Auckland campus
On 20 March 1993, Massey University's Auckland campus in Albany was officially inaugurated with a tree-planting ceremony.
The university introduced a two-semester year (with a possible third semester in the summer) at the Auckland campus in 1994. The two-semester year was introduced at the Manawatū campus the following year.
In the late 1990s, Massey University launched its Graduate School of Business and, in partnership with Auckland College of Education, a Graduate School of Education.
Auckland campus growth
Albany, the home of Massey’s Auckland campus, has been the fastest growing area of the North Shore. Strawberry gardens and dairy farms were redeveloped in the 1980s and 1990s into 10-acre lifestyle blocks or housing. Auckland campus opened in 1993, and the development was styled on a Mediterranean hill town.
The area around Albany village used to be a chicken farm, and the first student mascot at Auckland campus was a chicken.
Over the years the Auckland campus has grown rapidly as both domestic and international student numbers increased.
Timeline of Auckland campus growth
1993
First lectures took place on Ōtehā Rohe precinct.
1994
Massey Business School building (formerly Study Centre) completed.
1996
Quadrangle B building completed.
1998
Quadrangle A building completed.
2001
Atrium building completed.
2002
Alan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology completed. Work begins on first stage of permanent Library. Expansion to Albany Village. Social Health and Outcomes Research and Evaluation Centre in downtown Auckland established.
2004
Recreation Centre opened.
2006
Sir Neil Waters Lecture Theatres completed.
2009
Ferguson Bar opened.
2010
Library extension.
2012
Student Central, including dining hall opened.
2013
Watson Science Laboratories completed.
2015
Te Ohanga opened in February, bringing accommodation to the heart of the campus, providing a ‘home away from home’ for up to 292 students.
Ongoing changes at the Manawatū campus
Massey University formally merged with the Palmerston North College of Education on 1 June 1996. The Palmerston North College of Education was established as the Palmerston North Teachers' College in 1956. Throughout its existence, the College had a close association with Massey University. A merger with Massey University had been discussed since the 1980s and finally happened in 1996.
Restructuring in the late 1990s saw the university's nine faculties amalgamated into four colleges: Education, Business, Sciences, and Humanities and Social Sciences.
The Institute of Rugby began in 1999 to develop students' skills, careers and educational opportunities in rugby.
Wellington Polytechnic merges with Massey University
Massey University extended its reach to Wellington when it merged with the Wellington Polytechnic on 1 July 1999 to establish the College of Design, Fine Arts and Music (now the College of Creative Arts).
Wellington Polytechnic had a long and rich history with its roots in the Wellington School of Design, later known as the Wellington Technical College, which was established in 1886. The merger with Massey University made the polytechnic's academic programmes, after some adjustment, the first of their kind in New Zealand to attain university status.
In 2004, the New Zealand School of Music was formed when Massey's Conservatorium of Music combined with Victoria University of Wellington's School of Music.
Wellington School of Design
The Wellington School of Design was opened on 13 April 1886 as the result of an initiative of the then Minister of Education, Robert Stout. The first director of the School of Design was Arthur Dewhurst Riley.
The School’s main aim was to train teachers in drawing, but special classes in art subjects, and technical evening classes including mechanics and engineering, were also offered to fee-paying adults.
To reflect its curriculum the name of the School was changed to the Wellington Technical School in 1891.
Renamed the Wellington Technical College
In 1905 the School’s scope was widened when a technical high school was added to the existing programmes to cater for the needs of children who left school, but were not yet ready for employment. The School was subsequently renamed the Wellington Technical College.
The School of Design initially occupied premises on Brandon Street, in central Wellington, and later moved to a building in Mercer Street where it became part of the Wellington Technical College. The Technical College moved in 1922 to the Mount Cook site adjacent to where the Wellington campus of Massey University is today.
Becoming the Wellington Polytechnic
Throughout the following decades the Technical College’s academic programmes continued to expand. By the early 1960s the numbers of tertiary students far exceeded that of secondary students at the College. In 1962 the polytechnic and high school divisions of the College were separated and the Wellington Polytechnic and the Wellington High School was brought into being.
Thus in 1962, the Wellington School of Design became a School within Wellington Polytechnic. Under its Director, James Coe, the School consolidated and developed the multi-professional approach to scholarship in a central design discipline, with an integrated suite of undergraduate qualifications and research.
The School of Design became the country’s flagship design school and the main distinguishing feature of the Polytechnic.
Attaining university status
New Zealand's first university design degree was developed and delivered conjointly by the Wellington School of Design and Victoria University of Wellington from 1992. The design degree was conferred by Victoria University of Wellington until 1999 when the merger between the Wellington Polytechnic and Massey University took place. After the merger the design degree, and some of the other programmes and qualifications of the Polytechnic, were reviewed and re-accredited for delivery by Massey University.
Out of the merger between Wellington Polytechnic and Massey University was born the College of Design, Fine Arts and Music (since 2005 known as the College of Creative Arts) which was made up of the Wellington School of Design, the Wellington Conservatorium of Music and the newly formed School of Fine Arts.
Since its inception the School of Design has enjoyed a long and prestigious history, producing many of New Zealand’s most notable and famous designers, and is now home to over half of all design students studying in New Zealand.
Massey appoints New Zealand's first female vice-chancellor
In March 2003, Massey University appointed New Zealand's first female Vice-Chancellor, Professor Judith Kinnear.
Massey reaches enrolment milestones
Massey University reached a milestone in 2003 when its enrolled student numbers breached the 41,000 mark. In 2009 another milestone was reached when the university celebrated having 1,000 concurrently enrolled PhD students.
