University of Auckland

The word "city" began to take on two meanings in New Zealand after the local government reforms of 1989. Before the reforms, a borough council with more than 20,000 people could be proclaimed a city. The boundaries of councils tended to follow the edge of the built-up area, so there was little difference between the urban area and the local government area.

In 1989, the structure of the local government in New Zealand was significantly reorganised. The new district councils and city councils were nearly always much larger geographically, and they covered both urban land and the surrounding rural land. Many locations that once had had a "city council" are now governed by a "district council".

The word "city" is used in a general sense to describe the urban areas of New Zealand, independent of local body boundaries. This informal usage is jealously guarded. The district government of the town of Gisborne, for example, adamantly described itself as the first "city" in the world to see the new millennium. However, Gisborne is governed by a "district council", though its status as a city is not generally disputed in New Zealand. Similarly, there is no "city council" in Auckland, though its status as a city is not generally disputed due to its size.

Today an urban area has to be at least 50,000 residents before it can be proclaimed as a city.

Founded in 1883, the University of Auckland is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Auckland (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants). Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Ministry for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, New Zealand, University of Auckland is a very large (uniRank enrollment range: 40,000-44,999 students) coeducational higher education institution.

The University of Auckland offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study. See the unit rank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 136 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment