View source for University of Waikato

{{Short description|Public university in Hamilton, New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = University of Waikato
 | native_name            = {{Native name | mi | Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato}}
 | image_name             = University of Waikato logo.svg
 | caption                = [[Coat of Arms]] of the University of Waikato
 | motto                  = {{langx|mi|Ko te tangata}}
 | mottoeng               = For The People
 | established            = 1964; {{years ago|1964}} years ago
 | endowment              = {{NZD|13.6 million|link=yes}} (31 December 2021)<ref>{{cite web|title=University of Waikato Anuual Report 2021|url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/861214/5474-UOW-Annual-Report_WR.pdf|access-date=1 December 2022|archive-date=16 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216185145/https://www.waikato.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/861214/5474-UOW-Annual-Report_WR.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | budget                 = NZD $263.6 million (31 December 2020)<ref name="ar2020"/>
 | chancellor             = Susan Hassall
 | vice_chancellor        = Neil Quigley
 | city                   = [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]]
 | province               = [[Waikato]]
 | country                = New Zealand
 | administrative_staff   = 1,499 (FTS, 2020)<ref name="ar2020">{{cite web|title=University of Waikato Annual Report 2020|url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/707205/University-of-Waikato-Annual-Report-2020.pdf|website=Waikato.ac.nz|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723051330/https://www.waikato.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/707205/University-of-Waikato-Annual-Report-2020.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | students               = 10,537 (EFTS, 2021) <ref>{{cite web |title=2021 at a Glance |url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/annual-report/ |website=2021 Annual Report of the University of Waikato |access-date=10 July 2023}}</ref>
 | type                   = [[public university|Public]] [[research university]]
 | campus                 = [[Suburban area|Suburban]] <br />65 ha (160 acres)
 | free_label             = Student Magazine
 | free                   = [[Nexus (student magazine)|''Nexus'']]
 | colours                = UW Red, Gold and Black <br /> {{color box|#be0403}} {{color box|#faa61a}} {{color box|#000000}}
 | affiliations           = [[Association of Commonwealth Universities|ACU]], [[Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning|ASAIHL]], <br /> [[Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business|AACSB]], [[Association of MBAs|AMBA]], [[EQUIS]]
 | website                = {{official URL}}
 | logo                   = University of Waikato logo 2.svg
 | coor                   = {{coord|37|47|13|S|175|18|50|E|region:NZ_type:edu|display=title}}
}}
The '''University of Waikato''' ({{langx|mi|Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato}}), established in 1964, is a [[Public university|public]] [[research university]] located in [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], [[New Zealand]]. An additional campus is located in [[Tauranga]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/history.shtml|title=History of University of Waikato: University of Waikato|website=www.waikato.ac.nz|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=24 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124134925/https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/history.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
The university performs research in numerous disciplines such as [[education]], [[social sciences]], and [[management]] and is an innovator in [[environmental science]], marine and freshwater ecology, [[engineering]], [[computer science]] and [[artificial intelligence]].
It offers degrees in [[health]], engineering, computer science, [[management]], [[Māori language|Māori]] and [[Indigenous Studies]], [[the Arts|the arts]], [[psychology]], social sciences and education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/qualifications|title=Qualifications|website=www.waikato.ac.nz|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815074221/https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/qualifications|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
{{original research|date=July 2021}}
In the mid-1950s, regional and national leaders recognised the need for a new university and urged the then [[University of New Zealand]] (UNZ) and the government to establish one in Hamilton. Their campaign coincided with a shortage of school teachers, and after years of lobbying, Minister of Education [[Philip Skoglund]] agreed to open a teachers' college in the region.
In 1960, the newly established Hamilton Teachers' College, joined by a fledgling university (initially a branch of the University of Auckland), opened a joint campus at Ruakura

In 1964, the two institutions moved to their new home, and the following year the University of Waikato was officially opened by then Governor-General Sir [[Bernard Fergusson, Baron Ballantrae|Bernard Fergusson]].<ref name="DP">Day, Paul. (1984) From The Ground Up: An informal chronicle of the genesis and development of the University of Waikato 1964–1984. University of Waikato, pp. 6, 18,-27, 30, 55, 56, 58–60, 157–9, 172–5, 219.</ref>

