ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Resilience during a pandemic 2 Overview 01 Chancellor’s review 4 Vice-Chancellor’s report 6 Key facts and figures 8 University governance 10 Academic performance 02 Rising to the Challenge 16 Faculties, Institutes, UniServices 20 Statement of service performance 03 Statement of service performance 28 Statement of the cost of outputs 40 Compulsory student services fees 40 Educational performance indicator commitments 41 Financial statements 04 Statement of responsibility 44 Statement of comprehensive revenue and expenses 45 Statement of financial position 47 Statement of cash flows 48 Statement of changes in equity 50 Notes to the financial statements 52 Report of the Auditor-General 86 Glossary 92 Annual Report 2020 | 3 Annual report 2017 Chancellor’s Review In 2020 the University of Auckland showed of tomorrow and developing new technologies, its strengths in intellectual leadership. but as sources of practical knowledge and unbiased truth. As befits Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading university, and its largest research institution, Throughout 2020, our people were recognised the University of Auckland was at the forefront for their outstanding contributions to of this country’s response to Covid-19. Our academia and the country. Highlights academic experts applied their skills and included: knowledge to help inform the government’s • Distinguished Professor Jane Harding was policy decisions and health response, made a Dame Companion of the New providing calm, informative, facts-based Zealand Order of Merit, acknowledged for guidance to government, news media and the saving and improving the lives of millions of wider public. babies internationally through her work. Some of our academic staff members became • World-renowned mathematician, household names, among them Dr Siouxsie Distinguished Professor Marston Conder, Wiles, Associate Professor Helen Petousis- and School of Psychology Professor Ian Harris and Professor Shaun Hendy. Dozens Lambie became Officers of the New Zealand more of our experts wrote and spoke about Order of Merit. the pandemic’s wider impact on jobs, the economy, the future of tourism, globalisation, • Professor Aroha Harris (Te Rarawa and education and learning. Ngāpuhi) became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori This has been a timely reminder that and historical research, and Professor universities like ours play a critically important Ngaire Kerse also became a Member of the role in society, not just in educating the leaders “As always, we are grateful to our generous benefactors and donors who provide valuable support for new academic positions, scholarships for students, funding for research teams and programmes, and many other important initiatives.” 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the new president of the New Zealand Law virtual events were held, notably the Raising seniors and health. Commission. the Bar: Home Edition series, which ran for six consecutive Wednesdays from 20 May to • Dr Rhys Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu), • Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Cindy 24 June. Successful Alumni & Friends senior lecturer in the Faculty of Medical Kiro (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine) was Receptions were held in Christchurch and and Health Sciences, won the Prime appointed Ahorangi Chief Executive of the Wellington in November. Minister’s Supreme Award at the 2020 Royal Society Te Apārangi. Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards. Anuj As always, we are grateful to our generous • Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Bhargava, also from the Faculty of Medical benefactors and donors who provide Engagement) Professor Jenny Dixon was and Health Sciences, and Dr Maxine Lewis valuable support for new academic positions, appointed the new Provost of Universitas 21, from the Faculty of Arts, also received scholarships for students, funding for a global network of 27 research-intensive Teaching Excellence recognition in 2020. research teams and programmes, and many universities. other important initiatives. Among the major • Distinguished Professor Dame Anne • Associate Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh donors whose continued support in 2020 Salmond was awarded the Blake Medal for won the top prize in the 2020 New Zealand had a transformational impact were Cure leadership. Book Awards for Children and Young Adults Kids, Cancer Society Auckland Northland, the • Professor Eamonn O’Brien of the Faculty with her graphic memoir Mophead: Neurological Foundation of New Zealand and of Science was awarded the Hector Medal How Your Difference Makes a Difference. the Auckland Medical Research Foundation. by the Royal Society Te Apārangi for his Despite the impact of Covid-19, the University Extraordinary legacy gifts from the estate contributions in the field of group theory. of Auckland is committed to continued of Warwick and Judy Smith for Engineering • Royal Society Te Apārangi Early Career development of our world-class facilities to and Science and from the estate of the late Research Excellence Awards were awarded ensure students are provided with the best Professor Brian Coote for Law will have a to Dr David Moreau for his research on university experience. significant and lasting effect on research the link between exercise and a healthy In 2020 the new $232m Engineering Building programmes and fellowships. An outstanding brain, and Associate Professor Ngarino (B405) was opened in time for the beginning gift from the Fehl Trust will fund the Vision Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) for her work in of Semester One. It was celebrated by a dawn Bus, providing improved access and eye Māori art history. ceremony and pōwhiri, with the inaugural healthcare for communities. One of the highlights of 2020 was the generosity of staff • Paediatric endocrinologist Professor Wayne performance of the Faculty of Engineering’s and former staff: it was the most successful Cutfield received the Gluckman Medal for own haka ‘Me Hoki Whakamuri Kia Anga year yet for staff giving, with the number of his outstanding contributions to research Whakamua’ performed by staff and students. gifts rising from 992 in 2019 to 1,491 in 2020. and Associate Professor Miro Erkintalo A ‘shovel-ready’ grant from the government from the Department of Physics won the allowed the University to confirm the start Finally, I want to acknowledge and thank Emerging Scientist Award at the Prime of the project that will see the Faculty of Professor Stuart McCutcheon, who retired as Minister’s Science Prizes. Education and Social Work relocated from Vice-Chancellor in March 2020, after 15 years of outstanding service to the University • Distinguished Professor Brian Boyd won the the Epsom campus to the main City Campus. of Auckland. We also welcomed our new Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi This complex programme of works includes Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dawn Freshwater. Rutherford Medal for his lifetime’s work refurbishing existing buildings, some of them Her leadership and clear direction is to on Vladimir Nabokov, and his wider work, historic, and ensuring they are suitable for be commended through the unexpected introducing evolutionary and cognitive contemporary teaching and research. demands and disruption of 2020. With the perspectives on literature and art, and We also began demolition of the old development of ‘Taumata Teitei: Vision 2030 linking the arts, humanities and sciences. Recreation Centre, to make way for the new and Strategic Plan 2025’, which Professor • Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles was state-of-the-art Recreation and Wellness Freshwater has led, we have a powerful named the supreme winner at the 2020 Centre, expected to be complete in 2024. statement of intent for the future success of Women of Influence Awards as well as Our alumni continue to support and engage the University. winning the Innovation, Science and Health with the University here in Aotearoa New Category. Professor Jane Kelsey won in the Zealand and around the world. While Covid-19 Global category. restrictions meant that our full in-person Scott St John Chancellor • Associate Professor Amokura Kawharu programme of local and international events (Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Whatua) was appointed could not proceed, a number of successful Annual Report 2020 | 5 Annual report 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s Report In 2020, the University of Auckland Our academic staff worked tirelessly to responded to the challenges of Covid-19 understand and respond to the different with agility, innovation and compassion. challenges facing our students during lockdown. While there is no denying the Since I joined the University in March 2020, we disruption and emotional impact of Covid-19 have witnessed the acute challenges that the on many of our students, it is heartening to see Covid-19 pandemic has created for societies that their academic performance remained at around the world. Universities in Aotearoa similar levels to previous semesters. New Zealand are no exception, with closed campuses and a disrupted student experience, I want to acknowledge the outstanding efforts rapid transitions to full emergency remote of our staff and students in responding to the teaching and learning, interrupted research extraordinary circumstances of 2020, while programmes, and borders preventing the not losing sight of our purpose as a university: return of many of our international students. for the benefit of people and society. We are a stronger, more resilient university as a result. We showed the University’s flexibility, agility and capacity