Timeline of Massey expansion
1993
School of Applied and International Economics
The School of Applied and International Economics was established on 1 March.
Albany Campus
The Albany Campus on Auckland's North Shore was officially inaugurated with a tree planning ceremony on 20 March. The Ōtehā Rohe Precinct with its mainly prefabricated buildings was occupied first and the East Precinct later, as more permanent buildings were completed.
Institute of Executive Development
The Institute of Executive Development was launched in July.
1994
Semesterisation
At the Albany campus the three-term year was replaced by a two semester teaching system, with provision for a third semester in the summer. The semester system was introduced at the Palmerston North campus at the beginning of 1995.
Faculty of Information and Mathematical Sciences
On 6 June, the Faculty of Information and Mathematical Sciences was created out of the School for Mathematical and Information Sciences that was established on 1 January 1991.
Study centre opened
The Albany Campus Study Centre was opened in December.
1995
Retiring Vice-Chancellor
Sir Neil Waters retired as Vice-Chancellor.
1996
New Vice-Chancellor
Dr James McWha became Vice-Chancellor.
Merger with College of Education
Although effective from 1 January 1996, Massey University formally merged with the Palmerston North College of Education on 1 June 1996. Massey's College of Education was established from the merging of its Faculty of Education and the Palmerston North College of Education.
1997
The Māori Studies Building Te Pūtahi-ā-Toi was opened at the Turitea site on 8 March.
College of Business formed
The College of Business was formed in November, comprising the Faculty of Business Studies, the School of Aviation and the School of Applied and International Economics
1998
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences was officially created from the two respective faculties in November.
Graduate School of Business
The Graduate School of Business was launched in November.
1999
Millennium Village
The Millennium Village, providing accommodation to students at Albany Campus, opened its doors in February.
Massey merges with Wellington institutions
Massey University merged with the Wellington Polytechnic which led to the establishment of the College of Design, Fine Arts and Music and gave Massey a presence in Wellington. The campus and its buildings were originally developed in the 1960 for the Polytechnic - one of New Zealand's first. The campus hosts Te Kuratini Marae. Student accommodation was provided in the form of St George Hall, and from 2000 also by the Te Awhina Apartments while the Drummond Street Apartments were opened in 2001.
Graduate School of Education
The Graduate School of Education was launched on 5 October. This was a partnership with Auckland College of Education.
Institute of Rugby
The Institute of Rugby was opened at the Turitea site in Palmerston North on 2 September.
St George Hall
Student accommodation in Wellington was initially provided by means of the St George Hall of Residence.
Student enrolments
The student roll now numbered 36,402. This comprised 19,155 internal students; 10,294 students at Palmerston North, 3,728 students at Albany and 5,133 students at Wellington, as well as 17,247 extramural students.
2000
Te Awhina Apartments
Te Awhina Apartments opened to students in Wellington.
2001
Drummond Street Apartments
The Drummond Street Apartments were opened to provide additional student accommodation to Wellington-based students.
2002
Anniversary
Massey University celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori)
The position of Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Māori) was created. Professor Mason Durie was the first person to be appointed to this position.
Vice-Chancellor resigns
Professor James McWha resigns as Vice-Chancellor.
2003
The IIMS Building was completed at Albany Campus.
Albany Campus Library
The Library Building at Albany Campus was occupied in February 2003. The new extension to the Library was completed in 2009.
New Vice-Chancellor
Professor Judith Kinnear assumed the role of Vice-Chancellor in March.
Basin Reserve Apartments
The Basin Reserve Apartments were completed to house students at Wellington Campus in July.
2004
Graduate Research School
The Graduate Research School commenced operation in February.
Albany Engineering and Technology Building
The Engineering and Technology Building on the Ōtehā Rohe precinct of Albany Campus, was opened in June.
Martin Street Apartments
The Martin Street Apartments opened to provide accommodation for students at the Wellington Campus in July.
Recreation Centre
The Recreation Centre at Albany Campus was opened in August.
School of Music
The New Zealand School of Music was formed in October 2004. The school was officially launched in 2006 when Massey's Conservatorium of Music combined with Victoria University of Wellington's School of Music.
2005
Matai and Tōtara Halls
Matai and Tōtara Halls as well as the Kanuka Commons Building were opened at Turitea in February.
2006
Student accommodation in Wellington opened
The Cube apartments, replacing the St George Hall and Drummond Street Apartments, was opened in January to provide student accommodation at Wellington Campus.
Sir Neil Waters Lecture Theatre
The Sir Neil Waters Lecture Theatre was opened at Albany Campus.
Tawa and Miro Halls opened
Tawa and Miro Halls, the Karaka Commons Building and the new student dining hall were opened at Turitea.
Student numbers
Since reaching its current campus structure in the 1999, the university's student numbers have grown to a total of 35,213. This includes 18,462 internal students; 7,772 in Palmerston North, 6,606 in Auckland and 4,084 in Wellington and 16,751 extramural students.
2007
Hopkirk Research Institute
The Hopkirk Research Institute was opened at Turitea in March.
2008
Vice-Chancellor retires
Professor Judith Kinnear retired from her position as the Vice-Chancellor.
New Vice-Chancellor appointed
The Honorable Steve Maharey, former Minister of Education, is designated to become the new Vice-Chancellor of Massey University. He took up the position on 4 October.
2009
PhD student numbers rise
Massey celebrated having 1,000 concurrently enrolled PhD students.
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