Skip to Content

  •  
    • For international students
    • For Māori students
    • For postgraduate students
    • For prospective students
  • About Massey
    • University Management
      • Council
      • Vice-Chancellor
      • Strategic plans and reports
      • more…
    • Subsidiaries and commercial ventures
      • Massey University Foundation
      • e-Centre
      • Wharerata
      • more…
    • Alumni
      • Merchandise
      • Chapters
      • Benefits
      • more…
    • News
      • Latest releases
      • Research news
      • University news
      • more…
    • Events and key dates
      • Albany campus
      • Manawatu campus
      • Wellington campus
      • more…
    • Jobs
      • Academic
      • General
      • Staff benefits
      • more…
    • History of the University
      • 1879 - 1926
      • 1927 - 1945
      • 1946 - 1963
      • more…
    • Calendar
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • 2010
      • 2009
      • 2008
      • more…
  • Teaching & Learning
    • Courses
      • Programme search
      • Paper search
      • Course advice
      • more…
    • Distance Learning (Extramural)
      • Contact courses
      • How distance learning works
      • Getting in contact
      • more…
    • Colleges
      • Business
      • Creative Arts
      • Education
      • Humanities and Social Sciences
      • Sciences
    • Departments
      • Aviation
      • Psychology
      • Food, Nutrition and Human Health
      • more…
    • Academic teaching timetables
      • 2012
      • 2011
      • Timetable planner
      • Building codes
      • more…
    • Examinations
      • Exam timetable
      • Exam venues
      • Key exam dates
      • more…
    • Online learning
      • Stream
    • Learning resources
      • Online Writing and Learning Link
      • MathsFirst
      • more…
    • Centres for Teaching and Learning
      • Assistant Vice Chancellor: Academic and International
  • Research
    • Expertise
      • Search for Output
      • Search for Expert
    • Library
      • Find information
      • Library services
      • Help and instruction
      • more…
    • PhD and doctoral degree administration
      • Doctoral handbook
      • Administration forms
      • Citations
      • more…
    • Centres of research
      • Allan Wilson Centre
      • Riddet Institute
      • NZ Centre for SME Research
      • more…
    • Research Ethics
      • Human Ethics
      • Animal Ethics
      • Genetic Technology
    • Conferences
      • 19th NZASIA
      • 14th International Mobility Conference
      • more…
    • Journals
      • Marketing Bulletin
      • International Journal on Smart Sensing and Intelligent Systems
      • more…
    • Research projects
      • Automated Recognition of Pollen
      • Tools for Delivering Scenario-based E-learning
      • more…
    • Support for researchers
      • Funding opportunities
      • Guide to managing research
      • Resources
      • more…
    • Commercialisation
      • Success stories
      • Technology Transfer Vouchers
      • Contact us
      • more…
  • Admission
    • Enrolment
      • Online enrolment
      • Enrolment forms
      • International students
      • more…
    • Entry requirements
      • New Zealand citizens
      • Australian students
      • International students
      • more…
    • Fees
      • Calculator
      • Programme fees
      • International student fees
      • more…
    • Scholarships and awards
      • Undergraduate
      • Postgraduate
      • High Achiever
      • more…
    • Accommodation
      • Applications
      • Albany
      • Manawatu
      • Wellington
  • Student life
    • About our campuses
      • Albany
      • Manawatu
      • Wellington
      • Distance
      • Maps and transport
    • Accommodation
      • Albany
      • Manawatu
      • Wellington
    • Starting University
      • Orientation
      • Getting started
      • Student Advisers
      • more...
    • Services and resources
      • Recreation centres
      • Study skills support
      • Careers
      • Library
      • more...
    • Student Exchange Programme
      • Locations
      • Costs
      • Application process
      • more...
    • Graduation
      • Applying to graduate
      • Auckland
      • Palmerston North
      • Wellington
      • more...
    • Academic records
      • Apply for an academic record
    • Student associations and societies
      • EXMSS
      • MUSA
      • ASA
      • MAWSA
      • more...
    • Sport
      • Academy of Sport
      • Recreation and training
      • more...
  • Contact Massey
    • Contact Centre
    • Albany campus
    • Manawatu campus
    • Wellington campus
    • Student liaison advisers
    • International enquiries
    • Media enquiries
    • Alumni
    • Human Resources
    • Justice of the Peace
    • Accidents and emergencies
    • Staff directory
Go to the Massey University home page