At that time, the university comprised a School of Humanities and a School of Social Sciences.<ref name="DP" /> In 1969 a School of Science was established.<ref>Celebrating 40 years of Science & Engineering, 1969–2009, University of Waikato (2009), p. 1</ref> This was followed by the creation of the Waikato Management School in 1972,<ref name="DP" /> Computer Science and Computing Services in 1973,<ref name="DP" /> and the School of Law in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waikato.ac.nz/law/faculty/te_piringa|title=New Name for Faculty|website=Waikato.ac.nz|access-date=26 March 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129034537/http://www.waikato.ac.nz/law/faculty/te_piringa|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1990 the Hamilton Teacher's college merged with the University of Waikato.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Alcorn |first=Noeline |title=Ko te tangata : a history of the University of Waikato : the first fifty years |publisher=[[Steele Roberts Aotearoa]] |year=2014 |isbn=9781927242322 |location=Wellington New Zealand}}</ref> Since 1993, the University has been developing [[Weka (software)|Weka]], one of the first open-source [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] and [[Machine learning|machine-learning]] workbench used in research and teaching.

From the beginning, it was envisaged that Māori studies should be a key feature of the new university,<ref name="DP" /> and the Centre for Māori Studies and Research was established in the School of Social Sciences in 1972.<ref name="DP" /> A separate School of Māori and Pacific Development was formally established in 1996 and in 2016, became Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao, Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies.<ref>University of Waikato Calendar 1996, p. 31</ref> In 1999, the original Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences were merged to form the School of Arts and Social Sciences.<ref>University of Waikato Calendar 1999, p. 16</ref>

In 2018 the university was reorganised under a divisional structure which resulted in its Schools and Faculties being brought under four Divisions and a School; Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences, Division of Education, Division of Health, Engineering and Computer Sciences, Waikato Management School and the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies. Although the university has had a presence in Tauranga since the 1990s, it officially opened its dedicated Tauranga campus in 2019 located in Tauranga's CBD. This added to the university's presence in the Bay of Plenty with the Adams Centre for High Performance in Mount Maunganui and the Coastal Marine Field Station in Sulphur Point on the Tauranga Harbour. In November 2020, the university also opened a new algal research and aquaculture facility in Sulphur Point.

In July 2023, the Pā was opened in the heart of the University, following years of preparation and construction. The structure's name, the [[Pā]], refers to a fortified Māori village/settlement, occurring mainly north of New Zealand's [[Lake Taupō]]. Key components of this structure include the [[Marae]], inside which is a [[Wharenui]] (meeting house), and the Student Hub, which includes study and meeting spaces, food and beverage retail stores, a social space, and a multi-purpose stage.<ref name="The University of Waikato: The Pā">[https://www.waikato.ac.nz/major-projects/the-pa The University of Waikato->Major Projects-> The Pā]</ref>

===Proposed medical school===
In October 2016, Waikato University and the [[Waikato District Health Board]] made a joint bid to the New Zealand Government to establish a third medical school in Hamilton. While the bid was opposed by the [[University of Auckland]] and the [[University of Otago]] (which host New Zealand's two medical schools), it was supported by [[Hamilton East (New Zealand electorate)|Hamilton East]] Member of Parliament (MP) [[David Bennett (New Zealand politician)|David Bennett]] of the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goodwin |first1=Eileen |title=Waikato medical school plan 'expensive folly |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/waikato-medical-school-plan-expensive-folly |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=19 October 2016}}</ref> On 10 April 2017, several local and regional territorial councils voiced support for the proposed Waikato medical school at a meeting of the Waikato Mayoral Forum in Hamilton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Waikato councils back medical school proposal |url=https://www.waitomo.govt.nz/council/news-summary/council-news/2017/april/waikato-councils-back-medical-school-proposal/ |publisher=[[Waitomo District Council]] |access-date=13 September 2023 |date=11 April 2017 }}</ref> In November 2017, the Waikato District Health Board reiterated its support for the third medical school and outlined its proposal. The Waikato proposal envisioned a four-year graduate entry program focusing on clinical training and supporting local clinical services.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lawrenson |first1=Ross |last2=Wright |first2=Derek |last3=Thomas |first3=Ayla |title=Response to Dr Caleb Armstrong: proposed Waikato medical school |journal=The New Zealand Medical Journal |date=10 November 2017 |volume=130 |issue=1465 |pages=116–117 |pmid=29121633 |url=https://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal-articles/response-to-dr-caleb-armstrong-proposed-waikato-medical-school |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref>

