old Chemistry building at theChristchurch Arts Centre.[68]
The James Logie Memorial Collection was established in 1957 as a result of Miss Marion Steven, a Classics faculty member, donating Greek pottery to Canterbury University College. Steven established the James Logie Memorial Collection to honour her husband, who served as registrar of the college from 1950 until his death in 1956.[69]
The Logie Collection includes a wide range of pottery, beginning with theBronze Age cultures ofCyprus,Crete andMycenae it also includes vases that come fromCorinth andAthens, the islands in theAegean, East Greece and the Greek colonies in South Italy andSicily.[70]
| Faculty | Established |
| Arts | Toi Tangata | 1882 |
| Engineering | Pūhanga | 1887[71] |
| Science | Te Kaupeka Pūtaiao | 1886 |
| Law | Te Kaupeka Ture | 1873 |
| Business | Te Kura Umanga | 1921 |
| Education | Te Kaupeka Ako | 2007[72] |
| Health | Oranga | 2022 |
The university was first governed by a board of governors (1873–1933), then by a college council (1933–1957), and since 1957 by a university council.[73] The council is chaired by achancellor.[74] The Council includes representatives from the faculties, students and general staff, as well as local industry, employer and trade union representatives.[75]
The original composition of the board of governors was defined in the Canterbury College Ordinance 1873,[76] which was passed by theCanterbury Provincial Council and named 23 members who might serve for life. Initially, the board was given power to fill their own vacancies, and this power transferred to graduates once their number exceeded 30.[77] At the time, there were discussions about the abolition of provincial government (which did happen in 1876), and the governance structure was set up to give board members "prestige, power and permanence", and "provincial authority and its membership and resources were safely perpetuated, beyond the reach of grasping hands in Wellington."[78]
Original members of the Board of Governors were:[79]Charles Bowen, Rev James Buller,[80][81][82] William Patten Cowlishaw,[83]John Enys,[84]Charles Fraser, George Gould Sr,[85]Henry Barnes Gresson,[86]William Habens,John Hall,Henry Harper, John Inglis,[87]Walter Kennaway,[88] Arthur C. Knight,[89] Thomas William Maude,[90]William Montgomery,Thomas Potts,William Rolleston,John Studholme,Henry Tancred, James Somerville Turnbull,[91]Henry Richard Webb,Joshua Williams, and Rev William Wellington Willock.[92]
Professor Roy Sharp assumed the position ofVice-Chancellor on 1 March 2003.[93] In May 2008 he announced his imminent resignation from the position, following his acceptance of the chief executive position at theTertiary Education Commission (TEC)[94][95] which he took up on 4 August 2008.[96] The then current Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Town, assumed the role of acting Vice-Chancellor on 1 July 2008. On 15 October 2008 the university announced thatRod Carr, a former banker and the CEO of a local software company, would begin a five-year appointment as Vice-Chancellor on 1 February 2009.[97]
Council member and former Pro-Chancellor, Rex Williams, became Chancellor in 2009.[98] Council memberJohn Wood became the new Pro-Chancellor. On 1 January 2012, Wood became Chancellor after Williams retired from the role.[98] In 2019, a new Vice Chancellor,Cheryl de la Rey, was appointed from theUniversity of Pretoria, andSusan McCormack took over as Chancellor.[99][100]
Board of Governors, chair of the College Council, and chancellor
The following table lists those who have held the position of chair of the Board of Governors, chair of the College Council, and chancellor.[101][102]
| Name | Portrait | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair of the Canterbury College Board of Governors | |||
