Why work at Waikato?
With a beautiful campus and excellent facilities the University of Waikato, located in Hamilton, provides a stimulating and fulfilling work environment. The parkland campus covers some 68 hectares of Tainui land located in New Zealand’s heartland, the Waikato. The University’s location, origins, partnerships with Māori and unique regional and cultural resources have always been fundamental aspects of our identity. We place a high level of importance on the University's role as a key driver of social well-being and economic growth in its region. We also have a growing campus in Tauranga, on the north-eastern coast of the Bay of Plenty, including the development of a modern purpose-built facility and student accommodation in the CBD.
The University has strong connections with the Kīngitanga, Waikato-Tainui and many other iwi throughout New Zealand. The institution is committed to partnership with Māori as intended by the Treaty of Waitangi.
The University is a vital player in the regional and national economies. It generates nearly $1 billion annually in sales revenue for the New Zealand economy. New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Commission has ranked Waikato University “Low Risk” – an affirmation of the Government’s confidence in the University’s management and viability.
The University is proud to have been awarded a QS (Quacquarelli Symonds Limited) Stars five-star rating in July 2016. QS Stars defines the University of Waikato as being a world-class university with a high reputation for employment, cutting-edge facilities, internationally renowned research, and outstanding teaching and student satisfaction. We are ranked 324 in the world by the QS World University Rankings 2016 and in the 401-500 band in the world by the influential UK-based Times Higher Education organisation in 2015.
Having marked its first half century, the University is looking forward to setting the foundations for its next 50 years.
Its Strategy (2017-2021) has six strategic goals developed to deliver on the University’s mission and vision. The Strategy was adopted by the University Council following input from across the University.
Why work in Hamilton or Tauranga?
Hamilton is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing cities. It has an urban and semi-urban population of about 180,000, plenty of schools – public and private, a temperate climate and distinctive rural character. The city sits on the banks of the Waikato River, linked by a series of bridges.
The city has a vast array of restaurants, cafes and bars and several retail centres. Cycling and walking paths flank the Waikato River, leading to the internationally renowned and ever popular Botanic Gardens. The city is generally safe, quiet and without major traffic jams. House prices are more affordable than many of New Zealand’s major centres (such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch). Hamilton has its own domestic airport and is 90 minutes away from the country’s main international airport in Auckland.
Hamilton’s central location – in the middle of the North Island – makes it an ideal springboard for beaches, lakes and mountains. It’s less than two hours’ drive to the popular tourist destinations of Rotorua, Taupō and the Coromandel Peninsula.
From Hamilton’s central business district, it is only a quick drive to stunning countryside or unique attractions including Waitomo caves, the Hobbiton film set from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and Raglan’s famous surf beaches.
The city caters well for sports lovers, with more than 135 parks and gardens, 58 sports grounds and more than 1000 hectares of open spaces. In addition, Waikato Stadium and the city’s Claudelands Events Centre are first class venues for national sporting events and concerts.
Living in Hamilton, New Zealand
Tauranga Lifestyle
With a glorious coastline, complete with fantastic surf beaches, Tauranga residents enjoy a laid-back lifestyle in one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand. It has a vibrant music, arts and culture scene, with many local bands playing regularly in venues around town and a new contemporary art gallery which showcases local talent. There are many fabulous shopping experiences to be had – either in Tauranga city centre or further out in the surrounding areas of Mount Maunganui, Bethlehem, Bayfair and Papamoa.
Tauranga is situated on the east coast of New Zealand, in the beautiful Bay of Plenty region. The Māori translation of the name Tauranga means "sheltered waters". The city is home to a population of 140,000. Just a short drive away from the harbourside city centre are the coastal suburbs of Mount Maunganui and Papamoa, which boast some of the most beautiful surf beaches in the country. A top holiday destination for kiwis and tourists alike, the Bay of Plenty enjoys a mild climate with among the highest annually recorded hours of sunshine each year in New Zealand.
The area has a wide range of restaurants, cafes and wineries. Local adventure attractions include white-water rafting, jetboating, kayaking, dolphin encounters, horse treks, parasailing, skydiving, scenic flights, golf courses and a variety of gardens and museums.
The University of Waikato has been active in the Bay of Plenty since the 1990s, when we first formed an alliance with Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, (formerly Waiariki Institute of Technology and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic). In 2001, the University's first cohort of Bay of Plenty students graduated in Tauranga.
It's an exciting time for the University and the greater Bay of Plenty region with the development of the Tauranga CBD tertiary campus. The new campus will open in central Tauranga by 2020, with the University leading the development on behalf of the Bay of Plenty Tertiary Education Partnership. Read more about the CBD campus development.
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