In late June 2018, Waikato District Health Board interim chief executive Derek Wright confirmed there was no update on the third medical school apart from an indication that the Government would not make a decision on the proposal until 2019. Wright stated that district health board would continue lobbying for the Waikato medical school proposal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lines-McKenzie |first1=Jo |title=Proposed Waikato medical school decision is on ice |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/105061843/proposed-waikato-medical-school-decision-is-on-ice |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=27 June 2018}}</ref> In 2019, the [[Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand|Labour-led coalition government]] rejected the idea of establishing a third medical school and instead supported [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Health Minister]] [[David Clark (New Zealand politician)|David Clark]]'s proposal for multi-disciplinary training hubs in rural areas. In November 2019, the National Party released a discussion document on education supporting the Waikato proposal during the lead-up to the [[2020 New Zealand general election]]. National's proposal was supported by Waikato University Vice Chancellor Neil Quigley, the Waikato District Health Board, and the New Zealand General Practice Network.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leaman |first1=Aaron |title=Waikato medical school bid brought back to life |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/117457864/waikato-medical-school-bid-brought-back-to-life |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=15 November 2019}}</ref>

In May 2021, the university School of Health's leadership Dean [[Sarah Strasser]] and rural health Professor Roger Strasser revived the medical school proposal and proposed partnering with [[Māori people|Māori]], [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]] and the rural community to improve local access to health services. This announcement came in light of the Labour Government's plans to reform the 20 [[district health boards]] into a [[Te Whatu Ora]] (Health New Zealand) and [[Te Aka Whai Ora]] (Māori Health Authority). The Health Minister [[Andrew Little (New Zealand politician)|Andrew Little]] did not rule out the Waikato medical school proposal during a rural health conference in [[Taupō]] but stated that work was needed. The National Party's health spokesperson [[Shane Reti]] supported the revived Waikato proposal, stating it was an opportunity to train rural doctors and partner with Māori communities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Florence |title=Breath of life for Waikato Medical School in cultural and rural partnerships |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300288854/breath-of-life-for-waikato-medical-school-in-cultural-and-rural-partnerships |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=1 May 2021}}</ref>

In early July 2023, the National Party made campaign pledge to build the Waikato medical school during the leadup to the [[2023 New Zealand general election]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lines-McKenzie |first1=Jo |title=National backs third medical school in Waikato |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/waikato/132482735/national-backs-third-medical-school-in-waikato |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707133954/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/waikato/132482735/national-backs-third-medical-school-in-waikato |archive-date=7 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Fiona |title=National pledges Dunedin hospital budget boost |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/national-pledges-dunedin-hospital-budget-boost |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708123919/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/national-pledges-dunedin-hospital-budget-boost |archive-date=8 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2023, [[Radio New Zealand]] (RNZ) reported that Vice-Chancellor Quigley had worked with several National Party figures including health spokesperson Reti, former National cabinet minister [[Steven Joyce]] and his lobbying firm Joyce Advisory to develop National's Waikato medical school policy. Waikato University then hired Joyce's former press secretary and political advisor Anna Lillis to promote the school. In response, [[Tertiary Education Union]]'s Waikato University organiser Shane Vugler criticised the university leadership for compromising its political independence. According RNZ, Quigley had told a senior National MP that the Waikato Medical School could be a "gift" for a future National government.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Espiner |first1=Guyon |title=University of Waikato boss referred to new medical school as a 'present' for future National government |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497281/university-of-waikato-boss-referred-to-new-medical-school-as-a-present-for-future-national-government |access-date=11 September 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907155940/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497281/university-of-waikato-boss-referred-to-new-medical-school-as-a-present-for-future-national-government |archive-date=7 September 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2023, RNZ had also reported that Waikato University had paid nearly NZ$1 million in consultancy fees to Joyce Advisory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Waikato University pays firm nearly $1million for advice |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018894120/waikato-university-pays-firm-nearly-dollar1million-for-advice |access-date=11 September 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=13 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904195238/https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018894120/waikato-university-pays-firm-nearly-dollar1million-for-advice |archive-date=4 September 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to media coverage, Luxon defended Waikato University's process for establishing a third medical school, and emphasised that National and Waikato had supported the proposal for several years.<ref>{{cite news |title=National, Waikato University planning third medical school 'for years' - Luxon |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/497364/national-waikato-university-planning-third-medical-school-for-years-luxon |access-date=11 September 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906020540/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/497364/national-waikato-university-planning-third-medical-school-for-years-luxon |archive-date=6 September 2023}}</ref>

On 21 July 2025, [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Health Minister]] [[Simeon Brown]] announced that the [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand|Sixth National Government]] would be contributing NZ$82.5 million to the establishment of Waikato's medical school. Waikato University would be contributing $150 million to the medical school's establishment with the help of philanthropists. This fell short of National's 2023 campaign promise to invest $280 million in the establishment of the medical school.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dexter |first1=Giles |last2=Hopkins |first2=Jessica |title=Waikato University promises planned medical school won't be downsized despite less govt funding |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/567595/waikato-university-promises-planned-medical-school-won-t-be-downsized-despite-less-govt-funding |access-date=22 July 2025 |date=22 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250722031347/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/567595/waikato-university-promises-planned-medical-school-won-t-be-downsized-despite-less-govt-funding |archive-date=22 July 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Campuses==
The University of Waikato operates from two campuses, Hamilton, and Tauranga. Undergraduate degrees are also offered through a joint-institute on a satellite campus at [[Zhejiang University City College]] in [[Hangzhou]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Biddle |first1=Donna Lee |date=12 October 2017 |title=University of Waikato offers students degree overseas |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/97680695/university-of-waikato-offers-students-degree-overseas |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213043048/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/97680695/university-of-waikato-offers-students-degree-overseas |archive-date=13 February 2020 |access-date=18 October 2021 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref>

=== Hamilton ===
The main Hamilton campus is spread over 64 hectares of landscaped gardens and lakes, and includes extensive sporting and recreational areas. Originally farmland, the campus was designed by architect John Blake-Kelly in 1964. The open space landscaping contains extensive native plantings, including a fernery, centred around three lakes.<ref name="DP" />

=== Tauranga ===
The University of Waikato previously shared campuses with [[Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology]] in Tauranga at Windmere in the central city. In March 2019, the university opened a stand-alone campus in the central city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hunter |first1=Zoe |date=11 May 2018 |title=Exclusive: Tauranga's new university campus a year ahead of deadline |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503351&gal_cid=1503351&gallery_id=192752 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015501/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503351&gal_cid=1503351&gallery_id=192752 |archive-date=7 February 2019 |access-date=4 February 2019 |website=[[New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref>

<gallery>
File:Waikato University Student Centre.jpg|Waikato University Student Centre.
File:Inside the Waikato University Student Centre.jpg|Inside the Waikato University Student Centre.
File:Part of the water feature inside the University of Waikato Student Centre.jpg|Water feature inside the Waikato University Student Centre.
File:Computer lab inside the University of Waikato Student Centre.jpg|Computer lab inside the Waikato University Student Centre.
File:Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.jpg|The Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.
</gallery>

The Student Centre officially opened in 2011 by Waikato alumnus Governor-General Jerry Mateparae.<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Waikato Student Centre – Portfolio |url=http://www.warrenandmahoney.com/en/portfolio/university-of-waikato-student-centre |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104033128/http://www.warrenandmahoney.com/en/portfolio/university-of-waikato-student-centre/ |archive-date=4 November 2013 |access-date=26 March 2014 |publisher=Warren and Mahoney}}</ref>