| 1 | Joshua Williams |  | 1873–1875 |
| 2 | Henry Barnes Gresson[103] |  | 1875 |
| 3 | William Montgomery |  | 1875–1885 |
| 4 | Frederick de Carteret Malet[104] |  | 1885–1894 |
| 5 | Henry Richard Webb |  | 1894–1901 |
| 6 | Thomas S. Weston |  | 1901–1902 |
| 7 | Arthur Rhodes |  | 1902–1904 |
| 8 | Charles Lewis | .jpg) | 1904–1907 |
| 9 | George Russell | .jpg) | 1907–1910 |
| 10 | Jonathan Charles Adams[105] | 1910–1918 | |
| 11 | Henry Acland[106] |  | 1918–1928 |
| 12 | George John Smith |  | 1928–1932 |
| 13 | Christopher Thomas Aschman[107] | .jpg) | 1932–1933 |
| Chair of the Canterbury University College Council | |||
| 1 | Christopher Thomas Aschman | | 1933–1938 |
| 2 | Arthur Edward Flower[108] |  | 1938–1944 |
| 3 | John Henry Erle Schroder[109] | 1944–1946 | |
| 4 | Walter Cuthbert Colee | 1946–1948 | |
| 5 | Joseph Ward[110] | .jpg) | 1948–1951 |
| 6 | William John Cartwright | 1951–1954 | |
| 7 | Donald William Bain | .jpg) | 1954–1957 |
| Chancellor of the University of Canterbury | |||
| 1 | Donald William Bain | | 1957–1959 |
| 2 | Carleton Hunter Perkins | 1959–1965 | |
| 3 | Alwyn Warren |  | 1965–1968 |
| 4 | Terry McCombs |  | 1968–1971 |
| 5 | John Matson | 1972–1976 | |
| 6 | Brian Anderson | 1977–1979 | |
| 7 | Jean Herbison[111] | 1979–1984 | |
| 8 | Charles Caldwell | 1984–1986 | |
| 9 | Richard Bowron | 1987–1991 | |
| 10 | Ian Leggat | 1992–1997 | |
| 11 | Phyllis Guthardt | 1998–2002 | |
| 12 | Robin Mann | 2003–2008 | |
| 13 | Rex Williams[98][112] | 2009–2012 | |
| 14 | John Wood[98] |  | 2012–2018 |
| 15 | Susan McCormack | 2019–2022 | |
| 16 | Amy Adams[113] | .jpg) | 2022–present |
 |
|
An explanation of the arms appears on the universitywebsiteArchived 18 May 2017 at theWayback Machine, where it is explained that the fleece symbolises thepastoral, and the plough at the base theagricultural background of theprovince of Canterbury. The bishop'spall and thecross flory represent Canterbury'secclesiastical connections, and the open book denotes scholarship.[114]
As an institution of learning, the university's coat of arms does not have a helmet, crest ormantling.
The university's unofficial coat of arms was accompanied by the Latinmotto:
Ergo tua rura manebunt (therefore the lands shall remain yours).
Because of the land holdings with which the Provincial Governmentendowed the early University, this was appropriate. When the coat of arms was redesigned, the motto was removed and now the motto is only used unofficially.
The University of Canterbury offers 147undergraduate majors[115] and 61 graduate degrees.[116][117] For the 2020 academic year, the university granted 2,257 bachelor's degrees, 1,003 graduate degrees, and 384honours degrees.[2] To graduate with a full-time undergraduate degree in the usual three years, undergraduates normally take four courses per semester. In most majors, an honours degree requires advanced coursework and a thesis – this usually takes an extra year. However, some undergraduate degrees that are alsoprofessional degrees, such as theBachelor of Laws (LLB),Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) and Bachelor of Forestry Science (BForSc), typically take four years.
According to the UC Annual Report, at 31 December 2024 the university has a total of 26,433 students (18,319 equivalent full-time students), up 9% on the previous year. 2,587 are Maori students. UC has a total of 2,484 staff members.[118]
Following the earthquakes, the number of students enrolled at UC fell from 18,783 during 2010 to 14,725 during 2014, though the number of new enrolments increased in 2014. In 2016 enrolled student numbers rose to 15,564.[28] Enrolment as of 2020 has reached pre-earthquake levels with a 18,364 students enrolled at UC.