Massey University

Log out | Library | Alumni Portal | Staffroom | MyMassey
Home > About Massey > History of Massey University > 1964 - 1992

History of Massey University

  • 1879 - 1926
  • 1927 - 1945
  • 1946 - 1963
  • 1964 - 1992
  • Founding statement
  • Coat of arms
  • Te Kupenga o te Matauranga Marae
  • 1993 - 2009

Massey becomes a university (1964-1992)

Massey University College of Manawatu became Massey University of Manawatu on 1 January 1964 under the Massey University of Manawatu Act 1963. The new university had full autonomy and degree-conferring powers under the Act. The name was shortened in 1966 to Massey University.

  • More information on the founding statement

First Vice-Chancellor appointed

Dr Alan Stewart, appointed Principal of the College in 1959, became the first Vice-Chancellor of the University. Dr Stewart had led Massey through the transition from an agricultural college to a full university. He would lead Massey until his retirement in 1983

About the armorial designs

In October 1964 the University Council lodged an application for a coat of arms with the College of Arms. The brief required that the arms should 'present a unity of design, that they should predict learning in its broadest concept and that there should be some pictorial indication of association with New Zealand'.

The current coat of arms of the University was authorised on 10 May 1967.

  • More information on the coat of arms

Growing numbers of students and faculties

Massey University of Manawatu enrolled 1,877 students in its first year - 959 internal and 918 extramural students. The University's buildings and facilities increased greatly over the next few decades to cope with growing student numbers. By December 1992, the University's total student roll was 24,675 students. Of these, 9,088 were internal and 15,687 were extramural students.

By the early 1990s, the university had nine faculties.

  • Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences
  • Technology
  • Science
  • Veterinary Science
  • Humanities
  • Social Sciences
  • Business Studies
  • Education
  • Information and Mathematical Sciences

Te Kupenga o te Matauranga Marae

Te Kupenga o te Matauranga Marae opened in 1980 on the Palmerston North Teachers' College campus. It was the first marae (meeting house) at a tertiary campus in New Zealand. The complete Te Haonui Marae Complex opened in June 1990.

Literally translated, Te Kupenga o te Matauranga means 'the net of knowledge'.

  • More information about the marae

Massey’s story continues

  • Massey answers calls for higher education in agriculture (1879-1926)
  • Massey’s foundation years (1927-1945)
    • Student association beginnings
    • Women at Massey
  • Massey’s consolidating years (1946-1963)
  • Massey becomes a university (1964-1992)
    • Founding Statement
    • Coat of arms
    • Te Kupenga o te Mātauranga Marae
  • Massey expands into three cities (1993-2009)
    • Merger with Wellington Polytechnic

Page authorised by University Archivist
Last updated on Monday 14 May 2012

Dr. Alan Stewart

1982 A Stewart

Dr. Alan Stewart, Principal of Massey Agricultural College and its successors, 1959-1963 and Vice-Chancellor of Massey University, 1964-1983.

 

Related links

  • Flickr Flickr slideshow
  • YouTube History of the Albany campus
  • Massey University Massey University Calendar
  • Massey University Timeline
  • Massey University University Archives
  • Massey University Distance Learning 50 Years
  • Contact us Mon - Fri 8:30am to 4:55pm
  • 0800 MASSEY | (+64 6 350 5701)
  • TXT 5222
  • contact@massey.ac.nz
  • Web chat
  • Online form
Massey University
Private Bag 11 222
Palmerston North
4442
New Zealand
Site map | A-Z index | Disclaimer | Privacy
Copyright © 1998 - 2012 Massey University. All rights reserved
Increase font size||Decrease font size
| print icon |