==Administration and organisation==
[[File:University of Waikato village green.jpg|thumb|The village green is the social hub of the University of Waikato's Hamilton campus]]

The university is organised around faculties and schools, grouped in divisions; as of 2024:<ref>{{cite web |title=Divisions, Faculties and Schools of Studies |url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/calendar/university-overview-and-charter/divisions-and-schools-of-studies/ |website=waikato.ac.nz |access-date=5 July 2024}}</ref>

===Te Wānanga o Ngā Kete Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences===
* Te Kura Toi School of Arts
* School of Law, Politics and Philosophy
* Te Kura Whatu Oho Mauri – School of Psychological and Social Sciences

===Division of STEM===
* Te Kura Mata-Ao School of Engineering
* Au Reikura School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences
* Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science
* [[Te Ipu o Te Mahara – Artificial Intelligence Institute]]
* Te Tumu Whakaora Taiao – The Environmental Research Institute (ERI)

===Division of Education===
* Te Kura Toi Tangata School of Education

===Division of Management===
* Te Raupapa Waikato Management School

===Not part of a division===
* Te Mata Kairangi School of Graduate Research
* Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao Māori and Indigenous Studies
* University of Waikato College: The college primarily supports international students and pre-masters studies and diplomas.

===Executive leadership===
The chief executive of the University of Waikato is the vice-chancellor, currently Professor Neil Quigley, who was appointed to a five-year term in 2014 and another in 2019. The university is governed by a council, headed by the university's chancellor, who is currently Mrs Susan Hassall.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360730043/ex-principal-become-waikato-university-boss |title=Ex-Hamilton Boys’ High headmaster to become Waikato University boss |first=Paora |last=Manuel |date=23 June 2025 |newspaper=[[Waikato Times]] }}</ref>

Te Rōpū Manukura was formed in 1991 as a consultative body to the university council. Te Rōpū Manukura is currently made up of members from over 20 different [[iwi]] within the catchment area of the university.

The following list shows the university's chancellors:<ref name="former chancellors">{{cite web |title=Former Chancellors of the University of Waikato |url=https://calendar.waikato.ac.nz/staff-and-honours/former-chancellors-of-the-university-of-waikato |publisher=University of Waikato |access-date=20 December 2021}}</ref>

[[File:University of Waikato lake by the village green.jpg|thumb|One of three lakes on the University of Waikato's Hamilton campus]]

{| class="wikitable" 
!
!Name
!Portrait
!Term
|-
| align=center | 1 || [[Denis Rogers]] || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1964–1969
|-
| align=center | 2 || Bruce McKenzie || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1970–1972
|-
| align=center | 3 || Henry Bennett<!-- Q110206858 -->|| [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1973–1978
|-
| align=center | 4 || Douglas Arcus || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1979–1980
|-
| align=center | 5 || [[David Tompkins]] || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1981–1985
|-
| align=center | (3) || Henry Bennett || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1986–1987
|-
| align=center | 6 || [[Joy Drayton]] || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1988–1991
|-
| align=center | 7 || Gerald Bailey || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1992–1997
|-
| align=center | 8 || Caroline Bennett<!-- Q110217910 -->|| [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 1998–2002
|-
| align=center | 9 || [[John Gallagher (businessman)|John Gallagher]] || [[File:John Gallagher KNZM (tight crop).jpg|60px]] || 2003–2005
|-
| align=center | 10 || John Jackman || [[File:No image.png|25px]] || 2006–2007
|-
| align=center | 11 || [[Jim Bolger]]|| [[File:Jim Bolger ONZ 2018 (cropped).jpg|60px]] || 2007–2019
|-
| align=center | 12 || [[Anand Satyanand]] || [[File:Anand Satyanand 2020 (cropped).jpg|60px]] || 2019–2025
|-
| align="center" |13
|Susan Hassall
| [[File:Susan Hassall ONZM (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|2025–present
|}