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World[119] | 401–500 (2025) |
| CWTS World[120] | 927[a] (2024) |
| QS World[121] | 261 (2026) |
| QS Employability[122] | 301–500 (2022) |
| THE World[123] | 601–800 (2026) |
| USNWR Global[124] | =542 (25/26) |
| National – Overall | |
| ARWU National[125] | 2–4 (2025) |
| CWTS National[126] | 4[a] (2024) |
| QS National[127] | 5 (2026) |
| THE National[128] | 8 (2026) |
| USNWR National[129] | 4 (25/26) |
In the 2024Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities, which measures aggregate performance across the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, the university attained a position of #360 (4th nationally).[130]
In the 2026Quacquarelli SymondsWorld University Rankings (published 2025), the university attained a position of #261 (5th nationally).[131]
In theTimes Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 (published 2025), the university attained a position of #601–800 (8th nationally).[132]
In the 2025Academic Ranking of World Universities, the university attained a position of #401–500 (tied 2–4th nationally).[133]
In the 2025–2026U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, the university attained a tied position of #542 (4th nationally).[134]
In theCWTS Leiden Ranking 2024,[a] the university attained a position of #927 (4th nationally).[135]
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TheUniversity of Canterbury Students' Association (UCSA)[136] operates out of the student union building named Haere-roa which serves as the mainstudent activity centre. The original UCSA Building was damaged in the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes and was subsequently torn down, it was rebuilt and completed in 2019, it is located on the Ilam Campus. The building is home to two bars, "the Foundry" and "Bentley's". The Association also runs several cafes and restaurants around campus.[137] Located in Haere-roa is theNgaio Marsh Theatre, named for the former alumnus of the same name. Haere-roa hosts a number of student societies and organisation offices.
The university's student population operates the mainstudent magazine,Canta, established in 1930. There are 12 issues per year, which are distributed around the UC campus every second Monday during the academic year.[138] The newspaper's offices are in the Haere-roa building. Canterbury's student population runs a radio station which began to broadcast and operate asRDU in 1976;[139] it beganFM frequency broadcasting in 1986. RDU acquired its present frequency of 98.5 in 2003.
| Race and ethnicity (as at 10 March 2024)[140] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ European/Pākehā &Other European | 63% | ||
| Asian | 17% | ||
| Māori | 10% | ||
| Other[b] | 5% | ||
| Pacific Peoples | 3% | ||
| Middle East,Latin America &African | 2% | ||
| Economic diversity (as at 31 December 2023)[141] | |||
| Student Allowance[c] | 15% | ||
| Student Loan[d] | 43% | ||
The university has over 140 academic, sporting, recreational and cultural societies and clubs.[143] The most prominent of these include theStudent Volunteer Army, theUniversity of Canterbury Engineering Society (ENSOC), the University of Canterbury Law Society (LAWSOC), the University of Canterbury Commerce Society (UCOM) as well as the largest non-faculty clubs such as PongSoc (University of Canterbury Pong Society), Motosoc (Motorsports Society), Lads without Labels, CUBA (Canterbury University Boardriders' Association), CUTC (Tramping Club), UC Global Society (UCGS), UC Bike, Opsoc, The Gentlemen's Club. CUSSC (Canterbury University Snow Sports Club, formerly the CU Ski Club prior to 1997) is the only university club in New Zealand to own a ski field lodge, located atTemple Basin Ski Field.[144] The club runs many events to raise funds for maintenance of their lodge. TheUniversity of Canterbury Drama Society (Dramasoc) achieved fame for its 1942–1969 Shakespeare productions under DameNgaio Marsh, but regularly performs as an active student- and alumni-run arts fixture in the small Christchurch theatre-scene.
In 2011 the SVA was established in the aftermath of theChristchurch earthquakes. A student at the University of Canterbury,Sam Johnson, rallied fellow students to help support the clean-up from the devastation. The club has grown and today is the largest club at the University of Canterbury.[145] In 2020, in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the SVA supported the vulnerable with their shopping during the lockdown.[146][147]
Lads without Labels is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to improving men's mental health in and around campus. On 5–8 October 2021 Lads without labels started the Project 72 fundraiser, a 72-hour relay on the University of Canterbury campus, which raised $12,000 for men's mental health; as well in 2021 Lads without labels organised a 24-hour backyard cricket marathon raising $45,000.[148]
One major student tradition, theUndie 500, involved an annual car-rally from Christchurch toDunedin run byENSOC. The rules required only the use of a road-legal car costing under$500 with a sober driver.[149] The 2007 event gained international news coverage (including onCNN andBBC World) when it ended in rioting in the student quarter ofDunedin and inNorth East Valley. ENSOC cancelled the planned 2008 event. The Undie 500 was replaced by the Roundie 500 in 2011. This event has the same principles but follows a route through rural Canterbury, returning to Christchurch the same day.[150]
Since it was founded, University of Canterbury alumni have made significant and creative contributions to society, the arts and sciences, business, national New Zealand, and international affairs.[151]
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Four New Zealand Prime Ministers have attended Canterbury, includingChristopher Luxon,John Key,Bill Rowling, andJenny Shipley, the latter attended Christchurch Teachers College, now merged with the university.[152][153] International leaders educated at Canterbury includeFeleti SevelePrime Minister of Tonga,Feleti TeoPrime Minister of Tuvalu andAnote TongPresident of Kiribati.