=== Research institutes and centres ===
The university has several research institutes and research centres, as well as numerous other research groups and projects; as of 2024:<ref>{{cite web |title=Research institutes, centres and groups |url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/research/institutes-centres-entities/ |website=waikato.ac.nz/research |access-date=5 July 2024}}</ref>

'''Research institutes'''
* [[Te Ipu o Te Mahara – Artificial Intelligence Institute]]
* Te Mata Punenga o Te Kotahi – Te Kotahi Research Institute (TKRI)
* Te Ngira – Institute for Population Research
* Te Puna Haumaru – New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science
* Te Tumu Whakaora Taiao – The Environmental Research Institute (ERI)
* The New Zealand Institute for Business Research – Te Pūtahi Rangahau O Umanga o Aotearoa (NZIBR)

'''Research centres'''
* Ahuora Centre for Smart Energy Systems
* Centre for Environmental Biomonitoring Solutions
* Centre for Environmental, Resources and Energy Law: Te Pūtahi o te Ture Taiāo (CEREL)
* Centre for Global Studies in Education: Te Pūtahi Mātauranga ki te Ao (CGSE)
* Coastal Marine Field Station
* Early Years Research Centre: He Kōhanga Toi Tangata
* Medical Research Centre
* Radiocarbon Dating
* Technology, Environmental, Mathematics and Science Education Research Centre: He Rangahau Toi Tangata
* The Māori and Indigenous Governance Centre: Te Mata Hautū Taketake (MIGC)
* Waikato Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (WaiCAMM)

==Academic profile==

=== Academic reputation ===
{{Infobox Australian university ranking|QS_W==281|USNWR_W==722|ARWU_W=701–800|type=University|ARWU_W_year=2025|CWTS_W=1100{{efn|name=a}}|CWTS_W_year=2024|QS_W_year=2026|THE_W=401–500|THE_W_year=2026|USNWR_W_year=25/26|ARWU_N=5|ARWU_N_year=2025|CWTS_N=6{{efn|name=a}}|CWTS_N_year=2024|QS_N=6|QS_N_year=2026|THE_N=3–4|THE_N_year=2026|USNWR_N=7|USNWR_N_year=25/26}}
In the 2024 ''Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities'', which measures aggregate performance across the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, the university attained a position of #391 (5th nationally).<ref>{{Cite web |title=University Results |url=https://research.unsw.edu.au/artu/artu-results |website=Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities |publisher=[[University of New South Wales]] |language=en-AU |publication-place=[[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]]}}</ref>

In the 2026 ''[[Quacquarelli Symonds]]'' [[QS World University Rankings|World University Rankings]] (published 2025), the university attained a tied position of #281 (6th nationally).<ref>{{cite web |title=QS World University Rankings: Top Global Universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings |website=[[QS World University Rankings]] |publisher=[[Quacquarelli Symonds]] |language=en-GB |publication-place=[[London]], [[United Kingdom]]}}</ref>

In the [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings|''Times Higher Education'' World University Rankings]] 2026 (published 2025), the university attained a position of #401-500 (tied 3–4th nationally).<ref>{{cite web |title=World University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings |work=[[Times Higher Education]] |publisher=Inflexion |language=en-GB |publication-place=[[London]], [[United Kingdom]]}}</ref>

In the 2025 ''[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]'', the university attained a position of #701-800 (5th nationally).<ref name="ARWU Rankings">{{cite web |title=ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities |url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings |website=[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]] |publisher=Shanghai Ranking Consultancy |language=en |publication-place=[[Shanghai]], [[China]]}}</ref>

In the 2025–2026 [[U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Ranking|''U.S. News & World Report'' Best Global Universities]], the university attained a tied position of #722 (7th nationally).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best Global Universities Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings |website=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |language=en-US |publication-place=[[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States]]}}</ref>

In the ''[[CWTS Leiden Ranking]]'' 2024,{{efn|The [[CWTS Leiden Ranking]] is based on P (top 10%).|name=a}} the university attained a position of #1100 (6th nationally).<ref>{{Cite web |title=CWTS Leiden Ranking |url=https://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2024/list |website=[[CWTS Leiden Ranking]] (Centre for Science and Technology Studies) |publisher=[[Leiden University]] |language=en |publication-place=[[Leiden]], [[Netherlands]]}}</ref>

==Notable people==
===Notable alumni===
{{main category|University of Waikato alumni}}
<gallery class="center" widths="160" heights="160">
File:Ngawaihonoitepo Paki 2019 (cropped).jpg|[[Nga wai hono i te po]], 8th Māori monarch
File:New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2018.jpg|[[Jacinda Ardern]], 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand
File:2012-03-19 Warren Gatland at Wales' Grand Slam celebrations.jpg|[[Warren Gatland]] OBE, Head Coach, Chiefs, British and Irish Lions and Former Head coach of Wales national rugby union team
File:Дерек Сикуа (26403205948).jpg|[[Derek Sikua]], ninth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands
</gallery>

'''Waikato Management School''' 
* Dame Jacinda Ardern GNZM, 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand
* [[Ned Kock]], professor of [[Information Systems]], [[Texas A&M International University]]
* [[Mark Wilson (businessman)|Mark Wilson]], former CEO of AXA, AIA (Asia) and CEO of Aviva (UK), entrepreneur
* Jan Zijderveld, former CEO of Avon, Unilever President (Europe)
* Vittoria Shortt, CEO of ASB Bank
* Kevin Bowler, CEO of My Food Bag

'''Division of Arts, Law and Social Sciences'''
* Judge Craig Coxhead, Māori Land Court Judge and Chief Justice of Niue
* Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson, Deputy Chair and Director Reserve Bank of New Zealand
* The Honourable Dame Annette King, Former Member of Parliament
* Wayne Smith, CNZM previous All Blacks player and 2011 All Blacks coach

'''Division of STEM'''
* Shane Legg, Co-founder and Chief Scientist Google DeepMind
* Craig Nevill-Manning, Founder and Director of Google's first remote engineering centre, key developer of Google Maps and Froogle
* Andrew Smith, CEO Profile Foods
* Professor Tom Higham, Professor of Archaeological Science, Deputy Director of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit
* Ian Graham, former Dean, founder of [[Endace]], and New Zealand's Engineering Entrepreneur of 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waikato.ac.nz/news-opinion/media/2013/emeritus-professor-title-for-endace-founder|title=University of Waikato}}</ref>

'''Division of Education'''
* Professor Fui Le'api Tu'ua 'Īlaoa Asofou So'o, Vice-Chancellor and President of the National University of Samoa
* Warren Gatland OBE, Head Coach, Chiefs, British and Irish Lions
* Alyn Ware, International Representative of the Peace Foundation, International Coordinator for the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament and Consultant for the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms
* Honourable Derek Sikua, ninth Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands

'''Faculty of Maori and Indigenous Studies'''
* Hinewehi Mohi MNZM, Managing Director, Raukatauri Productions Ltd, singer and songwriter, co-founder and trustee of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre
* Tania Te Rangingangana Simpson, Deputy Chair and Director Reserve Bank of New Zealand
* Turanga Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr CNZM, master voyager and co-chair of the national coordinating committee for the Tuia 250 – Encounters programme
* Willow-Jean Prime, Member of Parliament

The University of Waikato's official website lists other notable alumni, referred as "Distinguished Alumni" by the university.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alumni and friends |url=https://alumni.waikato.ac.nz/ |publisher=University of Waikato |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815074218/https://alumni.waikato.ac.nz/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Notable academic staff and honorary doctorates===
* {{c|Academic staff of the University of Waikato}}
* [[List of honorary doctors of the University of Waikato]]

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|group=Note}}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|New Zealand}}
{{commons category-inline}}
*{{Official website|http://www.waikato.ac.nz/}}

{{New Zealand universities}}
{{Science and Research in New Zealand}}
{{ASAIHL}}
{{Triple accreditation}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Waikato}}
[[Category:University of Waikato| ]]
[[Category:Public universities]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1964]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in New Zealand]]