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Notable politicians who studied at Canterbury include:Ruth RichardsonMinister of Finance for the "mother of all budgets" which formed the catalyst of her economic reforms known in the media as "Ruthanasia".[154][155]Nicola Willis, the current Minister for Finance, also attended Canterbury, as did other former Ministers of FinanceMichael Cullen andDavid Caygill. Former Leaders of the OppositionJudith Collins (though she did not complete her degree) andDon Brash, the latter whom is infamous for hisOrewa Speech.[156][157][158] Other significant figures includeNick Smith,Rodney Hide,Stuart Nash,Peter Dunne,Marian Hobbs, andCatherine Isaac. Mayors of Christchurch include:Lianne Dalziel,Bob Parker,Vicki Buck andGeorge Manning.[159]
It also includesĀpirana Ngata the first Māori to receive a degree, and described as the foremost Māori politician. He was known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.[160] He also features on theNew Zealand fifty-dollar note.
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Canterbury has produced a large number of distinguishedjurists, judges and lawyers around the world. Among its alumni areSupreme Court JusticesAndrew Tipping, New Zealand's longest-serving judge, who spent 25 years on the bench, andWilliam Young, also formerPresident of the Court of Appeal.[161]Ivor Richardson, also a former President of the Court of Appeal, is credited with significantly influencing the development of New Zealand tax law and policy.[162]
Furthermore, Canterbury has educated six currentHigh Court Judges, including former Chief High Court JudgeGeoffrey Venning.[163] Other notable Lawyers include:Matthew Palmer Justice of the Court of Appeal (though he only completed his B.A. at Canterbury);[164]Graham Panckhurst Justice of the High Court and chair of the Royal Commission into thePike River Mine disaster; andMichael Myers sixthChief Justice of New Zealand.[165] The New Zealand Government'sAttorneys General have included: Judith Collins and Michael Cullen.
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One of the most notable Canterbury alumni isErnest Rutherford a physicist described as "the father of nuclear physics", and who features on theNew Zealand one hundred-dollar note. In 1908 he was awarded theNobel Prize in Chemistry "for his investigations into the disintegration of the elements, and the chemistry of radioactive substances". In 1917 Rutherford "split the atom".[166]Roy Kerr, was also educated at Canterbury, he discovered theKerr Solution, an exact solution to theEinstein field equation of general relativity.[167]Beatrice Tinsley anastronomer andcosmologist who through her research in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, proved that the universe was infinite and would expand forever.[168]Richard Barrer was a 'founding father' ofzeolite science and its applications he gave his name to the zeoliteBarrerite, and thebarrer, a unit of gas permeability.[169] Other notable scientists include:Ian Axford,Toby Hendy,Ian Foster,Craig Nevill-Manning andMichelle Rogan-Finnemore.
Notableengineers include:John Britten, amechanical engineer, who designed theBritten motorcycle that won races and set numerous speed records on international circuits;[170] andBill Pickering, anaerospace engineer, who headed Pasadena, California'sJet Propulsion Laboratory for 22 years.[171] Other notable engineers includeNigel Priestley,Thomas Paulay andDavid Beauchamp.
EconomistsRex Bergstrom,Brian Easton,Ken Henry,Graham Scott andJohn McMillan attended Canterbury. Don Brash, who received aB.A. andM.A. in economics, also served asGovernor of the Reserve Bank. He presided over the reforms of central-bank autonomy and accountability under the Public Finance Act 1989 which were described as "genuine innovations".[172]
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Since 1962, the University of Canterbury has been awardinghonorary doctorates. In many years, no awards were made, but in most years, multiple doctorates were awarded. The highest number of honorary doctorates was awarded in 1973, when there were seven recipients.[177]
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